Hello everyone. Yes, I must be crazy; another story. This is the replacement for A Gift Lost. This story is called "An Agri-Corps Mystery" and is the most AU I've ever done. In this reality, Ahsoka Tano was never assigned as Anakin's Padawan and so, she ends up in the Agricultural Corps. This obviously has a major impact on Anakin and the Clone Wars. The most important of which is that Padmé is dead; killed by Aurra Sing on Alderaan since Ahsoka wasn't there to foresee it and prevent it. Obviously Anakin has been greatly affected and some of the ways he's affected are actually for the best. For example, Anakin no longer likes or trusts Chancellor Palpatine after the Sith Lord in hiding tried to make use of her death with some very ill thought words, destroying Anakin's trust (more details in story). Because of this, Palpatine had to radically change his plans and the events of Revenge of the Sith won't happen in this reality and the Clone Wars will go on for much longer.

One final note, neither Anakin nor Ahsoka, when we meet her, will be the same as normal in this story, at least initially. Padmé's death has changed Anakin; he's quieter, less arrogant and less alive, but one thing is for the better; he's more willing to let go as he's been forced to learn how. In this reality, Ahsoka is in the Agri-Corps and she basically believes that she is a failure. Adding to this is the fact that she has been stationed on a planet where, apart from a few others, she is more or less alone which of course isn't good for a Togruta. Therefore at the beginning, she is depressed, almost suicidal and withdrawn. We won't see any of her snippy nature until a good way in. Well, let's start. Just a note; this story starts two years after Padmé's death; just after the temple bombing.

An Agri-Corps Mystery: Chapter 1 – A Break from the War

Anakin Skywalker sighed as he stared into the Coruscant sky; he was fortunate that he could see the sky from his quarters as not every room in the Temple had a decent view. Anakin was melancholic; he had just captured and arrested the master mind of the bombing that had shocked the Jedi Temple a week before, Barriss Offee. Her attempts at framing someone didn't fool Anakin or the council for a moment as the girl she had tried to frame, a red skinned Twi'lek who was a friend of hers, wasn't even on Coruscant at the time. He had to laugh at the attempt however; it was almost amateurish. It was clear to him that Barriss was no Sith Lord even if she was trying to be.

Anakin had only met Barriss once before and that was over two and a half years before on Geonosis when Barriss and her master were called to aid him take out the droid factory. Anakin remembered that Barriss was taken over by a Geonosian brain worm soon after and was only saved when one of the clones managed to avoid becoming infected and raised the alarm. Anakin wishes that the clone hadn't bothered now.

Although he couldn't agree with Barriss' actions, there was a part of him that understood where she was coming from. This war had claimed too many lives and corrupted too many people. Anakin closed his eyes to prevent himself from crying; the thought had triggered his memory of his late wife; even after two years he couldn't forget her death or fully move on.

Padmé had been killed two years previously during an aid conference on Alderaan by the bounty hunter Aurra Sing and Anakin had almost lost his mind after he heard. What hurt him the most was the fact he couldn't even get the person who had done it as the bounty hunter was herself, found dead two months after so no one had any idea who had ordered the hit. That almost sent Anakin over the edge and only Obi-Wan and Master Yoda working together prevented Anakin falling to the Dark Side. That event led to the council finding out about Anakin and Padmé's marriage and at the time, the council put serious thought into expelling Anakin only to decide against it due to the fact that the attachment had been broken and the council felt that they needed to watch Anakin closely.

Anakin had been alone ever since. Everyone special and close in his life apart from his former Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, was dead and it left Anakin wondering if he was just born to suffer. He couldn't even count Chancellor Palpatine as a friend anymore; not after he told Anakin to gain strength from his wife's death and take revenge. Anakin was appalled over the prospect of turning Padmé's death into a source of strength; there was nothing positive about that; nothing. After hearing that, Anakin walked out of the chancellor's office and had never gone back.

Anakin's loneliness had burned at his soul ever since that day and he had thrown himself into the war effort. At least he couldn't think if he was slashing Separatist droids. Now, however, he was spent. Barriss' words to him as he captured her had hit home; everything was lost in darkness and the tiny amount of light in the galaxy was diminishing by the day; Anakin had to agree with her on that.

There had been occasions during the war, especially after Padmé's death, where Anakin had regretted his insistence over not getting a Padawan. "A Padawan would just slow me down" he had told Obi-Wan. Now Anakin was beginning to see his mistake but it was too late; Obi-Wan had recently told him that the council probably wouldn't let Anakin chose an apprentice now even if Anakin did decide to get one. Add that to the fact that the council had warned him that he would be immediately expelled if he gained one more attachment; not that Anakin had particularly cared about that.

On the contrary in fact, leaving the Order had crossed Anakin's mind more times than he would dare to admit, even to himself, and now, he was seriously considering it again. In fact, he was considering throwing his lightsaber at Master Yoda, finding the nearest Twi'lek slave girl, freeing her and running away with her to the outer rim. He knew that Padmé would want him to be happy and he would be happy after doing that, wouldn't he? Anakin shook his head; the truth was that he didn't know if even that would make him happy now. Maybe the Jedi Order was all he had left; he struggled to hold back tears at that thought but it was true nevertheless.

Anakin's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his door. Anakin could instantly sense who it was, "Come in Master."

Obi-Wan opened the door and entered Anakin's quarters. Obi-Wan could tell instantly that Anakin had been torturing himself again. In Obi-Wan's view, Anakin was far too hard on himself and dwelling in the past and what might have been. Obi-Wan knew that Anakin thought that he didn't understand, but the truth was that Obi-Wan did understand; all too well in fact. Obi-Wan had been close, almost too close, to both Siri Tachi and Duchess Satine Kryze and both women ended up dead. The loss of both of them had almost broken Obi-Wan's heart. True, Obi-Wan hadn't married either of them like Anakin and Padmé had but he still understood. Still, it wasn't healthy for Anakin to still be dwelling after two years. "You're torturing yourself again Anakin?"

Anakin was less than impressed; although Anakin was pleased that he still had Obi-Wan at least, the older man could be seriously annoying at times, "What else have I got to think about Master? What?"

Obi-Wan considered giving the standard Jedi lecture about attachments but he decided against it; there was no point, Anakin had already broken that particular rule and he was lucky to get away with it; not that Anakin had really; even Obi-Wan had to admit that. "Ending this war Anakin" Obi-Wan replied with some venom. Obi-Wan instantly regretted it; that was unfair. Even Anakin couldn't end the war by himself.

"I don't see that happening Master. At least not quickly" Anakin replied.

Obi-Wan saw an opportunity, one that was too good to miss, "I know Anakin, but we must keep going. You must keep going so you can bring the peace that Padmé wanted so much."

Anakin managed to raise a smile; hearing that from Obi-Wan was unexpected but welcome, "I try to do that all the time Master," Anakin looked down, "I just wish I didn't have to do it alone sometimes."

"I understand Anakin, but you must let go." Obi-Wan decided not to mention just how closely the council were watching Anakin now. Everyone had sensed how quiet and withdrawn he had been since his wife's death. Obi-Wan knew that Master Windu was considering talking to the healers about having Anakin sectioned in fact; the council thought that Anakin may be suffering from clinical depression and that could be very dangerous to a Jedi; especially one as powerful as Anakin.

"I have let go Master" Anakin replied which caused Obi-Wan to raise an eyebrow. "At least I've let go as much as I can or want" Anakin continued, "I don't think I'll ever fully let go however."

Obi-Wan nodded; that was about as much as he could expect from Anakin. Obi-Wan had to admit that the will of the Force had been cruel to Anakin but it had been cruel to everyone; it came with being a Jedi. Obi-Wan decided to get to the point of why he was here, "Anakin, the council need to see you. We have a mission for you."

Anakin stood up. In truth Anakin was glad; anything was preferable to being bored around the temple plus, it might stop him thinking for a while which would be a definite bonus. Anakin sighed as he wondered what Force forsaken hole in the galaxy they were going to send him to this time; knowing his luck it would be Tatooine again. "Alright Master, I'll come with you."

Obi-Wan led Anakin out of his quarters and headed for the council chamber. Obi-Wan knew all too well that the mission they had in mind was different from what Anakin was used to but like all Jedi, Anakin would have to live with it. It didn't stop Obi-Wan from worrying though; Obi-Wan knew Anakin treated the destruction of Separatist droids as therapy but there would be no droids to slash on this mission but he would let Master Yoda tell Anakin about that.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Obi-Wan led Anakin into the council chamber then immediately took his council seat. Anakin looked around the council; its members were proof of the damage the war was doing. Several council members had perished during the war; Adi Gallia had been replaced by Stass Allie and Master Plo Koon had been replaced by Luminara Unduli when his fleet was wiped out by the Malevolence early in the war. The Order wept that day; despite a brief rescue attempt by Anakin himself, no trace of Plo Koon was ever found.

Anakin looked at Master Unduli. For a second, he could have sworn that he saw a few tears in her eyes and he had to wonder why. Then he remembered that Barriss was her Padawan and despite himself, Anakin flashed a brief smile; it was good to see one of the Masters showing some feeling for someone at last. Anakin stood in the centre of the room and bowed, "You wanted to see me Masters."

Master Yoda spoke up, "To Pheebos you will go Skywalker. A mystery there is."

Anakin frowned; Pheebos? Wasn't that an agricultural planet? What mystery could happen there? "Pheebos Master? Isn't that one of the worlds the Agri-Corps have a base on?"

Master Windu answered; he was happy that Anakin wasn't being sent somewhere where he couldn't do any damage; at least for one mission, "Yes although it's their smallest outpost. The Agri-Corps Jedi stationed there have alerted us to a situation that has arisen there. We are sending you to look into it."

"Situation?" Anakin questioned; what situation could possibly occur on what is essentially a glorified farm?

Master Unduli answered; it had actually been her idea to send Anakin on this mission. Unlike many of the council members, Luminara believed that the council may be needed to understand Anakin better and her recent experience with Barriss had confirmed her view. This mission, Luminara reasoned, would be a good break from the front lines for Anakin but would still give him something to think about so he didn't dwell. Luminara had discussed this with Obi-Wan before this meeting. "The Agricultural Corps have informed us that several deliveries of fruit and vegetables grown by the Jedi on Pheebos have been tainted by a nerve toxin."

Anakin's eyes widened, "Are you saying that one of the Agri-Corps Jedi on that world is poisoning their output?" Anakin was staggered; if true then that would be worse than the temple bombing; far worse.

"Fortunately no," Stass Allie replied; as a healer, she had seen the effects of the toxin on this food first hand. She had dealt with several cases of poisoning related to this problem already. "There are only a couple of Agri-Corps Jedi on that world and the Agri-Corps themselves have been able to clear their members on world of any involvement."

"Then who?" Anakin questioned. He was relieved that at least it wasn't another case of a Jedi betraying the Order. After dealing with Barriss, Anakin had had enough of that.

"To find that out your mission is" Master Yoda replied, "Of upmost importance this is. Could do critical damage this could."

Anakin nodded, but was puzzled; he wasn't an investigator. Surely a Jedi Sentinel would be better here or maybe Obi-Wan. Anakin himself knew that he lacked the patience for this sort of thing. "Why me Masters? I'm not an investigator."

"Need a break from the front lines you do Skywalker" Master Yoda answered, "Broaden your knowledge this will." Master Yoda then decided to let out a tiny bit of information that the Force had told him, "Discover something to heal yourself there you will. Know what it is I do not but find it yourself you will."

All the council members looked in confusion at Master Yoda; he hadn't said this before. Did Master Yoda know something they didn't? If he did, he certainly hadn't told them what it was.

Anakin also looked at Master Yoda with puzzlement. What in the name of the Force was Master Yoda on about now? Anakin shook his head as he decided that it was practically impossible to figure out anything Yoda said once he got in this mood. Anakin decided just to ignore it and let it pass, "Do we have any leads Masters?"

Obi-Wan quickly recovered from his confusion and answered, "We do know that the toxin is being introduced into the shipment as Jedi geologists have tested the soil and plants themselves. It must be happening on that world however as the toxin has been found in the food deliveries before the ship has even lifted off."

"Couldn't the Jedi there watch the shipments Master?"

"They have done Anakin" Obi-Wan replied, "The mystery is that the Jedi there have witnessed nothing and nothing has shown on security holos yet the shipments keep getting poisoned. Everything they could think of has been tested but still no leads have been discovered. The Agricultural Corps have asked for full knight assistance out if desperation."

"Then how…..?" Anakin asked. This didn't seem possible in his view; someone must be doing this and it made him suspicious. He began to suspect that someone was lying.

Master Windu cut him off, "We don't know Skywalker. That is why we are sending you."

Anakin wasn't particularly happy with Windu's statement. Anakin wasn't happy with Mace full stop in fact; that guy was far too up himself Anakin reasoned. "I see" Anakin stated with a hint of venom.

"Find out what is going on you must" Master Yoda added, "Many lives, depend on it they do."

"Yes Master" Anakin replied as he bowed," I will leave immediately." Anakin left the council chambers and headed for the docking bay. He immediately cursed; he would have to take one of those useless shuttles as Obi-Wan had managed to somehow get the Twilight destroyed on Mandalore. Force help Obi-Wan if he ever had a go at Anakin for crashing again.

Anakin walked on board a shuttle and powered up the engines. He guided the ship out of the bay and up into space. Setting the navigation computer for Pheebos, he made the jump into hyperspace.

Well, that's my new story. Don't worry; I'm not abandoning The Order Redeems or A Counsellor's Story. As I said at the beginning, this is a replacement for A Gift Lost. Please tell me if it worth me continuing this but I do think that this is a better story than A Gift Lost. If you want me to continue then in the next chapter, Anakin will get to Pheebos and we will meet everyone's favourite teenage Togruta for the first time (She will be very depressed; you have been warned) and Anakin will start his investigation.