Anakin was headed to the Chancellor's Office to deliver the report from the Jedi Council. He was able to see from the end of the hallway that the Chancellor was looking at a holo-diagram of some kind on his personal holographer before he turned it off. The Chancellor turned to greet him from his chair.
"Chancellor," said Anakin in greeting. "We've just received a report from Master Kenobi: he's engaged General Grievous."
"We can only hope that Master Kenobi is up the challenge," said Palpatine. Anakin took the moment to begin slightly pacing around the room.
"I should be there with him," said Anakin.
"Here's the bait," thought Palpatine. "It's upsetting to me to see that the Council doesn't to fully appreciate your talents. Don't you wonder why they won't make you a Jedi Master?"
"I wish I knew. More and more I get the feeling that I'm being excluded from the Council," said Anakin. He paused to look at Palpatine, who slightly nodded in understanding to Anakin's plight. "I know there are things about the Force that they are not telling me."
"They don't trust you Anakin." Palpatine stood up and began to walk into the hallway.
"They see your future. They know your power will be too strong to control. You must break through the fog of lies the Jedi have created around you. Let me help you to know the subtleties of the Force," said Palpatine.
"How do you know the ways of the Force?" said Anakin. "How can he? He's not Force-sensitive as far as I know."
"My mentor taught me everything about the Force, even the nature of the dark side," said Palpatine. Anakin herded him off to prevent him from walking any further.
"You know the dark side?" he questioned.
"It's now or never," Palpatine thought. "Anakin, if one is to understand the great mystery one must study all its aspects, not just the dogmatic narrow view of the Jedi. If you wish to become a complete and wise leader you must embrace a larger view of the Force."
"Be careful of the Jedi Anakin," he continued, "only thought me can you achieve a power greater than any Jedi. Learn to know the dark side of the Force and you will be able to save your wife from certain death."
Anakin couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What did you say? How do you know that?" He hoped to clarify this, though the sinking feeling in his gut told him that he knew enough for all the pieces to start connecting. It all started to make sense now: why they hadn't been able to find Sidious, why Barriss had made her foolhardy exploit to expose him, why Fives had went mad.
"Use my knowledge, I beg you," said Palpatine as if pleading to him. Anakin had heard enough to confirm his suspicion.
Palpatine was Sidious.
"It's you," he said as he drew his lightsaber," you're the Sith Lord." Palpatine began to circle Anakin, his lightsaber pointed at his chest.
"I know what's been troubling you. Listen to me. Don't continue to be a pawn of the Jedi Council. Ever since I've known you you've been searching for a life greater than that of an ordinary Jedi: a life of significance, of conscience." Palpatine moved away from Anakin with his back turned to him as if inviting him to strike.
"Are you going to kill me?" he questioned.
"I would certainly like to," said Anakin.
"I know you would," said Palpatine, his voice softened. "I can feel your anger. It gives you focus, makes you stronger." He turned around to face Anakin, his face telling him to get on with it. Anakin shook his head. This was a man who had looked out for him since he was ten and still did now. Despite him being the orchestrator of the war, how could he kill him now? His lightsaber deadened, Anakin looking at his face through his peripheral vision since he couldn't bring himself to face him fully.
"I'm going to turn you over to the Jedi Council," said Anakin.
"Of course you should, but you're not sure of their intentions are you?" said Palpatine.
"I will quickly uncover the truth of all this," said Anakin.
"You have great wisdom Anakin. Know the power of the dark side, the power to save Padme," said Palpatine. Anakin turned and left. As he walked he glanced at the bronze-carved picture that decorated the wall. He continued down the hallway as he realized what it was, the scene causing a chill to go down his spine
An age-old battle between the forces of the light side of the Force and the forces of its darker nemesis.
"But why?!" Bruck exclaimed to Taran. He and Tia had been called over to the Jedi Library by Taran who had news for them. At the moment, Bruck and Taran were talking at a table.
"I just want to live a normal life," said Taran. "Believe me it wasn't an easy decision."
"But...we're a team. Always have been since we were kids," Bruck said sadly. "I thought the Council gave you a special right to be with Ahsoka."
"I didn't find it fair that no one else but me had that right," said Taran. "I might as well resign with honor and go back to my planet."
"And there's nothing I can say to change your mind?" said Bruck. Taran shook his head. Bruck sighed.
"At least we had a lot of fun doing what we do best," said Bruck, managing to give a smile.
"Oh yes, nearly dying on that planet and other planets was really exhilarating," Taran said mockingly, the two teens laughing.
"Our boys," said Tia.
"Tell me about it," said Ahsoka as the two watched them about fifteen away at another table. "But we love them though."
"So true," said Tia. "I'm sad to see both of you leaving though."
"You know we'll always keep in touch with you," said Ahsoka.
"We know, but it'll be weird those first few weeks not seeing him around the Temple bending or fixing up a random starfighter. I don't blame you two for leaving. You want more in your life, more than what the Jedi Order can give," said Tia.
"It was hard to leave. It was the first action I truly decided to do in my life," said Ahsoka.
"You think that...maybe Bruck and I would want to do that as well?" said Tia.
"The answer is up to the both of you. Just do what you think is right," said Ahsoka. "If I followed the code strictly I wouldn't be in love with Taran, and it's been the best feeling in the galaxy to me."
"Bruck makes me feel the same way. Maybe one day," said Tia.
"Take your time. Don't rush it, it has to come naturally and with patience," said Ahsoka.
"I remember a time you weren't so patient," Tia said with a sly smile.
"Me? Not patient?" said Ahsoka with mock hurt. "Where did such a thing come from?" The two girls laughed to themselves. Ahsoka and Tia looked to see Taran get up and walk towards the exit.
"Taran?" said Ahsoka.
"I'll be back. I have to check on something in my room," said Taran.
"Okay," said Ahsoka.
Obi-Wan had just been thrown clear across the platform by Grievous. He rolled off the side, gripping the edge of the platform with his fingers. Grievous looked down and kicked up the discarded electrostaff, activating the tendrils on the side for the electricity to kick up. Weapon in hand he advanced towards Obi-Wan.
"Time to die Kenobi," he thought maliciously. Obi-Wan managed to use his upper body strength to haul the top part of his form on the edge of the platform. He saw Grievous advancing towards him with the electrostaff. Looking around, Obi-Wan found Grievous' discarded blaster. Using the Force he summoned it to his hand. As soon as the blaster hit his hand he pointed it at the advancing cyborg. Grievous raised the staff to bring it down on Obi-Wan's head. Obi-Wan pulled the trigger, the bolt hitting Grievous squarely at his chest in his gut-sack.
Grievous fell back, pain coursing through his nerves as the blast had started a fire in his chest from the oils that preserved them. No one had ever been able to come close to hitting his vital organs like this. Obi-Wan took careful aim and began to fire round after round into his chest. The fire spread around with each blast until it looked like hell itself had started a fire. All parts of Grievous' being was now being incinerated from the inside out. The general let out a death cry as the flames roared from his eyes before his chest cavity exploded and he fell to the ground.
General Grievous, the greatest commander next to Count Dooku for the Confederacy of Independent Systems, was dead.
Obi-Wan hauled himself up to stand on the platform, walking towards Grievous' remains.
"So uncivilized," he said, discarding the blaster. He looked down at his foes remains. The smell made him nauseous, causing him to step back a bit.
"Cody?" Obi-Wan hailed through his comlink.
"Yes sir?" said Cody.
"Send a message back to the Jedi Council. General Grievous is dead," said Obi-Wan.
"Yes sir, and good job by the way," said Cody, hailing off.
"This war is now nearly over," Obi-Wan thought.
Mace Windu, Saesee Tiin, Kit Fisto and Agen Kolar were heading towards a gunship in the hangar to go over to the Chancellor's office. When they had heard the word that Grievous had been killed, their initial happiness turned to all seriousness as they knew what they had to do next. Mace was walking towards the gunship when Anakin came sprinting out of nowhere over to where he was
"Master Windu, I must talk with you," said Anakin hurriedly. He was still trying to let his revelation of the Chancellor's identity sink in still.
"Now now Skywalker. We have just received word that Obi-Wan has destroyed General Grievous. We're on our way to make sure the Chancellor returns emergency powers back to the Senate," said Windu.
"He won't give up his power. I just learned the terrible truth. I think Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord," said Anakin. Mace took a second to register Anakin's every word. Could this be? Could the man they had been searching for this whole time been right in front of them?
"A Sith Lord?" Windu asked, startled beyond reasoning.
"Yes, the one we've been looking for," Anakin confirmed.
"How do you know this?" Windu asked.
"He knows the ways of the Force. He's been trained to use the dark side," said Anakin.
"Are you sure?" Mace asked.
"Absolutely," said Anakin. Mace took a deep breath to calm his head and get his thoughts together.
"Then our worst fears have been realized. We must move quickly if the Jedi Order is to survive," said Windu as the two walked towards the gunship.
"Master, the Chancellor is very powerful. You'll need my help if you're going to arrest him," said Anakin.
"For your own good stay out this Anakin. I can sense a great deal of confusion in you young Skywalker. There is much fear that clouds your judgment," said Windu.
"I MUST go Master," said Anakin.
"No!" said Windu. "If what you have told me is true, you will have gained my trust, but for now remain here," Windu said sincerely. "Wait in the Council chambers until we return." Windu boarded the gunship where the other three Masters were waiting. Once he was safely on the doors started to shut as the ship hovered over the ground and sped off towards the building. Anakin could only watch as it left before he walked back to the Council's chamber.
He couldn't take the waiting. He had looked over at Padme's apartment many times.
"The power to save Padme."
The Chancellor's words kept coming back to him repeatedly as if they were chanting. The Jedi Code dictated that attachments must be let go, including loving attachments. Holding on to them led to the dark side. Yet, how could he not have an attachment to Padme? She was the love of his life and the mother of his soon-to-be-born child.
"I have to protect her. Both of them," he thought.
"The power to save Padme."
Could this power really be real?
"I need to be there to make sure no one gets hurt," he said to himself. He sat up and got to the door, not bothering to close the door as he ran towards the hangar.
"That should take care of everything," said Taran as he closed up his hologram projector having just gotten into a conversation with Plo Koon explaining to him everything. The Jedi Master had taken it well, congratulating him and tell him he couldn't wait to see them once he got back. Once their conversation ended Taran found what he was looking for and began to walk back to the Library.
As he went down one of the long hallways he heard the sound of feet running up ahead toward his location. Anakin rounded the corner, running as fast as he could.
"Anakin?" said Taran.
"Can't talk. I have to go," said Anakin as he ran past. Taran ran behind him trying to catch up to him.
"What's wrong?" said Taran.
"I can't explain right now!" said Anakin.
"Just talk to me," Taran cried out.
"You wouldn't understand. I have to go to the Chancellor's office without anyone knowing. It's too important," said Anakin.
"ANAKIN STOP!" said Taran, hitting his fist on the ground to cause a stone wall to form in front of Anakin, stopping him in his tracks. Taran panted a little standing a few feet from him.
"I don't know what's wrong or what's going on, but remember we're all here for you," said Taran. Anakin turned to look down at him. His face showed distress and alarm, yet it softened the moment their eyes locked.
"I know," said Anakin.
"Be careful," said Taran, bending the wall back to where it belonged. Anakin nodded and continued to run towards the hangar.
"What could be so distressing?" Taran thought. As he was about to walk, an alarm rang in the Temple.
"Attention all personnel, the Temple is now under lockdown. No one is permitted to enter or leave the Temple until further notice," said Shaak Ti's voice through the loudspeaker.
"What is going on?" Taran said.
Anakin arrived the Chancellor's office, swiftly parking and exiting his speeder and rushing in. Rather than taking the elevator he took the stairs instead. He sprinted up them in no time. Once he reached the Chancellor's floor he ran down the hallway into the office itself. Running in, he stopped instantly when he felt his body come into contact with something soft. He looked down to see the body he had just stepped on.
Agen Kolar was dead on the ground at his feet. His body had been pierced through by a lightsaber. Master Tiin was near him, a slash down from his shoulder to his chest that had it went through would have cut him in two. Anakin looked over to see the corpse of Kit Fisto, his black eyes staring out into endless space and a slash down his chest. Three Jedi Masters, dead right before him. He heard the sound of lightsabers clashing in the nearby room and ran in.
"Please don't be too late," he thought.
"Taran!" said Ahsoka as Taran ran over to them.
"What's going on? We heard the alarm sound?" said Tia.
"I don't know. I ran into Anakin and-"
"Anakin? Where's he at?" said Ahsoka.
"He said he had to go do something important, and then the alarm rang when he left," said Taran. "I tried to ask him what was bothering him but the look on his face told me something was very wrong."
"Where'd he go?" said Bruck.
"Last I checked he was going to the hangar," said Taran. All around them pairs of Jedi and Temple Security Forces were seen hurrying by.
"Taran! Ahsoka!" said Katoonie. The younglings ran over to them. "What going on?"
"I don't know kids. For now go to wherever the other clans are gathering," said Ahsoka. "Everything will be okay."
"Did Anakin say where he was going?" said Tia.
"He said the Chancellor's office. Think it might be another invasion?" said Taran.
"I don't know, but I can only hope that it's nothing of the sort."
He couldn't believe what he just did. He fell down to his knees at his actions and for what had followed.
(Flashback)
"I'm going to end this, once and for all!" said Windu, his lightsaber ready in his hand as he looked down at the injured Sith Lord below him still recovering from the Sith lightning he had deflected back at him. His face looked disfigured as if he had aged fifty years, the skin grey and loose, and his eyes were now a menacing yellow.
"You can't," said Anakin. "He must stand trial."
"He has control of the senate and the courts. He's too dangerous to be left alive!" said Windu.
"But...I'm too weak. Don't kill me," Palpatine pleaded.
"That's not the Jedi way. He must live," Anakin said. Windu looked down at the Chancellor below him.
"Too much of a risk. We lost too many to just apprehend him. This must be done," Windu thought. He raised his lightsaber and Palpatine held up his hands as if to ward off the incoming blow.
"If he dies, I can't learn."
"I need him!" said Anakin. Windu ignored him and prepared to strike the final blow. His lightsaber began to swing down towards the defenseless Chancellor.
"Please no!" the Chancellor pleaded
"The power to save Padme."
"NO!" yelled Anakin. His lightsaber sprung to life in his hands and he slashed upwards, cutting off Windu's hand. His hand fell to the ground, lightsaber falling out of its grip and out the window to land somewhere on the surface of Coruscant, clattering down off the side of the building.
"Argh!" Mace yelled as he clutched the stump where his hand had been at. Palpatine smiled and roared as he shot Mace with more Sith lightning.
"Power! Unlimited power!" yelled the Chancellor. He charged up the ferocity of the lightning to where Windu was screaming in sheer agony. He did it for a few more seconds for the sheer pleasure of watching the Jedi master writhe in agony. He shot one more blast at him that sent Mace Windu out of the window and plummeting to his death.
(Flashback)
"What have I done?" said Anakin. He couldn't believe what he had just did, aiding their enemy. He walked back, sitting down grief-stricken on a chair. The Chancellor sat up before he began to stand in front of Anakin.
"You're fulfilling your destiny Anakin," said Palpatine. "Become my apprentice. Learn to use the dark side of the Force." Anakin too several deep breaths.
"The power to save Padme."
"I will do whatever you ask," he said, though his voice was strained as he said it.
"Good," said Palpatine, a sinister smile playing on his cracked and sunken lips.
"Just help me save Padme's life," said Anakin. "I can't live without her."
"To cheat death," the Chancellor began "only one has achieved, but if we work together, I know we can discover the secret." Anakin began to kneel before him.
"I pledge myself to your teachings," said Anakin, trying to sound as sincere as he could.
"Good," said Sidious. "Good. The Force is strong with you. A powerful Sith you will become."
"Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth...Vader," said Sidious.
"Thank you, my master," said Anakin, bowing in reverence to him.
"Rise." Anakin did as he was told, standing up as the Chancellor walked over to his desk. He retrieved a black cloak and put it on himself.
"Because the Council did not trust you, my young apprentice, I believe you are the only Jedi with no knowledge of this plot," said Sidious. "When the Jedi learn what has transpired here they will kill us, along with all the Senators." The last part was a lie, but Anakin was buying every word of it.
"I agree. The Council's next move will be against the senate," said Anakin.
"Every single Jedi, including your friend Obi-Wan Kenobi, is now an enemy of the Republic," said Sidious.
"I understand Master," said Anakin.
"We must move quickly. The Jedi are relentless. If they're no all destroyed it will be civil war without end. First, I want you to go to the Jedi Temple. We will catch them off-balance. Do what must be done Lord Vader!" said Sidious. "Do not hesitate, show no mercy. Only then will you be strong enough in the dark side to save Padme."
"What about the other Jedi spread across the galaxy?" said Anakin.
"Their betrayal will be dealt with. After you've killed all the Jedi in the Temple, go to the Mustafar system and wipe out Viceroy Gunray and the other Separatist leaders. Once more the Sith will rule the galaxy, and then we shall have peace," said Sidious.
"Now go my apprentice. Make ready the 501st Legion. They will have their orders when you arrive," said Sidious. Anakin made to walk out of the office space before he turned back around.
"Something is troubling you?" said Sidious.
"Yes my master. It is about Ahsoka and Taran," said Anakin.
"Ah yes, Tano and Cyneran," said Sidious.
"Ahsoka isn't part of the Jedi Order, but she is at the Temple now. Also, Taran was going to leave when Obi-Wan was to return," said Anakin.
"I know they mean well to you. The decision is up to you on what you want to do with Tano and Cyneran's death would cause unnecessary tensions with Elementia," said Sidious.
"About Taran, there is something you should know..."
Gate Master Jurokk scanned around from his perch at the base of the Temple. As he gazed out he saw a lone figure approaching.
"Halt! Reveal yourself!" he said. Anakin came closer to him, allowing Jurokk to see who it was.
"Anakin! Anakin, what happened? Where are the Masters?" said Jurokk.
"Where is Shaak Ti?" said Anakin.
"In the meditation chamber-we felt something happen in the Force, something awful. She's searching the force in deep meditation, trying to get some feel for what's going on...Something has happened hasn't it?" said Jurokk. At that moment he sensed beings behind Anakin and turned to look. To his horror, thousands of white and blue clad clone troopers were marching towards the Temple.
"Anakin what's going on?" Jurokk inquired. Anakin put his hit under his chin and turned on his lightsaber, the bar going straight through his jaw and through the top of his head.
"You have no idea," said Anakin. Jurokk's body fell down to the ground and he turned his attention back to the Temple, his home for the past thirteen years. Without a further word, he and the elements of the 501st on planet marched inside.
