As night approached they had all been sitting around the duel site, they had spent the last hour talking and getting to know each other. Coda had been listening to Yoda give him tips, he knew that even if he the power he still had a lot to learn when it came to lightsaber duels.

Soon it came time for the Jedi and the rest of the clones to leave. As they all started getting ready Coda grabbed the chance to take Anakin aside. Following Coda, they arrived at a small overlook over the pseudo camp. Standing there they both said nothing for a while before Coda spoke up.

"Your mother is safe."

"I thought that might be the case. Did you rescue her?" He asked with barely noticeable impatience.

With a single nod, he answered. "I did."

"Why did you..." Shaking his head. "How did you even know to save her?"

Turning his head to Anakin. "Because if I did not, you would have started walking down a path of no return."

Anakin thought over his answer for a while. "The dark side?"

"Aye. I have some knowledge of the future, your fear of loss would have become a glaring weakness that would have made you highly unstable." Coda shook his head slightly.

Anakin's eyes widened a bit. "You can see the future? Like Yoda?"

Giving a slight chuckle Coda responded. "No, not exactly. Yoda also cannot see the future, he can just read some of the paths it could take. The future is ever-changing, the more I interact will all of you the less I will be able to anticipate as I am changing it just by speaking to you."

Anakin's eyes furrowed as he asked. "Was my mother meant to die?"

Looking into Anakin's eyes Coda answered simply. "Yes, the visions you saw would have eventually compelled you to go look for her. You would have found her only to have her die in your arms, that should have been the start of your slow downfall as you would have slaughtered the entire camp of raiders in anger. Children and women as well."

His furrowed brows shot up in surprise as he cycled through multiple emotions as he processed the information. "I would never do something like that!"

Coda's eyes turned gentle. "The end of the path I have witnessed for you is the path of a monster Anakin. You even eventually cause the death of the one you love."

Anakin's features twisted into one of anger. "You're lying! I'd never hurt her!"

With a simple nod, Coda replied. "You're right, the you now would never do something like that. But the you in the future was a man manipulated by a sith, frustrated with the council and having visions that told you of the imminent loss of Padmé."

Giving a heavy sigh Coda continued. "A perfect cocktail to be seduced to the dark side wouldn't you say?"

Anakin was understandably agitated, but he didn't sense any deception from him. That made him afraid and confused, he didn't know what to do.

"What was it that Yoda said to you all those years ago? Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. Wise words, though a little hard to understand if they come from that little gremlin." Coda laughed.

Continuing. "You are afraid, and that's alright. But being consumed by any negative feeling isn't good for anyone, not just the Jedi. If you cannot let go of your anger and hate, you should at least accept them so you can work them out. Even if the older members of your order can be stuck up assholes sometimes, they will honestly try to help you if you're honest with them I believe."

Anakin calmed down slightly as he asked. "Why should I listen to you if what you say is true? Maybe you're trying to manipulate me as well!"

Coda just nodded in agreement. "I am. Obviously. I'm trying to talk you into healing yourself, I don't want you to follow in the footsteps of what I've seen you become. I'd rather not have to cut you down because you refuse to acknowledge that you have a problem, so I want you to promise me something."

Shocked from the blatant admission from Coda he asked. "Promise you what?"

"That you will stay true to yourself, and that you don't dismiss the advice of those around you. Especially your friends and loved ones, they do not say the things they say out of spite or jealousy. They care about you."

Anakin thought over what he said slowly before opening his mouth. "What about my mother? Will you return her to me?"

Coda started laughing uproariously. "Bwahahahahaha! Return her?" He wiped a tear from his right away before continuing. "She isn't my hostage or anything. She is a guest on my flagship right now, being treated like royalty if anything. When I come back you can meet her, and her family."

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Anakin's head kicked back in surprise. "Her family?"

Nodding Coda replied. "Yeah. She was bought by a kind man that freed her from slavery and then married her. They seem to love each other quite deeply, I also intend on bringing them to where I'll set up shop. They will all be treated with the highest regard. Of course, you'll be welcome to visit at any time."

Slightly confused by all this information Anakin went silent for a few minutes before locking eyes with Coda again. "Alright. I promise."

Suddenly they both felt the force around them go through a change as a loud snap could be felt.

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Everywhere the force touched, any force-sensitive being felt the force itself snap and shift as something had forcefully changed some fundamental truth. Those keener in the aspects of reading possibilities from the force could see some paths wink out of existence as other previously hidden ones appeared.

The force felt jubilant, even excited. It felt slightly brighter, it was almost unnoticeable but it was there.

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Anakin and Coda both stood there in shock as they glanced around for a while before they turned to look at each other.

Anakin spoke slowly. "What just... Happened?"

Coda's eyes left Anakin to watch the now darkened sky. "I believe we just changed the future." He said as a gleeful smile appeared on his face.

Not expecting the answer, Anakin lagged out a bit before one side of his mouth curved up a bit. "Anyone ever tell you that you act a bit crazy sometimes?"

"Well, normal is like super boring." He just shrugged.

They both chuckled a bit before Coda spoke up again. "Now, get going. Can't let the gremlin wait too long, old people need their sleep and all."

Smiling, Anakin asked. "When will we all see you again?"

With a mysterious smile, Coda replied. "When the war proper starts, I will not be far behind."

Walking back towards the camp they soon approached the Dauntless's ramp, everyone was waiting for them there. "Well people, I'm sure it was your pleasure meeting me. But alas, I'm a busy person so this will be goodbye for now."

Yoda and Qui-Gon had been staring at the two of them as they walked to the camp. Yoda spoke up before Coda could walk up the ramp. "Await your return I will."

Coda just smiled and made his way up the ramp, waving his hand over his head. Beatrix followed him in. Soon the ramp closed up and the ship took off into the night sky.

Obi-Wan spoke up shortly after they'd disappeared. "Master Yoda, was it wise to just let him go?"

Yoda turned and glanced up at Obi-Wan. "Stop him, we could not. Him leaving, the will of the force I sense. When we see him again, change will follow hmmm..."

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Arriving at the bridge with Trilla and Beatrix in tow Coda asked as he observed the darkness of space. "Did everything work out?"

Beatrix removed her mask before answering. "Yes my Lord. We successfully switched five dead troopers with the RG's you modified, the mission to retrieve the plans proved harder but eventually, we managed to infiltrate and copy the plans."

Smiling Coda replied. "Excellent! Great job B, I don't know what I'd do without you."

Beatrix answered with a smug tone. "Die of starvation I believe my lord."

Coda chuckled as she continued. "Though I don't understand my lord. Are you intending on constructing this weapon?"

One of his eyebrow crawled up slowly as he just looked at her like she was talking nonsense. "No of course not, I have no need for a planet-killer. Once we get R&D up and running I'll pitch my ideas then. Besides it's only the first part of what we need, we'll need to visit Chiss space for the next one. They are quite difficult to talk too, but I've got a plan for building some goodwill from them as well."

"I see. Very good My Lord. I'll fly us over to Tatooine again to pick up the comm satellite trail so we can start following the Prometheus." She said with a bow.

Nodding at Beatrix he then turned towards Trilla, force grabbing the mask right off her face he spoke up. "There's no need to hide your face anymore." He said as he rubbed his fingers over a blaster scorch mark. "I heard that you made quite the name for yourself down there Ms.Banshee." He said laughing.

She smiled wryly and shrugged. "I didn't pick the name. A member of Delta squad seems to have started it. I didn't find out until I returned to the Dauntless."

"Unfortunately the irony of it all is lost on them. You did return from the dead after all." Coda laughed as he handed her the mask back.

She joined him and laughed softly before speaking up. "So where are we headed now 'My Lord'?" As she did a small curtsy.

Shaking his head he said in a happy tone. "We're gonna meet up with the Prometheus and then we venture into wild space."

Her eyebrows shot up. "Wild space? With such a large vessel... Isn't that dangerous?"

Nodding Coda replied. "Yeah, it is. We will manage though, with smaller jumps and Beatrix and the RG's doing the calculations we should minimize the risks. You and I can also help them when the time comes."

"But why Wild space?" She asked curiously.

With a wry smile, he explained. "Because I don't think any of the established powers are going to take it kindly if a force such as ours starts carving out a slice for themselves. We will have absolute privacy to expand and prepare, that's why wild space is my choice."

He's right. A self-sufficient self-expanding workforce that doesn't tire. That would scare the shit out of them. She thought to herself.

"Now go get some rest, I have to go meditate and then sleep. I didn't notice it right away but that little stunt I pulled with you left some serious after-effects I didn't anticipate, I'd like to get back to tip-top shape before we go into the unknown." Coda said in a tired tone.

"That's not a bad idea. I'm sorry." She said apologetically.

"No sorries remember? I'll be fine after I rest a bit, we have a long way to travel so maybe we can get some training in while we're on the move. Good night." He said and made his way to the captain's quarters. Once there he sat down in a lotus position with both of his sabers resting in each of his hands. Closing his eyes they started floating above them and giving of a silver and orange glow.

Finally, my adventure can truly start. He thought to himself as he sunk slowly into a trance.