In The Shadows of An Empire.

Shaa Koon knows better than anyone the treachery that consumed the Jedi Temple that fateful day. She was there. What she witnessed has left her permanently scarred, both mentally and physically. Now, she often wonders just what was so special about her that merited her survival, when so many others who had achieved great accomplishments in their lives as Jedi, such as her uncle, had perished. After escaping from Coruscant, she learned of Plo Koon's death in the cockpit of his star-fighter, a victim of "friendly" fire. In reality, he had been blasted from behind by his own wingmen, who of course, were clone pilots that had received the command to wipe out all their Jedi generals.

Shaa inhales deeply through her life-giving breathing mask. Convulsions overcome her as her body is wracked with heavy coughing, and the pain in her chest surfaces again to torment her. This is the price she had to pay in exchange for continued existence. To tell the story of her defective lungs requires having to relive the traumatic time once again…

It was late at night, and Kel Dorian Jedi Knight Shaa Koon couldn't sleep. Something was going on, something serious. Events were unfolding in favor of the Republic, and the war was nearing its end. Or so it seemed. Shaa lay on her back in her modest quarters, trying hard to get some rest. She was one of the few Jedi Knights and Masters still left in the massive Temple, tending to the needs of the younglings and basically 'holding down the fort' until the great Masters, like Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and her uncle returned.

Over the past few days, Shaa had noticed a great feeling of unease percolating throughout the winding corridors of the ancient Temple, particularly around the room that housed the meeting place of the Jedi High Council. Something big was about to happen, and the Council was involved. Rumors were spreading about a major move by the remaining Council members against the Supreme Chancellor. Shaa had noticed an increasing air of coolness in the way Palpatine had been interacting with the Jedi, but she never really believed that Master Windu and the others would take action. What kind of threat did an old politician pose against the great Jedi Order anyway?

Shaa sighed and sat up. Her gaze drifted over to the empty sleep-couch across the room, which belonged to the Mon Calamari Jedi Knight Min Ro. Shaa and Min had been younglings together and had shared many adventures during their Padawan apprenticeships. Almost a year ago she had been called to serve as a general for the Republic's Army back on her home planet of Mon Calamari to put down the Quarren Separatist faction. Although Min had sent a few scattered holo messages to ask how things were going, they rarely had any opportunity for any face-to-face conversations which they had enjoyed before the war. Shaa sighed, concerned how her friend was doing at this moment, so far away…

Sleep wasn't coming, that much was clear, so Shaa decided to take a walk in hopes that she might become drowsy and finally be able to retire. There was definitely something unusual going on… something almost palpable in the Force… but Shaa couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. The younglings had been particularly restless this evening, and it was difficult getting them to settle in for the night. She, Shaak Ti, and the others in charge of watching over the young ones had bustled about for almost two hours, making sure everyone got to bed. It was always the youngest Jedi that were the most perceptive to minute variations within the currents of the Force. Shaak Ti and Shaa had exchanged glances during their ordeal, silently acknowledging the presence of some overbearing ambiance that disturbed their young charges. Of course, they buried any concern they had so as not to worry the children. After the last youngling had been tucked in, they bid one another 'goodnight,' hoping that the ominous sensation they felt wouldn't come to bear fruit.

The Jedi Temple was so peaceful at this hour. Many Jedi of all ages and experiences would often stroll the vast halls of the Jedi Temple at night to soothe their minds and find inner peace when something troubled them. The main lights were extinguished, and the small wall mounted luminescent sources would create a calming glow that illuminated the corridors. Often enough, this was the best time of the day, especially when Shaa bumped into old friends of hers she had not seen for many cycles. The atmosphere provided the opportunity to get reacquainted and rekindle those friendships, that, due to the nature of their lives as Jedi, often created distance between them. As many fond memories as Shaa had of her walks, she knew that such an occurrence wasn't going happen this time.

Her meandering led her to the wing where the younglings lived. As she had feared, each of the young minds were not slumbering in their usual comfort. They also knew, and were afraid. She peaked in one of the rooms and saw the occupants fitfully tossing and turning. Shaa entered and prepared to soothe them with Force-induced techniques Master Ti had taught her. Suddenly, a flash of the Dark Side struck her as if someone had physically slapped her across the face. What could cause such a surge in the Dark Side of the Force? Unless…

Shaa Koon's deep brooding was interrupted by a scream. A second young voice shrieked, and then another. The children were having simultaneous nightmares, she realized. Quickly, she rushed to the side of the youngling nearest her, a boy named Yosh, and gently nudged him awake. Shaa struggled to make herself heard above the cries.

"What's wrong? What do you see?" Yosh's eyes fluttered open upon hearing her voice, and he sat up with a jolt.

"Darkness…" he choked out in a fearful tone. At that moment, Shaak Ti burst into the room, the other guardians weaved back and forth behind her in the hallway, most still in their sleepwear, trying to calm the younglings.

"Shaa, something is horribly wrong. Masters Windu, Tiin, Kolar, and Fisto have failed to return from their mission to apprehend the Chancellor."

"Apprehend the Chancellor?" Shaa gasped.

"Yes. Master Kenobi has killed General Grievous, and the time for the end of the war has come. Unfortunately, the Supreme Chancellor has not been… cooperative, compelling the Council to step in. However, I fear things have not gone well…" Unexpectedly, the sound of an explosion reverberated down the passageway. Whie, one of the unfortunate young Padawans left Masterless by the war, ran into the room.

"Masters, the Temple is under Attack! Clone Troopers have blown through the main entrance and murdered the Jedi gatekeepers!" He exclaimed in between breaths.

"This is an emergency! We must gather the younglings and prepare to defend ourselves!" Master Ti turned and shouted orders to the guardians in the hallway.

"Master Ti, what are we going to do?" Shaa said after rousing Yosh and his roommate.

"We'll have to split up in several groups. I hate to say it, but I'd rather afford one group a chance to survive than being forced into a futile last stand and lose them all," she replied with a heavy heart. Shaa knew it hurt Shaak Ti immensely to have to say such things, but they both knew it was the best strategy in this dire situation. In a few moments, the guardians had assembled all the younglings in the ante-room to their dormitories. Shaa, Whie, and Shaak Ti joined them to divide the children and plan out their course of action. There were to be three groups, one to head to the Council Chamber, one to the Room of a Thousand Fountains, and one to the Library.

"Everyone, get to your sanctuaries! May the Force be with us all…" Master Ti said meekly.

Shaa was in the second group. She quickly gathered her charges, along with Whie and two guardians, and set out for their destination. Shaa heard the echoes of blaster fire coming from behind them, and they increased their pace. Finally, through what Shaa knew could only have been the will of the Force, they reached their place of refuge. The waters of the Room of a Thousand Fountains flowed and bubbled as it always had, but somehow it didn't seem so soothing now…

"Jam the doors!" Gho Cunon, the Tibrian guardian, ordered. Shaa, Whie, and Juu Dah, the other guardian assigned to their group, quickly complied. Now they had to sit and wait... Juu's comlink received a message. He activated it, turning the broadcast mode on.

"The library has been breached! I repeat, the library has been breached!" A tender, womanly voice cried. Shaa knew it was Master Jocasta Nu. As often as she had heard Master Nu scold a young Padawan, she had never really heard her yell this way before. Shaa wasn't even sure Master Nu even carried a lightsaber any more, but fervently hoped that she had hers available now… Shaa looked toward the others and saw their sword hands instinctively hovering above their lightsaber hilts. They all wanted to go and rescue those trapped in the library, but knew it would be to no avail. Their task was to protect the youngling assigned to them; abandoning their charges to go out and face certain death would be to no avail. Yet, the idea still pervaded their thoughts.

Shaa noticed Whie had a glazed look on his face. His eyes were focused on something distant, as if he were receiving a vision of the future. There were those who said that he had the abilities to receive visions of portents to come. What Shaa now saw rejected any doubts she may have had about the boy and his special abilities. She anxiously approached him.

"Whie, what is it? What lies ahead for us?" He stood motionless for a few moments more, then snapped back into full consciousness. His gaze narrowed on her alien features.

"We will not survive this night…" A tear rolled down his cheek. "None of us." Shaa felt as though someone had ripped out her insides. Nearby, some of the younglings began to whimper in fright. This couldn't be the end… could it?

"Listen, everyone!" Juu moved to the front of the collection of younglings. "As bleak as the times may appear, we have a duty to perform. We are Jedi! We must be brave and perform the will of the Force, whatever that may be," he paused and swallowed hard. "Each of us is a beacon of light, and we must burn our brightest, to push back the darkness…" He ignited his lightsaber, which blazed a brilliant azure. "Remember, we are Jedi!" Juu pumped his weapon in the air.

And then the doors were blown in. Juu spun on his heel, batting back laser bolts. Shaa watched in horror as he was struck in the shoulder, then the abdomen. He continued to parry incoming fire until a blast to his face silenced him forever. The younglings wailed. Some raised their own lightsabers, others ran for cover. Shaa's heart tore in half as she saw the young ones fall. Her emerald lightsaber was suddenly engaged in her hand, and Shaa didn't even remember activating it. It didn't matter. She dove forward, along with Gho and Whie. Their lightsabers blazed blue and green arcs through the air. Slicing and blocking, they made their way through the initial group of clone troopers that had crossed the threshold. Behind them, the remaining younglings clustered together in front of the Great Falls.

A hideously dark presence made itself known in the Force. Shaa tried to ignore it and focus on combating the innumerable clone troopers, but the aura began to fill her entire being with a cold fear. Then he entered. The dark one. With ease, he parried Gho Cunon's attack and cut him down, severing his great reptilian head from his shoulders. His face was covered by his hood, but his eyes glowed visibly with a deep hatred. His attention focused on Shaa, and he raised a hand in her direction. Suddenly, she flew backward, crashing into the rocks at the base of the waterfall. The side of her head collided with an outcropping that jutted out, and her breath mask was torn from her face. Before she blacked out, Shaa Koon willed her body to shut down completely, to go into a Force coma. The last thing she saw was Whie leaping defiantly toward the fiend, his lightsaber raised above his head.

Shaa remembers waking up coughing. She has been doing so ever since. She had inhaled a breath of the oxygen laden air, an element poisonous to her species. Realizing her potentially fatal mistake, she emptied her lungs and infused her cells with enough energy to search for her mask. There it was, slightly crunched, but hopefully still functioning. She lifted it out of the puddle in which it lie and clipped it back over her nose and mouth. Respiring deeply, she surveyed the carnage around her.

Bodies. Bodies of children. Everywhere. She knew each of the blank little faces personally, intimately. They were her younger brothers and sisters. And now they were dead. Her vision misted over, and she vented her goggles of the Kel Dorian equivalent to human tears. Up until now, she had been ignoring the growing ache in her chest, but when she laid her eyes upon the body of poor Whie, she was hit with a fit of wheezing. She knelt next to his burned body. He had been cut across the torso, from hip to shoulder. Reverently, she closed his eyes for the last time. Something compelled her to reach across his corpse and retrieve his weapon. Standing, Shaa secured Whie's lightsaber on her belt, opposite her own on her right hip.

The question of escape was a complex one. Shaa knew that the Temple was almost certainly overrun with clone troopers, combing the vast edifice in search of any remaining Jedi. But she had to get out, somehow. She knew that the Force obviously willed her to be the sole survivor of the assault for a reason – one that as of yet was not clear – but she was not about to squander this opportunity she had been given. A thought occurred to her. The hangar. Although they had certainly inspected the multitude of craft located there, she might be able to sneak about one of the small ships and make her getaway. Obviously, a single ship launching would arouse the ire of the occupying troops. But, what if a large number of the starfighters launched at the same time? It sounded like a gamble worth taking. She would reach the loading area via the system of air ducts, and hopefully be able to procure a ship from there. Mind firmly set on the task at hand, Shaa bounded the small cliffs up to the top of the waterfall, almost slipping as she neared the peak. Lifting the hatch to the ventilation duct, she took one last mournful look over her shoulder at the lifeless Jedi below her. Coughing violently, she took a brief moment to compose herself and went in.

Traveling through the tubes of the ventilation system proved to be easier than she thought. Shaa knew approximately where she was heading, which helped greatly. The only major obstacle thus far was a drop straight down to reach the lower levels. She had secured herself with her liquid cable launcher and carefully lowered herself down until she reached the correct level, and swung onto that duct. Finally, she arrived, and carefully unlatched the vent leading to one of the docking bays. Silently, she dropped to the floor. She made her way toward the multicolored ships, careful to monitor the activity of the patrol stationed at the entrance from the Temple into the loading area. She quietly climbed aboard an orange Jedi Starfighter, and began conversing with her R2 unit, designated R2-T3. She inputted an emergency scramble code, telling the droid to transmit the signal to all the others. One by one, each droid blinked to life, their domes whirring back and forth as they communicated. Of course, they were all confused concerning the unusual procedure, but complied when she sent out the message that the situation was urgent.

Soon, all the engines were warming up, preparing for an emergency launch. As expected, the clones noticed that something was amiss, and two marched into the hangar to investigate. They were caught in the back draft from the engines of the fighter next to Shaa's. Their armor scorched black and they were flung into the nearby wall. Blue laser blasts began to bounce across the shields of the ships. More clone troopers began pouring through the hangar doors and opening fire upon the disturbance. Simultaneously, the starfighters lifted from their docking ports and jetted toward the opened hangar doors. Shaa remained toward the center of the group for protection. Immediately upon their exit, they were fired upon by clone gunships that had been in the area. A handful was shot down during the daring escape through the Coruscant skies. Bursting through the outer atmosphere, Shaa breathed a shaky sigh of relief. Fortunately, the Force was with her, and the hyperspace docks were unguarded. However, the clone fighters were hot in pursuit, so little time was afforded to proper procedure in attaching the giant hyperspace rings.

Of the roughly two dozen ships that had started off with her daring stunt, only eight made it to the orbiting pen. A pair of those remaining exploded when one's hyperspace ring was hit by missile fire, sending its wreckage careening into the second just as it was about to moor. The others managed to successfully find berth in their hyperspace rings, and not a moment too soon. Shaa's sensory board went into overload when several Vindicator Class cruisers appeared over the horizon, quickly approaching her position. She managed to fire off random coordinates via her R2 unit to the other droid piloted starships, and Shaa pulled back on the lever, launching the ragtag group into hyperspace. Brilliant star streaks filled the view of her cockpit, and Shaa Koon, the sole survivor of the Jedi massacre of Coruscant collapsed against her crash webbing, overcome with shock and exhaustion.

To Be Continued…