The four Jedi were on a walk, heading back to the temple.

The padawans walked behind their masters holding hands, as the older two talked. "So what's the rush?" Anakin asked Obi-Wan.

"The Jedi Council has called an emergency meeting," Obi-Wan explained to his former padawan.

Anakin sighed, "I can see it now, another long boring debate."

"Would you rather they call you in to train younglings?" Ahsoka teased him.

Anakin chuckled, "are you crazy? I'd probably kill them."

Grim grimaced at Anakin's joking comment.

A scene flashed in her mind's eye; a young boy, terrified asking Anakin what they were going to do, and then the ignition of the fallen Jedi's blue blade.

Grim shook her head, shaking the thought out, there was still time before that happened. Still the thought burned into her head for just a while longer. She closed her eyes and took a breath, everything was alright. Anakin was still a Jedi, she didn't have to worry about him falling and becoming a Sith Lord, not yet.

Instead to ease her fear, Grim smiled and made a joking comment as well, "yeah, Anakin and younglings aren't a good mix."

Everyone laughed a little at that.

All of the sudden blaster fire started to rain down as someone began to shoot at them. The four Jedi rolled behind some crates.

Grim, Ahsoka and Anakin behind one and Obi-Wan behind another. "Any idea where that shot came from?" Obi-Wan asked.

"A sniper," Ahsoka replied pointing to the top of a nearby building. "I see him up there."

"Alright, here's the plan," Obi-Wan told the three of them. "Anakin, you flank him from the right," Anakin nodded with a grin. "Ahsoka and Grim you cover the lower streets," the two padawans nodded. Though Grim had a sickening feeling something big was about to happen. This was from an episode she had seen but Grim couldn't remember which just yet. "I'm going after him," Obi-Wan finished explaining.

She remembered, as she did her eyes went wide. She grabbed Obi-Wan's wrist and stared up at him. "Master, please don't do this," she whispered.

Obi-Wan gave Grim a sad smile. They both knew what was going to happen. What was happening at this very moment.

There was a small moment of silent understanding between the Master and his Padawan. "I have to. You're brave, little one. You can handle this," he replied. His voice was just low enough so only Grim could hear.

Tears shimmered in her eyes. How was she supposed to play along with this? How was she supposed to let him do this, knowing the reasons why? She already kept so many secrets and told so many lies.

How many more?

"Please," she said again.

"I have to," he said again. "It's going to be alright, little one. We both know it."

She let go. "Okay."

She returned to Ahsoka's side and the four Jedi ignited their lightsabers.

Obi-Wan and Anakin's blue blades shined, and then Ahsoka activated one of her shimmering green lightsabers, finally Grim ignited the purple blade that stood apart from the others.

The padawans ran side by side, as they watched the rooftops for the sniper.

Anakin's voice came in through the comm, "I lost him! Obi-Wan do you have anything?"

Grim felt her heart twist as she looked up at the rooftops and watched as Obi-Wan fell from a roof.

"Obi-Wan!" both Anakin and Grim shouted.

Grim instantly rushed towards her Master.

"We got him, go!" Ahsoka called to hers.

As Grim held Obi-Wan, Ahsoka checked his pulse, "no," Ahsoka murmured. She looked at Grim with tears in her eyes, "Grim I'm sorry, but he's-"

Grim shook her head, "he's not. He can't be."

He wasn't. She knew he wasn't.

Anakin rushed over, "how is he?" he asked the padawans. Ahsoka looked up at him with tears, and Anakin saw Grim's denial.

"Obi-Wan," he said, rushing to the Jedi Master. "Obi-Wan?" he asked, trying to shake him awake. "Obi-Wan!" he cried, as his voice echoed through the city.

At the funeral Grim was silent as she hugged herself, fighting against the tears that threatened to spill. He wasn't dead, she knew he wasn't dead. His death wasn't why she was upset.

It was the reason behind the deception.

Obi-Wan was faking his death to protect the chancellor. The chancellor who in reality was a Sith Lord. The same Sith Lord who would cause the deaths of everyone in their family.

She bowed her head as tears fell, and the hood of her cloak shrouded her face. This whole thing was pointless, but now she had to allow the mission to run its course.

She hated this, and she hated that she had to allow this to happen.

When the funeral was over Grim ran after Yoda and Windu. The grief she had tricked herself into feeling turned into anger. "You couldn't have informed me?" Grim demanded. Yoda and Windu turned to see Grim. She was shaking, with grief and with anger. Grim went on, not waiting for an answer. "You know, you know that I know. You couldn't have told me, warned me or anything? I know this deception is 'necessary', but you know I've seen these events take place! And you know what- forget that, it's in the past. What am I supposed to do? What is going to happen to me?" What had first started as her demanding answers turned quiet as she trembled and tears fell.

"Until everything is over, I will take care of you, and you are to remain in the Temple," Windu told her.

Grim nodded, "yes, Master." She turned around and went to find a quiet place to meditate and clear her mind.

She found herself going to the gardens again. She found her favorite place in the gardens and sat down cross legged. Grim closed her eyes and sunk into the Force.

Around her she felt all of the light of the Jedi. As if they were stars in the sky. Warm and bright, and so full of light. She focused on this. On the light around her, the lights of her family. She always felt at peace here in the gardens.

She also felt Anakin. She felt his grief for the Master they shared, and his anger at what had happened. Grim understood, although she was not in the dark of the deception she understood why he felt those emotions, because she felt them too.

Not over the same things, far from it. Grim's grief was always for the time she had lost - the time that could be for the future - and sometimes when the moment called for it, a grief for the present. She seemed to be wrapped in it. Her anger now was for the reasons behind what had happened and what was happening now.

To protect the Chancellor, who was a Sith Lord. The Sith Lord behind everything.

A thought born of this anger occurred to her now.

Obi-Wan was trying to protect Palpatine? Well, then, what if the truth about the Chancellor came out? There's more than one deception at play, Master. And I can see through every one of them.

She already knew exactly what she had to do.

Despite Windu having told the Padawan to stay in the Temple, she left the safety and comfort of her home to hunt a Sith Lord.

All she needed was to get her hands on his lightsabers - or if not proof he was a Sith. Proof to mark him as a traitor to the Republic.

She managed to successfully break into Palpatine's office. Having kept herself hidden in the vents. She began to search his office for evidence he was a Sith and a traitor. She barely got close to discovering anything.

Footsteps were approaching.

Grim hid under the desk as she held her breath.

This wasn't good, she hadn't expected Palpatine to come back so soon.

She eyed the vent she had used to sneak in - it was still open.

A quick escape route as long as Palpatine didn't notice.

Grim was frozen in fear, and she wrapped a hand around her lightsaber in case she needed to fight.

She hoped she didn't.

Grim wasn't sure if she could even take him in a fight.

She took several deep breaths - she had to get out of there.

"I know you're in here, Grim," said Palpatine.

Her heart stopped beating - he couldn't have.

She was hearing things, there was no way he-

"Stop hiding, child, I know you're here."

Grim froze.

How did he know? Did he notice the vent? Even if he had, how had he known it was Grim? She looked at the vent again, maybe if she was fast enough she could get out of here without a fight.

It was her only chance, and she decided to take it.

Grim got out from under the desk and made a jump for the vent-

The vent was closed and Grim instead crashed face first on the floor.

"Did you think you could escape that easily?" Sidious asked.

Grim quickly turned around and stood back up - one hand wrapped around her lightsaber. Yet she did not dare to yet pull it out. "How did you know it was me?" she asked him, her voice trembling with fear.

This wasn't good, she couldn't take the Sith in a fight - she couldn't escape either.

She was trapped.

Sidious chuckled, "oh I've known for some time," he replied. With a flick of his hand he covered the window with a curtain, so nobody could see what was about to take place. "The question is, child, how did you know?"

Grim pulled out her lightsaber and activated it. The blade erupted to life casting the young padawan in its purple glow.

"That doesn't matter," she told him as she spun her lightsaber and got into the opening stance of soresu, as she glared at the Sith Lord. "What matters is that everyone else will find out, I'll make sure of it."

"Don't be so confident, child," he taunted her.

Grim smirked, changing her position to prepare for an attack, "you underestimate my power." She paused. "Did I really just fucking quote Skywalker?"

"You overestimate yourself," Sidious retorted, waiting for the padawan to strike.

Grim charged at the Sith, but he only dodged.

Grim turned around and saw he had a lightsaber out now.

She growled at the Sith and charged again.

Only for him to effortlessly block and counter the attack with one of his own.

Grim just barely managed to dodge his attack and felt her heart beating faster as she realized she was locked in combat with a Sith Lord.

Grim looked at the vent she had originally used to break in and used the force to open it.

Now all Grim had to do was redirect the fight closer to the vent and jump inside.

The vent was too small for Sidious to fit inside, though she doubted he'd risk the chase if it wasn't.

Grim almost laughed at the idea of him getting stuck trying to chase her.

The fight was moving closer and closer to the vent and-

Grim stumbled over some furniture (she swore that it wasn't there before,) and landed on the ground, dropping her lightsaber.

"You're not going anywhere," Sidious told her, his lightsaber pointed at her neck.

Grim looked up at him, fearful for her life.

She tried to hold back the tears in her eyes but failed, though she wasn't going to plead or beg for mercy. "What're you going to do?" she asked. "Kill me?"

"If I wanted to kill you, I would have already," he told her. "How much do you know?"

"I know a lot of things, you're going to have to be more specific. Are you talking about how much I know about math and science or are you asking about how much I know about this universe and you being a Sith Lord?" she retorted, before suddenly realizing what she said. "I mean-"

It was too late, she couldn't take back the remark.

"This universe?" Sidious asked.

"I mean-" she fumbled for the right words. Grim looked at the vent, it was closed. "I mean-" again she failed to come up with the correct words to use.

Grim used the Force and opened the vent again.

Sidious was not in the mood for the child's insolence, he raised his hands and lightning shot from his fingertips.

The padawan shrieked as the lightning coursed through her body setting her very being on fire.

Tears fell as she writhed in pain on the ground at the burning agony of the Sith.

The lightning stopped and Grim tried to choke out her response. "I mean-" once more the padawan failed, fear overtaking her.

Grim called her lightsaber back to her hand, and ignited the blade.

Before Sidious could react Grim jumped into the vent, deactivated her lightsaber and made a run for it.

By the time Grim reached her quarters the rush of adrenaline that had given her the energy to fight Sidious depleted.

She collapsed on her bed as the exhaustion and fear settled in.

The still lingering pain from the Force lightning faintly shot through the young padawan's body and she turned on her side and curled into herself from the pain.

She could use Obi-Wan's company right about now. He would know what to say to chase the fear and pain away, and his presence always gave a kind warmth that made her feel safe.

Grim wouldn't even mind a lecture about how reckless and foolish she had been.

Except he was not here, he was on a mission, pretending to be his own killer.

Even if he were here, she doubted she would be able to tell him what had happened.

What had happened?

Her encounter with the Sith had only left Grim with more questions.

How long had he known about her meddling with his plans? When and how did he discover it was her? She had thought she had been more careful. How had he found out?

Then a dark fear consumed her: Sidious had known since the beginning.

Today Grim had only confirmed what he knew, and made herself a target in the process.

Well if he knew, she doubted she was not already a target, in which case she had made herself a priority target.

She really wished Obi-Wan was here.

Grim left the room, unable to stay there in her thoughts.

She decided to head to the gardens to meditate on the events that just happened. She stumbled through the Temple, trying to cover up her pain.

On her way to the gardens she was spotted by Windu. "Where have you been, Grim?" He asked her.

Ah kriff.

"I'm sorry Master Windu, I know you told me to stay at the Temple, but I decided I needed a walk outside," she replied. At least she admitted to leaving the Temple.

Windu noticed her injuries. "I see. How did you get hurt?" He asked her.

"Oh, well um, I decided that the normal path was too boring so I decided to parkour across the roofs of buildings?" She sounded unsure of herself.

Windu didn't buy it. He raised an eyebrow. "If it was failed parkour then how come none of your bones are broken? We live on Coruscant, it's particularly dangerous to fail parkour on the roofs of buildings."

"Skills."

"I would not consider falling from a building skills," he retorted.

"Nor would I, I am saying it was skills that kept me from breaking my bones," she remarked.

Windu was unimpressed and could see through her lies easily. "Grim..."

"It was just an accident," she told him. "It won't happen again."

"I would hope so," said Windu, still unconvinced.

"I was just on my way to the gardens again, I think I'll meditate on everything that's happened," she told him before continuing to head to the gardens.

Windu watched her for a moment. Something had happened, that he knew for sure. Grim was avoiding the truth. And he noticed a new fear.

The following day Anakin approached Grim. When Grim sensed his presence she turned her head and looked at him. "Anakin?" she asked.

"Master Kenobi's killer broke out of prison. Snips and I are going after him. I thought you might want to join us?" Anakin offered her.

Grim considered the offer for a moment. She knew she shouldn't interfere with Obi-Wan's mission. Although she didn't like just staying in the Temple. Not to mention she was having a hard time getting her mind off of her encounter with Sidious.

Besides, she already knew there was no stopping Anakin. If anything she'd be able to stop him from doing something stupid while in the dark of the deception, and of his grief-fueled anger.

"All right," said Grim. "I'll join you and Ash. Besides, it's better than sitting around doing nothing."

Grim, Ahsoka, and Anakin arrived on Nal Hutta. Grim decided she didn't like this world at first sight. The three Jedi exited the ship. Ahsoka asked Anakin, "what makes you think Obi-Wan's murderer is on Nal Hutta?"

"I got a tip from the Chancellor himself," Anakin replied.

Grim felt her body tense at just the mention of it. She was always uneasy at the mention of the Chancellor but now that she had fought the Sith Lord with only barely escaping- she shuddered.

Ahsoka noticed Grim's reaction. She grabbed her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

Grim looked at Ahsoka and smiled at her. Ahsoka smiled back.

"So Skywalker, what's your plan to find them?" Grim asked.

"Well, if you want to find a lowlife-" Anakin started.

"-you start at the saloon," Ahsoka finished.

"Of course," said Grim.

The three Jedi entered the saloon. Grim followed behind Anakin and Ahsoka, Grim could feel the anger rolling off of Anakin like in waves. She wondered if Ahsoka noticed this too. Two guards got in the way to stop the Jedi, but Anakin just used the Force to shove them back. Still not done, he grabbed one of their axes with the Force and threw it across the room.

Anakin approached the bartender as Grim stopped next to Ahsoka.

"The fugitives are already gone," the bartender told Anakin, without the Jedi even having to ask.

"All three of them were here?" Anakin demanded.

"Two came in, met the third," he replied.

"When did they leave?" Ahsoka asked.

"Nothing's free on Nal Hutta, especially information," he responded smugly.

Anakin started to force choke the bartender.

Grim's eyes widened. "Skywalker stop!" She screamed. He didn't even acknowledge her. Realizing he was so blinded in anger Grim ran at him and tried to force his arm down.

Anakin forced her off of him. Grim only watched him with tears in her eyes, frozen in fear as she watched him get consumed by his darkness. Even Ahsoka seemed so clouded by anger to see how wrong this all was.

"I don't have time for games," Anakin told the bartender.

He choked out his reply. "You just missed them."

"Keep talking."

"Anakin please!" Grim cried. She tried to stop him again but Anakin threw her back before she could even grab his arm this time.

"I heard one of them say he just bought a ship."

Anakin let go of him and he fell on his bar. Skywalker began to leave the Saloon. "Let's go." He told the two padawans he had brought with him.

Ahsoka looked back at the bartender concerned before following her Master.

Grim stayed behind for a moment. "I know it doesn't mean much, but I'm sorry about Skywalker," she told the bartender. Then she left after Snips and Skyguy.

When she caught up to them Anakin turned around and faced her. "What was that?" he demanded from her.

"I could ask you the same question," Grim retorted, her arms crossed.

"I was getting information," Anakin told her.

"By choking him? He was innocent in this," Grim pointed out.

"He wasn't innocent," Anakin responded.

"Maybe not, but he isn't involved in this."

"He was going to withhold information from us," Skywalker argued.

"And there wasn't a more Jedi-like solution for you? You just had to choke him, didn't you?"

"What does that matter to you? All this means is we got the information faster. I thought you wanted to bring Master Kenobi's killer to justice?"

"Is that what this is? Justice? Or is it revenge? Because what I just witnessed back in that saloon looked a lot more like a person hunting for revenge rather than a person searching for justice."

"Grim has a point, Skyguy," Ahsoka told Anakin.

Anakin looked at the two padawans and forced himself to calm down. "Fine, we'll drop this subject for now. We have to find Master Kenobi's killer first."

The three Jedi began asking around ship dealers to see if anybody recognized the fugitives they were searching for. One Biff informed Anakin they couldn't have gotten far.

"How do you know they couldn't have gotten very far?" Anakin demanded.

The Biff replied in a language Grim couldn't understand.

"So you only gave them enough fuel to reach the nearest filling station, on Orondia, which is owned by your brother?" Anakin asked, as he gave the man some credits for his information. Skywalker chuckled. "Well, that's a nice little money-making scam."

"We better get going," said Ahsoka. "Orondia is pretty deserted. They may steal a ship there to throw us off their trail."

"I like your thinking," Anakin told her.

The three Jedi went back to the ship and made their way after the bounty hunters - and although only Grim was aware of it - the disguised Obi-Wan. They soon jumped out of hyperspace and entered Orondia. They flew to the filling station, and as they did so the two padawans spotted the fugitives.

"Look, it's Cad Bane!" Ahsoka exclaimed.

"Are you sure?" Anakin asked her.

"Urgh, who else wears a hat like that?"

"Good point."

They began to chase after the bounty hunters. Bumping into their ship. "Take over!" Anakin ordered the padawans. "I'll bring them down!"

He rushed off before Grim could protest. "Damnit Skywalker," she muttered. "Ash, can you do it without me? I need to stop Skywalker from doing something stupid."

"Don't do anything stupid yourself, love," Ahsoka called after her, but Grim was already gone. She rolled her eyes, "those two."

Anakin jumped off of the ship onto the bounty hunters'. Grim jumped after him.

Anakin didn't notice the padawan that followed after him, and ignited his lightsaber to cut into the ship. Grim jumped on Anakin from behind to stop him.

Just then Cad Bane flew up to them shooting at the two Jedi. Anakin shoved Grim off and reignited his lightsaber, Grim ignited her's and the two Jedi fought the Bounty Hunter together.

Grim tried to keep Anakin from being reckless in the fight, but only ended up joining him. Hardeen, who flew the ship, tried to shake the two Jedi off, and Grim would've gladly helped him. Then Ahsoka crashed into the bounty hunters and everyone crashed at once. Cad Bane, Grim and Anakin being thrown from the ship.

Grim and Anakin got up. Grim started following Anakin. Especially once he had noticed Hardeen looking for them.

Anakin went to attack Hardeen. Grim panicked, she couldn't blow Obi-Wan's cover but she couldn't just let Anakin attack their Master! Without thinking Grim tackled Anakin to the ground.

(Was that the second or third time today? Grim had lost track.)

"Grim, what are you doing?!" Anakin yelled at her as he shoved the padawan off of him. How many times had he done that today? Grim was really getting on his nerves with how often she had been fighting him.

Grim activated her lightsaber, illuminating the dark night, cutting through the blues with its shimmering purple blade. "Stopping you from doing something stupid, Skywalker!"

"What has gotten into you?!" Anakin shouted, he didn't draw his weapon like the padawan had. He wasn't going to be as reckless in his anger.

Grim didn't respond, just glaring at Anakin. She wanted to protect Obi-Wan from Skywalker's foolish anger. It was well placed and justified, he didn't know like she did, but that didn't matter to her.

Then she ran at Anakin, ready to attack him, more than just defending Obi-Wan!

Anakin only activated his weapon just in time to defend himself. Their lightsabers locked together as Grim pressed against Anakin. "What do you think you're doing, Grim?! Hardeen killed our Master, I'm just bringing him to justice!" He pushed back against her.

Grim twirled her lightsaber around as she regained footing. "Or are you getting revenge? Revenge isn't the Jedi way, Skywalker...not that you care."

The disguised Obi-Wan could only watch his two padawans, unable to stop them without breaking his cover. Grim knew the truth of course, but Anakin didn't, that had been his choice. He would have preferred if Grim wasn't aware either.

Maybe if they were on the same page the two of them wouldn't be fighting each other right now. They'd be fighting him.

Suddenly Cad Bane came in and swept Skywalker away. Anakin started fighting the true bounty hunter and Grim was left alone with the disguised Jedi.

Only low enough for Obi-Wan to hear, Grim asked, "so, do we have to fight now or...?"

"I'm afraid we do, don't hold back little one," he replied just as quietly.

Grim nodded.

Hardeen ran at Grim and knocked her lightsaber from her hand. Hand to hand combat was one type of combat Grim struggled in. However both Obi-Wan and Cody had taught her a few tricks.

Grim and Hardeen fought, with the padawan trying to tell herself it was another sparring match.

She decided that coming along with Anakin had not been the best choice she had made today. Although it may have been slightly better than having started a fight with Darth Sidious the day before.

Obi-Wan easily defeated Grim, and then Anakin. He risked telling Anakin to stop following him and hoped his current padawan would talk some sense into his former padawan. Maybe the two of them would stop fighting now that they were on the same page.

When Grim opened her eyes she saw that Ahsoka was checking on Anakin. Anakin coughed as he woke up and saw that Grim was awake too.

Ahsoka helped the two stand back up.

"Obi-Wan is still alive," said Anakin, as the realization hit him. He looked at Grim. "Did you know? Is that why you kept attacking me?"

She was quiet for a moment. "I did," she said softly, as if afraid of how Anakin would respond.

"Why did he tell you and not me?" Anakin demanded.

"He didn't tell me," she told him. She didn't want Anakin mad at Obi-Wan.

"Then how did you know?"

Grim fiddled with her padawan braid. "Let's just go back home."

"How did you know, Grim?" Anakin asked her again.

"Does that matter, Skywalker? I wasn't told about it either, if that makes you feel any better."

"We should get back home," said Ahsoka. She wanted to prevent the two from arguing again.

Grim and Anakin agreed with Ahsoka, and the three Jedi headed back to the Temple.

Where Grim was met with a disappointed Master Windu. "I thought you said it wouldn't happen again?" He asked her.

Grim shrugged. "At least I didn't leave the Temple alone this time."

"Master Windu, it's my fault. I convinced Grim to come with me, don't be upset with her," Anakin told him.

Windu looked at Anakin. "I'm not, although you should've known better, Skywalker. Master Yoda wishes to speak with you."

Anakin bowed his head and left. Ahsoka followed him.

Grim stayed behind with Master Windu. "I'm sorry, Master. I had hoped to stop Anakin from doing something stupid and messing up the mission," she explained.

"And you didn't think to tell someone?" Windu asked her.

"Clearly telling people things is not my specialty," replied Grim, with a playful smile.

"No, that would be disobeying the Council," replied Windu with a small hint of a smile.

"I thought that was Skywalker's?" Joked Grim.

"The two of you tie," he replied.

Grim laughed and Windu smiled.

"Well, if you wouldn't mind I think I'm going to practice with my lightsaber," said Grim.

"Just stay at the Temple this time," he told her. "I am responsible for you for now."

"I promise Master Windu, I won't leave the Temple this time." With that Grim left to find a place to practice her lightsaber skills.

Grim practiced against the training droids, immersing herself into the feeling. Allowing the Force to guide her. She only paused when Anakin came into the room. She stopped her training simulation, and Anakin approached her. "Can we talk?"

Grim was hesitant. "Sure?"

"About the mission. Master Yoda explained it to me," Anakin explained.

"Oh. Listen Anakin, I really wasn't told about it."

"You just figured it out sooner?"

"Exactly. I'm sorry Anakin, but I wasn't going to believe Master Kenobi would be killed so easily. I mean, have you met him? If Obi-Wan was going to be killed by someone it would be by a Sith not a bounty hunter," she joked. Although she wasn't lying, Obi-Wan would be killed by Vader if she couldn't stop Order 66.

Anakin grinned, "you're not wrong, Tiny."

"I know I'm not," she replied smugly.

"Don't push it," he told her, still smiling.

Grim laughed. "No promises, Skywalker."

Anakin just chuckled and shook his head. "Well I'm going to find Snips."

"All right, see you later Skyguy."

This stopped him for a moment. "Did you just call me Skyguy instead of Skywalker?"

She grinned playfully. "Perhaps I did."

"You're spending too much time with Snips," he said jokingly.

Grim laughed again. "See ya, Skywalker."

Anakin shook his head, still smiling and left.

Grim considered going back to training with her lightsaber, but decided against it. She left the room and began to wander around the Temple absently.

Days passed, and it was now the night before the Festival of Light.

Grim stood by Windu as he addressed the Council and Anakin and Ahsoka about the plan in the war room. A holomap was projected on the holotable as Windu explained. "As you can see, we've mapped the chancellor's route to and from the festival stage. We know where he'll be at every moment from the time we land on Naboo."

"What security measures are in place?" asked Plo Koon.

Windu pressed a button and the projection changed. "The Naboo Royal Guard will have armed sentries at all entry points on the palace. And the stage itself will be sealed off by a ray shield for the duration of the event," he explained.

"I see nothing here to worry about," said Anakin.

"With complacency comes vulnerability," said Yoda. "Yes.. it is what we do not see that concerns me. A long time to plan his attack, Count Dooku has."

"Yes," agreed Windu. "We thought we'd have an advantage with Obi-Wan on the inside, but we've had no communication from him in days."

"Obi-Wan will do his part. Let's make sure we do ours," said Skywalker. He left the room.

"We do have another advantage," said Grim. "I've seen this before. That's why I wish I had been informed about this mission before it started. I can help."

"Well then, Padawan Kennet, what would you like to share?" Windu asked her.

"The Count knows about Obi-Wan, he was able to figure it out. He'll be listening in on Master Kenobi during the festival. The Bounty Hunters will be able to convincingly disguise themselves and hide in plain sight. I don't remember exactly everything that happens on this mission, but I do know that. Dooku knows about Obi-Wan, so he'll change his plan," Grim replied. "Maybe next time let me know about a mission that revolves around Master Kenobi, I might know a thing or two about it."

The Council looked at her. Grim just stood there with her arms crossed, and a smug expression on her face.

"Told us this sooner, you could have," Yoda told her.

"Told me sooner, you could have," retorted Grim, mocking him. With that she stormed out of the room.

The following day, Windu, Grim, Anakin, and Ahsoka, were the Jedi escorts for the Chancellor as they took him to Naboo. Grim insisted on staying in the cockpit with Windu and Skywalker, wanting to avoid Palpatine. Anakin tried to argue that it wasn't needed but Grim promised that they wouldn't even know she was there.

Grim truly hated everything about this mission.

They landed on Naboo and exited the ship where Padme, Bail and the Queen were waiting to greet the Chancellor.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Palpatine said to the Queen.

"Welcome home, Chancellor," said Padme. "I'm thankful to the Jedi for bringing you here safely."

"Yes, Senator, it is good to be back," Palpatine agreed. "Although I think the amount of security that has accompanied me is overkill."

That we can agree on Palpabitch. Grim thought as she tried to focus more on the beauty of Naboo rather than the hidden Sith Lord.

"With all due respect, Chancellor, where your safety is concerned, there is no such thing as overkill," Windu told him.

Grim had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. Again she was the only one who knew what was really going on. At least - besides the Chancellor. She tried to force that thought down.

"So you keep insisting, Master Jedi, but I've grown tired of discussing it," Palpatine replied to Windu.

Grim had to stay by Master Windu, which at this moment unfortunately meant she had to be near the Chancellor that she knew was a Sith Lord, and he knew that she was aware of this. Which scared her. Windu noticed her fear.

Soon enough Grim and Windu left. Grim stood next to Windu as he gave orders to some guards. That was when Windu's comm went off. "Excuse us," said Windu, taking Grim with him.

They walked away from the guards as Windu answered Obi-Wan's call. Grim spoke before Windu did, "before you say anything, check the case that had your sniper rifle."

Grim could almost imagine Obi-Wan's confused expression. Windu looked at Grim, remembering what she had told the Council about Dooku listening in on Obi-Wan. There was a moment's silence before Obi-Wan spoke, "there was a listening device. Looks like Dooku suspects me."

"Well, he can't hear you now," said Grim.

"Yes," Obi-Wan confirmed. "I'm here in Theed," he told Windu.

"How are they planning to attack the chancellor?" Windu asked Obi-Wan.

"Three of the bounty hunters are disguised as senate guards. Eval is the getaway driver, and they have a Parwan that can pass through the ray shield. I have a sniper rifle," Obi-Wan explained. "Don't worry- it's loaded with stun blasts."

"You only have one shot, Master," Grim remembered.

"I see, then I'll use it wisely," he replied.

"Where are you?" asked Windu.

"In a tower overlooking the plaza."

"So the attack is going to take place outside?"

"Yes. From here I can be your eye in the sky. I'll be able to tell you everything that's going on. They will try to infiltrate the security area. Make sure you have someone double-check the guards' identities."

"That's gonna take time."

"You'll have to do your best," replied Obi-Wan. With that the call ended.

Later that evening Grim was by Windu's side. Once the stage was set the ray shield went up.

Palpatine walked to the center of the stage, and Grim couldn't help but watch him carefully.

"It is an honor to be here for this momentous occasion," Palpatine spoke, his voice echoing through the area. "The pride I feel for this planet cannot be put into words. 847 years ago, Naboo joined the Republic."

And in a year or two it will be part of the Empire, if I don't stop it. The padawan thought. But I will stop it, I have to. Who will I be if I don't?

"And tonight, we celebrate that union," Palpatine went on. The people of Naboo applauded the secret Sith. "Take a moment and look around this glorious city of yours. It wasn't long ago this was all plasma mines. Naboo has indeed come a long way. But as we chart a bold course for the future let us never forget our past."

The fireworks began. Grim smiled at them, finding them quite lovely.

Of course this was not to last.

"Skywalker, the shield generator!" Windu called to Anakin after getting a call from Obi-Wan warning him of the incoming enemy.

Anakin ran to stop the Bounty Hunter, but it was too late, the shield generator was turned off in an explosion. People stood and gasped in shock. Grim's hand found her lightsaber. Palpatine had been knocked unconscious by the explosion.

Wish I could've done that. Grim thought to herself, noticing him.

Windu rushed to the Chancellor with two senate guards, Grim found herself following him, despite preferring it if Palpatine was dead. "All right, you two take the Chancellor to that speeder and get him out of here!" He ordered.

"Mace, Anakin's down and I don't see Bane anywhere," said Obi-Wan.

"I'll find him," Windu replied, igniting his lightsaber. "Grim, you help get the Chancellor to safety."

Grim wanted to argue but he had already left to find Bane. Grim turned around in time to notice the guards with her were Bounty Hunters. "Oh you've got to be kidding me!"

One of the bounty hunters moved to punch her, but Grim slid out of the way in time. She activated her lightsaber and used the Force to push the two guards away. The bounty hunters ran at her, and one of them managed to punch her in the jaw.

The Padawan let out a curse. She kicked one in their stomach. The other swung a punch at her. Grim dodged out of the way.

Another person was approaching her. She knew it was Cad Bane despite the shadow hologram still being up.

Grim let out another curse as she swept his legs from under him. "I could use some help here!" she called.

Windu and Anakin immediately went for her rescue. The three of them easily and quickly took down the bounty hunters. Saving Palpatine from even being captured in the first place.

The Chancellor woke up. Anakin went over to him. "Are you all right, your excellency?" He asked.

"I seem to be now, thanks to you," replied Palpatine.

Grim rolled her eyes.

It was now early afternoon and it was coming time to leave, although Grim knew they would stay. At least she would, as would Anakin and Obi-Wan. Which she was going over to talk to. "Master," she said.

"Hello Grim," Obi-Wan replied. "Is something wrong?"

Grim scoffed. "Is something wrong? You fake your death and then ask 'is something wrong?'? Yeah actually, perhaps something is wrong, Baldywan,"

"I know I did some questionable things, Grim, but-"

"But what? I'm not even mad about you faking your death, I knew this was going to happen. I've seen this before! Why didn't anyone think to talk to me about it, though? The Council all knows I know, and you, you're-"

Obi-Wan placed a hand on her shoulder. "Grim, I had my reasons-"

Grim moved his hand away. Too angry to want his comfort. "And what were they? I'm not Skywalker! My reaction would have meant nothing! I already knew it was fake! Especially considering I know how you actually die!"

"Oh?" Obi-Wan asked. This was new information.

"Don't worry about it Baldywan, you still have 20 years, I think. And that's if I don't change things, if I change things, then who knows! Not me, but that's fine."

Obi-Wan stared at her. Sometimes he wondered if she knew what she was saying. "Grim, what does that mean?"

"Don't worry about it, Baldywan. But maybe next time let me know if you're going to fake your death. Not that you will fake your death again, but still-"

"You say concerning things sometimes, Grim."

"I know concerning things."

"I figured that out some time ago."

"Just a reminder."

"I didn't need it. You just told me you know how I die, and then how long I have left to live."

Grim shrugged and gave Obi-Wan a smirk. "Ah well, as long as I change things."

Obi-Wan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Grim..."

She laughed, giving Obi-Wan a grin despite her anger at him. It seemed to have died down for the moment.

Later that day Grim, Windu, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka were walking with Palpatine. Where they met up with Padme and the queen. Padme addressed the Jedi. "Once again you have all distinguished yourselves in the eyes of the Republic, and the people of Naboo are in your debt."

"It's all part of the job, my lady," Anakin replied. Grim resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him. Padme smiled at Anakin, and left.

Grim lagged behind Obi-Wan and Anakin. She noticed Anakin snap at Obi-Wan but didn't do or say anything about it. She left to explore Naboo until the sun set. Knowing that Obi-Wan and Anakin would be staying a little longer.

When the sun began to set Grim made her way to the palace. She found the dining room where Dooku waited. She wrapped a hand around her lightsaber and entered the room.

Sure enough Dooku was sitting there.

Except the Padawan is not who he was expecting, and so she caught the Sith Lord off guard. Dooku stood up, quickly. "You're Kenobi's Padawan, why are you here?" He demanded, remembering her from Zygerria. His lightsaber in hand.

Grim unclipped her lightsaber from her belt. "To stop you," she replied. She ignited her weapon and stood in the opening of form III, Soresu. Her Master's form.

He ignited his lightsaber.

Two droids with electro-staffs melted in from the shadows. The Padawan quickly realized her mistake. She leapt up and onto the table. She made a move to attack the Sith Lord, but he blocked with simple ease.

"Perhaps I could teach you a thing or two," Dooku said idly.

Grim twirled her lightsaber and prepared herself for an attack. "I don't take lessons from Sith Lords," she remarked. Just then one of the droids hit her from behind. She grunted and bit back a cry of pain at the electricity. "Force lightning's worse," she muttered.

Dooku heard. He raised an eyebrow at her. Then he sent some Force Lightning her way.

Grim tried to stop it with her lightsaber but the force sent her flying back into a wall. She let out an involuntary cry, as she crashed against it.

At this same time Anakin and Palpatine entered the room.

"Ah, just who I was waiting for," said Dooku upon seeing them.

"It's a trap!" exclaimed Palpatine.

"Really? I didn't notice when I set it off," remarked the Padawan getting back up.

"Grim? What are you doing here?" Anakin asked, surprised.

"Save the questions for when there isn't a Sith Lord," said Grim as she went over to his side.

"Chancellor, stay back," Anakin told him. "Grim, you-"

"Oh hell no, I'm fighting Dooku with you, Skywalker," Grim told him, reigniting her lightsaber.

"First the droids, don't get ahead of yourself," Anakin told her. Grim rolled her eyes in response.

The two Jedi took down the two droids, one for each Jedi.

"Chancellor, get out of here!" Anakin shouted to Palpatine.

"Good idea," he replied. Only to get captured a moment later.

Grim and Anakin ran at Dooku. Dooku blocked the attack of the two Jedi with ease and grace.

If Grim thought lightsaber combat was a dance, then Dooku must've been a performer. Putting on a show, and part of the padawan knew he was. For the other Sith in the room.

Anakin attacked constantly trying to take down the graceful Count with brute strength.

The Padawan however acted again as if a battle was a dance, and moved as such.

Dooku used the Force to start throwing chairs at the two Jedi.

Anakin artfully dodged every chair. However, Grim jumped on them to propel herself at Dooku.

She ran to charge at him. Leaping off of the final chair-

Dooku grabbed her neck with the Force.

The Padawan dropped her lightsaber and started to claw at the invisible hand. Then Dooku threw her back into Anakin, causing the two Jedi to collapse.

Grim scrambled off of Anakin, coughing and gasping for breath.

Anakin ran at Dooku going for the kill.

Grim got back up and joined Skywalker.

Palpatine watched as all of this unfolded.

Anakin was giving into his anger, falling further into the darkness. He was becoming more and more the perfect apprentice, the perfect tool.

The Padawan - Grim, she was different. She knew who he was, and was perhaps somehow from another universe. This explained a lot about how she felt in the Force, although he could tell that the young fool did not know of this.

Anakin's anger seemed to mix with Grim's. Although the roots were from two different places. As the battle moved away, and he was taken by the droid, the hidden Sith saw a darkness in the Padawan. One he could exploit.

Anakin kicked Dooku into the stairs and began to beat his lightsaber down against Dooku's. Grim had stopped in her fight altogether frozen as she watched the darkness of Anakin consume him.

Anakin wrapped his hand around the Count's throat and Grim's eyes widened in fear. She nearly stumbled backwards. Seeing for the briefest second the shadow of Darth Vader.

It was at that moment she realized a horrible fact. She was the only Jedi among the three Sith. For even though Anakin was still a Jedi Knight, he had already done enough acts to deem him a Sith in the eyes of Grim.

Dooku hit Anakin with a blast of Force Lightning, and it caught the Padawan too, sending them flying back. Grim cried out in pain. "That's the third time this week!" She complained.

Anakin looked at her with a horrified and concerned expression. He didn't get the chance to ask her what she meant by that as Obi-Wan, still as Hardeen ran over to them. "Are you all right?" He asked the two of them. Helping his two padawans up.

"Let's go!" was all Anakin replied, rushing back after the Sith.

Obi-Wan and Grim followed him.

Obi-Wan and Anakin leapt onto Dooku's shuttle. Grim was going to join them but they had already rescued the Chancellor.

"Well done, Master Kenobi. You are a worthy adversary. I cannot say the same about your young apprentices," proclaimed Dooku. With that he fled into the night.

Padme ran out to the three Jedi and Palpatine. "Chancellor! Are you all right?" she asked him, helping him up.

"Yes. Thanks again to the heroics of the Jedi. That's the second time today," Palpatine replied.

Grim felt anger bubbling to the surface. She knew she couldn't say anything and kept her face clear of her true emotion.

Obi-Wan spoke. "We specialize in heroics, Chancellor."

"As long as I live no harm will ever come to you, Your Excellency," Anakin promised him.

The padawan didn't know whether she wanted to laugh or punch him. She chose neither and forced a mature composure. As if she hadn't run recklessly into a fight with a Sith Lord, twice in one week.

"One shudders to think where the galaxy would be without the Jedi," said Palpatine.

Was it a trick of the light or did the chancellor glance at the padawan when he spoke? Grim felt a chill run through her. The feeling of coldness was not diminished despite standing next to one she saw as a beacon of light.

Despite this and determined to show the Sith she did not fear him Grim looked up at him, her emerald eyes piercing through his void soul. "Yes," she replied simply. "Fortunately, that will never happen, for even if only the slightest spark of light survives as will the Jedi. The Sith will never destroy the light, so there will always be Jedi in the galaxy." Her eyes burned with a passion as she spoke. The words had meaning only known to the Sith they were intended for. It was a threat and a promise, she would stop him.

The chancellor stared at the padawan. He seemed to consider her words. Knowing the meaning, although he gave away nothing. He easily kept his own mask as he wore a kindly smile. "Well spoken, young Jedi. Let us hope you're correct."