A/N: There's a light implying of you know, getting busy. So if you don't like implications...Just letting you know.

CHAPTER 10

QUIET BEFORE THE STORM

Anakin, Padme, and Obi-Wan sat inside the Republic Flagship's bridge. To avoid suspicion and the special attention of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and the Senate, A company of Clone Troopers and Pilots were also assigned to duty on said ship as it made it's 'Tour of Duty' in an outer-rim route.

Anakin paced next to the viewport windows, overlooking the expanse of stars, distant planetary bodies and blackness.

"Anakin. Relax. Once the Separatist Council is taken into custody, Palpatine's identity exposed," Obi-Wan began, watching as Anakin continued to pace. "Everything will work out fine."

"I know...it's just..." Anakin exhaled, not continuing his line of conversation. The Separatist Council or Palpatine wasn't what bothered him. It was the fact that he didn't belong here. His wife wasn't supposed to be force-sensitive. It didn't bother him much, but...was this the same Padme? He didn't know. And maybe he didn't want to know. She seemed to have the same core personality. She still loved him, and he to her. But he just couldn't help thinking about it. She wasn't the same. The exact same that he'd known to grow to love. That didn't make him love her any less, but it would take much thinking for him to come to terms with it.

Unless he could confront that woman again, and have her make things the way they were. Before he attacked Mace Windu. Heck, if he had the heart, he wished he could go farther back enough to save his mother.

But that line of thought would get him no where. That strange lady was the Dark Side. From what he could tell, nothing went the way you expected.

"Anakin?"

Anakin jerked his head to face his former master.

"I'm sorry, Master. I've had a lot on my mind," Anakin admitted, stopping his pacing to look again at the expanse of space. The stars were scattered much like his thoughts right now...

"It's all right, Anakin," Obi-Wan replied. He crossed his arms and sighed. He scratched his beard absent minded in action, before looking out the viewport window himself. Anakin recalled the conversation at the Jedi Temple. Obi-Wan still didn't completely trust Padme, as tactful as his response was. He knew that to be the case. Anakin knew his reasoning wasn't unfounded, but she was his wife. Marriage was more important than clashing philosophy, right?

Obi-Wan didn't seem to think so. Anakin thought with a slight smile of the quite ridiculous situation.

I, Anakin, Jedi Knight, am married to a Sith Lord. With that thought in mind, it actually helped to relax him. Everything would work out okay, Sith Lord or no, this was the same Padme. She just happens to be Force-Sensitive.

"Master," Anakin said slowly. Obi-Wan had told him to call him Obi-Wan ever since he was knighted, but it was a title he was used to calling him. "When we return to Coruscant, would you help me face the Chancellor?"

"You believe you are ready to face the Chancellor yourself?" Obi-Wan asked with an amused smile and lifted eyebrow.

Anakin regarded Obi-Wan with a frown but it broke into a smile of his own upon seeing his cheerful expression. "Now you're just teasing."

"Oh, i'm not teasing, young one. I do have faith in you. You've grown exponentially these past few weeks."

Well, I had to learn it the hard way.

"I believe you're ready," his former master declared with a deciding nod. Anakin nodded appreciatively.

"I sincerely appreciate that," Skywalker responded truthfully.

"And besides, can't say no to a little help, right?" his former Master added, gesturing his head towards the dozens of Jedi that joined them on this journey. Anakin gazed at all of the Jedi present. He hadn't seen something close to this since the Battle of Geonosis. It was truly something humbling about seeing all of them in one place. He felt a tinge of regret at his earlier actions before being transported back to undo his mistakes, but he let those feelings of regret go. This was his chance to end the war the right way.

"Yeah," Anakin said nostalgically. "Can't say no to help."

"We are receiving an incoming transmission. It is a foreign signal."

Nute Gunray frowned from his seat. No one knew of this transmission's signal except Lord Sidious. Of course, being in-system allowed for automatic pick up from a guest that Lord Sidious said would be arriving weeks into the future...

"Then does that mean that Lord Sidious' assistant has been scheduled to arrive sooner than expected?" San Hill queried from across the table.

"I am unsure," Gunray admitted, rubbing his wrinkled chin. "Rute, activate the transmission."

His fellow neimodian assistant nodded, and pressed a button on the side of the machine.

To the Council's surprise, it was Obi-Wan Kenobi that materialized before them.

"This is simply a forewarning. All of you are under arrest in the name of the Republic. Make sure any hidden droids don't have their weapons trained."

"This is preposterous! This is a bluff!" Nute Gunray retorted.

"Ah, but we are on the other side of the door! Don't say I didn't warn you," Kenobi replied before the transmission ended abruptly.

Everything happened in a blur. The Bunker's door was sliced into, Jedi Masters cut down droid squads that attempted to bar them, and clone troops arrested the Separatist Council.

Kenobi and Skywalker were now standing in front of the transmission device that Kenobi's image was displayed on only minutes before.

"I would have thought that Sidious would cover his tracks and not leave behind transmission history," Obi-Wan stated as he watched Anakin tinker with the transmission device's motherboard.

"Most likely, he did," Anakin deadpanned.

"And you're trying to retrieve what then...?" Obi-Wan said, caught unawares by Anakin's agreement to his statement.

"There would be a second set of history connected to the physical hardware," Padme clarified, to which Obi-Wan nodded reluctantly.

"I'm still not following."

Anakin chuckled as he pulled out the motherboard while still connected to a smaller device within the machine.

"It means that only the history from the Software was deleted. With a little slicing into the hardware's physical memory, such as these diodes," Anakin explained, pointing to metallic stubs on the motherboard. "We can still extract any information collected, deleted or not," he said with a smile, before a smaller scaled holographic transmission activated.

"Hn..." Anakin grunted. "It seems this was the same transmitter used on Utapau."

Anakin allowed the internal device to continue playing. Anakin, Padme, and Obi-Wan watched the exchange between General Grievous and Sidious. Obi-Wan didn't voice it, but he wondered if Padme knew of Palpatine's Sith identity all along. The thought probably didn't cross Anakin's mind at all.

"Well, this should work. I could tell that was Palpatine," Anakin said, shutting off the device and implanting it back into the transmitter. Obi-Wan nodded in agreement.

"Once the Republic Slicers compare it to voice algorithms, i'm sure we will have enough to impeach and arrest him."

"I still don't think it's a good idea to take him alive," Padme suggested neutrally. Anakin shook his head in disagreement.

"I've had enough of killing," Anakin said with a bowed head.

Obi-Wan turned on his heel to walk back towards the ship. "That's very unbecoming language for a Senator," he pointed out of Padme, not trying to hide his reservations about Padme.

Anakin watched as he left, and Padme and Anakin hadn't said anything when they returned to their own shared quarters.

"Obi-Wan still doesn't trust me," Padme said quietly, looking out the window of her and Anakin's room.

"Everything will be fine, Padme," Anakin assured. He closed the distance between them and circled his arms around her waist, pulling her into a hug. "Obi-Wan's always been a Jedi. He doesn't know you like I do."

Padme smiled and pulled Anakin in for a kiss. "Come to bed with me," Padme said, kissing him again. Anakin smiled.

"Tired already?"

"I had something else in mind," she challenged, caressing the side of his face with her hand. Anakin laughed lightly, allowing Padme to pull him onto their bed.

By the time the Republic Flagship returned to Coruscant Orbit, it was already night. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Mace Windu, Saesse Tiin, Agen Kolar, and Kit Fisto strode into the office of the Supreme Chancellor.

Strangely, all was quiet. Everyone present was sure that Palpatine knew of their presence. It was a tense few moments before Palpatine's chair slowly swiveled around, revealing the Sith Lord himself.

"Master Windu. I take it General Grievous has been destroyed then. I must say, you're here sooner than expected," he commented kindly, as though unaware of the position he found himself in.

The tension was palpable, but Master Windu had no such reservations and wasted no time speaking up.

"In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, you are under arrest, Chancellor," he stated, activating his lightsaber. There was a collection of snap-hisses, as several blades of green and blue materialized in a row.

Palpatine seemed to look right at Anakin, and the young knight stubbornly refused to avert his gaze. Palpatine returned his stare at Windu.

"Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?" Palpatine challenged. Just before speaking, Palpatine pressed a recording button under his table. This would have to look good for the public when he finally rids himself of these Jedi zealots.

"The Senate will decide your fate," Windu retorted skillfully.

"I am the Senate," Palpatine shot back forcefully, subtly drawing upon the Dark Side of the Force. They could not yet feel him doing so, but they felt something hidden. Like sensing a shift in the wind, but not yet feeling it.

Anakin wished Padme were with him, but Obi-Wan pointed out that it would cause all kinds of confusion, among the Jedi Order and the Senate for Padme to be revealed to be Force-sensitive and in the midst of what could turn out to be a violent conflict inside of an office building. Swallowing nervously, Anakin tightened his grip on his lightsaber and then relaxed. There would be no help in being high-strung.

"It's treason then," Palpatine said calmly as he finally stood up. A hilt flicked into his hand from what seemed to have appeared from within his sleeve. In no time at all, a crimson blade extended from the lightsaber hilt, and with an inhuman battle cry, he leaped straight towards the large group of Jedi with reckless abandon.

It was not understood how, but Agen Kolar, the Jedi Master known for his excellent swordsmanship, was the first to go down. He hadn't even the chance to raise his blade in defense. Saesse Tiin did his best, but could not hold out as Palpatine weaved and parried through lightsabers that seemed to be coming out of every direction at once.

Anakin remembered this night, except that Windu was the only one present. Even with all of this backup, Anakin thought, Palpatine proved to be even deadlier than what he first thought.

Before he could blink, Kit Fisto was dead.

Now it was Anakin, Obi-Wan and Mace Windu that remained against Palpatine.

"I thought you would come to your senses, my boy," Palpatine said to Anakin, still retaining that kindly demeanor, even as he tried to cut down his brother and the Vapaad master that he'd grown to have a grudging respect for.

Anakin knew it would have been best to just not say anything, but he felt he had to get his point across.

"You lied to me!" he said heatedly, parrying a slash meant to disarm the hilt right from his grip.

"I have tried to remove the doctrine that had been ingrained into you," Palpatine said in an oddly calm tone, as he blocked a stab from Master Windu and backstepping. "But you have shown to be too far gone."

Obi-Wan attempted to break through Palpatine's guard, but Palpatine parried it with ease, making his way towards a hallway connected to his office.

"You will never be able to start a family with your beloved Senator," he baited, angering Anakin. Anakin fell for it in spades, leaping across the room and attempting to attack him then and there with all of his force.

"Anakin! Wait!" Mace attempted to get his attention before he jumped. Once Anakin had entered the hallway, Palpatine had used the Force, collapsing the ceiling in the room that Skywalker and the Chancellor had just vacated.

Anakin and Sidious were effectively blocked off from Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"And then, there were two," Palpatine announced, his saber held aggressively in front of him, in a Makashi stance.

Anakin realized his mistake. The hallway was now cordoned off, while he was stuck in the adjacent room with Darth Sidious.

"Tell me, boy. Why have you decided to fight against me. The one who has been looking out for you since the age of nine?"

"You would have had Padme killed," Anakin retorted, raising his blade in the Shien style he was accustomed to. He was not sure how well he would do against a Makashi practitioner, provided his duels with Dooku hadn't gone so smoothly, and that he was now facing Dooku's Master. He let his inhibitions go into the Force and took one deep breath.

"And why shouldn't she die? She will betray you, Anakin."

"That's a lie," Anakin asserted, engaging the Sith Lord with his blue blade, their swords clashing again and again. Although Anakin was able to hold his own, he couldn't increase his advantage against the Chancellor at all.

He was simply too good a swordsman.

"You cannot defeat me Anakin," Palpatine said, as though voicing Anakin's doubts.

"I don't need to. When the Senate sees the evidence, they'll know you are the prime war criminal," Anakin replied, crossing blades with his opponent again. Palpatine utilized spins and deceptive movements, something Anakin was simply not used to. Skywalker struggled to parry the incoming slashes homing in on his neck, then legs, then arms.

"Give up, Palpatine, I don't want to kill you," Anakin declared, sidestepping a horizontal stab. "It's over, just give up," Anakin tried to reason. He couldn't make himself kill Palpatine. As much as he would like to, the Chancellor did help him through many years of uncertainty, as twisted as the Chancellor's motives may have been.

"I thought I taught you better than this. You are still naive," Palpatine said, deactivating his lightsaber.

Anakin exhaled a sigh of relief. Palpatine was giving u-

The lightning hit him dead center in the chest, catching him unawares.

"I have planned tirelessly," Palpatine seethed, slowly amping up the intensity of the Force Lightning. Anakin shouted in pain, writhing uselessly against the assault of energy.

"And I have continued to plan. But I see that you are a lost cause," Palpatine said lightly, before taking a deep breath.

"I feel your pain," he continued, intensifying the assault of energy, with a jerk of his wrist. He ignored the agonized wail from Skywalker.

"It gives me more power!" Palpatine shouted, letting his free hand join the first in his Force Lightning assault.

"You have failed me, Anakin! And now I will murder your wife after I take care of you! And then the Jedi will be branded as traitors!"

Anakin couldn't remember when it happened. He knew that Palpatine threatened to murder his wife. He couldn't allow that to happen. Somehow, he had gotten to his feet, and thrust out his hands. And then the pain subsided just a bit. Papatine's eyes had widened in shock.

Anakin was not only absorbing Palpatine's Force Lightning, but he was priducing Force Lightning of his own. The feedback of energy from both sides caused a clash of Force Power. Neither individual was giving ground, and they were at a stalemate.

What disturbed Palpatine was that Anakin was using only one arm.

Anakin's strain seemed to be disappearing, and he raised his head to look directly at Palpatine. He appeared to be sweating, and exhaustion was apparent on his face and in his expression.

"Yield!" Anakin ordered, slowly rising to stand back up. Palpatine only scowled and released more of his frustration into his attack.

But it wasn't enough. Anakin was squinting in pained concentration, but the excess of energy was beginning to recede back to Palpatine.

"Yield!" Anakin ordered again, desperately. He did not want to kill him, but if Palpatine persisted, he would do it. He would kill him.

"Anakin, you fool! This isn't the end! As long as the Sith exist, we will always want for more power! Treachery is the way of the Sith!" Palpatine shouted. The wind was picking up, and the force of the clash of energy caused the window to give way and explode.

"Then I guess this makes one less Sith," Anakin said loudly enough for his opponent to hear. Thrusting his arm forward, the Force Lightning became uncontrollable, lancing from his hand and overpowering Palpatine's own Lightning. Palpatine was hit full force by the blast, being flung out of the window, much like a frustrated child throws a toy.

Anakin slowly walked to the edge of the window and dropped to his knees.

He did it. Palpatine was dead.

His breathing was heavy and labored, but he knew it was more from heavy fatigue and exhaustion. Padme was on her way to the Judiciary building when the squad of Jedi came to arrest the Chancellor. He hoped she made it in time. He promptly fell on his side, too tired to stay awake.

The first thing Anakin noticed was a sound. Scrunching his closed eyes, he forced them to open, but was temporarily blinded by intense light. Trying again, but this time, slowly, Anakin saw fuzzy shapes that refined themselves into Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu.

"What?" Anakin said dumbly, causing Obi-Wan to look at him.

"Ah, look who's returned from the dead," Obi-Wan said with a smile. Anakin returned the gesture, and upon seeing Mace Windu, the Vapaad Master nodded gravely in respect. Anakin returned it as best he could from his prone position. Suddenly remembering why he was lying on a mattress, he struggled to sit up, but Obi-Wan forced him to at least stay seated.

"You weren't gravely injured, so it didn't warrant a visit to a medical center," his former master began. Anakin found that as excuse to attempt to stand, but Obi-Wan's firm hand kept him seated again.

"Ah-Ah!" he scolded. "Paramedics did check on you though. You need bedrest for at least a few hours."

"Is he? Is he dead?" Anakin asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Mace Windu spoke up. "His body was found on a nearby ledge below the Senate's story window."

Anakin closed his eyes, hoping to get some closure. "He was dead before he landed," Mace added.

Anakin nodded, rubbing his own face with both hands.

"Then does this mean-?" Anakin ventured, hoping for either Master Windu or Obi-Wan to pick up on his line of thought.

"Sidious is no more, but the shroud of the Dark Side is still as prominent as ever," Mace said cryptically. The Holonet Screen that was on since Anakin woke up suddenly had breaking news. Mace picked up the remote and hit the un-mute button.

"Last night, only hours ago, an emergency Senate meeting was formed in the wake of astonishing evidence in regards to a horrific revelation of former Chancellor Palpatine, who was found dead just last night," a reporter said. "What you are about to see may be disturbing to some viewers."

Seconds later on-screen, the holo-transmission of Darth Sidious' was seen speaking with General Grievous and then the Separatist Council. The three Jedi watching the Holonet monitor could see the quite shocked reactions of the Senators as it played out. Abruptly, the camera returned to the reporter.

"Republic code specialists and Voice Algorithm mechanics have compared and studied the voice-prints and have found an exact match. Former Supreme Chancellor Palpatine has been shown to be manipulating both sides of the war, Republic and Separatist. The captured Separatist Council, thanks to Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, the Hero with No Fear, and Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Negotiator, along with dozens of others..."

All three Jedi had tuned out the news broadcast as this point. The three of them were silent, mainly because of Mace's cryptic statement about the Dark Side still fogging the Force.

"What happens now?" Anakin asked to no one particular. He had heard of Mace Windu's shatterpoint talent, but he only knew that it had something to do with Master Windu being able to read the future better than some others.

"Let's keep watching," Obi-Wan suggested, all of them returning their attention to the Monitor.

"Due to the extreme circumstances, the Senate has unanimously, along with much of the public, granted Chancellor legislator powers to Senator Amidala. Let's focus our cameras on her now, as she is giving her statement at this moment."

"That's...unexpected," Obi-Wan said idly. He didn't know why, but the Force was giving him a warning of some sort.

"I'll be returning to the Jedi temple. Let me know how things go." Mace then clapped Anakin on the shoulder. "You have definitely earned my trust today, Knight Skywalker," he congratulated, before stepping out.

"We should be going, too. Let's get you to your room, shall we?" Kenobi suggested, and Anakin nodded. With Obi-Wan acting as a crutch, they both shuffled out of the room.

On the Holonet monitor, Supreme Chancellor Amidala was still addressing the large crowd present.

"And it stands to reason, that Jedi were involved in this catastrophic turn of events. This is why i'm currently calling for the arrest of the Jedi High Council."

If Anakin and Obi-Wan had been present at this time, they would have been appalled at the sheer amount of applause that had followed.