A Temple Encounter.
Lumara Kinstike ran. She ran as swiftly as she could without outstripping her shorter-legged companions.
The Temple, attacked? And by the republic? It was crazy, unbelievable. She glanced behind herself once more, to make sure the younglings were keeping up.
Master Tamek had charged her with guiding a group of the younger Padawans to a shuttle that would transport them to safety. Then, once the temple was secured she could take them back. Although, as hard as it was for Lumara to admit to herself, for the Jedi, victory was more 'if' than 'when'.
She tried to shrug off her doubts, but she kept obsessing about the object in her pocket. She carried a master disk for the Jedi holocrons and a backup. That was no problem. The fact that Master Tamek thought it necessary was. She began to wonder, what if the Jedi didn't succeed? "No," she told herself, "They will. They must."
Suddenly, a piercing scream filled her senses. More physiological than auditory. Lumara quickly got over it; she'd been in more than enough skirmishes to become used to battle tremors. However, many of the younglings hadn't, they had stopped dead in their tracks, a few sobbing slightly. One Twi'lek girl was so distraught that Lumara instinctively picked her up and started to comfort her.
"It's OK," she called out over the noise, "That was just a tremor in the Force, a Jedi died, maybe a few this time- but it's still OK. We've got to keep going."
She reached out, and was shocked to find a presence only round the corner. A rather large one too. She whirled around, still clutching the Twi'lek.
Anakin tore through the temple, slashing left and right with his lightsaber. Pain all around him, pain within him. In battle he usually felt connected to the Force, allowing it to guide his actions. His mind, body and spirit perfectly in tune. But now, he felt an odd sense of detachment. It was like he was watching someone else. It wasn't him cutting down former friends, not him incapacitating old mentors. Maybe it's better that way, he thought. Anakin didn't like to dwell on what he was doing.
He was steadily making his way through the temple, systematically wiping out the Jedi. He dashed to assist an overwhelmed group of clone troopers before pausing to engage one of the more troublesome Jedi Masters.
He allowed his anger to fuel the attack, while (skilfully he thought) controlling himself just enough. 'Anger is the path to the dark side...' He scowled deeply. "I don't need the ramblings of a weak, old, corrupt Jedi in my head. I've chosen my own path. I'm doing this for a good reason, the best reason. Her..."
Focusing once more on his battle plan, he started to head in the general direction of the hanger. He figured correctly that the younglings would be sent away during the battle.
When he found the hanger empty, save an empty ship and pilot, he headed down a disused passage which led indirectly to the younglings quarters. Using the Force to guide him, he ended up in a passage right under the halls where the main battle was taking place. He could feel the tremors in the force from here.
He reached out with his senses, and found a few minor Jedi presences, and a slightly larger one. Good, the escort shouldn't be any problem. They were just around the corner.
His lightsaber drawn, he turned the bend, and was mildly surprised when he saw a young girl- about sixteen he thought- carrying a crying Twi'lek, while shepherding a large group of younglings. He might have laughed if it weren't for the gravity of the situation.
As it was, he grimly advanced, ready to cut her down. But before he even had time to raise his arm, she turned to face him, and immediately started to chatter excitedly, stopping him in his tracks.
Lumara was so relieved to see Anakin. She knew she was totally out of her depth, however much faith Master Tamek had in her. She was a mediocre Jedi at best, and still only a Padawan. She needed his help. Lumara rapidly addressed him.
"Thank goodness you're here! I'm to escort the younglings and the holocron master-" she stopped in mid-sentence, frowning. Something seemed... wrong about him. The Force around him was in absolute turmoil. His lightsaber was drawn- understandable- but, before, had he been in an aggressive stance? Lumara wasn't sure what she had seen, but at that moment, two clone troopers sprinted up behind Anakin ("I should have been more focused!"). Her lightsaber was half-drawn when she realised that Anakin wasn't doing anything. He was just standing there, the troopers flanking him...
No! How could she have been so stupid! Her eyes narrowed in hatred. Skywalker had been their best chance against the Separatists. He had killed a Sith Lord. It was even rumoured that he was the Chosen One.
The betrayal in her eyes stung Anakin to the core. Though he knew what he had to do. She had the younglings and the masterdisk. "It's necessary," he told himself.
"Give me the disk," he commanded.
"You would wipe out the Jedi order, that took you in, your family," she spat, setting the Twi'lek on her feet, "You would kill innocent, defenceless children, all for your own selfish ambitions!"
"You know nothing of my reasons!" he snarled. Anakin stepped forward. "The disk."
Sensing what she was about to do, he leapt forward, but too late. Lumara frantically drew the disk from a pocket and threw it through her lightsaber.
"Run." she cried, her gaze not leaving the furious Anakin. The younglings hesitated, exchanging frightened glances. "Run, now!" They dashed off down the corridor, closely followed by one of the troopers.
"You will regret that," Anakin approached, eyes blazing.
She moved into a defensive stance. Lumara knew she stood no chance against him, but perhaps she could stall him long enough that some of the younglings might escape.
He was about to strike when he paused in mid-flight. She tried to take advantage of it, but nearly lost her lightsaber.
His eyes narrowed, he smiled, "You have a backup plan."
"I don't know what you mean," her response would have fooled any normal person, but no Jedi- or Sith.
"Another disk, a code-" It was almost imperceptible, but Anakin caught the flit of horror across her features. "Ah. Now give me the code and I may let you live."
"I'd rather die!" She launched herself into combat.
Anakin easily deflected the blows. "I don't have time for this," he exclaimed. Then, using The Force, he rendered her unconscious.
After instructing the remaining clone to take Lumara to a cell, he set off in pursuit of the younglings. "I'll deal with her when I get back from Mustafar."