It wasn't that long of a ride to the Jedi Temple from the Senate building, but to Anakin Skywalker, on this day, and at this time, it felt like eternity. He was still shocked by what Palpatine had said, what he had asked of him. To join him. To join the Dark Side. To forsake all the Jedi's teachings.
He could not do it.
But then again, if he could save Padmé, would it be worth it?
He told himself no. Absolutely not. Nut the thought remained, nagging at the back of his mind, waiting to resurface. Anakin wasn't sure he could say no again.
When he finally reached the Temple he searched out Mace Windu, who was in the transport bay. "Master Windu!" He broke into a half-run, determined that the Master would not evade him, "Master Windu wait!"
It was with an apparently irritated air that the master did turn, "Skywalker?"
"I have-" Anakin panted, "I have found the Sith Lord!"
Mace Windu seemed shocked, but to no one's surprise he did seem to believe him, "Who is it Skywalker?" he questioned, "How do you know?"
"The Chancellor!" He gasped, "He-He told me!"
Mace's eyes widened, "If this is true," He said finally, "Then you have gained my trust. Stay here," he ordered, "Wait for our return," He left before Anakin could object, so the knight headed for the council chambers.
On the way people tried to talk with him, Why had he just rushed past in such a hurry? Why had Master Windu gathered fighters and left? Had the Sith Lord been found? Was the War over? Why wasn't Anakin answering their questions?
Truth to be told, he didn't care. Their questions were nothing, how could they be more important than the jumbled thoughts running through his head?
Once there he sank into the first seat he found, his legs too weak to support him. Everything was closing in on him, losing Ahsoka, his fear of losing Padmé, his friends, namely Obi-wan, abandoning him.
He had nothing left. Only Padmé.
It was this realization that spurred him to his feet with a silent prayer, 'Snips. Forgive me.'
Xxxxxxxx
Palpatine was not startled when the Jedi entered his office, though he pretended to be. "News of the war?" He questioned, "Have you found Tano?"
"You are under arrest for crimes against the Republic." Mace Windu said.
"Ah," the Chancellor replied, "I was afraid you would say that." He stood, allowing a smile, for they were so easy to manipulate.
Windu and his companions ignited their lightsabers, playing right into Palpatine's master plan. He pulled his from his robes slowly and extended the blade. They were not expecting his leap across the desk, and two of them he felled easily.
Windu was among the other two, the ones that survived the initial attack. The Jedi was not angered by this, not that Palpatine expected it, the Jedi were disappointingly lacking in emotion.
The battle was short, and, for the Sith Lord, not that difficult. Mace Windu was an easy opponent compared to those he had been taught to fight.
Anakin arrived just in time, and stared in shock at the dead Jedi. "Anakin!" Mace shouted, "Anakin help me!" The knight seemed to consider this, but Palpatine spoke up before he could do anything.
"Anakin, only I can help you! Only I can give you the power to save those you love!" He plastered his face into a fake desperate look, "I can't stop him much longer!" The Sith Lightning he had been throwing at Mace was beginning to disfigure his face, but he didn't care. It gave him all that more leverage to use against the Jedi Master.
Anakin, predictably, turned on the Jedi and slaughtered him. Palpatine had a hard time schooling his face and preventing a smile as he stood. "I need to save Padmé," he said, "I need to save Ahsoka."
"Of course Anakin," Palpatine replied, "We can do this. Together! Join me and I can save those you love from death itself!"
Anakin knelt to the ground, "I pledge myself to you," he said softly, "I will join the ranks of the Sith."
The Sith Lord stood tall, "Rise my young apprentice, and from this day the galaxy will know you as Darth Vader."
Anakin stood, "What is your bidding my master?" He asked softly, his once kind blue eyes a sickening yellow.
"The Jedi must be stopped." Palpatine gestured to the destroyed room and bodies around them, "You saw what they can do. What they will do."
"All of them?"
"I assure you Tano is safe." Through the force, Palpatine saw that this was exactly what Anakin had been worried about, "However, I am not sure about your friend Kenobi."
"He is no friend of mine. He is no different from the rest of them, they are all murders."
Palpatine nodded, "Very well," he replied, "Go to the Jedi Temple. Kill them all. Spare none. The children are nearly corrupted and the adults are too far gone."
Anakin bowed, "As you wish."
Xxxxxxxxxx
The Force was a valuable tool, even when Ahsoka could not reach out to it, it still found her. Once it had brought news of Anakin, Padmé, Obi-wan, and Barriss, telling her that she was not forgotten. But today all it brought was sadness, that quickly turned into anger and hate. She sobbed for her master, wanting him to know she was alright, even if that was a lie.
Risking pain and punishment Ahsoka broke through the walls that her collar had created to prevent her using the force. She was thrown to the floor by the electrical shock that rewarded her efforts, and was certain Anakin had not heard her plea
Ahsoka laid on the floor, panting and wishing for any relief from this pain, even death. Because she had felt Anakin fall. Their bond was stronger than any shock collar. She felt her friends die, one by one, and felt Anakin's grief. She was not even mildly aware that HE was the cause of death, she thoughts the deaths caused the grief, not the other way around.
Xxxxxxxxx
As Anakin Skywalker marched on the Jedi Temple with the 501st he thought he heard a weak call in his mind, "Skyguy, Skyguy, help!"
"Help is coming Snips," he promised aloud as the first Jedi fell. "Help is coming."
Sorry updates are taking so long. My teachers are all assigning huge projects at the same time, and the groups I get stuck with want the to do all the work. Please review! It gives me a solid reason to continue writing!