Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars.
A/N: Okay before I go one with this, I'll leave a couple of words to justify the reason why I killed Padmé. First of all, I wanted to write something different, something that wasn't done usually. I suppose I succeeded, at least in that. Second, when I watch Star Wars I always think that Anakin was never really given a chance to become the Jedi he could be, a proper Jedi, strong, powerful and successful. Of course it wasn't Padmé's fault, but she was an enabler. She loved him, so she forgave everything. There were others too, and of course Palpatine who devised the whole thing. But I thought that it would be interesting for the story to remove her. Idk... hope you all arent too mad at me. lol
A/N2: So here is the final installment of chapter 8. I can't believe I got here at last. These were the scenes that actually got me started on this story, the first things I've imagined. So you might imagine I am quite satisfied to have reached this point in the story. I hope it's at least half as well written as I wanted it to be. This entire chapter was written to the sound of Mozart's Requiem in D Minor. If you like that kind of music I'd advise listening to it. Before you start, please forgive me for the excessive length of the Chapter, but I really didn't want to divide it in any more parts. Please enjoy and leave a review.
"I fear I am writing a Requiem for myself" - Mozart
Chapter Eight: Revenge of the Sith Part III – Escape
"Anakin, please help me, please…" she begged in between sobs.
He saw the brightest light he had ever seen and he felt as if he was being burned alive. Anakin released a guttural scream; one just like hers.
He saw a familiar lake and he felt sand underneath his hands. He was sitting with her and smiling as children played amongst them.
His skin burnt again. And then there was nothing but darkness.
Anakin opened his eyes. He wasn't breathing, he thought he was going to die; he still felt his skin ablaze.
Padmé was his first thought before the air finally returned to his constricted lungs. He noticed he was on his hands and knees, staring at the ground of the old Temple, panting heavily, drops of sweat falling onto the floor.
Padmé… he thought again, not daring to say her name aloud.
It can´t be… no… no… he tried to stand but he couldn't.
"Master Skywalker, are you alright?" a small voice asked him and he felt a little hand on his shoulder. He looked up. He knew that boy. He tried to speak but his voice was caught in his throat. He was sure he had seen that boy before… But he couldn't think. Her screams were still echoing in his mind.
He heard steps coming towards him, these were heavy and fast "Skywalker!" the recognizable voice exclaimed and the man knelt beside him, making sure he was alright. Mace Windu was a kind man. "You're burning up!" he said as he touched Anakin's forehead. He wanted to say that he felt his skin blazing, but he still hadn't recovered his speech.
Padmé… he thought again. She's… NO! He wouldn't say it, or even think it. Maybe it would just fade away if he ignored it. But he knew he had failed.
"Come on, you have to go to the Halls of Healing," the Master said, genuine concern was in his voice. Anakin tried to stand but he realized his legs lacked the strength. He fell back down again.
"I'm alright…" he was finally able to blurt out in an almost inaudible voice. He didn't want to go to the Halls of Healing, actually he didn't want to go anywhere; he wanted to be left alone.
"Come on, Anakin," the Master insisted and tried to help the Knight rise to his feet, but Anakin shook him off. He tried to calm his breathing with the Force, but it was hard to reach. He planted his hands firmly on the floor and finally stood with great effort; even though he stumbled a little.
"I'm alright," he repeated. And he started walking, slowly, hanging on to the walls. He passed the Council Room and headed to the elevator. He managed to reach his chambers. He ignored Jeswi as he walked in and locked himself in his small room. He didn't reach his sleeping couch, he slid down the door and buried his head in between his knees. He had an overwhelming urge to cry, but he couldn't, he wouldn't; because if he did it would make it real.
It can't be real…
Anakin stayed there, not moving, and not shedding a tear. He thought he fell asleep for a moment but he wasn't sure. But he must have, because he felt better, at least the burning had passed, the sweat had dried and his breathing returned to normal, even though these symptoms were replaced by the worst headache he had ever experienced. But he wasn't thinking of what he saw… he didn't want to.
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Mace Windu was worried. As he reached the Council Room he heard a scream, a cry of horror. He ran to its source. Anakin was there, holding his head in his hands, knelt as if he was being tortured. He tried to help, but the young one hadn't accepted it.
Now, the meeting was over and he had just heard that Grievous' ship was put down. He sensed that he was in it. Even though that would be amazing news any other day, the Korun Master couldn't help but feel that something had gone terribly wrong. He just didn't know what, at least not yet. But before he figured it out there were urgent business to attend to. With the leader of the Separatist army dead, the war was over and it was time for the Republic to become a democracy again. He wondered if he should go speak to the Chancellor himself, to make him give up his emergency powers, but their relationship was strained to say the least. Anakin should go, but he was worse than unwell. He thought that this was a good time to check on the young man.
He made his way to the Knight's chamber slowly, thinking of the future of the Republic now that the time had come to lay down their weapons; he felt satisfied by it, but the shadow of the Dark Side still lingered upon them; he needed Anakin well. He was the Chosen One after all. He thought of the ancient prophecy and prayed to the Force that it had not been misinterpreted.
He stood in front of the Knight's door and hesitated for a moment. Maybe he should go to the Chancellor himself and just leave the boy alone. But he decided against it. If Skywalker was better he'd go, if not he would take the task. He knocked slowly and soon the door opened, but it wasn't Anakin that he saw. Young Jeswi stood before him, with a worried expression on her face.
"Master," she bowed. Mace thought of how much she had grown. He remembered her when she came to the Order, just a bald little baby. And now she was this beautiful grown young woman, with a hair so blonde and so long that one could never imagine she could grow. He smiled at her; perhaps he just wanted to make her feel better, because he rarely smiled.
"I need to see your Master," he asked.
Jeswi looked down and bit her lip. She wasn't feeling like disturbing Anakin now; she had never seen him like that before. He completely ignored her, he was so pale that he looked like a dead man, and he had so much trouble walking that he had to hold on to walls. She called out to him several times, but it was as though he didn't even hear her. He probably didn't, "I don't think he's feeling very well; he's been locked in his room for two hours,"
The Master sighed, "I know. I want to check on him, take him to the Healers if need be," Jeswi finally nodded, convinced that the best was to get her Master checked out. She moved to the side and let the older man in and moved towards Anakin´s door, confident that he'd rather be interrupted by her than by the grave Jedi Master.
She knocked on his door gently but got no response. He looked at Mace who silently urged her to try again. She did, "Master, Master Windu is here to see you," She knocked again softly. After a few seconds the door opened and Anakin emerged. He bowed at his fellow Council member, as usual. Both Jeswi and Mace sighed in relief. At least Anakin could stand properly, and some color had returned to his face.
"Are you feeling better?" Windu asked, his voice softer than usual.
"I am," Anakin replied, motioning for the Jedi to sit with him on the small sofa that was turned to an undersized Holonet device that was stuck on an otherwise completely blank wall. The Master sat eyeing Anakin carefully, unsure whether his next question was wise or not.
"What happened?" Anakin cringed but replied nonetheless.
"I don't know… something in the Force, I think," he lied and everyone in the room knew he did.
"Perhaps Grievous' death?" Anakin blinked and looked at the Master before looking away.
"Perhaps," he lied again. The truth was he didn't even know Grievous was dead, and at that moment he didn't even seem to care.
"Master Plo Koon just informed us," Anakin nodded, not really wanting to speak anymore,"If you're feeling up to it, you could deliver this report to the Chancellor; his reactions should give us a clue to his intentions,"
"You suspect he won't give up his emergency powers?" the Knight asked calmly and Windu realized how empty Anakin's voice sounded. But he couldn't worry too much about it at the moment.
"I fear that could be the case. I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi; the dark side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor," Anakin nodded, understanding that he hadn't been relieved of his assignment yet, "Can you go?"
"Yes, I can," Anakin responded and left the room accompanied by the Korun Master, leaving a desolate Padawan behind.
Anakin Skywalker really wasn't up to it; in fact all he wanted was to curl up in a corner and die; but he lacked the courage to do so. He thought that maybe if he kept doing the things he always did it wouldn't become real. Even though he saw it and felt it as if he was there, he couldn't believe it. He would not believe it!
Padmé isn't… He couldn't even say it in his mind… because it couldn't be. Because he was going to save her and make it everything alright; because they were going to start a family and live on sunny and green Naboo; and if he thought it, everything would collapse like a deck of cards; and Anakin Skywalker didn't want that to happen, he didn't want it because he was so close… But now… it all seemed so far away. His headache lingered, but that wasn't the worst; the worst was the pain inside him. It was sharp and heavy, and it seemed to be crushing his heart in its fist. But he wouldn't cry.
He walked into the Chancellor's office with the blankest expression he ever had. He remembered when he used to smile a lot and crack jokes all the time; it was such a long time ago… Palpatine greeted him warmly.
"Chancellor," Anakin said, going straight to business "We have just received a report from Master Plo Koon. He has killed General Grievous,"
"That is wonderful news. Though I think it is a shame that the Council didn't send you for this task. It's upsetting to me to see that the Council doesn't seem to fully appreciate your talents. Don't you wonder why they don't make you a Jedi Master?" he asked.
"I haven't finished training my Padawan. It is one of the requisites to becoming a Master," he offered him a small lesson on Jedi rules with a frown.
The Chancellor stood, walked towards the young Knight and motioned him to walk with him, "it is a shame though, what happened to Senator Amidala," Anakin froze on his tracks.
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, forgive me. I thought you knew," he paused "Unfortunately the Senator was in Grievous' ship when it was shot down," Anakin stood silent. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"
"How would I know that?" he asked, suddenly defensive. The Chancellor gave him a patronizing look.
"Oh Anakin, you must break through the fog of lies the Jedi created around you,"
"I don't understand what you mean! The Senator is not dead!"
"But she is; you could've saved her, if you had joined me sooner;"
"She's not!" Anakin was shouting now. For some reason he felt like beheading Palpatine; he was so angry at him for saying it; for making it factual. The Chancellor, on the other hand, kept his cool façade.
"Perhaps there is still time. Join me, take your revenge on the Jedi and together we will bring her back to life," he smiled triumphantly; as if he were fulfilling a grand master plan.
"The Jedi didn't kill Padmé! You're lying!" Sidious fed on the young man's desperation. He had never seen such denial. This was one of the best games he'd ever played; and Anakin was the pawn that was about to go for the checkmate.
"I wonder if he knew…" the older man looked away pensively for a moment.
"Who? What are you talking about?" Anakin's voice was trembling almost as much as his hands.
"Why, of Master Plo Koon, of course. I wonder if he knew she was in the ship when he ordered his men to shoot it down. I believe he did, Jedi would do anything to overthrow me; even kill one of their strongest supporters…" he moved to stand in front of the Knight, "Let me help you to know the subtleties of the Force, and you will become powerful enough to bring the woman you love back from the dead,"
"How do you know that?" Anakin was taken aback. That was a secret, neither him or Padmé had told a soul. How could he know? "And how do you know the ways of the Force?"
"My mentor told me everything about the Force," he responded calmly, "even the nature of the Dark Side,"
"You know the Dark Side?"
"Anakin," his tone was serious now, "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 wise leader, you must embrace a larger view of the Force. But careful of the Jedi, Anakin; only through me can you achieve a power greater than any Jedi. Learn to know the Dark Side of the Force, take revenge on the Jedi who murdered your lover; and you will be able to make her your wife one day,"
Anakin stood very still, eying the Chancellor intensely, "what are you trying to offer me?" he asked. Could he bring her back? But… none of it sounded right. How did he know? How could he know? Not even the Jedi did, so how could he? Unless Master Windu lied to him; were they lying to him? Did Master Plo Koon know she was in the shuttle? So many questions were running through Anakin's mind; all at once. He didn't have answers; he was frozen in time and space. He didn't know what to do…
But maybe he could still save her…
"Use my knowledge, I beg you," he sounded so fatherly "The Jedi killed Padmé, how can you trust them? Have I ever betrayed you?"
"She's not dead. You're lying! All that you speak are lies!" the young Knight cried.
"She is! She burned and you felt her burn. That's why you're so desperate, so angry! Oh I can feel it!"
"How do you know that?" he shouted again but the Chancellor only smiled in return.
How did he know? And then, Anakin could see it, as if the Force had been a thick fog that was just lifted. He saw everything. There was no other way he could know, unless… "You killed her," Anakin grabbed his lightsaber and pointed his azure blade at his neck; "You're the Sith Lord! You planned everything! You manipulated us for all these years and you killed Padmé! You're the one who sent her to Mandalore; you're the one who put Griecous on the run… even your own abduction! You did it all! There's no other way you could know all you do; that's why the Separatists were always a step ahead of us. You… you created this war! You killed her!" Anakin felt such rage coursing through his veins; his blood boiled like hot lava, he had never felt like this. So much pain, so much death; all caused by this little man, his blade was pointed right at him. He wanted to strike him down, cut his head off. Take his revenge for every clone, every citizen of the Republic, every Jedi… for Padmé.
He's unnarmed… a voice whispered in his mind. Jedi never strike an unnarmed man, Jedi are not murderers. He recognized the voice, it was his Master's. He remembered that lesson. Anakin needed to control himself; self control… The Code…
There is no emotion, there is peace;
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge;
There is no passion, there is serenity;
There is no chaos, there is harmony;
There is no death, there is the Force.
She's not dead, she's the Force… she's one with the Force. He kept repeating the familiar mantra in his mind. He knew what the Sith wanted, and he would not give it to him.
"They've lied to you, Anakin. They've always lied to you. Don't continue to be a pawn of the Jedi Council. They only accepted you among them because they wanted someone to commit treason, treason against me; against the Republic. Since you were a child, they enslaved you, they forced you to do what they wanted you to do; they never gave you your freedom. They bought you for themselves! All I want is a strong and just Republic, free of corruption. I don't want the Galaxy to continue being controlled by the whims of greedy Senators!"
Why didn't he just shut up? Anakin felt his anger increasing. His took short breaths, his lightsaber was shaking in his hand. But the old man continued.
"Ever since I've met you, I knew that you're destined for a life greater than that of an ordinary Jedi. A life of significance, of conscience," he ignored the lightsaber pointed at him completely. He had made his case. He turned his back to Anakin. "Are you going to kill me?"
"I would certainly like to,"
"I know you would; I can feel your anger. It gives you focus, makes you stronger," he turned "strike me down, Anakin! Give in to your anger, give in to your pain; join me in the Dark Side and together we will hunt down the Jedi who destroyed your life! Do it, Anakin, Attack me! Now! Gain the power you need to save Padmé's life!" he was speaking loudly now, his arms open as if he was ready to recieve his own death.
"You lie! You can't bring people back from the Force, no matter how strong you are!"
"How do you know I lie?" he smiled, "You don't! Remember Darth Plagueis…"
Anakin extinguished his blade, "I will never join you Sith!" he spat out the last word as if it were a curse, "I will turn you over to the Jedi Council," and he turned his back on the Dark Lord.
"Of course, you should," Anakin didn't look at Palpatine but stopped, sensing he still had something to say, "You have great wisdom, Anakin. And… perhaps you should ask your beloved Masters of what happened to Padmé,"
The Jedi Knight left the Chancellor's office, without ever looking back.
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Mace Windu finished the transmission and the blue hologram of Duchess Satine disappeared. He rubbed his forehead, this was troubling indeed. Several witnesses claimed to see Senator Amidala being taken by Grievous to a shuttle that matched the description of the one that had been shot down by the Republic's fleet. It was also the only shuttle that was able to even leave the planet on that quadrant, so there could be no mistake. The line of thought gave him a headache, but there was nothing left to do but to conclude that they had killed Senator along with Grievous. He knew something had gone wrong, he just knew it! The Force never lied to him, and as soon as he had the feeling he was sure that something would come to ruin their victory.
He also couldn't help but sensing something else. Anakin has had his small breakdown exactly at the time Grievous died, and Padmé too. Mace knew they were close. He rubbed his forehead again, before he looked at the chrono on the other side of the room. The boy was taking too long and there was something wrong with him, there was no doubt; the Force was screaming at him! Windu made up his mind; he summoned the only Jedi Council members that were still in the Temple. Masters Saesee Tin and Agen Kolar walked with him in long fast strides. He made sure to take Master Fisto with him also, for he was a talented warrior.
"We must make the Chancellor give up his emergency powers," he was speaking when he heard young Skywalker's voice behind him. He sounded troubled as he ran towards the Masters. Windu didn't know whether he should be relieved or worried. And he would have to tell him…
"Master Windu, I must talk to you," the Knight seemed distressed.
"Skywalker," the Korun Master acknowledged the young man and moved towards him, silently instructing the other Masters to stay behind as he spoke to him, "we were on our way to the Senate to help you make sure the Chancellor gives up his emergency powers,"
Anakin looked at the floor and then back at Mace, "you never told me where Grievous was killed…"
"Over the atmosphere of Mandalore," he waited for Anakin to say something, but he didn't, "we have just heard from Duchess Satine. Unfortunately Senator Amidala was in the ship with Grievous when it went down; Anakin… we didn't know; Master Plo Koon had no idea. It was a terrible coincidence,"
Anakin said nothing as he watched the Master. Now it was real; it was confirmed. The young Knight searched through the Force and sensed no deceit in Master Windu's voice. He knew he was telling the truth. He was sure now, the Council had just heard of it, so he had planned this. At that moment Anakin wished he had killed him.
He greeted his teeth, "It was no coincidence. The Chancellor designed it,"
"What?" the Master asked confused.
"He won't give up his power; I've just learned a terrible truth. Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord," he finally told the Korun Master. He was tired of his lies… He shouldn't just have walked out on him.
"A Sith Lord?" he asked as he stopped on his tracks, eyeing Anakin as if he had just seen a ghost.
"Yes, the one we've been looking for;" he confirmed.
"How do you know this?"
"He knows the ways of the Force; he's been trained to use the Dark Side. He… he tried to… recruit me as his apprentice," Anakin looked down as he share the last of the information.
"He what?"
Anakin hesitated, but he wanted no more falsehood, "He said that… with the Dark Side, I could bring… Senator Amidala back from the dead. He knew… we had a connection," he couldn't look at the Master. What a disappointment he had turned out to be for the entire Jedi Order.
"Are you sure?" the Master asked with compassionate eyes, laying his hand on the young man's shoulder, as if he was saying it was alright;
"Absolutely,"
"Then our worst fears have been realized. We must move quickly if the Jedi Order is to survive;" he started walking towards his transport again, where the other Jedi Masters awaited him.
"Master, the Chancellor is very powerful. You'll need my help if you're going to arrest him," Anakin was determined to accompany the Jedi Master, finish what he had started; avenge Padmé´s death.
"For your own good stay out of this affair; I sense a great deal of confusion in you, young Skywalker. There's much anger that clouds your judgment,"
"But Master… he killed her… he killed Padmé. Please let me go with you!"
"You are visibly distraught. If the Chancellor wishes to seduce you to the Dark Side he will use your feelings against you and against us. Revenge is not the Jedi way, no matter how many rules you've broken so far. For now remain here, wait in the Council Chambers until we return. Anakin… don't give him what he wants…" the Master advised before he boarded his transport. As the Knight watched them leave he couldn't know whether he should listen to the Korun Master or not. He finally decided that he should follow orders, however bad he had always been at it; now was not the time to rebel. He felt so tired anyway… he left towards the Council room and did what he was told… Anakin waited.
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It was with a great amount of resolve that Jedi Master Mace Windu entered the Chancellor's office followed by his companions. The Sith turned with his chair.
"I must admit that you got here sooner than I expected," he offered with a twisted smile.
"In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic," Mace announced formally as he and his fellow Jedi reached their lightsabers and activated them, "you are under arrest Chancellor,"
"Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?" the smile had been wiped from his face.
"The Senate will decide your fate,"
"I am the Senate!" he growled.
"Not yet!"
The Chancellor wasn't the Chancellor anymore when he stood and a lightsaber appeared and ignited in his hand, giving a red hue to the room. He was a Sith Lord, he had always been a Sith Lord. The frustration that Mace felt at this realization was indescribable. All that time, right under their noses; were they so blind?
"It's treason then,"
With fierce speed the Sith jumped against his opponents. Who would've imagined that this man had this much power with him? In a matter of seconds he had put both Masters Saesee Tin and Agen Kolar to their deaths. Mace had hardly even had the time to see it.
He was more powerful than he expected.
Windu and Kit Fisto were able to defend from the Dark Lord's fearsome attacks. But it didn't take long before the battle was reduced to two, for Palpatine quickly overwhelmed Master Fisto, putting him to death instantly, by piercing him with his blade.
The Korun Master fought bravely against the Sith Lord's perfect technique and overwhelming speed. The dance of their battle was amazing to behold; neither of them was willing to fail. The Chancellor jumped and his lightsaber shattered the large window that afforded a view of Coruscant. Suddenly Windu could listen to the frenzy of the city that was completely oblivious to the fact that their fates were being decided that precise moment.
After some swift moves from both Palpatine finally made a mistake, and the experienced Jedi would not let it go to waste. He kicked the Chancellor and his lightsaber fell out of the window, only to be lost in the lower levels of the city. And the mighty Sith Lord curled up against a corner, like a frightened little boy, mumbling pleas of mercy.
Windu had won! He pointed his purple blade right at the Chancellor's head "you are under arrest, my Lord!" Palpatine glanced at the door for less than a second, as if he was expecting someone to come, but no one did. He turned his gaze over to the Jedi Master. "The oppression of the Sith will never return and he is not coming," for Windu knew who he was waiting for, "You have lost!"
The eyes of the Sith Lord flickered with yellow lights. "No! No, no, no! You will die," he shouted as a surge of Force Lightening surged from his fingers. The Jedi Master averted it using his lightsaber, and he watched as the Chancellor´s features melted and his eyes lost their remaining shade of blue. The old newly scared man glanced at the door again and realized that he had let his prey escape. Using all the strength he could muster he stood, never stopping the flow of Force Lightening. The Korun Master was using up all his power as the Chancellor got closer to him, very slowly. And the closer he was, the harder it was to deflect the lightening. The Sith Lord released a guttural laugh and amplified the power of his Force Lightning as soon as he didn't need to move forward anymore and the Jedi was not able to avert it any longer; his weapon dropped from his hands and he felt the excruciating pain of the lighting burning him from inside out. Within seconds he fell out of the window, his body landed lifeless and smoking next to the Sith Lord's lightsaber.
Darth Sidious observed the Jedi's dead bodies around him and smiled. His time had finally come. An entire lifetime of planning finally had come to fruition. With a small setback, Skywalker was supposed to have walked through his door and saved him from the claws of his murderer, that's why he had let his lightsaber go in the first place. But the young one never came and he had to resolve the situation himself.
A minor hinder, nonetheless; a great man always covered all his bases, and Sidious was a great man. Before his foreseen encounter with Windu and his worthless minions he had put one of his most loyal servants in place, for in case any inconvenience should occur time would be of the essence. He picked up his comlink and contacted Mas Amedda's frequency. His back-up plan had just transformed into his only solution. The Vice-Chancellor picked up the transmission quickly.
"Bring me the boy," he ordered.
"Yes, my Lord," Palpatine ended the transmission and sat, thinking what a shame it was the Amedda was not Force sensitive; he would make a superb Sith Lord, worried as he always was with the well being of his own person. The wind was hitting his back. He arranged his cloak and put his hood over his head.
"Gentlemen, it was a pleasure to have met you. But I have the rest of your friends to kill," he spoke aloud to the dead Jedi scattered across the room. He looked at the door, waiting for the boy that was about to become his right hand. He was powerful, not as powerful as Skywalker, but powerful nonetheless. And, Sidious had to admit, the boy had a natural inclination to the Dark Side, it was as if he had been born with it. He probably was. Yes, he would do very well. He was strong with the Force, one of the biggest promises of the Jedi Order; but only those fools hadn't seen it. And with the power of the Dark Side and some more training he would be able to face any Jedi without a problem; even if he was a little too young. But better sixteen than eighty. He thought of Dooku, he had served him well; he had the charisma of a great leader. But he wasn't necessary anymore; it was his time to go. He needed someone with more potential; and less free will. Young Eremin Tarn would do very well indeed.
Of course this was a deviation from his main plan. Anakin would walk in, he'd attack the Order, kill the Separatists and, had things turned out as he had originally devised, young Tarn would be his next victim. But, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
It hadn't been five minutes since he contacted Mas Amedda when former Jedi Padawan Eremin Tarn entered the room and knelt on one knee before the Dark Lord of the Sith.
"My Lord," he said simply. Sidious smiled, he loved the title.
"The time has come. You are becoming powerful young Tarn," He had not made the former Jedi his official apprentice yet. Sidious could be many things, but he followed the Rule of Two thoroughly. Since he didn't get the apprentice he wanted, he'd have to go for this one.
"Thank you, my Lord,"
"You have endured and passed many tests over the last year and the Force is strong with you; you are deserving at last. Will you embrace all the teachings of the Sith and live to obey the Dark Side of the Force?" he asked.
"I will, my Lord," Eremin never took his eyes from the floor.
"Henceforth you shall be known as Darth Reyk, Dark Lord of the Sith! Rise," Darth Reyk stood. Sidious had thought of the name. It meant empty in an ancient language used only by Force sensitives thousands of years before, and his apprentice had started out just like that: an empty sad little boy, that was about to become a powerful Sith Lord.
"Thank you, my Master,"
"Because the Jedi expelled you, I believe you have no knowledge of this plot. They planned to overthrow me and take control of the Republic. If the Jedi know what has transpired here they will kill us," the apprentice looked around and saw the familiar corpses. He remained unfazed. "Along with all the Senators,"
"I agree; the Council's next move will be against the Senate," the young man offered. He was only sixteen, though he looked older. And he certainly was more powerful than any Jedi Knight; especially after his training over the last year.
"Every single Jedi is now an enemy of the Republic," the Master said and the Apprentice nodded in agreement.
"I understand Master," Sidious hadn't spoken yet, but Reyk already knew what he had to do. Kill Jedi.
"We must move quickly. The Jedi are relentless. If they are not all destroyed, it will be civil war without end. First, I want you to take the 501st and go to the Jedi Temple and kill every Jedi. We will catch them off balance. Do what must be done Lord Reyk. Do not hesitated, show no mercy!" He ordered his apprentice. The Jedi… all dead! At last the Sith were showing their claws again!
"What about the other Jedi spread across the Galaxy?" Sidious liked the question. This boy would do indeed.
"Their betrayal will be dealt with. After you have killed all the Jedi in the Temple go to the Mustafar System; wipe out Viceroy Gunray and the other Separatist leaders. Once more the Sith will rule the Galaxy, and we shall have peace," Darth Sidious smiled as he watched his new apprentice leave to do his bidding. But his day was not over yet. He pressed the buttons on his transmitter and a small hologram of Commander Rex appeared before him.
"Commander, the new Grand General of the Clone Army is on your way to you; Have the 501st ready to follow all his orders,"
"Yes, Sir," Sidious thought the clones had been a marvelous choice; they always took orders and never questioned them. He loved the irony of the situation. The very men that would give their lives for the Jedi just hours ago would be the ones to kill them.
"It's time Commander. Execute Order 66; begin Operation Knightfall," the Commander stayed silent for a second. He had hoped that it would never come to that; but he acknowledged the order nonetheless, for that's why the 501st Legion had been secretly moved back to Coruscant over the last few hours. And still, Rex hardly believed it. He had never traveled amongst such silence.
The Dark Lord of the Sith had no time to waste. He began sending the transmissions to all the clone commanders who were stationed with Jedi. Time was of the essence. He began with Cody, for he had a particular dislike for Obi-Wan Kenobi; after all he had great influence in ruining his plans for Skywalker. He moved on to Yoda. It is useless to say he couldn't stand the little green dwarf. So full of himself! When all the commanders were contacted Sidious just sat back and relaxed. It was done.
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Grand Master Yoda saw it coming, of course. What else did they expect? As the clones approached him he cut off their heads, no great effort. Did the Sith think he would be that easy to kill?
He could sense it now… Palpatine, that mystery figure was nothing more than a mask; a masterful disguise. Palpatine was a Sith Lord! How could it be? How had he not seen it? The Dark Side of the Force had clouded his vision, and he was becoming far too old.
He could sense it all. The end of all those lives; so many lights in the Force being erased all of a sudden; all those Jedi murdered like animals. Yoda felt the pain of all the lives lost, not only in his mind but also on his tired old body. He knew it was the end of the Jedi as he knew it; and for a moment his life seemed to be over. Everything he had worked for his entire life was being shattered to pieces.
But while there's life there's hope. Yoda entered his small ship, aided by the friendly wookiees; and was on his way to the Core, like he had done many times before. But there was one difference: this time he was not a Jedi Master, he was nothing but a fugitive.
The Clone Wars were over. But the war against the Sith was just beginning.
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Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi had just won yet another battle. He was on Boga, his compliant verctyl that had been of great service to him. He had just talked to Cody before deciding to advance to the top level of Pau City, but Obi-Wan never got there because his troops shot him. Poor Boga, generous as ever, took the shot and they both fell into the lake.
Obi-Wan was clueless as to what was happening; all he knew was that his troops had betrayed him. He sneaked out of Utapau and headed to the Core. He was well aware that something was very wrong.
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He stood at the window of the Council Chamber; the top of the Tower overlooked all of Coruscant; it was a beautiful sight now that the night was falling and the last rays of sunshine were disappearing, but Anakin was unable to contemplate anything but his own misery. On the cityscape there was something he wished he couldn't see; the apartment tower on 500 Republica; where she used to live, where they had made passionate love with each other. The memories raced to his mind. He touched the thick glass. He could see her face; he wondered how long would it take before he forgot it, how long would it be when he wanted to picture her and couldn't anymore.
Padmé was dead. He finally was able to think it. He finally knew it to be true.
"She's dead…" he ventured to say it aloud.
He wondered if Palpatine was telling the truth, maybe if had joined him. But he couldn't; not only for himself but because he knew she would never forgive him and he couldn't have lived with that. She'd never forgive him because Palpatine was everything she had always fought against. But he knew that for the rest of his life that what if would haunt his thoughts. The decision was made now and there was no turning back. Master Windu left to face the Sith without him. That was probably for the best, for the Knight didn't know if he could've resisted the small chance of having Padmé back. At least he was removed from temptation whilst inside the safe walls of the Temple that had always been his home; and while at home he stared at the place that was becoming his new home. But it was all over now; it was over because he had failed, because he had let her go to Mandalore, because he couldn't save her.
"Forgive me my love… I have failed you…" he whispered as the tears fell freely and silently down his cheeks. Anakin cried at last. He cried for her, for her life that had been lost, for all the things they could have had together; Anakin cried for himself and for his broken heart; he cried for his failure and for his bitter victory over the temptation of the Dark Side. He cried for what was and ceased to be and for what was never to exist. He cried for the children he saw in his vision the moment she died; the children that would never be born. Anakin cried in silence, like he had never cried before.
He didn't have enough time to bathe in his pain; he sensed something. The Jedi Masters were dead, they had failed. The sharp pain on his head didn't let him forget it. His tears ceased. Anakin thought of how miserable his life was; he didn't even have time to cry for the woman he loved. He wiped the wetness from his cheeks and looked away from her home. He was going to face Palpatine by himself. Could he win? Certainly not, but right now Anakin didn't really mind dying. At least he'd go down with a fight.
He left the Council Room, but he didn't feel like hurrying. The Temple was silent, too silent. It had been so ever since the war started, and it had been escalating. Jedi were never home anymore. Anakin felt darkness around him. For some reason as he walked through the halls he actually looked at his surroundings. He noticed things he had never noticed before, even though he had lived there since he was a toddler. By a window there was a statue of an ancient Jedi; he had a lightsaber on his right hand but his left hand was opened, as offering the small feather he was holding to the Jedi of who passed in front of him. It was beautiful, and Anakin wondered why he had never seen it before. What did the feather even mean? He stopped and admired it, but his sight was soon averted to the window itself. There were strange lights coming from down, moving towards the Temple. Anakin's heart sunk and he approached the glass. Thousands of clones were climbing the long stairs to the Temple, lead by one cloaked man. He looked closer… they were his men, the 501st. There was no mistaking it. He kept observing what was happening, as if he was stuck to that spot. A crimson lightsaber ignited and it instantly killed the Gate Master Jurokk. That's when Anakin understood. They were under attack!
All of a sudden he felt himself running. He screamed for anyone who could hear that they were to defend the Temple. But there were so few people in there, mostly younglings and Padawans. The Jedi were spread across the Galaxy. He wondered what was happening to them. There was only one person he had in mind at the moment, Jeswi, he ran towards their chambers. As he walked he could hear screams coming from the lower levels and he was beginning to smell the foul stench of smoke. He ran up the stairs to the Tower where the chambers were located, not daring to take the elevator. But as he arrived at his floor the door of one of the lifts opened and he stopped on his tracks. There were children inside… dead. He swallowed dryly and continued to run, but he didn't need to reach his door because Jeswi was already coming towards him.
"Master, what's happening?!" she asked in between gasps.
"The clones are attacking the Temple. We have to go!" he took her arm and started leading her down the corridor.
"Why?" Anakin decided he could waste a few seconds for a better explanation.
"The Chancellor is a Sith Lord and he's ordered the clones to kill the Jedi," Jeswi stood in silence for a moment; she was speechless.
"We have to stand up and fight!" she protested when she regained her voice.
"They're thousands of them Jes. We have to save as many people we can and get out of here; we don't stand a chance…" other Jedi had started to leave their apartments. So many children… and they had heard Anakin's explanation.
"Run!" Anakin ordered them. "Leave everything behind and run! Help anybody you can," he was the highest ranking Jedi in the Temple, the only Council member. His orders were law.
As he descended the floors with Jeswi he saw younglings being taken towards the hangars by their nurses. He heard explosions on the background; the hangars were already being destroyed. There was no way of knowing which ones. He reached an empty corridor on one of the lower levels of the Tower. He sensed something was wrong. He motioned for Jeswi to stay quiet and grasped his lightsaber. He was deciding which way to go when a group of clones attacked them. He and his Padawan killed them quickly.
"Master, the contingency plan. There must be younglings in the Council Room…" she said. Anakin remembered his visions, after all this time he finally knew what they meant. Only now that it was too late… The lower they descended the more dead bodies they found. Both Jedi and clones were scattered lifelessly across the sacred grounds of the Temple. Every time Anakin saw a young Padawan dead his heart stopped. He gripped Jeswi's arm tighter as he led her into the Council Tower.
"Hurry up," he whispered as they climbed the stairs. Anakin was tired; he didn't remember the last time he had slept and yet he kept going; he wouldn't stop.
They killed a large number of clones on their way up; Jeswi was a great help. There was nothing but dead bodies on the corridor that led to the Council Room and they crossed paths with few living Jedi, for the Clones had already swept the area, it made sense that it would be one of the first. They stepped over the corpses and reached their destiny.
"Stay on guard Jess," Anakin ordered before opening the door and as he did he was faced with the familiar scene. His lightsaber was gripped firmly in his hand and he looked around the room; it was night already. The boy came, as he expected he'd come. It was him, the boy that had asked him if he was alright when he had the vision of Padmé's death. He knew him from his visions.
"Come on Master, hurry up!" Jeswi whispered from outside. He couldn't believe it was actually happening.
"Master Skywalker, there are too many of them! What are we going to do?" Anakin knelt before the children.
"I'm going to get you out of here. I promise!"
"Come on!" Jeswi said again, as he knew she would. Even the screams he had heard were there. Now he knew what they were. He stood and reached the large window, breaking the glass with his blade. He looked up and down. The hangar two levels above them was still operational. All the others were burning. He gulped at the sight of his home being reduced to ashes.
"Follow me, but stay close alright?" the children nodded and were more than happy to finally be under the protection of their Master. He and his Padawan led the younglings through the stairs. He heard a cry; a young human girl had just tumbled and fell. He picked her up in his arms; she couldn't be more than four years old. His heart ached, and he felt it every single time a life was taken in the Temple. He knew they were being slaughtered.
He saw a familiar face entering the stairs on the floor above them. "Jax!" he called and the Knight looked behind.
"Anakin, the clones…" he trailed off. He seemed so lost.
"The Sith sent them… Palpatine," he said, not letting go of the girl that had her face buried in his shoulder. She was trembling; the poor girl was frightened to death. They all were. Jax merely shook his head, realizing what had happened.
"The hangar upstairs is still working I think," Knight Pavan informed them.
"I know, we need to get the younglings out," Jax nodded.
"I have a few more hidden just outside. I'll get them," Jax left and came back in seconds with about twenty more younglings on his tail. Some were little younger than Jeswi and they had their lightsabers ready for a fight, but most of them were straight out of the nurseries. They needed to get them in a ship and send them off planet. They started up the stairs again. As they reached the floor they were searching for they left the little ones with one of the older younglings. Seven of them went to face the clones in the floor, drawn lightsabers; they killed about thirty to reach the only ship in the hangar that wasn't destroyed yet.
They fetched the younglings, Jax put them in the ship as Jeswi and Anakin deflected the shots that were being thrown at them. More clones kept arriving.
"Go Jes, get in the ship!" Anakin ordered his Padawan without even looking at her, "I'll hold them off,"
"Not going anywhere without you, Master!"
"I said go! It's an order Jeswi!"
"I'm not going unless you come with me!" Anakin didn't have time to argue; more clones were arriving; the ship was ready to go. He glanced at his Padawan, clearly she was going determined to stay behind.
"Go Jax!" he said.
"What about you?" he asked from the ship.
"Just go!" Knight Pavan nodded even though Anakin couldn't see it. He entered the ship and took off; taking about thirty younglings with him. At least he had saved those. Anakin only hoped that they were able to breach through the blockade that was sure to have been mounted over the city planet. But Jax was a skilled pilot; they couldn't be in better hands. He knew his friend would take care of them.
Anakin and Jeswi stayed in the hangar for some time, still trying to fight against the growing number of clones. The Knight felt a stinging pain on his side; he had been hit! He knew they wouldn't get out of there if he didn't just get rid of those clones. E glanced at a dead clone and saw a grenade.
"Cover me Jes!" he ran and ducked next to the corpse, taking the grenade from his belt. He threw it at the entry of the hangar, making it collapse. They killed the remaining clones on their side and as they did a speeder approached. He looked back and Senator Organa was jumping from his speeder, and running towards him. There was a wounded Padawan lying next to a burning ship. Anakin picked him up on his arms.
"Senator Organa, take him. Find Master Yoda or Master Kenobi," he spat his orders not giving the Senator a chance to speak, "Tell them it was the Chancellor the whole time; they'll understand,"
"What's happening Master Jedi? I saw the Temple on fire…"
"The Chancellor has ordered the destruction of the Jedi. There is no time. Take the boy to safety and go," the Senator nodded and jumped into his speeder, Anakin placed the Padawan next to him.
"Master Skywalker," Organa spoke before taking off, "may the Force be with you," Anakin nodded as he watched the speeder leave.
Anakin looked over the board of the hangar. Most of the Temple was burning now. There were no more hangars as far as he could see or sense, and if there were they were too far away for them to reach them without getting themselves killed. His life didn't matter much to him, but he had stubborn Jeswi with him. As he tried to devise a plan for them to leave the Temple, he began feeling drowsy. He took his palm to his right side and looked at it; he was bleeding. He had forgotten he had been shot. He ignored the pain, and the fact that he would be dead soon if he didn't take care of that wound. His plan was to get more Jedi out of the Temple when he sent Organa on his way, but analyzing his current situation he concluded that there was only one more Jedi he had time to save. He looked at his Padawan and he saw something in her that he hadn't noticed yet; her look of horror.
"We're going to die here, aren't we?" she was on the verge of tears; but she never let them out. She was a true Jedi.
"Not if I can help it,"
"But all the ships are gone!"
"We jump to that hangar and enter the Temple. We still have the tunnels," he pointed to the right side. There were few clones in that hangar, he could sense it. It was an area that consisted mainly of nurseries, so they hadn't much strategic importance, and it was opened to the interior of the Temple. It was a long leap, but they could do it with the help of the Force.
The tunnels were a maze under the Temple; lucky enough Anakin knew them well. When he was younger he spent hours and hours in those tunnels. He'd always been an adventurer.
They made the jump with little difficulty, and made their way to the lower level of the Jedi Temple, killing the scattered clone troopers that crossed their path. But there was a long way to go and Anakin was becoming weaker; his injury was slowing him down; it was killing him and he knew it. Jeswi hadn't noticed it yet. But even his eyesight was fogging up. Soon enough he fell,
"Master!" she knelt next to him and looked at him from top to bottom, "you're hurt!" through his clouded vision he could see a tear running down her face.
"You have to keep going, Jes. Go in the tunnels, there's a ship we can take. It's Senator Amidala's. She left it on Coruscant and took a Republic official ship. Go, it's in a private hangar, low security. Get out of the tunnels and go through the lower levels. It's on the south hangar 554. Civilian security codes," the Padawan pursed her lips and closed her eyes tightly, not answering her Master. She ripped a long stripe from the botoom of her cloak and tied it tightly around her Master's torso, above the wound to stop the bleeding. She took his arm and put it around her shoulders. She'd carry him out if she had to, but she wasn't about to leave him there to bleed to death.
"Let me go Jes," he pleaded as she dragged him.
"If you die here, I'll die too! So you'd better stay alive," he knew she was serious, so he shut up and tried to walk as best as he could. They were heading to the nearest tunnel, there were several of them spread across the Temple's lowest floors. They heard a familiar voice. Anakin's droid.
"Oh dear, I feel so helpless," he said as he wandered aimlessly across the corridors. He saw them. "Thank the Maker, Master Anakin!"
"Threepio!" Jeswi said, "You have to help me take Master Skywalker out of the Temple!" she told him. She was strong, but so small compared to tall Skywalker, so she was having great difficulty.
"Of course! I'll do anything to get out of this dreadful place!" Jeswi took her Master's arm from her shoulders and passed him to the golden droid. She knew they'd be slowed down, but at least she could fight. She ignited both her and Anakin's lightsaber. He was proud of his Padawan. They continued on their way; several clones died on their journey. But a large group was approaching them; both Jedi could sense it and Jeswi knew that she didn't stand a chance alone with them. She looked at her Master and he was all but passed out, fighting not to become unconscious. He was succeeding, but barely.
"Hush!" she ordered the droid. She looked around them and there was a room that had been left without a door. They hid inside. The clones entered, she deactivated both blades. It was a large group, of at least fifty. Rex was among them. She wanted to kill him! He walked about the room and glanced their way; he averted his gaze immediately.
"Tell Lord Reyk this section is clear," he ordered his men "I'll join you in a minute," the other clones left and he stayed. He walked towards them and Jeswi was ready to chop his head off as soon as he approached them. She didn't though; yet her blade was but an inch from his neck.
"Rex!" she said.
"Commander Ele, General Skywalker…"
"Why did you send them away? And who's Lord Reyk?" she asked in a manner of interrogation.
"I saw you; I didn't want them to find you and Lord Reyk is the new General. He used to be a Jedi, I've seen him before a couple of years ago, but he had another name. Tarn I think," he responded coolly and Jeswi sensed no deceit coming from him. She looked at her Master, waiting for instructions.
"He's alright Jes," he mumbled. She withdrew her blade.
"So Eremin is the new apprentice," the Master commented.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Jeswi observed.
"You need to leave the Temple now! Which way are you headed?" the clone asked as he removed his helmet.
"To the tunnels,"
"Lord Reyk ordered the tunnels to be flooded. You should hurry; I'll delay them," Jeswi smiled. At least there was someone who wasn't a traitor. Clones had feelings after all; which was something she had been starting to doubt since this attack had begun.
"Thank you Rex!" she said as she planted a kiss on the clone commander's cheek. He smiled and they were on their way.
It didn't take long before they reached the tunnels. They entered and they knew time was of the essence. Anakin was barely able to crawl through the tunnels; he was relying solely on the Force. He knew he wouldn't have lasted long if it wasn't for it. But he kept going, for his Padawan. He had failed to save Padmé, but he wouldn't let Jeswi die. He couldn't! They crawled through the maze, it took them about half an hour; fortunately Anakin was still able to remember the shorter way out; the one that led them right to the lower levels of the city. What they didn't know is that only minutes after they left the tunnels, they had been completely flooded and Anakin hadn't kept going his Padawan, who knew little of the maze underneath the Temple, would've drowned. What they knew though, was that many Jedi died in those tunnels.
They put their hoods up as they reached the city. They tried to be as inconspicuous as possible, walking silently through the shadows and never looking back. They didn't even look around them. The lower levels of Coruscant were a dangerous place. Jeswi helped Threepio carry her Master the rest of the way. They headed south. They still had to reach the hangar. They took the elevator to the upper side, and hid their presence with the Force as much as they could. They didn't want anyone to notice them, and the higher they got the tighter the security became. They entered the private hangars area; and though security was scarce they still had to go through several clones, whose orders were to kill any Jedi they came across with. They found hanger 554 and the chromed Nubian ship reflecting the night lights of the capital. They ran inside. As they did Anakin afforded her all the civilian security codes to pass the blockade.
They were surprised to find another droid; the Senator's fateful astromech was there. He beeped and buzzed as they saw them enter the ship, but he had seen Anakin in the Senator's house and he knew he was trustworthy. They laid the Knight on one of the bunks.
"Where do we go now Master?" Jeswi asked, kneeling next to him; typically he'd be piloting. Not today.
"Tatooine; three jumps at least," she nodded and made her way to the cockpit. There was a blockade but they were able to breach it easily using the security codes on Anakin had provided. She ordered the astromech to calculate a four jump trip to Tatooine; they didn't want anyone following them. The droid did as told. She returned to the cabin, her Master was unconscious now, but alive and in a healing trance. That was good. She looked over the ship for medical supplies but all she could find was a bunch of bacta patches. She would have to make do. She cleaned his wounds and cared for Anakin as best as she could.
Jeswi had nothing left, she had no one left… no one but her Master…
A/N3 - I hope this chapter was enjoyable despite the length. Please leave a review... their strength to go on. Oh and btw, no need to worry. Anakin will be just fine. :)
