For a long time after the events, Han and Zett kept quiet about what they'd seen and heard. Months passed during which the two furthered in their training. They could feel some strange evil hanging over their heads but didn't suspect much until a group of Jedi was sent to arrest Chancellor Palpatine.
Han was hanging around the Jedi Council, trying to pick up any bits of news when Zett walked up. His face was streaked with tears.
"My mentor is dead" he blurted. "They all are."
"How?"
"I don't know. No one's seen Skywalker though."
"You don't think-"
"After how he acted towards Ferus, you don't think he's capable of it? You were there too. What do you think?"
"Oh wow" Han murmured, dazed. "You're right."
"Most tragic this news is" Yoda's voice came from the room. "Remember always of these brave Jedi we must. Mourn them not for death is the way of the force."
Han straightened abruptly when he noticed Anakin heading for him and Zett. 'Does he suspect us?' he wondered. 'Cause we sure suspect you, Skywalker. How come whenever something happens you're always the last to come?'
He held his breath, but Anakin veered towards the door. As he passed by, though, his eyes met Han's.
'He does. He knows.'
"Late you are, Skywalker."
"Sorry, Master Yoda but Master Windu told me to stay in my quarters. I came because I felt death."
"Does he really expect them to believe that?" Zett muttered. "I know he did I and I'll prove it somehow."
Later that same day, Anakin slipped away from the Jedi Temple to the busy Coruscanti streets. He pulled his hood down low to avoid being recognized by passers, but the two young apprentices had no trouble following him. Fortunately, he seemed to be too preoccupied to pay any attention to them.
"You don't suppose he's going to meet Padme again. Cause if he does, that's no evidence."
"There's more than just Padme at the Senate Hall" Zett retorted, eagerly watching Anakin ascend the stepts to the front entrance. Hastily, the apprentices ducked into a narrow alley to avoid being seen. There, Zett found his first proof.
"That's Mace Windu's lightsaber. I'd recognize it anywhere."
"So what's it doing out here?" Han glanced from the lightsaber up to the Senate windows. "Do you think-?"
"Definately a fight" replied Zett, using the datapad he'd brought to snap a holo of the lightsaber. "C'mon, we'll pick it up later."
The apprentices hurried up the stairs in time to see Anakin walking away from Padme. She tried to call him back, but to no avail. When she turned, she caught sight of Han and Zett.
"Please, don't do this" she begged. "You don't know Anakin. He wouldn't do anything like this."
"He was unaccountable for at the time, and I've heard he's close to the Chancellor" Zett replied. "So, he certainly could."
Padme shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes. "He wouldn't! He had nothing to do with those Jedi deaths!"
Han wanted to tell Padme the truth but, at the same time, felt sorry for her. "We'd give him the benefit of the doubt, but it seems to be a little late for that."
"Where'd he go?" Zett asked.
Padme didn't answer. "I don't believe a word of it" she retorted firmly. "Anakin's better than that."
Zett's expression hardened. "Be that way then. We'll find him ourselves!"
Han couldn't bear to look back as Padme as they went on. But, he couldn't ignore her crushing grief either. 'Padme, I'm so sorry.'
"What's wrong?"
"I'm just thinking how to break the news to Padme, if we're right." 'And I have the nagging feeling that we will be' he silently added.
"Yeah" Zett's voice sounded heavy.
They went the rest of the way in silence; neither dared to speak.
"I want your power. I want the power to stop death." The voice came from a nearby room and was unmistakably Anakin's.
Zett pulled out his datapad to record the conversation.
"That power only my master truly achieved, but together we will find it. It is your destiny, as my apprentice."
"The Jedi betrayed the both of us. They deserve no mercy." Anakin paused for a second. "I pledge myself to the ways of the Sith. Take me as your apprentice."
"Kneel before me, Anakin Skywalker. Is it your will to join your destiny forever with the Order of the Sith lords?"
"Yes"
"From this day forward, you shall be known as Darth...Vader."
'How could you? You've betrayed everything you've ever worked for. You've betrayed us.' Han glanced over to see Zett's face set in grim resignation.
"That's it then. We've got all the proof we need."
Almost as soon as Zett had said that, his hands flew to his throat. He fell to the floor gasping and choking for breath.
"I know you're out there" announced Sidious. "Now, hand over that datapad, or your friend dies."
Han snatched up the datapad and held it uncertainly. If he surrendered the evident, he might save Zett, but would risk the lives of the other Jedi. 'But I'm not ready for this' he thought. 'I can't sacrifice anyone.'
"Don't...listen...to...him!" Zett protested. "Get...evidence... to Jedi!"
Han knew what he had to do, but that didn't make it any easier. 'Zett, I'll never forget you.' He sensed Sidious approaching and dashed down the hall. A sudden, sharp pain brought him crashing to the floor.
"Dare you defy me!" Sidious snarled as another burst of force-lightning erupted from his hands.
It was an effort, but Han managed to roll out of the way. When he got up, he found he was no longer holding the datapad.
Darth Vader was.
There was no use trying to get it back now. Han raced after Zett, hoping there was still enough time.
Darth Vader coldly watched the apprentices escape. "Was that wise, master? Now they will still tell the others."
"It's too late for the Jedi to be warned. Go to the Jedi temple and kill all that you find there. Show them no mercy."
"What of the other Jedi, master?"
"Leave them to me." Darth Sidious waited until his apprentice had left then pulled a comlink from his pocket. "Commander, execute Order Sixty-Six."
"We'd better split up," Zett suggested, when they were a safe distance from the Senate Hall. "I'll head for the Jedi Temple since there's sure to be someone there."
Han personally preferred for them to stay together but he knew Zett was right. "Okay" he agreed. "I'll try the library. Keep your eyes open for Sith" Han forced a weak grin "and keep your lightsaber close."
Zett managed a grin in return "You too."
The two friends parted, confident in their mission, but unaware that it was to be their final meeting.
Han burst through the library doors, hoping to find Aayla, but remembered she was on assignment on Felucia. That wouldn't be any help. As he journeyed further into the library, he felt a sudden flash of . Han activated his lightsaber and hesitantly expanded his force-awareness. There were two of them and they were trying to kill him. Han had no idea why, but he wasn't going to wait around and ask. A flurry of red bolts came for him, but he dodged some and sent the rest back toward his attackers. He readied his lightsaber for the next round, but dropped it when he felt a haunting grief tear at him.
"Aayla!" he cried. Han tried reaching for his mentor's presence, but knew it was useless.
He had felt her die.
Too late did he remember his attackers. He looked up in time to see Ferus rush past him swinging his lightsaber wildly to deflect the blasts. Within seconds, both attackers had been dealt with and Ferus looked round for more.
"Clone troopers-? But I thought they were with us."
"They're working for Darth Sidious. In war, it's always duty before friendship." Ferus turned to Han suddenly. "Where's Anakin?"
"He's known as Darth Vader now."
"Apprenticed to Darth Sidious?"
Han nodded. "And they killed Aayla!" Tears clouded his vision and a sob caught in his throat but he forced them away.
Ferus let out a low sigh. "Many Jedi were killed. We're among the few survivors."
"But the Temple-" Han ran over to the window in time to see a figure struck down in front of the Jedi Temple. Even at this distance, he recognized it as Zett.
This time, Han couldn't restrain from tears. Both Aayla and Zett dead. He wished it was only a dream, and he'd wake up and they'd still be alive. But it wasn't a dream.
Slowly, Han backed away from the window. "Are we really the last ones left?"
He met Ferus' eyes and the sorrow he saw reflected there was more than any spoken words could say.
"All the others are dead" Kris confirmed grimly. "It seems Darth Sidious was planning this because there were clone troopers close to every Jedi. Many of them had no time to fight." He closed his eyes briefly, lamenting the loss of his comrades, then looked over at Han. "Perhaps you should tell us what you saw."
'And Zett' Han swallowed hard, trying to control his grief. "We followed Anakin to the Senate Hall and found Master Windu's lightsaber near there. Senator Amidala was there-"
"Did she say anything?"
"She insisted that Anakin had nothing to do with any of it; but we found Anakin with Darth Sidious, asking to be a Sith. He gave Anakin a new name: Darth Vader and…" Han's control broke and he felt tears run down his face.
Kris laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You've told us enough."
"So, it was Anakin all this time" Ferus remarked bitterly. " Maybe if I'd gone to the Council sooner-"
"All you had were guesses. The Jedi Council doesn't convict on opinions alone. Even if you had done that, the same thing would have happened." Kris' comlink chirped and he quickly answered.
As he listened, his face fell. "Okay, we'll be there."
Han looked up curiously.
"Now what?" Ferus asked. "More good news?"
"Yoda and Obi-Wan want us to meet them on Polis Massa. Padme's dying."
