Coruscant – Galactic City
Year 981 after the Ruusan Reformation – Third year of the Clone Wars
It was a tense afternoon on Coruscant. The sun was about to disappear soon, giving birth to the night. And tonight, everything would change, for everyone.
Anakin Skywalker sat alone on the council chambers of the Jedi Temple. No one else was there, both physically or in hologram. The other Masters were occupied fighting on other planets, while Master Mace Windu had taken a small squad of Jedi to the Chancellor's office. Earlier Anakin had revealed to Master Windu that Chancellor Palpatine was a Sith Lord, the one they had been looking all along. The one behind the war and the Separatists.
Although Palpatine's arrest would mean the end of the war, Anakin had serious reservations. Palpatine had sensed Anakin's despair at his wife's possible death. He knew that he was willing to do anything to save her. So, he made him an offer: he would teach him the powers of the dark side of the Force, and his power would be greater than any Jedi. That power would allow him to save Padmé.
But at what cost? Padmé would be saved, but what was he willing to sacrifice? Anakin was plagued with doubt and suspicion for the last days. His own dark side was growing, and he felt powerless to prevent it from harming anyone he cared about.
Getting off his seat, and against his better judgment, Anakin quickly left the council chambers and ran as fast as he could to the hangar. There, he took an airspeeder and parted towards the Chancellor's office.
At the Chancellor's Office, Palpatine was having a fateful encounter with Mace Windu, Agen Kolar, Saesee Tiin and Kit Fisto.
"You're under arrest, Chancellor."
"Are you threatening, Master Jedi?"
"The Senate will decide your fate."
"I am the Senate."
"Not yet."
And in that moment, Darth Sidious revealed his true essence. "It's treason, then."
The battle had begun. Palpatine and Windu were locked in a stalement, it was clear that Windu was the greater threat. The other three Jedi were simpering annoyances. With his mastery over the Force, Palpatine employed pushes and lightning bolts to throw the Jedi across the room, hitting them against the walls over and over again. And in a matter of moments, Fisto, Tiin and Kolar were out cold. But Windu was agile and smart enough not to fall for Sidious's tactics.
The Dark Lord drove the Jedi Master back with furious and quick strikes, but Windu skillfully defended himself, forcing Sidious into a bladelock. Their battle took them to the center of the space.
Meanwhile, Anakin flew his speeder across Coruscant's crowded streets. Although the journey from the Temple to the Senate Building was relatively short, for the young Jedi Knight, it lasted centuries. He kept thinking what he should do regarding Palpatine. Deep down, he wanted to forget that Palpatine was a Sith and believe that he was just helping him out of goodness of his heart. He wanted to kill Palpatine, but he had to keep him alive if Padmé was to be saved.
While Anakin flied to the Senate, Windu and Palpatine continued their combat. Sidious unleashed a rapid series of unsuccessful attacks against Windu, and Sidious was driven back by Windu with a steady, offensive march. Windu guided the battle across the office towards the bay window, which was quickly shattered by their missed attacks. As they moved out onto the wind-blown ledge, Sidious was forced to channel more energy into a Force-powered grip on the permacrete, and less into the Force-powered speed he was assailing Windu with.
Anakin had reached the Senate's parking space. Getting out of the speeder, he began running towards the building's entrance, when all of a sudden, he felt an unexpected pain on his head. Falling to his knees, Anakin tried to kept himself lucid, when he began seeing things.
He saw himself marching with clone troopers towards the Jedi Temple. Then, he saw Republic starships flying around some kind of spherical superstructure. And finally, he saw a man in a black armor, wielding a red-bladed lightsaber. A Sith Lord. It wasn't Palpatine. It was someone different, but the Sith wore a mask that covered his entire head.
The visions ended, but Anakin was left confused. What was the meaning of this? And why, of all the possible moments, he had to see these things now? Anakin got back on his feet, and looked at the Senate building. "Padmé, please help decide what to do." He said in a soft, confused tone.
"Your heart will guide you, Ani. Just remember you are a good person."
He remembered having asked that same question to Padmé a few days ago, and her answer still felt as clear as before. Still, it wasn't enough to shake off his doubts. A small tear streamed down his face, but Anakin wiped it. He had to do this, for Padmé. Then, he ran towards the building, hoping that it wasn't too late to make a choice.
Meanwhile, Windu and Palpatine started a flurry of bladework, but Palpatine's slight decrease in speed provided an opening, allowing Windu to end the bout with a swift kick to the Sith Lord's jaw. Sidious was thrown off balance, staggering back and dropping his lightsaber as he flailed for balance before scurrying back against the window frame. Darth Sidious had been defeated, and was now at Master Windu's mercy, who held his blade to the Sith Lord's throat and declared the Dark Sider under arrest.
"You are under arrest, my lord." stated Windu in anger.
And as fate would have it, Anakin reached the room. Seeing that the room was a mess and the three unconscious Jedi, he concluded that Palpatine had resisted that arrest Windu and his team had attempted.
"Anakin, I told it would come to this…" said Palpatine cowardly. "I was right. The Jedi are taking over."
"The oppression of the Sith will never return." countered Windu, not wanting Anakin to fall for his lies again. "You have lost."
"No. No. Nooo." Palpatine lost his composure. "You WILL DIE!" Raising his hands, Palpatine unleashed a powerful lightning bolt from his fingertips. Windu raised his lightsaber, deflecting the electricity, but Anakin looked away from the overwhelmingly bright light. "He is a traitor." Said the Sith Lord in a struggling voice.
"HE IS THE TRAITOR!" replied Windu in the same struggling voice. Anakin finally turned back toward the battle between the Force lighting and Mace's lightsaber. The redirected current flowed through Sidious, injuring him and deforming his face hideously.
"I have the power to save the one you love. You must choose."
"Don't listen to him, Anakin."
Anakin was confused on who to help. Windu or Palpatine. Jedi or Sith. The freedom of the galaxy or the power to save his wife. Both Masters wanted his loyalty, but it would cost something dear to him. He was trapped, he had to make a choice. But in that moment, the headache returned, this time stronger. He fell to his knees, cringing in pain. Time stopped around the Jedi Knight.
As Anakin opened his eyes, he saw himself once again marching to the Jedi Temple. The vision continued, and Anakin saw himself and the clones slaying down Jedi: Master, Knight and Padawan. Even Younglings were massacred by his blade. Anakin's heart suffered. He was responsible for this. Thousands of Jedi dead, because of him.
The vision changed and Anakin found himself on Mustafar. He saw himself embracing Padmé. He was calm. Maybe the vision tried to show something good had come out of the Jedi massacre. Padmé had been saved, but at the cost was immense. He tried to see the good in his wife's survival, but the deaths of every Jedi in the Temple? Was that the price he had to pay to save Padmé?
Anakin tried to keep himself calm, but what he saw next completely crushed his heart. He had raised his hand and began strangling Padmé with the Force. Shocked, Anakin saw his other self's eyes. They were filled with anger and hatred.
"No, no." said Anakin, filled with utter shock. "This isn't what I want."
The vision shifted again, and this time, Anakin saw his other self fighting Obi-Wan across a base on Coruscant. Anakin's other self was furiously attacking his former Master. As the fires of Mustafar surrounded the two combatants, Anakin was in ever greater pain than before. He had attacked Padmé, he might even killed her, but now this? What was the point of these visions? Anakin couldn't continue asking himself more questions, as he saw his other self defeated at the hands of Obi-Wan. Anakin's other self had been mutilated, cut down and was now in flames.
"You were my brother, Anakin! I loved you!" Obi-Wan grabbed Anakin's lightsaber and walked away from his broken opponent.
Falling to his knees, Anakin slowly crawled towards his other immolated other self, who began crawling up the lava bank. He didn't know if his other self could see him, but he didn't care. The two crawled towards each other, but before Anakin could grasp his other self's hand, the other self disappeared. And suddenly, all of Mustafar began breaking down around Anakin.
As Anakin opened his eyes again, he found himself in a darkened room. Judging from the medical instruments, Anakin deduced he was on a medical center. His eyes were set on the front of the room, where a man in a black robe stood next to an operating table. Anakin recognized him as Palpatine. In that moment, the operating table began rising, until it reached Palpatine. The table contained a man in black armor. The same man Anakin saw on the earlier vision.
"Lord Vader, can you hear me?"
"Yes, Master." The armored man turned his head to see Palpatine face-to-face. "Where is Padmé? Is she safe? Is she alright?"
"It seems in your anger, you killed her." Both Anakin and the man in the armor were broken by the revelation.
"I? I couldn't have. She were alive! I felt it." Darth Vader harnessed the dark side and quickly broke the clamps that strapped him to the table. His rage had also broken down several droids around him. Vader walked a few steps but he was unaccustomed to the armor, that he fell to his knees, just like Anakin. Then, the Dark Lord screamed. "NOOOOOOOO!"
Anakin began crying at Vader's misery. He realized that everything was his fault. He was the killer of the Jedi. He was the one who killed Padmé. He was Darth Vader. "Make it stop." Said Anakin, breaking down on tears. "Please, make it stop."
And the Force listened to his prayers. Anakin closed his eyes.
When Anakin opened his eyes again, he was back on Coruscant. Back on the Chancellor's office. As he regained his composure, he watched as Windu broke through Palpatine's lightning bolts and prepared to deliver the killing blow.
"I'm too weak, Anakin." Said the Sith Lord. "Don't let him kill me. Help me."
"I'm going to end this once and for all." Stated Windu, raising his lightsaber.
Palpatine continued pleading Anakin to save him. But Anakin was too overwhelmed by everything he saw. The future. The rise of Darth Vader. And it was all because of Palpatine. Anakin looked at Palpatine, and shook his head. He was thoroughly drained after seeing Palpatine's true colors that now, he wouldn't fall for his tricks. Anakin would not save him.
Palpatine's expression turned into one of anger. Then, Sidious blasted Windu in the feet with more Force lightning, throwing the Jedi Master to the floor. Getting back to his feet, Palpatine began blasting Windu with more lightning bolts. Then, he Force-pushed Anakin to a wall.
"You disappoint me, Skywalker." Said Palpatine, casting Force lightning on Anakin. However, Anakin quickly evaded the lightning bolts and tackled Sidious. The two opponents fell to the floor, and Anakin began punching Sidious in the face with his bare fists. Using a Force push, Palpatine got Anakin off him and retrieved a second lightsaber he had hidden on his office. Igniting his saber, Anakin engaged Sidious in a bladelock.
"You lied to me, Palpatine." stated Anakin, deeply angry at Sidious's betrayal. "All this time, you wanted me to be your pawn, so that you could destroy everything I cared about! Why!"
"It is your destiny as a Sith Lord." smiled Sidious. "All it matters is power. What does it matter that the few die if you can have everything you ever wanted."
"I will NEVER BECOME A SITH!"
"Then you will suffer for eternity." Palpatine broke the bladelock and pressed the offensive. Although the Dark Lord was more skilled in swordfighting, Anakin maintained a remarkable defense against him. But if he wanted to achieve victory, he'd have to fight smart.
"Anakin!" shouted Windu as he hurled his purple-bladed lightsaber. With a dual-wielding technique, Anakin was able to counterattack, pushing the Sith Lord towards the window's edge. Darth Sidious was defenseless. Now, it was Anakin's opportunity. Channeling the Force in his legs, Anakin kicked Sidious in the chest, hurling the Sith Lord off the window. With a roar of despair, Sidious fell to certain death.
The battle was over. Anakin panted in exhaustion, shaken by the duel and the recent discoveries. But he had not time to dwell on it. His fellow Jedi needed help. Coming to Windu's side, Anakin helped the Jedi Master to get back on his feet, holding his arm above his shoulder. "Hang on, Master Windu." Anakin said. "You'll get help."
"You… you did good, Skywalker." Said Windu exhausted. "Thank you."
Anakin and Windu turned to the door and prepared to leave when they heard a noise coming from behind. As they turned around, the Jedi saw a Vulture droid hovering outside the window, with Darth Sidious standing on it. "You think this ends here, Jedi?" Sidious asked. "Do you think you have defeated me? You have only delayed the inevitable. I will return, and soon, the Jedi, the entire Republic, will die! You have my promise!" Then, the Vulture droid turned around and flew away.
Anakin and Windu shared exhausted glances. In their hearts, they knew Sidious was right. He still had assets in the Separatists. He had assets anywhere in the galaxy. What was a simple arrest had become another chapter in the war between Jedi and Sith.
"Our fight has become harder." Anakin said.
"Maybe, but we know who the real enemies are now." replied Windu, still struggling with his injuries. "The Jedi Council and the Senate must know what happened here. Tomorrow will be a new day for the Republic." Anakin nodded in agreement.
A few moments later, medical and law enforcement teams had arrived at the scene to help the Jedi and find out more about Palpatine's duplicity. Anakin and Windu had only been applied bandages, as their injuries were relatively minor and could be easily healed with the Force. But Masters Fisto, Tiin and Kolar had suffered more severe injuries and were taken to the medical center.
Anakin and Windu were sitting on a bench on the corridor, when a Senate Guard neared to them with a datapad. "We are still searching the office…" said the lawman. "…but we have gathered enough evidence to confirm your theory of the Chancellor's relationship with the Separatists."
"What did you get?" asked Anakin.
"Microphones, technical data, extortion records. We even found a recording device of your encounter to him." Replied the officer. "According to its memory, he activated as soon as you entered the building." He then handed the datapad to Windu, who began checking the data the guard had detailed.
"It's likely that he was planning to modify the recording to portray himself the victim and makes us look as the villains." Windu said.
"We'll continue searching the Chancellor's other offices to find more evidence."
"We will give the news to the Senate tomorrow at first hour." The guard nodded in agreement and returned to the crime scene. Anakin and Windu stood up, and Anakin prepared to leave.
"Skywalker…" stated Windu. "Today, you have done a great service to the Republic. But I am still bothered of Palpatine's interest in you. And as a member of the Council, it is imperative that you are completely honest to your fellow Jedi."
"I know, Master." Anakin did not look back at Windu.
"I know that tonight was a very difficult night for you. If you need time to think, then by all means. But I want you to remember that as a member of the Council, your honesty is expected… and required."
"Don't worry, Master." Anakin turned around to see Windu in the eye. "I will not fail you." Anakin slowly but steadily walked away from Windu, leaving the Building. He silently walked towards the parking space and reached his speeder. Giving one last look at the Senate Building, Anakin got into the speeder and flew home.
It was a silent journey. He did the right choice, he could feel it. But at the same time, he felt so bad about it. Did that mean all this time that the Chancellor was lying all this time? Did he even care about him? It was stupid of him to believe Palpatine was a good man. Under that affable and caring old man was the most bloodthirsty and violent Sith Lord in the galaxy. He played him, the Jedi, the entire Republic, suckers. And they fell for it. If it wasn't for his visions, he had no idea what could have happened. But right now, he didn't care about that. All he wanted was to get home and get some sleep.
Anakin silently parked the speeder at the veranda of his wife's apartment. Slowly getting out of the speeder, Anakin entered the apartment and made his way to the bedroom. The Jedi Knight entered the bedchamber, and his eyes suddenly gazed upon the beautiful Padmé Amidala, who was sitting on her bed, reading a datapad. She was wearing a beautiful night gown, and her hair was combed in a way that reflected both regality and humility.
"Ani!" Padmé screamed in excitement. Within the blink of an eye, she got out of bed and hugged her husband. Her expression of happiness quickly became one of confusion, however, when she saw Anakin's somber face. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Anakin tried to tell her everything that happened: that Palpatine was a Sith, that the entire war was a big game. But after seeing her eyes; her beautiful, angelic eyes, Anakin just said: "Nothing. It was just a long day."
"Well, the day is over." Padmé regained her smile. "You can go to sleep. I'm just reviewing my notes for tomorrow. I'll turn off the lights in a few minutes."
His eyes as heavy as a durasteel plate, Anakin took of his boots and belt. He gently getting into the bed, followed by the Senator of Naboo. As his eyes slowly close, Anakin saw Padmé still smiling. Then, Padmé turned around to read her datapad, but she gently placed her hand on his head. "Sleep, Ani. You deserve it."
"Yeah, I think I do." He replied with a weak smile. Then, his eyes fully closed and Anakin fell into the deep abyss of sleep. Anakin was right. It had been a long day. And tomorrow would be even longer.