So cold chapter 14
"So what are we going to do?" Anakin asked sitting around the table with the three remaining Jedi while his wife took care of her children. "Wraeththu must be stopped" Mace replied, "agree I do" Yoda said. Anakin looked at Obi-wan and he nodded in agreement "she is to dangerous we should strike now while she is still trying to set up her rule, from what some of the senators that don't agree with Wraeththu has said there is a massive station above Corusant" Obi-wan said. "But masters I've told you its not her fault, its that damn thing that's in her that making her do this; I know Ahsoka and she would never do this" Anakin replied, "we cant afford to take that chance, she must be stopped so we can reverse what she has done and try to resurrect the Republic" Mace said. Yoda looked at Anakin "conflicted you are Skywalker, attached you have become to your padawan" Yoda said, "of course I have master Yoda, she is like my little sister we fought together for three years and then you guys cast her away not even listening to her pleaded for innocence" Anakin said finally letting some of his building anger show toward the counsel. "Anakin I know you're saddened and a little confused but we have to stop Wraeththu" Obi-wan said. Anakin sighed "if we can bring her back then I sure as hell am going to, she is not evil she is not bad I know she isn't" Anakin said. The counsel nodded and began to form a plan of action.
A girl about twelve years old, with orange skin and green eyes; the same species as Shaak and Wraehthu, followed Shaak through the Starforge's halls "master why does Wraeththu wish to see me?" she asked having to practically run to keep up with Shaak. "I do not know but we mustn't keep her waiting" Shaak replied as she made her way to the bridge of the station. Shaak had changed drastically over the few weeks she had fallen to the darkside, she now desired one thing, revenge on Windu; as she though of the battle that had taken place in the temple and her failure to strike Mace down her pass quickened until she reached the bridge. The small girl stood next to Shaak as Wraeththu was meditating on the bridge "Master" Shaak said bowing and gestured for the girl next to her to do the same. Wraeththu opened her eyes, the sickly yellow color of them pierce both Shaak's and the other girls very soul, her gaze moved from Shaak to the girl standing next to her. Indeed this child was strong in the force, she would make a perfect apprentice but fist she had to tare down everything the Jedi had taught her, she walked down the stair case and stood in front of them. Both Shaak and the female lowered their eyes slightly "what is your name child?" Wraeththu asked turning to looked at the girl who stood next to Shaak who was now shaking slightly. "Shimi" the girl said quickly but did not dare to look up, the darkness radiating off of Wraeththu was terrifying.
Wraeththu reached down and lifted the girls face to look at her "Shimi, you are very powerful in the force" she said. Wraeththu cast a glance at Shaak and Shaak bowed and left the room. "How old are you Shimi?" Wraeththu asked and she slowly circled the girl inspecting her. "Thirteen" Shimi said quickly and fell silent again, she looked up at Wraeththu when she stood in front of her. "Are you afraid?" Wraeththu asked looking down at her, when Shimi didn't reply Wraeththu spoke "there is no need to be afraid child, you are safe now" Wraeththu said. Shimi glanced away "but with the Jedi gone who will train me…" Shimi asked softly. Wraeththu scowled "the Jedi dear, the Jedi were wrong to tell you to hide your emotions, to bottle them away. In doing so they are asking you to be unnatural, our emotions make us strong and powerful" Wraeththu said. Shimi looked up at her again "but our emotions can lead up to the darkside…" she said. "The view that the Jedi have put on the darkside is wrong dear, the darkside is just another part of the force, the more power side I might add" Wraeththu replied.
"The Jedi tell you that emotions can lead to the darkside, that hate and anger are bad emotions, no emotion is bad dear. Emotions are a part of every living being, the Jedi would have you not be able to love, to have attachments and tell you to find refuge in the force, they would rather have you bottle away your emotions rather than use them" Wraeththu said. Shimi sighed "I guess that make sense" she said, Wraeththu smile "I am in need of a apprentice Shimi, and you are strong in the force and you have not been fully indoctrinated with the way of the Jedi and their teachings. I can help you achieve your full potential and become a very strong force user" Wraeththu replied. Shimi looked up at her for a moment and thought "I want to be strong and powerful" Shimi said honestly, "and you can be child, become my apprentice and I can show you the pathway to unimaginable power" Wraeththu said. Shimi got down on a knee "I want to be strong and powerful, I pledge myself to you and you alone" Shimi said, Wraeththu had a wicked smile "good, rise Shimi your training begins now" Wraeththu said.
Two years later. Anakin kissed his wife "we have to do this" he said "I know Ani please come back though its not just me your coming back for now you also have your kids to come back to" Padme said holding both of her children. Anakin looked down at them and kissed each of them "I always come back angel" he said stepping onto a unmarked ship that would take the Jedi to the Starforge that they were sure Wraeththu was at. Anakin sat down and looked over at the other Jedi, they all looked determined to do what needed to be done but he was still torn part of him knew that he could save Ahsoka from herself but the other part of him knew that if he couldn't he would have to stop her. The flight took sixteen hours so they would have time to plan what they were going to do.
Wraeththu stood on the bridge of the forge she looked out into space searching through the force for the remaining few Jedi, next to her stood her fifteen year old apprentice Shimi who even though had only been her pupil for two years was a great warrior and strong in the force. "Master, Grievous is ready" Shimi said bowing to her master, Wraeththu turned around "bring him online now I sense we will have company soon" she ordered. Shimi bowed her head and walked over to the cy-borg and activated him. Grievous eyes opened instantly "where am I" he growled, "relax General you are safe" Wraeththu said walking up the massive now almost nine foot cy-borg. The chips implanted in Grievous's head since his reconstruction came on line and told him this was his new master "milady" he said bowing. "What is the last thing you remember General?" Wraeththu asked, "dueling Skywalker" he replied with disgust. "I sense we will be having guest, uninvited guest General. You are to take on Obi-wan and Yoda" she said, "as you command" he replied. "Shaak, you will handle Mace Windu" Wraeththu said turning to look at Shaak who had just walked on to the bridge. "Finally, revenge will be mine, I will not fail you master" Shaak said bowing. "What about me master?" Shimi asked, Wraeththu turned and looked at the girl "you will face Skywalker with me" she replied. "Now prepare the battle droids inside the station immediately, to day is the day that we wipe out the rest of the Jedi" she said.
The unmarked shuttle dropped out of hyperspace a few miles away from the starforge that was above Coursant "is that what I think it is, it cant be the Star Forge was destroyed" Obi-wan asked bewildered, "apparently not" Anakin replied as they neared the station. Several Star-destoryers surrounded the forge but non of them open fired upon the vessel that the Jedi were in "we must be expected" Mace Windu said. "Well let's not keep them waiting shall we" Obi-wan replied. They landed in the hanger and dropped the ramp, the Jedi descended the ramp and were immediately engaged by battle droids. All four Jedi pulled their sabers and began deflecting the bolts and cutting through the droids but it they quickly realized that for each droid they cut down four more showed up to take its place. "We need to find Wraeththu and stop her so we can shut down these droids" Mace said over the blaster fire while deflecting bolts back at the droids. As they cut their way through the swarm of battle droids they moved to the closest hallway and worked their way do it, turrets that lined the walls began to fire at the Jedi as well "very nice welcoming party" Obi-wan said "hardly" Mace replied. The Jedi were forced down the hallway through twist and turns down different corridors "they are pushing us deeper in to the station" Anakin said bringing his saber up and deflected a bolt that would have stuck Obi-wan in the arm. "Door way to the left" Obi-wan said looking around for any hallway that wasn't filled with droids, the Jedi made their way to the door and it slid open and closed as they walked into the dark room. Green, purple and two blue sabers were all the light in the room "I've never seen battle droids be that tactical in their movements even the specialized ones the Separatists had" Obi-wan said while taking a moment to collect himself.
Grievous watched the four Jedi enter the room and the door closed behind them, oh how foolish the Jedi were walking into this trap. "Greetings Jedi" he said from the other side of the room while hitting a button on his wrist that turned the light on in the room. The four Jedi immediately spun around to face the person and Anakin's mouth dropped open in surprise "I killed you" he declared. Grievous let out a laughed "I am easy to kill Skywalker and as you can see you have fallen right into my masters trap" he said as his to arms broke apart now becoming four as he took two green and blue sabers out and igniting them. "Go, I and master Kanobi will handle this" Yoda said, Anakin and Mace nodded and made for the door way that led to another hallway. Yoda and Obi-wan turned to face Grievous "I don't remember you being quiet so tall" Obi-wan said as he took a defensive stance as did Yoda. Grievous's two top arms began to spin very fast causing the sabers in his hands to spin very fast as he walked toward them "today the last of the Jedi will fall" he said as he attacked.
Anakin and Mace ran down the hallway which took a sharp right into another large room, this one however the lights were on and at the far end of the room stood Shaak-ti. The former Jedi master had a sinister smile upon her face as she watched Mace and Anakin walk into the room and the door slammed shut as they walked inside. Shaak's yellow eyes locked directly on to Mace, revenge finally, she thought as she pulled her saber out and its crimson blade hissed to life, she didn't give them time to look at her as she jumped across the room and locked blades with Mace "you will die here today" she hissed. Mace pushed back against Shaak's blade "Skywalker go find Wraeththu" he said. Anakin quickly nodded and ran past Shaak to the other side of the room where another door was at, the door opened and closed behind him locking.
Anakin ran down through the halls until he came to the bridge where he found Wraeththu sitting down and next to her sat another female Togrutan female. Anakin walked into the room slowly and the door slid shut behind him, the darkside was immensely strong here; he looked at the two holding his light saber to his side ready for a fight just in case. "Anakin it's been a while" Wraeththu spoke and her words echoed through the bridge, they were dark and cold. Wraeththu opened her eyes and stood up "like what I've done with the place?" she said smiling as she walked over to him. Shimi remained seated until she was needed but she watched the two closely. "What's a matter Skyguy, cat got your tongue?" she asked as her smiled turned in to an evil one as she circled him. "Ahsoka listen to me, I don't blame this one you I know you wouldn't do this. It's that thing inside of you; let me help you we can fix this. No one has to get hurt" Anakin said. Wraeththu laughed and shook her head "and that is where you are wrong Anakin, I am the one doing this and people are going to die, the Jedi to me specific" Wraeththu said. "Ahsoka the council was wrong to do what they did to you I am sorry please don't do this" Anakin pleaded. Wraeththu walked back over to Shimi who stood up "Before you die Skywalker, I would like you to meet my Padawan, Shimi." Wraeththu said. Shimi pulled out her weapon and ignited it, out came a long crimson tail "allow me to show you what I have taught her" Wraeththu said with a wave of her hand Shimi attacked viciously sending the tail of her lightwhipe souring at Anakin.