The Return to Coruscant

"Secure them and prepare for extraction," Lelouch ordered, his tone brooking no argument, but it was no longer the bone-shaking tone that he had used during his assault on the hangar. The troopers snapped into action, carefully lifting the fallen Jedi and moving them to the waiting LAAT. 

Lelouch watched as the transport rose and took to the skies, before another one took its place in front of him. 

He was greeted first-hand to a handful of burn-ridden clones, one of them even missing an entire leg. It was clearly a medical transport that had made a detour to pick him up. 

"General, sir." The clones still conscious greeted. "At ease." 

Lelouch climbed up, though he stayed by the door, sitting on the floor, stretching his legs by the door's length as he leaned back. 

"Sorry, general. We are stretched thin regarding transports." The captain outside the door reported. 

"Sorry?! For what? Any general would be glad to return alongside his soldiers." 

Aboard the Acclamator-I, the atmosphere was tense. The medics had already tended to Anakin and Kenobi, who were now resting in the ship's infirmary. Padme, visibly shaken but relieved that Anakin was safe, stood by his side, her fingers gently brushing a lock of hair from his forehead as they spoke softly to each other. 

"I believe this is the first time I've ever seen you so docile Anakin." Lelouch remarked from the door. 

The couple damn near jumped from their seated positions and away from each other before seeing Lelouch, still in his clone armor but without his helmet, and calming down slightly. 

"Relax, I have Kenobi on medical hold and a couple of guards on Yoda reporting his location to me." 

Now they calmed down almost completely, as they slowly inched back towards one another. 

"One more thing, you're both coming with me, I have a surprise for you two." 

The couple merely looked at each other before following cautiously, their eyes darting around every corner during their short journey, with Lelouch merely shaking his head at the display. 

'You sure this is going to work.' 

'Indeed I am. Sadly I hold so much knowledge and so many secrets, that 99% of them are rather mundane in their applications and purpose.' 

'Still thought something like matchmaking and seduction would fall under another of your siblings.' 

'As an action, it does, as experience and knowledge, it falls under me.' The entity elaborated smugly. 

'I see, that means it goes for your other siblings as well.' 

'It does.' 

Lelouch passed the doors with his entourage, entering the hangar as they slowly made heir way towards a concentration fo clones near the hangar ramp, which was slowly lowering. 

"Everything on track captain?" 

"Yes sir, we are currently 'repairing' the damaged thruster, and getting ready to send a few more on a spacewalk, to do a preliminary check for any other visible damages." 

"And the Jedi?" 

"As you've ordered, Master Kenobi is under medical hold. As for master Yoda..." 

The paused as he passed a helmet to Lelouch, checking behind him to see that the clones had finally finished stuffing the happy couple in hermetically sealed suits. 

Giving a nod to the clone behind him, the message was quickly relayed and a moment later, everyone and everything not locked into place began to slowly float. 

"...There seems to be a problem with the static force field. A glancing shot perhaps during troop deployment when our shields were down." Lelouch could almost hear the grin in the transmission. 

Could clones take after their commanders? They were technically blank templates with massive growth accelerants... so... maybe... oh well. 

"Nice job captain... now... as for our friends..." 

"Umm.... Lelouch, i think they forgot to give us magnetic boots. We are kind of stuck hovering here." 

"They forgot nothing. You have to have at least one nice date before returning the lady to her duties, and rocky or sandy planets don't count. Make it count." 

"Wait we are actually..." 

That was all was heard before the clones grabbed the couple, and Anakin could swear by the force, the clone in front of him had a mad grin in his ace as he showed him a hook, hoisting and tying it around him, before they gently (and suspiciously happily) threw the dumbfounded couple out of the hangar doors. 

Anakin could see the clones high-fiving each other as they returned towards the hangar. 

He was about to let them have it before a voice pulled his attention. "Ani... look..." Padme said as she urged with her head. 

It reminded Anakin of the first time he had stepped into space. A beautiful nebula stretched itself before their eyes as they were left amidst themselves. 

---------------------- 

The ship hummed with the steady rhythm as it left hyperspace, heading down towards Coruscant. 

Lelouch, now free of his clone trooper armor and dressed in his usual white attire, stood alone in the dimly lit room. 

In a secure briefing room aboard the ship, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Master Windu and Master Yoda gathered with the holographic projection of Chancellor Palpatine, the flickering blue light casting eerie shadows on the walls. The discussion had already been underway for some time, and the topic had inevitably turned to Lelouch. 

"Skillful... the young man is... unafraid... he also is..." The old master commented. 

"Perhaps... but he is also not very open. I still think he is too young for such a position and what it entails." 

Anakin seemed reluctant to talk against his Jedi superiors, even though he looked like he was biting back a few words. 

"Perhaps we should have the Senator's input in this." He finally relented, finding perhaps a gap from where to back-up his friend. 

"I'm afraid it won't do any good my friends. In truth, this is also merely myself trying to cling at straws to find a reason not to send my son into the front lines of this war... Senator Padme and her supporters are under heavy scrutiny for basically initiating this war, Her unauthorized visit to Geonosis with a Jedi by her side, Master Kenobi's uncovered investigation. The jedi are even more so given one of theirs leads the enemy." 

"Count Dooku has not been a Jedi in years." Anakin retorted. 

"And yet he carries a lightsaber and uses strange powers... I'm afraid to the public it makes very little difference." 

"Wait... how did word of this even get out. I understand the general conflict, but how did they know it was Lelouch leading our troops?" Kenobi asked. 

"Footage has leaked from the battlefield. My best guess is someone paid someone else off. It had to be someone, or a group of considerable influence, given they put together after-battle reports from both sides, showing the stark contrast." 

"Lelouch's supporters? ...He has a rather massive fan following as the 'White Prince' of the Galactic Republic." 

"Or perhaps his enemies. He is now a prime target for the CIS. I'm under no illusions we have no enemies amidst our ranks." The chancellor himself spoke. 

"Investigated... this needs to be..." 

"Perhaps... however the senate and I cannot overlook the upsides. Public support is at an all-time high and any reports from soldiers directly under Lelouch during the time of deployment paint him in nothing but a positive view. On the other hand, the numbers speak for themselves. Honestly, if I wasn't aware that it was genuine, I'd think of it as nothing but baseless propaganda... though the content uploaded speaks for itself. Dozens of enemy battleships stand decimated, a big concertation of their armies crushed to dust, a major factory world subdued in but a day." 

... 

A silence hung on the Jedi's minds as they remembered the battle. Nearly 200 of their brothers had fallen before the clone army had even set foot on the planet. 

Windu's fist tightened for a moment as he remembered his hesitation in front of Dooku. 

"Thats not all though I'm afraid. While Lelouch's stellar performance is cause for celebration... I'm afraid it has called into question the Jedi's place into the upcoming conflict." 

"What?" Mace Windu questioned as he looked quizzically at the chancellor. 

"It is nothing much right now, but it calls to question the Jedi's capabilities to lead. I'd advise caution to the Jedi High Council in who they choose to lead the clones as they will be placed under scrutiny." 

"Understand... we do..." the old master said as the conversation continued for a few more minutes. 

The conversation in the briefing room shifted into a more somber tone as Chancellor Palpatine continued to outline the delicate political situation. The success of the clone army on Geonosis, largely credited to Lelouch's leadership, had inadvertently cast a shadow over the Jedi's role in the war. 

Master Yoda, his gaze distant, contemplated the implications. "Scrutiny, the Jedi will face. Balance, we must keep. Trust, we must earn, again." 

Chancellor Palpatine, ever the politician, nodded in agreement. "The Jedi Order has long been a beacon of hope and justice in the galaxy. However, this war will test all of us, and we must ensure that the right individuals are placed in positions of leadership." 

He turned his attention to Lelouch, who stood quietly, observing the discussion with his usual calm demeanor. "Lelouch, your actions on Geonosis have not gone unnoticed. It is the decision of this council, with the support of the Senate, to grant you the rank of High General of the Grand Army of the Republic." 

The room fell silent as the weight of the announcement settled over everyone present. High General was a title that came with immense responsibility and authority, one that placed Lelouch on equal footing with the most senior Jedi commanders. 

Lelouch, his expression controlled, bowed slightly. "I accept this honor, Chancellor. I will serve the Republic with all my strength." 

Mace Windu studied Lelouch carefully. "With this title comes great responsibility. The lives of countless soldiers, the fate of entire worlds, may rest on your decisions. Remember, Lelouch, that power must be wielded with care." 

Lelouch met Windu's gaze, his violet eyes reflecting both determination and an understanding of the gravity of his new role. "I understand, Master Windu. I will not take this responsibility lightly. The Republic's survival depends on all of us, working together." 

Chancellor Palpatine smiled, pleased with the outcome. "Very well. High General Lelouch, you will report directly to the Supreme Chancellor's office and coordinate with the Jedi High Council." 

The meeting concluded shortly after, with the Jedi leaving the briefing room deep in thought. Lelouch, now officially High General, had been thrust into a position of immense power. 

---------------------- 

Later, as the Acclamator-I made its final approach to Coruscant, Lelouch found himself on the observation deck, looking out at the glittering planet below. The cityscape of Coruscant stretched endlessly, a symbol of the Republic's grandeur and its complexities. Lelouch's thoughts were a whirlwind of strategies, potential alliances, and the looming shadow of war. 

But amidst the chaos, a small glimmer of personal life broke through. Anakin had quietly approached Lelouch earlier with a request that had surprised him. 

---------------------- 

The wedding took place in a secluded garden within the Senate District, away from prying eyes and the political machinations of the galaxy. The evening air was cool, the sky tinged with the colors of sunset as Anakin and Padme stood together, their hands clasped, their eyes locked in an unspoken vow of love and commitment. 

Lelouch stood in front of them, dressed in his brand-new uniform, signifying his new position, his presence... a quiet support to the couple. The ceremony was simple, intimate, with only a handful of trusted individuals present. C-3PO and R2-D2 stood nearby, the droids providing a touch of familiarity to the otherwise surreal moment. 

As the he concluded the ceremony, Lelouch watched as Anakin and Padme exchanged their vows, their love for each other evident in every word, every glance. 

It was almost enough to rekindle old memories and emotions in him... almost...