Part 1- Ripping Apart

Coruscant was a dying world. It had been for centuries, or so scientists said, due to pollution and far too much industrialization. But now Coruscant was in its final days. The ground shuddered and groaned as explosions deep beneath the surface occurred, one after the other.

Coruscant was being ripped apart.

High above the slowly disintegrating world was one of its many satellites, Centax 2. Centax 2 was an artificial moon, made almost entirely of manufactured material. At the moment it was overpopulated with former Coruscant residents, hastily preparing to depart from Centax 2, knowing full well that if Coruscant exploded it would destroy all of its satellites.

Bant Eerin watched the panic from the Jedi cruiser ship, with Ald-Yen and Ang-Jir Jinn sitting close beside her. Her soft grey eyes were red from crying, as were Ald-Yen's. Ang-Jir, however, showed no trace of tears, or emotion, for that matter. Her mother's death seemed to have cast a chill upon her heart, freezing it.

"Where's Daddy, Bant?" Ald-Yen asked, his eyes full of worry. Bant tried to smile, but failed.

"He's down in Coruscant."

"Why isn't he here?"

"He has to do something before he can leave."

"Will he come with us?"

"I don't know, Ald-Yen. I really don't know." She kissed his forehead. "Let's go take a nap. How about that, Ald-Yen?"

"Okay. But only if Ang-Jir comes too." Bant turned to Ang-Jir.

"Come, Ang-Jir. You haven't slept in awhile." Ang-Jir merely gazed out the window. She had not spoken since her mother's death. Bant gently placed a hand on Ang-Jir's shoulder, leading her to the far end of the ship, where Healer Winna Di Uni was preparing small cots for beds.

Just as Bant had covered Ald-Yen and Ang-Jir with a thin blanket, Plo Koon and Adi Gallia entered the ship, their hands filled with bags of food and blankets.

"The others will be back soon, with more supplies. Master Yoda?" Adi said, her voice becoming unsteady.

"Hmmm?"

"We have received several requests. Some inhabitants want us to take their children."

"Safe traveling, we will not have. Put in further danger their children, we will." A moment later, the remaining Jedi returned.

"Any news of Master Qui-Gon?" Bant asked Adi. Adi shook her head.

"As far as we know, he and Master Windu are still on the surface. Master Yoda, should we wait for them?" All eyes turned to focus on Yoda. He had not been present when Qui-Gon and Mace had decided to remain on Coruscant, and he had voiced some displeasure over the matter.

"Stay, we cannot. Help themselves, Masters Windu and Jinn must now."

"What?" Bant cried. Yoda glanced up at her, somewhat startled.

"You can't do that! If you do not go and help them, they may not have a chance to get off Coruscant!"

"Chose to stay, they did. Bound to their decision, they are."

"Bant," Adi said gently, taking the girl's hand. "We cannot further endanger the children. we must get to the Dagobah System as soon as possible, before the Ramming Stone decides to pursue us. Do not worry about Qui-Gon and Mace. They will be alright."

Bant nodded weakly, though both she and Adi knew the truth. Qui-Gon and Mace would die on Coruscant, whether by the Ramming Stone's hands, or by the impending explosion, but they would die.

Bant returned her gaze to the window, watching the frenzied creatures below. She closed her eyes, fighting the unstoppable tears.

Silence. Never before on Coruscant had there been such silence. It was the silence of a broken, dead world.

"I'd never thought this day would come to Coruscant so soon," Mace Windu murmured, his dark eyes filled with sadness. His companion remained silent. The two were climbing over the rubble that once was the Galactic Senatorial building, making their way towards an upper class district where former Jedi Master Dooku had lived. It was there that Mace believed the cause of Coruscant's destruction awaited them.

"Do you think the Ramming Stone will be there? Perhaps Talon was lying, hoping to trap us." Mace watched his silent companion's face carefully.

Qui-Gon did not speak, his cold steel eyes staring forward. Ever since Tahl's death. Qui-Gon had been a changed man. There was no longer compassion, only an icy rage. Three years before, Qui-Gon had been given the chance to pursue the Ramming Stone, the fanatical terrorist who had ultimately murdered Tahl and their unborn child. However, Qui-Gon had heeded the Council's decision to not pursue him.

And now, with every breath, Qui-Gon cursed himself for that decision.

Because of him, three people he loved dearly were dead. Tahl, their unborn child, and Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon closed his eyes as the name of his apprentice came to him. He had not seen the boy for three years, and now he never would.

He would be twenty-one two days from now, Qui-Gon realized sadly. If only…

Stop it! He thought to himself angrily. You cannot change the past. Obi-Wan is dead, as is Tahl. You can only bring justice to them.

"We're here," Mace said. Qui-Gon looked up, startled. He had not realized how far they had walked.

Surprisingly enough, Dooku's apartment building was still intact, though barely.

"It will collapse soon enough, which will not give us much time to find them," Mace surmised.

"Who said I planned to leave?" Qui-Gon asked bitterly. "Those I love the most are one with the Force. Why should I not join them?"

"Because your children still live. Do wish for them to lose both their father and mother in the same day? Qui-Gon, our chances of escaping are very slight. However, we must at least want to return."

Qui-Gon nodded. In his grief, he had forgotten about Ald-Yen and Ang-Jir. Yes, he had to at least try to return to his children.

But that did not mean he wanted to.

And as the two Jedi stepped into Dooku's apartment, they knew that even if they did leave Coruscant alive, they would never be the same.