Part 9- Darkness Falls

In the Galactic Senatorial building of Coruscant, what had first been a minor debate was quickly elevating into heated argument between two factors, one led by Chancellor Valorum, the other led by Ora Rutaan.

"Will you choose to ignore yet another underprivileged planet, Senators?" Ora cried, her voice echoing through the massive dome in which a thousand representatives of a thousand worlds listened to her fervent words.

"Will you allow the millions of starving women and children of Antis to die while you sit about and debate morals and expenses?"

"Antis is not a member of the Galactic Senate," Valorum argued. "They have not requested aid and have threatened to destroy any Republic ships that land on their planet."

"Then we should send food down in pods!" Ora said, glancing at her chrono. She had fifteen minutes.

"Please be realistic, Senator Rutaan," Valorum said, and smiled as Rutaan blushed. "I think this debate-"

''What about the Jedi? Can't they help? Or are they too busy helping someone who can pay them?" Valorum was caught off guard by the sudden twist in the argument.

"The Jedi do not accept any sort of monetary payment. And I'm sure they will assist Antis if they are requested."

"Really? They didn't do anything for Locavia. I'm sure most of you remember that disease-ridden planet that the Jedi refused to evacuate."

"Locavia did not request-" Valorum began.

"But what about those who did? What did they do for Perutia?" Ora said, anger suddenly taking control. Perutia had been a war-torn world that the Jedi had not assisted. "What did they do for any Outer Rim planet that ever needed help? What did they do for my planet? What did they do for all my friends who ended up selling themselves on the street because the planet's too damn poor to provide decent jobs?" She screamed. Valorum's face was pale with shock. Never had he faced such unrestrained passion.

Ora stood there, drinking in the satisfying silence. Finally she had achieved her true purpose. She glanced at her chrono.

"Oh, Sith," Ora murmured as the blood drained from her face and she fell to the floor.

The stunned silence swiftly broke out into concerned murmurs for Ora as her advisors lifted her and carried her out of the dome.

A flood of senators, inspired by Ora's words, turned angry gazes toward Valorum and faithfully carried on the debate while a few followed the limp body of Ora into the lobby.

"Is she going to be alright?" One senator asked as a tall humanoid medic checked Ora's vitals.

"Yes. She probably fainted from exhaustion. She should be taken home" The medic stood up and glanced around. "I hate to ask this but could somebody help me take her to her quarters. I don't know where she lives."

"I can assist you." An older man with light grey hair approached the medic. He walked with regal grace yet at the same time had a simple and comforting air about him.

"Thank you, Senator-"

"Palpatine." The elderly senator said, smiling genially.

***

"Why does the room smell like a dead animal, Momma?" Ald-Yen asked as his mother paced back and forth. The smell was aggravating Tahl, and upsetting her stomach.

"Probably because there's one in the ventilation system," Tahl said, slightly annoyed. "Ang-Jir, call up Bant. Ask her if she could take you and your brother outside. I'm going to speak with Yoda."

"Yes, Mother," Ang-Jir said softly. She had rarely spoken above a whisper since her rescue. Perhaps the fact that her father had almost died right before her eyes haunted her.

"I'm here, Tahl." Bant said, coming through the door a few minutes later. Her face was somewhat pale; she was still shaken by Qui-Gon's discovery. Tahl seemed oblivious, or perhaps too annoyed to sense her Padawan's uneasiness.

"Take them outside of the Temple. They need some sunshine."

"You could use some sunshine also, Master," Bant said, touching her Master's arm gently.

"Actually, I could use an air freshener."

"The entire Temple could use one. It smells like this everywhere. The Council has moved outside as well."

"Hmm. I think I'll go talk to Miro."

"Alright. Come on, Ang-Jir, Ald-Yen."

"I don't want to go." Ang-Jir's voice was quiet but firm. "I want to stay here with you, Momma." Her dark eyes were filled with sorrow, and strangely enough desperation.

"Ang-Jir, Bant's just going to take you outside. Everything's alright." Tahl cupped her daughter's cheek gently. "I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too, Momma," She whispered.

***

"Uh, what's that disgusting smell?" Petram Shaf, head janitor of the Intergalactic said, his nose wrinkling in revulsion.

"Smells like a dead space rat to me," a fellow janitor replied. They paused for a moment, for an outbreak of shouts erupted from the dome.

"How long do think they'll debate?" Shaf shrugged.

"They've gone for days. It's a shame Senator Ora left. She's missing her own masterpiece. Well, we're done for today. Night shift will be here soon." Shaf took his friend's mop, and crossed the room to the small janitorial room.

"It's the worst over here. I bet there's something back here." He cautiously activated the door, and stepped in as the door slid open.

The stench was almost overpowering, and Shaf felt his stomachs heave. But he refused to give up; the smell had to go.

"I think I found its source!" Shaf called, bending over a pile of old unisuits.

"Come here, you dead bugger," he murmured, carefully removing the unisuits one by one. As he neared the end of the pile, he thought he heard a faint beeping, like that of a chrono, or…

Shaf froze when he reached the bottom. Terror streaked through his body like lightning, electrifying his senses.

"What is it, Shaf?"

"H-h-holy, S-Sith," He gasped, for right before him was an ion bomb, large enough to take out a hundred square miles of the planet.

But that was not what had frozen the janitor. He had seen bigger and more dangerous bombs before. It was the time on the readout that froze the blood in his veins.

Five, four, three, two, one…

***

Qui-Gon had just gotten out of an air taxi when suddenly a huge explosion nearly knocked him flat.

"What the-" He began, but was silenced, when suddenly, a thousand screams of death pierced his heart, ripping through his soul. He fells to his knees, gripping his head. The pain was intense, a fire searing him to his deepest core. It was an unimaginable, indescribable.

The Force itself trembled, which frightened the Master more than the sudden end of a multitude of life forces. It seemed as if the darkness had encroached upon the light, breaking the balance.

But it lasted only one moment, a moment of pure anguish, and Qui-Gon found the strength to rise to see what chaotic event that had rocked the Force itself.

He looked towards the Jedi Temple, fearing the worst. But the Temple stood tall and strong, serene in the smoke-filled breeze.

He then turned to the Senate, and saw the source of the explosion. The smoke surrounding the remains of the building was dark, almost pitch black. Fire and ashes showered down into lower Coruscant, as if it were a volcano following eruption. No creature within a hundred yards of the Senate could have survived.

"No," Qui-Gon whispered, stunned. Who could have done something so horrible?

The Ramming Stone. It had to be him. No other creature could be so evil, or so cruel as to commit such a malevolent act.

The terrorist had finally achieved his greatest goal. The Senate was destroyed, and the galaxy had suddenly plunged into turmoil.

Qui-Gon realized that the Ramming Stone was not finished yet. There was still one place of peace, and honor, and order; everything that the Ramming Stone hated: the Jedi Temple.

Knowing that he wouldn't have much time, Qui-Gon ran towards his home and his family, praying he would not be too late.

***

"Hurry, everyone!" Master Di Uni cried as she and her fellow Healers led the children out of the Temple.

"Master Yoda, the transport ships are ready for the children," Mace reported a young boy clinging to his neck. Yoda nodded. "Do you think Miro will find the bomb?"

"No not, if a bomb there even is. Have all evacuated?"

"No. There are still some children and a few Knights. Yoda," he said, lowering his voice. "I sense something far worse is about to happen. The ground is trembling. Do you think…" Mace could no longer find the will to speak, but Yoda knew what his question was. Had the explosion that had annihilated the Senate started a deadly chain reaction?

"Miro hasn't found a bomb, but Tahl says she has detected the scent of an intruder. Yoda, you must leave with the children." Plo Koon said.

"I agree. I will remain with the others. The Order cannot afford to lose you, Yoda," Mace said, watching his old friend. Yoda closed his eyes for a moment.

"Go, I will. May the Force be with you." Yoda turned, and Mace could sense how much the decision had pained the ancient Master.

"Come on, everyone!" Mace called. "Get aboard the ship with Master Yoda."

"Master Windu!" A young girl called. Mace turned and saw it was Bant, holding Ald-Yen and Ang-Jir by the hand.

"Where's my Master? Where's Qui-Gon?"

"Tahl is inside with Miro. She's helping him. I don't know where Qui-Gon is. You three must get aboard. Don't worry, Bant." Bant nodded, biting her lip. Coruscant was dying, the Senate was gone, and her Master could possibly die without her being by Tahl's side.

"Where are we going, Bant?" Ald-Yen asked as she led him and Ang-Jir up the ramp and into the ship.

"We're going to Centax 2, Ald-Yen. Hopefully we shall be able to return."

"Are Mommy and Daddy coming too?" he asked, his eyes wide.

"Mommy won't come, Ald-Yen," Ang-Jir said. "She's going to die because she'll find the bomb too late."

"Ang-Jir, don't tell him that," Bant said, angered and frightened. "Your mommy's going to come, and so will your daddy."

"No, she won't. I saw her die, and I saw Daddy crying, and you too," Ang-Jir replied. Bant stopped.

"When? Ang-Jir, when did you see this?" She asked, fear coursing through her veins.

"Last night in a dream," Ang-Jir's eyes were filled with tears, though her voice was cold. She seemed to be much older than she truly was, for a mature calmness had set about her.

"I've have to get Tahl out of there," Bant said. "You two stay in the transport with Master Yoda." Then, she leapt off the ramp and ran back towards the Temple.

Master! You must get out of the Temple! She said through their bond.

I know, Bant. But I can smell an intruder's scent. If there's a bomb, it's nearby.

There is a bomb, Tahl. Ang-Jir told me she had a vision about. Master, she said you wouldn't find it in time, and you would die. Please, you must get out of there now! Their bond was silent for several long moments.

Miro just found something… Padawan, you must get as far away as possible! Please!

I won't leave until I see you're safe! Bant cried.

There's no time. I'll try to get out of the Temple, but I'm not sure Miro and I will make it in time. Padawan, you must get everyone away from here.

"Master Windu! We must get everyone away from the Temple!" Bant cried. "Miro found the bomb, and there's not enough time to defuse it."

"Come with me, Bant," Mace said tersely.

"No! I must wait for my Master!" Bant said, shaking her head fervently.

"Please, Bant! I could not bear losing another innocent girl to the Ramming Stone." Mace's voice was soft but urgent. Bant turned, her heart slowly rending apart.  She knew that Tahl was going die, and Bant wanted to die at her Master's side. But gazing into Master Windu's eyes, she knew she could not go with Tahl.

Bant turned to go with Mace, praying her Master would reach safety in time, knowing that Tahl would not.

***

She pushed Miro ahead of her, both running at top speed. She tried to access the Force, tried to increase her speed with its power, but it slipped away every time. Dark tendrils of the fear slowly wound their way around her heart.

There had only been one minute left on the readout when she and Miro had discovered the bomb. It had been in the second lowest sublevel of the Temple. It would take her and Miro exactly twenty-seven seconds to reach the exit of the Temple. Thirty-three seconds was not enough to escape the blast of the powerful bomb.

As soon as she had reached the exit, and she saw the smoke rising from what had been the Galactic Senate, and pictured in her mind the smoke and debris that would replace the Temple, she suddenly realized the fate of all she loved. She knew that the Republic, already on its knees, would fall. She knew the Jedi would live in hiding, hunted by the Sith. She could see Qui-Gon, Bant, and her children in that future. She felt their pain, sadness, struggles, and triumphs.

Tahl wept for her family, and, not far behind her, the home of the Jedi exploded.

***

Qui-Gon reached upper Coruscant the moment the Temple exploded. He stood there, in shock as he felt Miro Daroon die, and…

"No," he whispered. He ran, stumbling towards a figure in the distance the figure of his wife.

"Tahl," Qui-Gon called as he came within a few meters of her. "Are you alright? How were able to escape the blast?" Her hand was pressed on her bulging stomach, and the Master lurched forward. She began to open her mouth, and suddenly blood began to flow past her lips. She fell forward, and Qui-Gon could see her bloody, charred back, impaled with several shards of metal.

"Tahl!" He screamed, catching her.

"Qui-Gon," she whispered. "Do not follow your apprentice's path. Ang-Jir and Ald-Yen need you." She paused, and Qui-Gon could feel her signature fade. "I love you."

"Oh, Tahl," he whispered as her spirit fled. He wanted to kiss her, wanted to lay down the shell that had once held the souls of his wife and his unborn child, but he could not. He felt her blood, no longer flowing, soak his pants and tunic. His tears mixed with the blood, and Qui-Gon felt frozen in a moment of pure agony.

He could dimly hear Bant's scream, and could barely feel Mace's hand on his shoulder. Nothing was real anymore.

Let go, Qui-Gon, a voice whispered in his mind. Others need you.

But he needed Tahl. He needed her voice, her warmth.

He looked down, and saw his wife's swollen belly, and realized his child was gone as well. Tahl, his child, and Obi-Wan.

Suddenly, everything became to real, and Qui-Gon rose, a cold rage settling upon him, like the frost in autumn. The Ramming Stone had evaded his just punishment for far too long.

Qui-Gon forgot his wife's last words and turned to Mace.

"Take Bant and the children. I will find the Ramming Stone." Mace met his friend's icy gaze.

"I am coming with you." Mace's words were firm. "Too much has been lost today. I could not bear losing another friend." The Master glanced down at Tahl's lifeless body. "The Ramming Stone will show himself. He wants to make sure he has defeated us. We'll be ready for him." Qui-Gon nodded.

"Bant, take Ald-Yen and Ang-Jir back to the ship." Bant nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Daddy," Ald-Yen cried, and he ran to his father, hugging him. Qui-Gon bent down and embraced his son. He held his sobbing son tightly, and met Ang-Jir's gaze who stood by Bant's kneeling form. Her dark eyes seemed almost hollow, and though her face was as pale as snow, not a single tear escaped from her eyes.

"I'll be back," Qui-Gon said, rising. Ald-Yen nodded and wiped the tears from his eyes. "I love you, Ald-Yen, Ang-Jir." He looked down at his wife's body, and then turned to go with Mace.