8
Anakin found Mace Windu, and Agen Kolar, Kit Fisto, and Saesee Tiin in the hangar, preparing to board a gunship.
"Master Windu, I must talk to you," Anakin said.
Windu looked at him impatiently. "What is it, Skywalker? We are in a hurry. We have just received word that Obi-Wan has destroyed General Grievous. We are on our way to make sure the Chancellor returns emergency powers back to the Senate."
"He won't give up his power," Anakin told him. "I've just learned something terrible. I believe that Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord."
"A Sith Lord?" Windu asked incredulously.
Anakin nodded. "The one we have been looking for. He knows the ways of the Force. He has been trained to use the dark side."
"Are you sure?" Windu asked.
"Absolutely."
"Then our worst fears have been realized. We must move quickly if the Jedi Order is to survive," Windu said.
"Master, the Chancellor is very powerful," Anakin told him. "You will need my help if you are going to arrest him."
"We will handle this," Windu said. "I want you to go to Utapau and meet up with General Kenobi. Let him know what you have learned."
"Understood, Master," Anakin said.
Windu stepped onto the gunship, and then turned back to Anakin. "If what you told me is true, you will have gained my trust. We will meet up with you and Obi-Wan in the Council Chamber when you've returned."
"Yes, Master." Anakin watched as the Jedi left in their ship, and then headed to his own ship to go to Utapau.
En route to Utapau
Anakin was just preparing to make the reversion from hyperspace when an alarming message came over his comlink.
Emergency Code Nine Thirteen ... I have no contact on any frequency. Are there any Jedi out there? ... anywhere ...
"Obi-Wan!" Anakin cried. "What's happened? Are you all right?"
Anakin! Thank God! My clone troopers have turned on me …I need help.
"Turned on you? What the…"
This is Senator Organa…General Kenobi, General Skywalker… We have just rescued Master Yoda.
It appears this ambush has happened everywhere. We're sending you our coordinates.
"Understood," Anakin said. His heart pounded in his chest as he considered what could have happened to make the clones turn on their Jedi leaders. And then he remembered…the inhibitor chip. "Oh no…" he said, as he began to realize the scope of Palpatine's plan. I should have gone with Master Windu…I could have stopped him…I could have prevented this… But it was too late now; all he could do was meet up with Obi-Wan and hope to God that the worst had not happened.
Alderaan
Obi-Wan and Anakin docked their ship with Senator Organa's star cruiser.
"You made it," Organa said as he and Yoda greeted the two men.
"Master Kenobi, Anakin, dark times are these," Yoda said. "Good to see you, it is."
"You were attacked by your Clones, also?" Obi-Wan asked Yoda.
"With the help of the Wookiees, barely escape, I did," Yoda replied.
"How many other Jedi managed to survive?" Organa asked.
"Obi-Wan is the only one I've heard from," Anakin said. "I think we ought to try and reach Ahsoka," he suggested.
"The clones may not have turned on her, since technically she's no longer a Jedi," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin nodded. "Let's hope so."
"I saw thousands of troops attack the Jedi Temple," Organa said. "That's why I went looking for Yoda."
"Have we had any contact from the Temple?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Received a coded retreat message, we have," Yoda said.
"It requests all Jedi to return to the Temple," Organa told them. "It says that the war is over."
"Well, then we must go back!" Anakin said. "If there are other stragglers, they will fall into the trap and be killed."
"It's too dangerous to return," Organa said.
"Suggest dismantling the coded signal, do you?" Yoda said.
"Yes, Master," Anakin said.
"I agree," Obi-Wan said. "There is too much at stake here, and we need a clearer picture of what has happened."
"I agree. In a dark place we find ourselves," Yoda said. "A little more knowledge might light our way."
"We are receiving a message from the Chancellor's office, sir," Captain Antilles informed the senator.
"Send it through," Organa said.
"Yes, sir."
A hologram of Mas Amedda appeared. Senator Organa ... the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic requests your presence at a special session of Congress.
"Tell the Chancellor I will be there," Organa replied.
Very well. He will be expecting you. Amedda's image disappeared.
Organa turned to the Jedi. "It could be a trap."
"No, I don't think so," Obi-Wan said. "The Chancellor will not be able to control the thousands of star systems without keeping the Senate intact."
"If a special session of Congress there is, easier for us to enter the Jedi Temple it will be," Yoda commented.
Naboo
Padmé and her parents watched in silent shock as the news from the capital was broadcast live from the Senate.
"….the Jedi Rebellion has been foiled."
"It can't be true!" Padmé cried. "The Jedi would never do such a thing!"
"He's been presenting evidence all afternoon," Jobal said.
Padmé shook her head. "And the Senate will go along with it, just like they always do."
"The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated," Palpatine continued, each of his statements punctuated by applause. "Any collaborators will suffer the same fate. These have been trying times, but we have passed the test. The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning."
"Anakin…" Padmé whispered. "Oh my God! Anakin!" she cried, followed by a sharp stab of pain.
"Padmé, you can't assume the worst," Ruwee said. "Anakin is a very cunning warrior he…"
"I think I need to go to the hospital," Padmé said as another contraction hit her. "I think I'm in labour…"
Ruwee and Jobal exchanged an alarmed look, and then stood up to help their daughter, ignoring the rest of the new emperor's speech.
Coruscant – Jedi Temple
Anakin, Obi-Wan and Yoda walked in silence through the Jedi temple. Bodies of slain Jedi lay everywhere, among them children. Each of the three Jedi were horrified and emotional as they made their way through the huge, silent corridors.
"I'll recalibrate the code warning all surviving Jedi to stay away," Obi-Wan said.
"Good ... For the Clones to discover the recalibration, a long time it will take. To change it back, longer still," Yoda said.
"I'll try and contact Ahsoka," Anakin said. "If she's even still alive," he added with a frown.
"How could this have happened?" Obi-Wan asked. "Not even the children were spared."
"The inhibitor chip," Anakin said with a frown.
Obi-Wan looked at him in shock. "What?"
Anakin looked at him. "You remember, don't you? They tried to tell us it was a safeguard
against betrayal from rogue Jedi."
"Is that what has happened?" Obi-Wan asked. "But why would the clones believe that the Jedi had gone rogue?"
Anakin frowned. "Palpatine," he spat. "He mistrusted the Jedi, remember? And my last conversation with him was very telling. He basically asked me to help him rule the galaxy."
"A Sith he is," Yoda said. "Informed the Council, did you?"
Anakin nodded. "Of course," he said. "I went to Master Windu immediately. He took Masters Kolar, Fisto and Tiin with him to force the Chancellor to give up his powers. I think we know how that ended."
Obi-Wan shook his head ruefully. "He must be stopped," he said. He looked at Anakin and then Yoda. "We must stop him."
Anakin nodded. "I agree," he said. "The Sith must never rule the galaxy again."
"Your destiny it is to destroy the Sith," Yoda said.
"Yes, and I will," Anakin said. "We'll do it together."
Naboo
Jobal and Ruwee waited as Padmé was admitted into the hospital. News of the so called Jedi Rebellion was all over the news; the monitors in the waiting room was full of nothing else.
"What if Anakin has been killed?" Jobal asked Ruwee. "That will destroy Padmé!"
Ruwee frowned. "I know," he said, watching the news with a growing feeling of unease. "Do you think there's any truth to it? Could the Jedi have actually tried to take over the Republic?"
Jobal shook her head. "I don't know," she sighed. "Padmé certainly doesn't think so."
"She wouldn't, though, would she?" Ruwee said. "She's married to a Jedi."
"Mr. and Mrs. Naberrie, we've admitted your daughter," a medi-droid told them. "If you'd follow me, I'll bring you to the maternity ward."
"Yes, please take us to her," Jobal said.