"ANAKIN! ANAKIN! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Ever since the Tusken Raider massacre where Anakin left his patience and innocence behind and gave way to something more, he has never been the same since. That day it seemed to him his eyes were opened ten times wider than before, like the shade covering his true vision was finally put down, and a new outlook on life, the galaxy, and himself took mold. All that inner-childhood, that ability to think recklessly and carelessly had suddenly diminished and faded, and all that was left was the new cocoon of a boy verging and stepping into the shoes of manhood and adulthood. No longer would he being doing elementary things, or reminiscing about his days of Pod Racer. How things were simple and common and how those simple, everyday days also brought him to feeling like there was more out there. Now, everything seemed unbalanced, seemed so vindicated, so flawed, so capsized. Like he was juggling two identities. The ever-growing hate inside him wanting to emerge out and become the Darth Vader we know today, but also the sweet, cute little boy he was many odd years ago...

FALL OF THE REPUBLIC.

It has been 3 years since the Clone Wars. It has been 3 years since the tension, the devastation, the deprivation, the decapitation, the turmoil, the grief, the sadness, and the everlasting with drawl of not being able to see, or hear, or touch, or kiss his mother. For Anakin Skywalker it felt like a dynasty, or a whole century had passed by. He no longer had a mother now; he was an orphaned boy; abandoned, aristocratic, and lonesome. He missed his mother's comforting, soothing, and calming words, but also missed his mother's kindness, goodness, kindheartedness, motherliness, sweetness, and niceness that could not be avoided, or easily missed. He also knew the Republic was failing; it was falling into a fiery abyss. It was crumbling, freely breaking apart. Millions of senators were now separating, or dividing into different committees and different sections. Count Dooku was still at large rounding up, or gathering, or collecting more and more foolish, easily persuaded senators.

Palpatine's reign as Supreme Chancellor was still as high and mighty as ever being the dictating, dominating, ruling, conquering, overpowering, and overbearing politician he is, but he too is seeing the Republic he built 13 years ago burn into flames. His political themes, his domineering, commandeering powers, his propagandas are now decreasing and fading. He is now realizing his powers are no longer working and is now a man of just trickery, deviousness, slyness, craftiness, foxiness, and persuasiveness. Everyone knows a war is brewing. Rising from the depths of Coruscant. And this war is being led by Count Dooku; leader of the Separatists. Sooner, or later the two will meet and the two will see either the downfall, or the rise of Republic, but when will this happen? No one knows for sure, but time will tell...

Along time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

STAR WARS: FALL OF THE REPUBLIC.

The Republic is at a lost. Palpatine's powers are coming to an end and the Jedi are still grieving and crying over the losses of apprentices and Jedi Knights that they lost on the battle of Genosis. The clone-troopers have now become Palpatine's protection and full security task force after seeing that their allegiance, or superiority is needed elsewhere. Now no longer clone-troopers they are known as storm troopers (capable of storming, or barging into a sight without being killed). Palpatine's also new addition is the Red Guards his new enforcing, law- making security task force capable of giving him more and more power. Anakin has now become a Jedi Master excelling, suppressing, and greatening his strengths as a Jedi, almost duplicating, or amounting, or upstanding an old, withered, and wrinkled Jedi Master Yoda. Padme' has now diminished and stopped being a senator to start beginning, or jumpstarting her chances of having a family and raising children of her own. Obi-Wan is now a gray- bearded man still devoting himself to the Force, Mace Windu is now into retirement. His days are drawing, or coming to a close, and Jar-Jar Binks, a Naboo senator, is now a pawn of the Dark side's powers not noticing, or recognizing the decisions, or choices he makes are leading to an end to the Republic and the galaxy's future...

A solar-sailor comes zooming, or speeding into a hangar. The flags are seen flapping, wrapping, flowing, waving, and swaying back and forth. A man gets out dressed in dark clothes, his hair a silvery gray, and his eyes protruding, dignifying, esteeming, and evil all at once. The man walks down a hallway being led by an astromech droid, but then stops seeing a cloaked figure peering, appearing, revealing, unveiling, and coming into view from the shadowiness, darkness, blackness, and quietness of a room. Aboard the Trade Federation command ship, the cloaked figure arises from his throne room. Dressed in a long blue, silvery, purplish cape. He is a tall, muscular fellow. Steel and metal cover his alien body and face. His eyes are almost cat-like, or serpent-like. A yellowish, greenish neon with slits for pupils almost reminiscent of a Velicoraptor's eyes. On his belt he carries the lightsabers of fallen Jedi killed in battle, or who were slain by his cold, robotic, metallic hands. This unknown creature is General Grievous, leader of the Droid Army.

He is towering foe almost 9ft tall, but a foe who is capable of slaying anyone in battle, whether be by a blaster bolt from his twin dual guns, or by a quick stroke from his blue and green lightsabers. The two nod a somewhat unfriendly "hello" and go to a holo-panel where a reddish, brownish orange orb appears.

As the two watch the strange-colored globe orbiting and gravitating around in circular spins, another holo-panel comes up. This one with the face of Darth Sidious...

"Tyrannus, my apprentice so good to see you again. Is the weapon being created, or built yet?" He says his body never showing a mere movement, or unsteadiness, just standing still. His location is atop a balcony in the lower sectors of Coruscant.

"My men are working and laboring on it as we speak. They're modifying and making it to your exact preciseness and Excellency my Lord."

"You've done well Dooku. You have exceeded my expectations greatly. More so than Darth Maul, or Asaj Ventress could, or even that putrid slime Jango Fett could."

"Soon, the Republic will be crushed and no one will be able to stop us this time. No one..." Overconfident and a bit overzealous Grievous barges into the conversation, wanting his say and share.

"Ah, yes, almost forgot to thank and praise our prime military strategist and key to the glorious victory ahead...GENERAL GRIEVOUS!" Suddenly...Sidious's slow, dull standing formation changes to show a short, immediate applause and grin come upon his face.

"Without me today Palpatine will/would still be in power. I suggest though we just slit his throat, or cut off his head, and be done with him. He has caused our cause too much. Besides, those ever troublesome Jedi..."

Grievous pauses to check his comm. Link and suddenly his voice begins changing from the low, baritone voice, to a more suitable, more menacing, and sinister one than before.

"I shall break them. Especially, that one called Obi-Wan Kenobi. Give me five minutes with him and I will kill him just the way your apprentice Darth Maul killed his master...a blade right through the chest."

Dooku suddenly interrupts him. "Except you have forgotten my primitive, chrome-plated friend that Skywalker kid. He may be the key to bringing us down. He is exceptional and headstrong in the Force. I sensed it in him on our fight on Genosis. The boy is an example of a fine Sith warrior. He could be an unmatchable, undefeatable, unbeatable, and a powerful asset or ally to us if turned to the Dark side of the Force..."

Sidious smiles and cackles an evil cackle, almost sounding like a crow. "Yes, I've sensed it too. He grows more and more with the Force, but his aggression, his anger, his hatred, his disgust, and jealousy for his Master makes him a valuable and precious pawn to play with. If turned he could rid the galaxy of the Jedi and bring back the Dark Ages of when the Dark Lords ruled and sent this galaxy into oblivion, or obliteration."

"I will make him call you Master. I will make him bow down to you and worship you as a father." Dooku kneels down beside the holographic image and extends out his hand giving his word.

"You have my grand approval of this. Go and bring this boy before me so I may have a talk with him. That beloved Qui-Gon sensed he was the Chosen One. If this is true, then he will be the key to sending this galaxy into full on annihilation and the only thing will be left is...US!"

Dooku agrees and gets up from his humble servant position and leaves towards his corridors. Sidious is seen cackling and laughing at a balcony watching and staring at his new founded arsenals of weaponry and machinery. ATAT walkers are seen, along with battle-droids on STAPS, destroyer-droids are seen also, followed by the super-battle-droids. The battle-droids begin marching, strolling, and clanking across the ground, while destroyers are seen practicing shooting and firing their guns on innocent people for the enjoyment and entertainment of Sidious.

"These are the last days of the Republic. The last days they'll have left to breathe..."

The holographic image disappears and Grievous is left alone sulking in his resentment and aloofness. His two droids both identical in bronze, brains, and appearance both come to his side escorting, ushering, and accompanying him back to his throne room chair. "That Dooku has been nothing to our entire mission and brigade ever since he left that Jedi Order," Grievous thought righting and assuming position in his chair. "Sidious should've just left this ten year job solely to me and only me. Not give it to a mere amateur. Everyone knows steel is more powerful than flesh and iron and metal are more stronger than bones." He thought some more as his two trusted bodyguards began looming and standing beside his throne, electro- staffs in their thin-claw-like fingers. "I'm tired of a galaxy built on democracy and resolving problems with words and treaties. I'm tired of living by laws and dunderheaded politicians deciding and choosing how to live, how to think, how to feel, how to dress, or how to talk, or walk for me. Mostly, I am tired of you Palpatine..."

A group of battle droids and destroyer droids begin bringing in the prisoner of Grievous's ship, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine himself. Palpatine is seen wearing bluish indigo robes, his hair is thinly parted, and he looks older and more zombie-like than ever before. One of the destroyer droids knocks him down to the ground with a hard club from its fist and Palpatine falls down to his knees staring up at the mechanical foe.

"Ah, at last we meet. I thought our crossing was not inevitable, or possible, but here you are bound by your own chains of lies, deceit, and corruption..."

Palpatine tries unchaining, or unshackling, and unbinding his handcuffs, but it is impossible all he gets is fingering and thumbing the latch and sides.

"I made it sure that you were never going to escape here alive. Sure, the Jedi might be right behind us ready to strike, but they will never leave here without you out of my capture. This armada is capable of any bombing runs, mere laser attacks, or the Republic's weaponry and gunneries. We droids may seem useless and only good for some things like farming, cleaning, plowing, washing, interpreting different languages, and doing your human biddings, but we are far more advanced and capable of more than you or your insignificant humanoid homosapiens can possibly imagine..."

"The Republic will not stand for your tyrannous and venomous ways. We will crush your armada, we will win this last standoff, and you my friend made- up of wires, gears, and used scrap metal, you will never see the next side of day." Formidably and strongly Palpatine stands there imprisoned and chained, but does not move a muscle watching and waiting for the General to do something dramatic, or wrongful. "You have a very defiant tongue Chancellor. I wonder what you'd look like with it cut off."

"Forward the ship for battle. I'm not letting some wretched Jedi Starfighters take away my captive."

These Clone Wars were nothing but conquest for Grievous and the thought of ending them was like a gaping hole, or wound in his side. He was the conquering hero to the Droid Army and to the Separatists; the victorious, triumphant, and surmounting military strategist; the subjugator, the subduing, intensifying, and cultivating force sweeping across the galaxy like a virus, or plague. He in his opinion WAS the instigator and prime incentive of this whole mess of affairs, but he also knew he WAS programmed and made to do ANOTHER'S bidding. If only he could find some way to dispose and rid of this Darth Sidious and become his own boss, not some petty follower, or feet-kisser, but his own person, or in his case his own android. Persevering and persistent, yet undertaking and balancing his robotic side and humanoid tendencies he was built and made for one thing: to kill and that's all he knew and was all he was going to do to get his way and make a star cross name for himself.

A red blinking light appears as Grievous begins bracing for impact. On the scanners come the enemy vessels and ships of the Republic, along with the remaining, surviving Jedi.

"Lose them around the planets Tul' Naka and lead them back to where this whole Clone Wars began...Right in the heart of the Senate."

Palpatine stares at Grievous shocked and in disbelief. Grievous just turns his head and with his yellowy, ungracious eyes, just gives him a cold, faint look, almost as if he was x-raying him inside his body and watching his heart pumping, thumping, and rapidly beating.

"You're mad. Coruscant is the heart of the Republic if you attack there..."

"If I attack there than all of the Jedi Council will be lost, all of you wasp nests of politicians, and all of Coruscant's life will be gone in a blink of an eye, or the slow, cold breath of winter's day. Let your highly hailed Stormtroopers and Jedi come. I will break them in half with my ion- cannons."

Meanwhile...

In a floating, hovering hydraulic-chair Mace Windu sits and begins meditating, or silencing out everyone around him, or the scenery, or things elsewhere focusing and concentrating on the living Force. Suddenly...he hears a groggily, frog-like voice chirping and croaking in his ear. He hears the voice lower in verbal tones and then hears the familiar syntax and word usage of Jedi Master Yoda.

"Sorry, I am for interrupting you, or disturbing you, or awakening you from your meditation, but concerned I am for Master Anakin. Obi-Wan was right he's too arrogant. Incompetent, ignorant, and headstrong he has become. Constantly bragging, boasting, and praising himself for his accomplishments and achievements he does, but yet he does not give time to shut that inner- voice of his out and realize the importance of his fellow Jedi members and the living Force itself. Deeply pardoned I am for his well-being and safety. If this mission does not go well I fear grave and dark danger awaits him as his Jedi Trials continue..." Yoda was always against the training of the young Skywalker lad. Mostly, because of his age, but also he sensed something elsewhere, something elusive, something ahead in the future, but yet unsure. It seemed like it was something he could instantly figure out, but more and more he always came back to being unsure. Anakin's fate was an enigma wrapped in a shell like an egg. It would only take a matter of time to crack, but time was not at the Jedi's essence.

For over ten years they had been trying to unravel and unwrapped the mystery of the death of Jedi Master Syfo-Dias and now this new Sith Lord Darth Sidious was even a bigger mystery as well. Did the two have a connection? Were they the same person? If so then why did the researching, engravings, and recordings say he had long past away? Some of these questions needed to be answered, but once again time was not on the Jedi's essence. Time had somehow gotten extinct over the period of the Clone Wars...

"Still...the boy could be the Chosen One. It is his destiny to bring honor and fellowship to the galaxy. Mace believed in Qui Gon when he spoke profoundly and vividly of Anakin as the Chosen One, but like Yoda he was unsure of Anakin's fate, but he one day knew that one day Anakin's fate would be decided either on the battleground, against an attacker, or from within himself. Unfortunately, like always it depended on time.

"The Chosen One, he is not. I've sensed it the first time he came into our lives. Another there is, his offspring, his son and daughter will be the ones who will bring balance to the Force. I have been predicting, or prophesying, or contradicting this since the dawn, or the formation of the Republic."

"But what if his children turn to the Darkside of the Force? It could bring even more chaos, even more misery, even more woe, and a dark famine over this galaxy. The Sith are already taking over the Republic, they are intoxicating, or polluting, or infesting themselves into it's doors, they are corrupting and blinding the eyes of senators, they are clouding and blocking the minds of the diplomats, and they are poisoning the Republic itself causing it to slowly begin decomposing, or withering, or vanishing, or disappearing, or evaporating, or decaying, or shriveling away into dust."

"Tears it brings to my eyes to see this Republic suddenly come to an end. It seems as though our own enemies have defeated us. He doesn't need us anymore; Palpatine seems like. He seems as though that the Jedi are a nuisance, or a pest, or a thorn in his side. The troopers are his only friends now, I think. We are no longer needed in this galaxy anymore I'm afraid. Almost over 900 years-old I am to have lived this long and seen Sith Lords come and go, battles fought, some won, some tied, others not so lucky, and to see millions upon millions of different species and people come and gone like the wind, or crops when fall has broken out and winter vastly approaches. I fear we shall become the same..."

"Nonsense Master Yoda. We are needed just not in these times. We will soon... I can feel it, or sense it."

"Me too. Me too."

Meanwhile on the planet's core of Coruscant ...

Around a rather large oval-egg-shaped table Sidious and some well-known faces begin watching the battle unfold high above them. Nute Gunray, Rune Haako, Passel Argente, and members of the different factions of the Separatist movement are seen. Amongst the faces are: Corporate Alliance, the Trade Federation, the Techno Union, Intergalactic Banking Clan and Commerce Guild.

"At last we are getting results for once..." Nute Gunray pipes up. With his red, beady eyes he watches Republic ships be gunned down, or explode in bits of scrap metal and debris.

"Bah, Grievous is too obstinate. He performs under his own measures. He's methods and tactics are too rashly, too precipitately, too rascally. His impetuous hastiness and deliberateness is going to ruin us, or even worse get us all killed. We should've never left ourselves to the dependency of a droid..." Speaks up San Hill watching Grievous's troops and ships take fire, but still manage to pull on with the fight.

"What's wrong with a droid?" Asks Wat Tambor adjusting and systematizing his voice, altering and adapting it so it sounds more normally human and pitched and not sounding like he is going through puberty, or experiencing any temporary squeakiness, but rather a monotone-like voice. Evenly pitched.

"We've spent years relying on your droid firepower, your machinery, your imperviousness, but it's been too long. We need to replace the steel with flesh. Look at the clones. Thanks to those damn cloners, the Kaminoians, the Republic has an army so well built and constructed they are virtually imperishable, impermeable. Basically, impassable to firepower, or drawn fire. When one dies another takes it's place. Whereas, with you droids if one dies, than a new batch has to be assembled, overseen, tested, and then put on the ships only to be gunned down by a single blast of a rifle." Objects Passel sitting by the holographic view screen sharing his truthful and modest opinion of the droid epidemic.

"He has a point. His objection is well stated. My Sith warriors and apprentices have done more in this war than any of your droid kind combined. Face facts Wat you're breed is dying fast..." Says Sidious shrouding and silhouetting himself by the darkened room's shadows.

"But going back to your opinion San. Grievous will do his job well. He is strong in the Force."

"The Force! The Force! My word! That old ancient philosophy. That mythological, mystical rubbish! The man is pure machine. A droid cannot be skilled in the Force! Besides, the Force is just a silly thing created by some cloaked monks to..."

Suddenly...San feels like his oxygen is being sucked out. He tries to ask for mercy, but the words just don't seem to come out.

Nute Gunray watches in horror, as his eyes become even redder and more ruby looking than ever. Finally, before San begins to feel his last breaths to be sucked out, Nute tells Sidious to stop. He obeys.

"My friends let's save the violence for up there. Not down here. We're a peaceful, democratic society..." The old Trade Federation Viceroy says.

Up above the planet's surface...

Numbers upon numbers of Republic starships, fleets, battalions, Jedi Starfighters, Naboo Starfighters, a few Blockade Runners, and an assembly of other ships begin numbering and pairing off in groups ready to take on the enemy ahead. Leading the squadrons of ships is General Obi-Wan Kenobi and his now fully appointed and commissioned Jedi Knight friend and lieutenant Anakin Skywalker. Along for the ride is a number of well-known Council faces: Ki-Adi-Mundi, the cone-headed elder of the Jedi Council, Eeth Koth, Plo Koon, Adi Gallia, Depa Billaba, Saesee Tiin, Shaak Ti, Bultar Swan, Luminara Unduli, Barriss Offee, Kit Fitso, Aayla Secura, Pablo Jill, and a group of several other known Jedi along with a few new faces.

"This is it my friends. Our last stand. We today await our fates. Some of you may, or will not come back, but if that happens you will be forever memorialized and never forgotten from here to the afterlife. You men and women are the bravest of all Jedi, soldiers, commanders, admirals, and pilots I have ever met. May the Force be with you..."

Those words ranged clear through Anakin's brain watching the dozens of ships swarming off into battle like bees, stinging and penetrating Grievous's shields. Explosions and rapid fire pour across the galaxy like rainwater, or hail. Dozens of laser bolts go from the front, the back, the sides, everywhere thinkable, or conceivable.

Obi-Wan switches on his com. Link and begins marking off their time. "Five seconds," he warns.

Then, it happens. The battle to end all battles. The end of the Clone Wars.

Two missiles fire from some the Republic Cruisers and within seconds it blows away one Grievous's ion cannons.

"BLAST!" Screams Grievous as some Neimodonian gunners are suddenly taken away from in a ball of flames. "And you thought they weren't ready, or prepared to take us down..." Count Dooku said in his deep, smooth voice.

Standing on the upper level of the vast bridge of the giant Separatist Cruiser, The Count regarded the red and yellow, three-meter wide sphere that was a holo-display of the battle unfolding outside. The holo-display took up almost a quarter of the upper dais of the black and gray colored bridge, which was abuzz with the sounds of war making. A curved railing ran along the wide edge of the upper level. Below, the rest of the bridge could be viewed. The cruiser's pilot's chair was on a small middle step a little ways below the railing. The main crew was seated in a semi-circle of high- backed chairs in front of flashing data consoles down below—right in front of the tall, curving bay of windows.

"Our attack cruisers won't last much longer against them. What do you plan to do next?" Dooku asked the figure standing only a few paces away.

General Grievous, Supreme Leader of the Droid Armies of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, turned his white-masked face away from inspecting the holo-display and stared narrowed, yellow eyes at The Count.

Dooku had fallen under that exact gaze numerous times before, and every time he had peered back without even a hint of flinching. And why should he flinch? Yes, General Grievous was a monstrosity of a being—living flesh molded together and kept alive by a mechanical, bone-white form—and he was the most brilliant military strategist he had ever met, but Dooku was a Dark Lord of the Sith! The power he wielded was far greater than that of some mechanical fighting machine. He had no reason to fear.

Yet Grievous continued the power struggle. The Droid General erected his tall form to its full height and turned to face Dooku, the hydraulic pistons in his legs making hissing, whirring sounds as he did. Grievous' bodyguards, three specially-modified droids programmed and built specifically for close combat with Jedi Knights, reacted instantly to The General's movement. The gray-caped droids walked forward from their spots along the wall, electro-staffs raised, their glowing, red eyes regarding Dooku intently.

A metal hand emerged from the slit in the white cape wrapped around Grievous' wide, upper body and brushed the cape back to reveal a holster belt. The movement was done nonchalantly, as if Grievous were merely readjusting the cape, but Dooku knew the movements true meaning. He didn't even have to look down to know what Grievous was showing him—to know the silent threat the Droid General was conveying.

The threat wasn't the blaster Grievous was displaying, nor was it signaling his bodyguards into action. The threat was the two lightsabers dangling from the holster belt; trophies gathered from Jedi Grievous had killed in combat. And they weren't the only two such trophies. Dooku knew that Grievous had gathered dozens over the past few years of the Clone Wars, but only kept those two, plus two on the other hip, on him. Dooku wasn't going to sit back and watch this abomination, this detestation pull some intimidation game on him. Oh, hell no. Sure, this creature was tall in size, had four extendable and opposable arms, eyes yellow as krayt dragon's, and plus adding onto that his monstrousness, hideousness, atrociousness, grimness, odiousness, repulsiveness, odiousness, and his other execrable and displeasing features would stun, or put any man, or woman, or child in its place, but Dooku was Dooku, a highly respected former Jedi Knight turned Sith Lord and he wasn't going to back down without a fight.

"It appears the Jedi were more ready for this onslaught than I thought. Maybe I need a new approach," Grievous thinks to himself, authorizing, arbitrating, refereeing, umpiring, adjudicating, and officering orders making himself look more dogmatic and authoritative than ever. "Fire the ion cannons at my mark. If they think they can take one of them down, than they are just plain stupid to try and take the rest of them."

As some of the Republic Naboo Fighters come roaring in, Grievous tells his men to fire blowing away fifty pilots in a single shot.

"Satisfied?" Grievous said into the console with his deep, heavily synthesized voice, the metal mandibles on either side of his vocal amplifier clicking back and forth with each word. Dooku shakes his head, "For a moment my friend. For a moment..." General Grievous had never failed before in a plan he had set forth, but, for some reason, Dooku had doubts about the success of this mission. He couldn't place exactly what it was, but something about it didn't feel right. A prompting in the dark side told him that something was wrong, and that he should be careful.

Dooku had known from the beginning that Grievous was secretly working for his Master, Darth Sidious. He had sensed it right away. Sent to keep an eye on him or to kill him once his worth as an Apprentice was spent, or both, it did not matter. Dooku was prepared for what would come, and would kill Grievous whenever he dared to strike.

He was not angered by the betrayal. It was part of being a Sith. He knew that his Master would do what he could to keep Dooku in line, as well as to keep him from growing too powerful. And Dooku would continue to try to overthrow his Master. In the Sith Order only the strongest could survive, and if you weren't strong or clever enough then you had to die.

But now, with this mission, Grievous' ties to Darth Sidious had been made blatantly obvious. Only the dark lord of the Sith had enough power and influence in the Republic to make certain Grievous' kidnapping of the Chancellor would be a success. Only Darth Sidious could have manipulated Palpatine into stationing the Jedi and the Republic's military forces the way they had been just prior to this mission. Only Darth Sidious could have insured such success.

"Launch our fighters. Don't leave a single one of them alive."

"Launch all fighters? Are you insane? The Jedi will kill them in a single swift blow."

"Not with these fighters. I made sure my men would make some new moderations and slight alternations to ensure ourselves complete perfection."

"But what if your little thing backfires? Then, what?"

"I have my alternatives..."

Dooku watched as half of the droid fighters broke off of the main group and headed for the Jedi squadron. He looked out the windows and saw the shimmering sphere of Coruscant rapidly growing larger.

"How long until we reach Coruscant?" he asked.

"Estimated time of arrival; ten minutes," a Neimodian technician's voice said through the comm. unit.

"This is more intense than my days as a Pod Racer..." sighs Anakin in his cockpit.

"Personally, I think I'd rather be in your shoes when you were nine than face this," jokes Obi-Wan.

"Yeah, except Sebulba was still more a slime ball than this Grievous character. Oh, and he had the most worse body odor you had ever smelled. Even worse than a Rancor's breath," jokes Anakin.

"That's pretty damn gross," jokes Obi-Wan carrying on with the one-liners.

"Well, would you like to do the honors of going in first?" asks Obi-Wan politely.

"Well, you know me I laugh at the face of danger..." grins Anakin ready for any challenge that throws itself at him.

"Why do I always say/think you are going to be the death of me?" Obi-Wan wanes.

The two fly in low sweeping past the vulture fighters of the Trade Federation. Dodging and maneuvering out of harm's way and towards the hangar of Grievous's ship, but unfortunately they've been spotted! Out of nowhere eight vulture fighters roaring in, firing and shooting at our heroes trying to knock them out of the sky before reaching Grievous's hangar bay.

"I believe we have company and not the welcoming kind either," Obi-Wan sighs.

"Eh...they're just target practice..." Anakin boasts thrilled to get some shots off of his new Starfighter.

The two split up going in separate areas as four vultures tail both of their ships. Obi-Wan dives, leaps, hotdog rolls, and spins out of oncoming fire and moves towards the ion cannons.

"Let's see you guys get a taste of your own medicine," Obi-Wan thinks to himself with a smile on his face. The four vultures dive in towards him locked and ready to fire, but Grievous's cannons take them out instead just before pressing the "ACTIVATE" button.

Meanwhile back on the planet's core...

"This is an outrage! You said the Jedi would not win this time, but look. Look right there! They're beating us at our own game!" Uproariously and tumultuously shouts Nute.

"Patience. Patience. Give it time. The Jedi will not win this round. Not by a long shot. They're vermin will be eradicated and extirpated before you can even speak another word," shushes and hushes Sidious, confidently determined that this onslaught won't be a toss-up, or a Jedi-win.

Onboard Grievous's ship...

Palpatine still strapped in his chains is suddenly lead down a dark hallway by his droid captors towards an elevator.

"If the Jedi have a chance to board this ship, or if they destroy this ship I want you to evacuate here as soon as possible. I'll be right behind you two." The message reads on the two droid's com. Links.

"Why do you listen to that pompous, arrogant blowhard of screws and bolts? He should be sent to the junkyard not leading an uprising, or massive takeover."

One of the droids stares at Palpatine blankly and unmitigated; expressionless and emotionless, but then out of nowhere he takes his electro-staff and hits Palpatine in his gut with it, causing an electrical current to run up and down his back and spine.

"You should not speak unless being spoken to," the droid electronically and robotically states. The two droids then carry Palpatine into the elevator shaft and press the button to go up into the higher hangar. "I thought that didn't matter in the presence of droids..." says Palpatine holding his side in anger, wheezing and gasping for air.

Meanwhile...back on the main haul of the Separatist ship.

"We're coming up on the planet's first line of defenses now, General," a Neimodian voice said.

Grievous switched the holo-display to show the group of ships coming up in front of them. Twenty more Assault Cruisers, five more Venator-class Star Destroyers, and an assortment of smaller attack cruisers of differing designs. Grievous checked the giant cruiser's position, and when he saw it another evil grin crossed his eyes.

"Right on target," he said to himself.

"General, should we call up some of our support cruisers from the rear- battle to help fend off these new ships?" a Neimodian tactical assistant asked. "Without them we'll be rather vulnerable to enemy attack on the bow."

Grievous paid the assistant no mind. He just stared at the chrono-clock in the console of the holo-display as it counted down. "Prepare all missile ports to launch. Prepare the main gun for firing," he ordered.

He watched as the chrono continued to count down. The Republic cruisers were getting closer and closer. "Launch all missiles on my mark." Ten seconds left on the chrono. "MARK!" Grievous shouted.

Hundreds of streaks of white fire and blue light shot out from the giant cruiser, filling the entire bay of windows on the bridge. They raced towards the on-coming Republic cruisers, who continued towards them unabated. The missiles approached, and the cruisers opened fire with their turbo laser turrets. Green and red laser fire was everywhere as the ships targeted the enormous barrage of missiles. Brilliant explosions began erupting all across the line of missiles as they were shot down, and the number of explosions only intensified as the missiles got closer to their targets. It looked as if the hail of missiles was going to be for nothing—that every last one of them would be destroyed before they even reached their targets.

But then forty massive Separatist battleships appeared from out of hyperspace a short distance behind and to one side of the Republic cruisers. The newly arrived ships opened fire at once, launching volley after volley of their own missiles.

The Republic ships on that side were caught completely by surprise. The power to their shields concentrated mostly to the front of the ships, their backsides were left virtually unprotected. The newly arrived Separatist battleships' missiles and laser fire tore into these ships' sides and engine housings.

There were explosions all over the ships, and some of them even exploded completely in brilliant flashes like a sun going supernova.

The Republic cruisers on the far side of the group reacted quickly and balanced their shielding power out across their hulls. They were able to withstand the blunt of the initial volley they received from the surprise attack, and several turned to face the new threat.

"Fire the main gun!" Grievous shouted, his synthesized voice charged with the elation of the battle.

The giant Separatist Cruiser rocked as the gun fired, and then a thick, red streak of light and energy shot away. The powerful bolt struck the underside of a Republic cruiser that had been banking and ripped all the way through the ship. A second later, the cruiser exploded in an massive fireball. The shockwave and racing debris from the explosion struck two more close to it, ripping huge chunks out of their hulls and sending them spinning out of control. The cruiser barreled forward through the cloud of debris and the hole that had just been created in the picket of Republic ships. Several of the Separatist battleships fell into escort positions with the giant cruiser, while the others kept the Republic cruisers busy to keep them from pursuing.

"Try and follow us now Jedi," Grievous thought sitting in his chair as two protocol droids R3C7 and THX-1138 begin soaking and oiling down his joints and parts. A hiss is heard from the pistons in his arms absorbing, assimilating, engulfing, and sponging the oil into the wires and mechanical parts. Grievous sighs seeing his conquest shortly drawing to a near end, but suddenly out of nowhere the remaining fighters, the clones, and General Obi-Wan Kenobi and that Skywalker brat come out of nowhere.

"WHAM!" A shot blasts through the upper deck taking out their defenses. The shield generator now powerless. "WHAT?!" Grievous thoughts as suddenly he was thrown from his chair and so were the protocol droids. "It appears once again you think too ahead of yourself, too abstract and preoccupied in yourself and your ambitions, and not on the mission." Dooku says intimidating and deterring the overconfident bastard.

"I'll show them!" Grievous gets on a com. Link and forewarns the Jedi and Republic forces. "Republic Military forces—we have your precious leader captive aboard our ship," General Grievous' menacing, synthesized voice said. "The glorious, military might of the Separatists has reached the very heart of your government. We have penetrated your pathetic defenses. By now you must realize that there is nowhere in this galaxy where you or your children are safe from us.

"The Confederacy of Independent Systems demands the immediate halt of all Republic military aggressions and the withdrawal of your forces from within our borders. Should you refuse to meet our demands, we will unleash terror and destruction the likes of which you have never seen. Do as we say, and I promise mercy will be shown. Defy us and you, and your Supreme Chancellor, will surely die! You have been warned."

Dooku smiles, "Well done. You've gotten them even testier with us than before. Congrats." He thinks to himself not saying a word.

Meanwhile outside...

Grievous's words struck a cord with Anakin, more ever than the Tusken Slaughter he witnessed and enacted in. His best friend and true father figure Palpatine was on that ship. If he'd lose him than the two people he cared for and loved for (him and his mother), along with Obi-Wan and Padme would be lost forever. He had to do something and fast.

"I'm going after him---------alone. No one follow me. That includes you Obi- Wan."

"Anakin no! Stay with your squadron. I am the General here. I overrule you. Stay here where you'll be safe."

"Obi-Wan I love you like a father and I know you love me like a son, but I am not that same little boy I once was. I am a man now. A true Jedi Knight. I need to face this on my own. Face this alone. The Force is telling me to."

"That's not the Force it's your instinct! Your own mentality telling you to! I beg if you go I'll be right behind you to stop you."

"Well, I can't see why you wouldn't. Everywhere I go, there you are."

"Because I am your friend. Friends stick beside each other."

Despite his anger, a small smile crossed Anakin's lips and his anxiety lessened. He had come to depend on Obi-Wan's support and help in difficult situations, and vice-versa. They made an excellent fighting team, and always found a way to get through the impossible with each other's help. With Obi-Wan at his side what he had planned no longer seemed like such a suicide mission. There was hope.

"Thank you, Obi-Wan," Anakin said, and there was no mistaking that he truly meant it.

"You can thank me later when we get through this. Now—what's your plan?" Obi-Wan asked as their Starfighters raced through the chaos of the enormous battle and after the giant cruiser. "Uh...plan? Didn't really get to that yet."

"Oh, brother! I knew you were going to be the end of me. I just needed a sign and now here it is. We're going to go after an overlord and you have no plan. Sheesh..."

"Hey, just leave it to me. I usually come up with something good in due time."

"Not to mention something gutsy, foolhardy, overly courageous, daring, hot- shotty, and downright stupid."

Anakin and Obi-Wan plunged their Jedi fighters through the ever-expanding battlefield around Coruscant and raced in the direction of the giant Separatist Cruiser. Even more massive battleships, cruisers and attack ships had emerged from hyperspace and joined in the fray. Now, the numbers of Republic and Separatist capital ships fighting were too great to count. The battle was enormous; filled with a frenzied wrath and carnage the likes of which the galaxy had never seen. The true nature of war momentarily reared its ugly head right there above the central planet of the Republic. It presented itself proudly for all to see—death and destruction were its sole purpose.

The system's sun was creeping around from behind the city-planet, and as it did it lit the terminator of the planet with a brilliant, red and orange glow. The angle of the sun's light cast upon the uppermost levels of the battle; illuminating it, as if highlighting the destruction there. Dawn began creeping across the surface of the planet below, and the concentrated mass of lights of the city slowly began fading away.

The Cruiser was right above the planet now, positioning itself into a stable orbit. Surrounding it was a wall of Separatist battleships. These battleships fought like a crazed pack of Vulowolves, protecting their leader with such ferocity that no Republic ships had been able to penetrate their lines. But the Republic forces were gathering around the group now, and appeared to be set on breaking the protective barrier and getting at the giant cruiser.

Hundreds upon hundreds of Clone starfighters, droid fighters, other designs of Separatist fighters, and a handful of Jedi Starfighters that had come up from Coruscant, flocked around the enormous span of capital ships, locked in their own mortal combat. Anakin and Obi-Wan dodged their way through the mess, too intent on their objective to engage enemy targets. The chaos was terrible, and only beings as skilled in the Force as Anakin and Obi-Wan could pass through it unscathed.

The movements of their fighters were in perfect synchronism. When Anakin turned, so did Obi-Wan. When Anakin dove, twisted or spun, so did Obi-Wan. It looked as if one mind were controlling both ships, as if the flight plan had been pre-programmed. The long years of fighting together in The Wars had made them this way, had made them this good of a team.

They turned and headed straight for the concentrated mass of capital ships around the giant cruiser. This was where the fighting was the most intense, and the space was filled with blazing laser blasts, stray missiles, and enormous chunks of exploded cruisers on erratic paths.

A gap was beginning to form in the ring of battleships surrounding the giant cruiser. One had massive fires spouting out all over its hull, while two others had lost their stabilizers and were floating off course. Three of the Jedi Cruisers took advantage of the hole by focusing their weaponry on the ships in that area, overwhelming the battleships and making the hole even bigger. The line began to deteriorate and the Star Destroyers moved in, but the fight was far from over.

"Republic scum—if you dare to attack my flagship, I will rain down fire and destruction upon your capital city!" General Grievous' voice said over the comm. "And if that is not reason enough to make you leave now, know this; I will not hesitate to kill your Chancellor should you attack! So you know that I am telling the truth, I will demonstrate this ship's awesome firepower! Watch, and tremble!"

Anakin looked at the giant cruiser through the mass of ships, and saw a bright red streak of light race out from underneath it. The giant laser beam raced towards the planet below, and Anakin's heart stopped for one terrible moment. His eyes focused on that single streak of light.

Down below the planet's core...

In a very posh, very upscale, very quaint, sophisticated, highly established area of Coruscant. Members of the rich, upper class district, and the socialites and the regulators all await for the theater troupe they're seeing to begin not expecting, or even suspecting a single attack on their fair planet. Also, amongst the group is very well known senators such as: Orn Free Taa, Toonbuck Toora, Ask Aak, Mas Amedda, Lot Dod, Aks Moe, and a few newly elected senators Yut Vingha, J'hill Dune, and Wi Wee. Alien music is heard as the patrons and audience begin seating themselves to watch a unique piece of work, but suddenly overhead of the stadium a loud sound begins startling, agitating, aggravating, perturbing, and disarranging everyone. People begin running for the doors in a disorderly fashion, instead of unifying and uniting to help one another; everyone pushes, and shoves people down trying to get away. Mas Amedda tries reasoning and stating that everything will be ok, but unfortunately people begin proclaiming, announcing, and decreeing that "this is the end of days"; "the end of the Republic."

"BOOM!" About a few sectors towards the Senate the red hot streak of light that had made its way down to this poor unfortunate planet had suddenly impacted and blown away a whole city block.

PADME! JAR JAR! C3PO! CAPTAIN TYPHO! If Grievous had hit them, or if any of them were killed he pay dearly for it, he'd pay in his own blood and Anakin was going to be the one to do it.

"We're getting aboard that ship! No questions ask." Anakin instructed.

"Ah, and how do you suppose we do that when there's four Trade Federation capital ships, thousands upon thousands of vulture fighters, and legion upon legion of battle droids and Dooku and Grievous waiting for us and our every move?" Obi-Wan asks.

"We'll find a way. We always do. Besides, this time is not a good time to rely on the Force. This time we must trust our instincts. Let go for once..." Anakin jests.

"Well, if you get me killed than that'll be another story." Obi-Wan snaps back.

Into Grievous's flagship hangar they fly in. Evading, eluding, absconding, and invading Grievous's mighty fortress without detection, or triggering or sounding off an alarm. The two were excellent at passing by people's guards. They had the skill of vigilance and adroitness that was unmatched. Anakin landed as quickly as he could a short ways away and sprang from his cockpit. He ignited his own, blue-white lightsaber and ran to help Obi-Wan, taking out battledroid after battledroid along his way. He was swift and incredibly efficient with the blade. Each spin was tight, each swipe precise as if the blade were an extension of his body. His control was nearly perfect.

He reached Obi-Wan and they turned back-to-back.

"The elevators are this way. Let's get going," Anakin said, and then began sidestepping to his right.

Obi-Wan mirrored his moves as they swiftly walked towards the elevators with backs to each other, fighting off the attacking droids as they went.

Anakin and Obi-Wan stood with their backs to the elevator doors as they waited for them to open. Their lightsabers whirred up and down, back and forth as they continued to fend off the pursuing droids. Sparks from stray bolts hitting the wall behind them splashed across the backs of their Jedi robes. The droids walked after them slowly, firing as they came, stepping over their fallen comrades' broken metal frames.

A hiss from behind signified that the elevator doors were opening.

"Go! I'll hold them off," Anakin shouted over the noise of the fight.

Obi-Wan took a handful of steps back, then turned only to find a blaster muzzle pointed right at his face. Several battledroids were occupying the elevator, and were trying to get out to get at them. Obi-Wan blocked the first shot right back where it came from, then slipped to the side to dodge the second. He stepped right into the middle of the group of droids, spinning and chopping them down as he entered the elevator.

"Going up!" Obi-Wan joked.

The bridge of the cruiser was even more bustling now. Dooku studied the holo-display with a wary eye, keeping his senses peeled for any sudden movement from Grievous or his bodyguards. Things were getting out of hand outside. The ring of battleships that had been protecting their cruiser was mostly destroyed, and now Assault and Jedi Cruisers surrounded the ship. It was as if the situation had been reversed. The Republic cruisers didn't fire upon the cruiser. They were only firing outward at the Separatist ships now trying to break through with little success.

The giant cruiser was trapped with nowhere to go.

"What now, General?" Dooku asked.

Grievous peered at him, then clicked on the comm. and said, "Prepare to fire on the Republic cruisers."

Dooku had expected as much, but he still had to play his part of this whole charade to keep Grievous guessing. He clicked on the comm. and said, "Belay that order, Lieutenant."

Grievous stared daggers at Dooku, and Dooku said, "Are you mad? If we attack those ships they will surely defend themselves, and the fact that we hold their leader captive will no longer be a shield for us. They cannot afford to allow this ship to gain such an advantage. We will all be destroyed."

"Those ships will not stand a chance against our superior shielding and firepower." Grievous said. "Now, not another word from you. I've made it clear that I will evade anymore endangerments and entanglements..." Dooku watched on the display as the blaster bolts and missiles began striking the Republic cruisers. Apparently, the Republic ships had anticipated such a move, because they had their shields well balanced across their hulls and were able to withstand the onslaught without any serious damage. The Republic ships sat there taking the pummeling for some time.

But then it was clear that the order to defend themselves was given, because all of them began returning fire.

"Prepare the main gun!" Grievous ordered.

"Sir! The intruder alert has been activated," a Neimodian voice said. "Two Jedi have been spotted on the hangar level."

Dooku could tell that Grievous hadn't expected this. Or so he thought....

"You seem surprised," Dooku jabbed. "Did your planning not include such an instance, General?"

"Lock down all elevators on that level," Grievous ordered. He began walking for the elevator, his cape flowing and his bodyguards following right behind him. "I'll handle this matter myself," he said as he passed Dooku.

"I'm sure you will, General," Dooku said with a sideways look as Grievous and his droids got in the elevator. After the doors closed with a hiss, he turned back to the holo-display and said to himself, "I'm sure you will."

Grievous got on his com. Link. "It is with great attention that I am need of a bit of assistance. Change of plans. You two leave the prisoner in my freighter ship. Meet me in the upper level sector of this ship. We have some Jedi intruders to deal with..."

The elevator came to a remained halt. Anakin tried pressing the buttons, but apparently they already anticipated Obi-Wan and his arrival and now they were jamming and wedging the doors shut. "He's coming for us. He knows we're here." Obi-Wan replied unbearably scared and tensed at the same time. He had heard of the many Jedi who were slain and torn to shreds by the General's quick combat skills and his ability to rely on the Force even though he had no midi-chlorians. Obi-Wan was growing claustrophobic feeling as though the walls were encasing, confining, and compacting them in; boxing and containing them from ever reaching the outside world again.

"Cut through the top will climb our way up." Obi-Wan suggested gasping for air to breathe. "They're wanting us to open the doors and run our way up, but if we do this we'll avoid any droid fire, or possibly skirmishing and encountering the great General..."

Anakin ignites his blue lightsaber and begins cutting a hole through the top of the elevator wide enough to let both of them enter out of.

"We'll use our lightsabers as we did on the planet Ulum IV. Remember when we got caught in that avalanche and we had to go climbing and spelunking with our lightsabers?"

"Ah, yes the frigged cold temperatures, our food supply frozen as ice, and then we had to deal with a few mangy pests that kept following us..."

"Not to mention those things that got some of the clone troops and begin mangling them and maiming them to shreds." Anakin cuts him off.

"Yes, that was not a good time for us; not at all. Such chaos, such laceration and mutilation." Obi-Wan shakes his head shaking away the thought.

"Well, we should probably get going. If we don't leave soon we might become sitting ducks, or worse...Grievous and Dooku will get away with Palpatine." Anakin cites.

"Yes, but remember the Council wants us to bring Dooku and Palpatine back alive. Dooku still has some questioning and answering to take care of. Like who is this mysterious figure running his Sith Empire underneath everyone's eyes? And who is this Darth Sidious?"

"He took my arm off Master. He took away millions upon billions of people's lives. I don't think the Council would mind if Dooku got his just deserts. I mean I sense that Grievous is too under the influence of Darth Sidious as well and not just a play toy of the Trade Federation to seize star systems for them under their control..."

"Whatever the case. Both need to be taken down, but Dooku in an non- violent, blood-shedding manner."

"Yes, Master..." Anakin says sighing a bit, hesitantly.

Anakin turns his attention upwards looking at the nice incision he had crafted and Force leaps himself through the opening hole and on top of the elevator; Obi-Wan follows. Up the long dark shaft to climb up using their lightsabers as support.

Back in the control room...

"Sir, they're going up the elevator shaft," croaked the Neimodian technician.

"Send some destroyers and super battle droids to handle our little pests. They'll keep them busy for awhile..." Dooku said, cutting himself off thinking brashly, impertinently, and impudently. I just hope that damn General won't screw this up anymore than he already has with his brazenness, impulsiveness, and his presumptuousness. Sure, he is strong and brilliant in strategizing and plotting out schemes, or conquests, but his assumptive forwardness and promptness is his downfall. Sidious was a fool to bring him along. Of course sooner, or later Sidious will not be in power much longer once I've taken control of the situation. The galaxy will bow down before me before long...

Back in the elevator shaft...

"We're almost to the top! I can see the doors, but I'm sure they're magnetically sealed. It'll take a miracle to get in there." Anakin sighed sweating from head to toe growing tired of climbing this long, endless dark shaft. Suddenly...the doors slowly open and out come two destroyer droids. "We're sitting ducks!" Anakin yells, leaping and jumping off of the shaft's wall and doing a spin leaping over the two destroyer droids and cutting them in half just before they could activate their force field shields. "Too slow," Anakin sneers. Obi-Wan Force leaps into the air and joins his former Padawan on the deck leading to the control room and the prisoner cells.

"Careful we don't want to attract any attention." Obi-Wan whispers.

Suddenly...a blaster switches on. The two Jedi turn their heads and suddenly are greeted by four battle droids and two super battle droids. "Too late," Anakin sighs. The droids begin opening fire setting their sights on Anakin first, but the boy is too quick and agile. Crouching, leaping, sidestepping, cartwheeling, and somersaulting out of harm's way. Anakin then races towards them and then leaps into the air, doing a few spins, and then comes down hedging and lopping off the heads of the four battle droids. The two super battle droids suddenly step back, shock in disbelief, but begin firing at him. Anakin slides underneath one of their legs as he gives them a distraction for Obi-Wan to race up behind them and attack them. Obi-Wan races up behind the one and with one quick "blink-and-you- might-miss-it" swipe slices across the underbelly of the droid cutting it completely in half. The other turns to see its counterpart now laying on the ground, circuits frying, body contorting and convulsing in a series of fits and rages. The droid fires at Obi-Wan, but Obi-Wan deflects the shot, than it fires at Anakin, but Anakin deflects the other. Completely surrounded and outnumbered the droid desperately tries to defend itself, but Anakin races up and cuts off one of it's arms. Then, Obi cuts off the other. Than, finally the both take their swipes, the droid watches as green and blue lights dance in front of it.

Finally, the droid falls down arms, legs, and upper body cut in half. "That seemed too easy." Anakin blabs. "One day that cocky attitude of yours will kill you. Trust me. I've seen it before with earlier, previous Jedi Knights. Thought they were too big for their britches, or robes and than poof gone in an instant." "I haven't met a challenge yet Obi-Wan that hasn't been a graveling, grueling experience. I'm still in my wake, waiting for a REAL fighter to come along worthy of the test."

Anakin however spoke too soon as a cape flashed across them quickly down the hall leading to prison cells. "What was that?" Anakin asked stunned. "Grievous..." Obi-Wan pointed out. The two race down the hallway. Anakin was finally going to experience this competitor, this well-trained fighter and opponent full frontal. Anakin had heard of Grievous's strongness, robustness, stalwartness, vigorousness, and his external and internal strength, moves, swift and quick reflexes, and how incredibly agile he was on his toes. Now, he was going to see him face-to-face, lightsaber-to- lightsaber. "Jedi! Come forth and meet your doom. This little excursion will not take long."