Hey there, I am still alive! :DDD I did say I have exams next week, but I definitely need a rest after revising Biology for the whole day... Guess I'll try to entertain myself by writing out this, and I had lots of fun with writing this :D Don't worry, I am starting to write a new chapter for Talk of the Past, it should be up in a few days. Be patient. :) Thanks! :D
' I think Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith Lord.'
Mace Windu stared at Anakin Skywalker, comprehending what he just told him. But the younger Jedi didn't seem like kidding, because his face was serious.
' A Sith Lord?' Windu repeated after a moment.
Skywalker confirmed grimly, ' Yes. The one we've been looking for.'
' How do you know this?'
' He knows the ways of the Force,' He said. ' He has been trained to use the dark side.'
Windu's head was spinning slightly. It was not everyday that you were told a Sith lord had been active, just right under your very own nose and ruling the world for so long too. ' Are you sure?'
' Absolutely.'
A plan formulated quickly in the older Jedi Master's head. He would need all the help he could get, so he would need reinforcements. The names Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar and Saesee Tinn popped up in his mind automatically. Yes, together they would take down the Sith lord and restore peace to the world. Maybe the Clone Wars could end earlier too.
In the end, Mace Windu told the young man solemnly, ' Then our worst fears have been realized. We must move quickly, if the Jedi order is to survive.'
' Master, the Chancellor is very powerful. You'll need my help if you are going to arrest him,' Skywalker pleaded urgently.
Mace Windu looked at him, ' For you own good, stay out of this affair. I sense a great deal of confusion in you, young Skywalker. There is much fear that clouds your judgment.'
' I must go, Master,' Skywalker insisted stubbornly, with a look of determination.
Mace Windu was about to say 'no' again, when something in his mind stopped him. Would that be of any use? If he did calculations, the probability of Anakin tagging along secretly despite his orders would be 1, because the Jedi knight was well known for his recklessness and stubbornness.
Some people would always say he had some sort of grudge against Skywalker. It wasn't true. The Korun Master admired the boy for his determination and skill, but at the same time, he knew the boy held many fears. He knew the boy had too many attachments, namely his mother, the Senator he had protected, his former Padawan, maybe even his astromech droid (really?) and Chancellor Palpatine, whom he considered as his mentor.
This would hit him hard. No wonder the boy seemed confused, because distress and anxiety came off Skywalker in huge waves.
Not that he doubted of Skywalker's skill when it came to dueling with a Sith, but if he really tagged along… He might ruin the plan because of his clouded judgments. No. This mattered the entire universe, and the arrest must not fail. Mace Windu wouldn't have it.
So now… the question of the era. How to keep Skywalker safe in the Temple? Sure he could stick him in the archives and have Jocastu Nu look after the man, but there would be a high possibility for the Jedi to escape through the open window. Or he could kindly ask him to stay in the Council room, but the plan was quickly vetoed in milliseconds, because Windu had the feeling that Skywalker would rush out from the room on second thoughts AND tag along.
Skywalker had a tendency of not following orders. This could be proved from the time he had charged Dooku despite Obi-wan's protests, and in the end got his arm cut off. Such stubbornness was even wiped off onto his former Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, who was like a mini-Anakin plus the fiery hot temper. Sure, both of them completed all of their missions without fail, but broke the rules and Jedi code to bits during the process.
A last resort plan formed in the Master's mind. He didn't like it, because it was not a Jedi way at all. But there was no other choice to make Skywalker obey, so…
Mace Windu contorted his face into the best shocked expression he could muster and screamed in a falsetto, ' Oh good lord! Look behind you, Skywalker!'
That scared Skywalker, because he had never seen the usual-so-serious Jedi Master so terrified before, so he turned hastily to look behind him. In that few precious seconds, Windu whipped off his lightsaber from his belt in such great speed and struck Skywalker on the head with the base of the hilt.
Skywalker's knees buckled and fell to the floor, out cold.
Windu stuck his lightsaber back onto his belt and let out a sigh of relief. But it wasn't the end, yet. He had to take care of the unconscious body of Anakin Skywalker before setting off to the Chancellor's office.
Coincidentally, he spotted Padawan Zett Jukassa, walking around the hangar bay trying to look for his Master.
' Padawan Jukassa,' Windu called out to the young boy in his deep voice. ' Come here for a second.'
Zett trotted over, looking utterly confused. His confusion turned to shock when he took sight of the deeply unconscious Anakin Skywalker sprawled onto the floor, with a bump the shape of the base of a lightsaber growing on his forehead.
' I need you to take Master Skywalker up to his quarters, it is the sixteenth one on the left if I haven't mistaken. Put him on his bed, tie him up if necessary and look after him until I return, and… Here,' Windu handed a comlink to the boy from his pocket. ' If we fail our mission, I will try to send you a distress call, and remember to evacuate the Temple. Tell all present Jedi Masters. Is that okay?'
Zett nodded.
' Good, I'll see you then, young Padawan,' Windu nodded approvingly, and walked off to find Kit Fisto, leaving Zett with the body of Anakin Skywalker.
' Now what,' Zett sighed, trying to heave up the heavy body and distract himself from thinking about ways to handle the murderous Jedi after he came to (tied up).
Note: Mace Windu has no idea why Anakin wants to tag along to the mission. He simply assumes it is because Anakin is confused about Palpatine.
