A month passed with Anakin and Ace meeting up everyday whenever they could find time and spent most of the time they had on Ace's upstairs balcony or in his apartment watching movies on the Holonet. A couple times Anakin even stayed the night, Ace letting him sleep in his bed while he himself slept on the sofa.

Anakin was happy. He was more happy than he'd ever been since becoming a Jedi. Even if it was against the Jedi code to not have happiness, Anakin didn't care. Ace had been right and he was grateful he met Ace when he did. He wondered what Obi Wan would think if he were to ever find out.

Probably scold me to death and forbid me to see Ace again is what he'd do, Anakin thought.

Anakin strode into the Jedi council chambers beside Obi Wan who had a thoughtful expression on his face. Anakin pondered whether he should ask what he was thinking about and decided against it. No matter how many times Anakin has been inside the Jedi council chambers, it never ceases to amaze him with how big it was.

Jedi masters Mace Windu and Yoda and Senator Padmè Amidala sat in their chairs along with a few select other Jedi. Anakin smiled slightly at Padmè in greeting and she returned it with one of her own.

"We have called you in here because we have received word that Takodana has come under attack by the Separatists." Windu told them. "We have reason to believe General Grievous is behind the attack."

"But you aren't for certain?" Anakin spoke without permission.

"Anakin..." Obi Wan warned.

"No we are not, but we know that it is a Separtist attack." Senator Amidala said.

"So you may have reason to believe General Grievous is behind the attack but it could be any one of Count Dooku's lackeys." Anakin said. No one responded. "I thought so."

Anakin could feel Obi Wan's stare on the back of his head but he didn't care. You can't assume something like that in this life. It could mean life or death.

"We want you, a fleet of your best clones, and a few choice Republic fighters to head out to Takodana. Recon only and report back to us before you do anything." Windu says firmly, staring pointedly at Anakin.

"Who are the Republic fighters that are to join us?" Obi Wan questioned.

"Send them in." Senator Amidala told one of her guards.

The doors opened and four people walked into the council chambers. Anakin was surprised to see Ace among the Republic fighters chosen to come with them. Ace and Anakin met each other's gaze and smiled.

"Meet Ace Doreltès. He's a fighter pilot and a crack shot with a gun of any choice." Windu introduced as Ace stepped forward.

"I know." Anakin said. "He was my best friend back when I was living on Tatooine."

"Interesting that is." Yoda spoke for the first time.

"Pleasure to serve the Republic." Ace said with a mischievous smirk on his face as he winked at Anakin. He felt his face turn red and he looked away quickly before anyone saw.

"Jett DeGray," Windu motioned to a guy with dark brown hair and brown eyes who saluted with two fingers, "Mekhi Gilchrist," another guy with jet black hair and sea green eyes flashed a smile at Anakin. "And this is Aviana Wolfhart. She's...my new padawan. I want her to get a hands on experience."

Aviana had pale skin and long black wavy hair, with blue eyes that stood out nicely against her pale skin. Anakin admitted she was beautiful but he wouldn't pursue her, especially since she was Windu's padawan.

Anakin greeted all of them with a blank expression, but deep down he felt worry creeping in. They were all new to working closely with a Jedi and he was worried about their safety. Well more so Ace's safety. He could sort of care less about the others but that didn't mean he didn't worry about their safety as much as his. He just cared more for Ace.

Anakin followed Obi Wan out of the Jedi Council chambers and back to their rooms to prepare for the journey to Takodana. Obi Wan surprisingly didn't scold him for speaking without a filter earlier and for that Anakin was relieved.

Shortly after leaving to get ready Anakin and Obi Wan made their way to the flight hangar to board the Twilight. As they entered the hangar, his eyes strayed to Ace who was speaking with Mekhi and Jett. Aviana was standing there, listening in on the conversation. Ace looked up and saw Anakin walking into the hangar.

"Anakin!" Ace said loudly. "What do you think of our first mission together?"

Anakin glanced at Obi Wan, who had wandered over to the pilot and was now discussing something private with him. He turned back to Ace and the other three strangers he'd only met about an hour ago.

"Should be fun." Anakin spoke, his voice sounded playful but if you read between the lines, they would hear a hint of sarcasm.

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Two hours passed before the Twilight reached the mid-rim where Takodana was located. Anakin had been quiet for the whole ride, only speaking if he was asked a question. It wasn't necessarily out of the ordinary for Anakin but it was strange and Obi Wan had made sure to point it out to him, which Anakin replied with an 'I'm fine', a line he used a lot when in fact....he wasn't.

When they touched down and Anakin stepped outside the Twilight, it was then that he sensed darkness. An over-powering darkness surrounding the planet and on the planet itself. It was dark and sinister, but there was something that ran deeper. And the forrest surrounding the place they landed seemed even darker.

Anakin glanced over at Obi Wan. "Do you feel that?"

Obi Wan nodded, his expression grim. "Yes. I fear that we may be in the presence of a powerful Sith."

Anakin glanced around the forrest before closing his eyes, feeling his way through the Force to find any sign of life. To find the source of all living things on this planet. The only thing he saw was people working in what had to be slave camps, droids and Zygerian's alike forcing people to do the hard work. The face of a Sith warrior flashed behind his eyelids and Anakin's eyes snapped open, a gasp leaving his lips.

Ace glanced over at him. "Are you okay Ani?"

Anakin looked at Obi Wan, shaking his head. "The people of this planet are alive but...they're imprisoned in slave camps. Zygerian's and droids....but there's a Sith warrior here on Takodana also."

"I take it you felt this?" Obi Wan asked.

Anakin shook his head. "I saw it, Obi Wan."

Obi Wan frowned deeply and seemed to be pondering what Anakin had just told him. He turned to Captain Rex and muttered something in his ear. Rex nodded and grabbed three of his men, heading into the forrest. "Rex is going to scout ahead for us."

"That's great!" Jett said. "But one question...what are we gonna do to hide this thing?"Jett motioned to the Twilight.

"Yeah. What if the droids run patrols out here and they find it? We'll definitely be discovered if they haven't discovered us already." Mekhi added.

Obi Wan shook his head. "The Twilight has a cloaking shield. Which should hold for a few days."

Anakin stood where he was wondering if he should say something. A Sith warrior was the one thing he was worried about. Sith warriors were trained to be cold blooded killers and they might as well have been born without a heart. They had no remorse for harming or maiming or killing anyone. It was hard to say they knew anything else.

Anakin would never admit it out loud but....he was scared. Scared for himself, scared for Obi Wan and scared for the others and scared for Ace. If they were discovered he knew only ten of them would leave this planet alive.

Hey guys so this was a good chapter, no? Well I have two things to say for you guys....hope you enjoyed this long chapter!

And may the Force be with you😉