Chapter 36
500 Republica
Padme was in her apartment. Tomorrow was Laetitia's birthday and she wanted her daughter to have a happy birthday. As a Jedi, she would never be able to celebrate it but every year, Padme and Anakin got together and wished her a happy birthday.
Padme suddenly felt something from the Jedi Temple. Anakin was in pain. She could feel it. She may not be a Force-sensitive but the bond she shared with Anakin was profound. So much so that she could've have sworn that Anakin was standing beside her.
Padme whipped around when she heard Laetitia gasping and almost shrieking when waking up from her sleep.
"Leah! Are you alright? What's wrong?"
"Dad!" She was catching her breath.
"What do you mean? Is there something wrong with him?"
"He's in … danger. He's in pain." She couldn't exactly pinpoint what the source of danger was or why he was hurting.
She got up.
"Where are you going?"
"To find him." Leah said before she ran out of the door.
She decided to go to the Temple. That was the last place he said he was gonna go. It was most likely that he was still there.
In the chancellor's office
Anakin was standing still as Sidious put on his black cloak.
"Because the council did not trust you, my young apprentice, I believe you are the only Jedi with no knowledge of this plot. When the Jedi learn what has transpired here, they will kill us along with all the senators."
"I agree. The council's next move will be against the senate."
"Every single Jedi, including your friend, Obi-wan Kenobi, is now an enemy of the Republic."
Anakin hesitated for a second but said "I understand, master." He didn't want anything to happen to his master but if it meant saving Laetitia, he would do it.
"We must move quickly. The Jedi are relentless. If they are not all destroyed, it will be civil war without end." He turned to face Anakin.
"First, I want you to go to the Jedi Temple. We will catch them off-balance. Do what must be done, Lord Vader. Do not hesitate. Show no mercy. Only then, when you'll be strong with the dark side to save your family."
"What about the other Jedi spread across the galaxy?"
"Their betrayal will be dealt with." Sidious simply said as he sat on his chancellor seat.
"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."
Anakin nodded and dismissed himself to go order the 501st legion to be ready for the attack on the Temple.
As soon as he left, Sidious took out his comlink.
"Execute order 66."
In the Jedi Temple
Laetitia was wandering in the Temple, asking if anyone had seen her father. She suddenly stopped. She was shocked and afraid of what she had just felt. Ki-Adi Mundi on Mygeeto, Plo Koon on Cato Neimoidia, Aayla Secura on Felucia, Stass Allie on Saleucemi and all the other Jedi in the galaxy were one with the Force. They were dead.
What is happening?!
For whatever reason, she could still feel Obi-wan on Utapau, Ahsoka on Mandalore and master Yoda on Kashyyyk.
She had no idea what was happening. She was about to go find someone to ask but she heard the sound of blasters. She slowly went outside and saw the clones killing the Jedi. Her jaw dropped when she saw that it was the 501st legion killing everyone.
Someone pulled her inside a room. It was Raven, Chuckles and every other trooper in 502nd, her legion.
"I wouldn't suggest going outside, kid."
"What's happening? Why are the clones attacking us?"
"We have no idea but we think it has something to do with the chips you told us about. That's the only difference we have with them."
The chips! Of course. I knew Palpatine was behind this.
"Well, we need to do something. I can't just sit around and watch my friends and other Jedi get murdered."
"We will handle the clones. You need to go, sir."
Laetitia frowned at Raven's response.
"I know you're not asking me to leave you all alone and let you fight while I hide, right? Because you KNOW I will not do that."
Raven chuckled "I know you won't, general. But you have to go and find the younglings. Not every 5-year-old can defend themselves like you can. They need you to protect them."
"Be that as it may, I'm still bot leaving you." She said with unshed tears with her eyes. She knew that if she left, there was a good chance that she might never see any of them again.
Raven smiled "General, you freed us, by destroying the inhibitor chips inside of us, so we can make our own choices. And now we are. We want to stay back and fight for the Jedi."
"Yeah, kid. It's our brothers who are doing this. We may have a choice but they don't. we have to free them just like you did with us."
"We'd like to make our stand here, as a soldier fighting under our general."
"We learned from the best."
All the clones nodded and looked at their general. Laetitia couldn't hold back anymore and started crying.
Raven put his hand on her shoulder "General, remember when you asked me where my loyalties are? I wasn't sure back then but now I have absolutely no regret fighting besides the person I trust the most in my life. We all may have been created to obey you but you're the one who made us stay, kid."
Laetitia looked up. It was the first time she had heard Raven call her 'kid'.
She pulled herself together and wiped the tears off her face.
"Stay alive. That's an order."
The clones smiled "Yes, sir." And watched Laetitia leave the room.
Done :(