"That sounds like a good thing." Ahsoka says confused by why Anakin seems angry about Dooku's capture through the transmission.
"It is." He pauses before continuing. "Did you think I wouldn't look at the chips when we started removing them." He asked. Ahsoka gulped knowing where this was going. "You think it is Palpatine." He said more than asked. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Yes." She admitted. "He organized it all. He was the one that pushed the Jedi to expel me and put me on trial."
"He wouldn't do that!" Anakin argued back. But Ahsoka could see the uncertainty.
"If the clones are a Sith plot, then why did Dooku make sure the orders could only be given by Palpatine?" Ahsoka asked quietly.
Anakin was silent for a moment and looked pensive. "He tried to get me to kill Dooku." Anakin admitted. "Why would he do that if they worked together?"
"What are you talking about? What happened?" She asked suddenly.
"Seperatist agents kidnapped the chancellor. Obi- Wan and I went to rescue him. We were able to defeat Dooku and rescue the chancellor but he tried to order me to kill Dooku rather than take him prisoner. If they are working together why would he do that?" Anakin asked.
Ahsoka thought about it for a second and knew exactly what Palpatine wanted. She looked to Anakin with a pitying look.
"What? What is it?" Anakin asked urgently.
"It was something that we had suspected, but I didn't want it to be true." Ahsoka admitted looking down. She had hoped that Anakin wouldn't find out. But Anakin deserved answers. "I think Palpatine has been trying to groom you to be his apprentice." Ahsoka told him.
"That's ridiculous! I'd never do that!" Anakin argued.
"I know you are frustrated with the Jedi." Ahsoka pointed out. "The trial against me, hiding your relationship with Padme, and so many other things."
"Palpatine pushed to have me join the council. The Jedi refused to make me a master though." Anakin told her annoyed.
"Well that is messed up. Palpatine is interfering with Jedi order and you are on the council without the title of master. Palpatine has been trying to drive a wedge between you and the Order." Ahsoka argued. Although she could see that Palpatine didn't have to work that hard to do it. What Revan had told her and Asajj was turning out to be true.
"I know, but that doesn't mean what they did was right." Anakin argued.
"No, it doesn't." Ahsoka agreed. "How many of the troopers have had their chips removed?" Ahsoka asked trying to change the subject.
"The 501st, 212th, 104th, 327th, and the 41st." Anakin told her.
"Such a small amount. That's not even a tenth of the army." Ahsoka muttered.
"There is only so much we can do without attracting attention." Anakin defended.
"We have your company as well as Obi-Wan's, Master Secura, Master Koon, and Master Unduli. Are they all in on what is going on?" Ahsoka asked.
"Yes. Master Ti was also keeping an eye on the Kaminoans for us, but she was killed by General Grievous." Anakin told her.
Ahsoka felt a pain in her chest. She had always looked up to Master Ti growing up. Ahsoka wanted to be on the council like her as such a highly respected Togruta. "I see."
"With Dooku in custody we need to make our move." Anakin stated the reason he had called. "We need to make it soon before the Separatists are under new control."
"What about Grievous? With Dooku gone he would be in charge." Ahsoka inquired.
"Obi-Wan has gone to Utapau. He will stop Grievous there. While that is going on and Dooku is in custody we can make a move against Palpatine." Anakin told her. Even though it looked painful to admit that Palpatine had been an enemy.
"I agree. Obi-Wan has the 212th with him to stop Grievous so that won't be affected even if the order goes out and the 501st will be on Coruscant to help deal with any fallout." Ahsoka thought through it out loud.
"We were going to tell the council and hopefully see how they react." Anakin told her.
Ahsoka nodded in agreement. "We will be on our way to try to be of any help." Ahsoka told him. "Keep me posted on anything if you can." Ahsoka told him before the communication was cut out.
She returned to their living area where Asajj had been waiting during her call with Anakin.
"What did Skywalker have to tell us?" Asajj asked.
Ahsoka let out a deep breath before sitting on the couch that Asajj had been on and rested her head on Asajj's shoulder. "It is going to happen. And it is going to happen within the next few days."
Asajj just nodded. "Things are about to get exciting." She said with apprehension. The operation on Mandalore seemed easy compared to this.
Ahsoka nodded her head against Asajj's shoulder. "He seemed so angry. I am worried what could happen."
"Whatever happens, you always got me." Asajj comforted her.
"Thank you." Ahsoka said quietly as she fell asleep.
The two of them packed their bags and got their ship ready to leave before Revan gave them a final warning.
"Be careful. Even if he knows Palpatine is evil it may not save him. The Sith always have another trick up their sleeve."
Asajj nodded to him while Ahsoka looked uncomfortable. While she stepped onto their ship, she had a sinking feeling in her stomach.
They were traveling through light-space on their way to Coruscant when another communication came through.
"Anakin?" Ahsoka asked since Anakin looked a little disheveled. "What happened at the meeting?"
"The other masters were angry that we had known about this for so long before telling them. They sent a contingent of Jedi to go after Palpatine, but I don't think they understand how strong he is." Anakin told her.
"Who did they send?" Ahsoka asked.
"Windu, Fisto, Kolar, and Tiin." Anakin told her.
"They are skilled masters in combat. They should be able to do it." Ahsoka assured him even is she was unsure. She knew how powerful Windu was, but Palpatine was an unknown.
"I am going to go help. I can do something if they can't" Anakin told her. "Just land at the temple and we will meet you there when it its done." He cut off the communication before they could reply.
The two in the cockpit of the ship were silent for a minute.
"He didn't look good. He seemed a little unhinged." Asajj told her lover.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Ahsoka said. Ahsoka couldn't do anything about what was going on from where she was. If only Obi-Wan had still been there. He could have talked to Anakin. He would have been able to get him to relax and stand down. "We need to hurry."
It didn't take long for them to arrive at the temple. They landed on a platform after getting clearance from the guards since they were expected. When they left the ship, they were met with not a Jedi, but a clone trooper. Ahsoka would have been worried if she didn't notice the markings for the 501st on the familiar figure.
"Rex. It is good to see you again." Ahsoka walked up to the trooper and embraced him.
"It's good to see you too commander." He replied. Ahsoka didn't need to see under the helmet to know that her friend was smiling.
He looked over Ahsoka's shoulder. "Ventress."
"Clone." Was her reply.
"Play nice you two." Ahsoka commanded playfully. She turned to the trooper. "Why are you at the temple?" Ahsoka asked.
"The General wanted us here just in case of an attack since we got our heads on straight." He said tapping is helmet without saying what he really meant since they were still in public.
Ahsoka nodded before noticing a familiar figure approaching.
"Master Unduli." Ahsoka greeted with a nod of the head.
"Ahsoka. It is good to see you again. I never got to apologize for what my apprentice did." She admitted with a painful grimace.
Ahsoka set her hand on her shoulder. "It is alright. It isn't your fault." Ahsoka said.
Luminara nodded before looking to Ahsoka's partner. "And it is a….. pleasure to see you again Ms. Ventress." Luminara said as cordially as she could. Her loss to the assassin a few years ago was still a sore spot for the master.
Ventress just gave her a fanged grin. Ahsoka sighed at her partner's behavior. "Would it hurt you to be a little nice?"
Asajj nodded. "Yes. Just 'cause I like you and might get along with a couple of the others doesn't mean I am all buddy buddy with the entire order all of a sudden."
"I know." Ahsoka smiled actually confusing Luminara. Ahsoka knew that most of the anger Asajj had toward the order was actually on her behalf. The group of 4 started walking through the temple which Ahsoka noticed was unusually quiet. Some people were still moving around but not as many as there used to be. Ahsoka turned again to address the master. "Where is everyone?" She asked her.
"Everyone else from the council is off world or went to confront Palpatine. Many of the knights and masters are out on missions and the younglings are in lessons at the moment." Luminara stated.
"They still aren't back from Palpatine?" Ahsoka asked worriedly. It had been a couple of hours since Anakin had called her. "Something had to have happened. We need to go over there now." She said urgently. The warning in the force was blaring.
The group of four had reached the front of the temple when they heard a communication call. The three Jedi looked to the clone standing with them. Rex answered the call and they all saw the hunched figure of Palpatine looking not well.
"The Jedi have attempted to assassinate me. They have turned traitors to the Republic. Execute Order 66." The communication cutoff and the four sat in silence after hearing that.
Then they heard it. It was quiet and in the distance at first. But it was the sound of a large battalion marching. The four of them could see the sea of white coming closer. At the front were two figures cloaked in black hoods with hate rolling off of them.
"Rex. Get the men ready." Ahsoka ordered as she reached to get a hold of her sabers.
2 hours earlier.
Anakin set his communicator down and went off to find a speeder to follow after Master Windu. He knew that the battle wouldn't be this easy. And part of him didn't trust Windu. Master Windu always rubbed him the wrong way.
It took Anakin a few minutes before he arrived at the senate building. He made his way up to the Chancellor's office and what he found was disturbing. There were the bodies of the three Jedi that accompanied Master Windu at the front of the office. Anakin brought out his light-saber. He walked slowly into the room when he found the Chancellor. He looked hurt but was being helped up by Master Vos. This confused Anakin as he didn't know that he was supposed to go along with Master Windu. Anakin spotted the shattered window and the destroyed room before his eyes laid on the severed arm on the floor.
Suddenly Anakin was enveloped in pain before he fell unconscious on the floor. From behind Anakin, where the force lightning he was hit with originated from, came Count Dooku.
"I believe you wished to see me master." Dooku said.
Palpatine looked over before seeing Anakin on the ground. The fight with Windu had been more difficult than he had anticipated so he had not noticed the boy arriving.
"Good." He said with a menacing smile. "He may still be of some use to us yet."
"What are we doing now? Is it time to enact the plan?" Dooku asked.
"Patience my apprentice." Palpatine turned to the other one in the room. "Vos. You have done well in your subterfuge."
"The Jedi had discovered your plot and started removing chips. I made sure most of the units with their chips removed are away from Coruscant." Vos stated in a menacing tone. "Only the 501st remain here."
"Good. Get 5 battalions together using my emergency codes. I want them ready before giving out the order. The two of you will lead the attack on the temple. Today is the day the Jedi die." He finished with a dark chuckle.
"What about Skywalker?" Dooku asked looking at the boy on the ground.
"Leave that to me." He replied.
"Of course, Master." Dooku replied. Dooku and Vos left the room to complete their orders.
Shortly after that Mas Almeda entered the room unphased by the destruction, bodies, and the severed arm.
"Is everything alright sir. Is there anything I can do?" He asked.
"No that is alright. Just leave me be." He ordered. Almeda bowed and turned to leave out the door. "Wait. On second thought. Can you tell the Senator from Naboo that I need to see her? Tell her it is urgent."
Almeda left with a nod.
The plan may not be going perfectly, but that didn't mean he was at a disadvantage.
Padme had arrived to take in the destruction before she was unconscious. Palpatine sat in his office waiting for the other one he called.
When she entered the room, she got down on one knee. "What can I do for you Master."
"You will travel to Mustafar. The Separatist leaders have served their purpose. You will take care of them." Palpatine ordered. She nodded and stood up to complete her orders. "And Barriss. Take her with you. Keep her restrained and alive. She will make a good hostage to keep Skywalker in line."
Barriss's smile didn't match her kind face. But the chance at hurting Skywalker was too good to pass up. She took the senator away from the office.
Palpatine was once alone again thinking over all of his plans trying to find any holes. He heard a beep and answered the call to find Dooku.
"Master we are ready." Dooku told him immediately.
"Then commence your attack." Palpatine told him. He ended the call before sending out a message to every clone commander.
"The Jedi have attempted to assassinate me. They have turned traitors to the Republic. Execute Order 66."
AN: Well it has finally begun. I am a little annoyed with myself as I feel I haven't had enough Ventress in this story as I wanted. Especially recently. She will play a bigger part in the up coming fights but I am excited to see where this takes me. Even I don't know who will come out of this.
Once again if you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a review for the story.
Thank you.