The Book of the Light of Truth

"You must see—"

"What I and many others have seen, Chancellor, are fear tactics."

"Senator Amidala, you are laying accusations—"

The roar of the senate drowned out Palpatine's words. He had lost control and the emotions were too erratic to dampen with his own considerable power.

If not for that troublemaker Amidala, who was supposed to be dead, he would have maintained control but her appearance incensed an already emotional gathering of delegates.

She would pay.

The dark lord's thoughts alighted on his young protégé in the private viewing room. An angry husband is a powerful weapon.

Bail Organa's platform hovered into the center of the chamber. His voice strong and clear as he began to name a list of senator's who had recently been portrayed as traitors and executed without a formal hearing. "Kuun of the Mining Consortium, Abetta of Nevamber Prime, Cois Tan'Oto of Zami Coris, Posee Leam of the Gan Federation, Mohai We-Jura of the Banking Clan, Jar-Jar Binks of the Gungans—"

The list went on and the crowd grew quiet.

"Cois Tan'Oto was no traitor!" a Nikto senator called out into the silence inspiring soft rumbles.

"Posee Leam was a staunch loyalist!" Another voice called out and soon the growing list of "traitorous" senators and politicians was quickly over come with calls on the merits of those branded.

"Whether you want to believe it or not, the facts—"

Jeers and boos drowned out Palpatine's voice. While Mas Amedda demanded order, the politician glared across the open space at Padmé but the young senator's attention was focused on Bail Organa who offered her a gentle smile.

Padmé then turned her gaze up to the simmering visage of Palpatine. "You may have lost faith in the Republic to govern itself, but I have lost faith in you to fairly dispense justice within the Republic," she said with the very tone of authority she had used as queen so many years ago.

The senate roared in fury.

Speaking evenly, Padmé announced, "You are bogged down in your own politics and choices and you are holding the Republic and its free worlds hostage. You are the chancellor and not a supreme dictator; I have lost faith in your understanding of that. I call for a vote of no confidence."

"You cannot!" Palpatine growled. He had expected her to call for a vote of shift, forcibly returning power to the Senate. For what little good it would do, absolute control of the Republican army would still be his but at least for a time it would calm the senate long enough to tighten his grasp again. Allow them the illusion of victory.

Too many seconding of the motions filtered through the din to be counted.

Palpatine placed both hands to the edges of the podium, keeping his gaze lowered as the senate bubbled with powerful emotion. To his right, Mas Amedda bellowed to the crowd but it was ineffective.

Raising a withered hand, Palpatine spoke to address the mutinous throng, but his gaze never left Padmé. "I shall do as the Senate wishes, but know this, you have brought this upon yourselves." Turning sharply he stormed back across the walkway and disappeared into his private exit as the crowd began to call for nominations to replace him.

The Book of the Ugly Handmaiden

"We won," Padmé breathed, earning a small tilt of the green cloaked head of her handmaiden.

Bali frowned, as he was afraid to shift too much and give himself away as his presence was illegal within the chamber. "For the sake of the Republic, I hope you are right," he whispered. Unfortunately there was a dark cloud hanging over the victory. Bali could feel the dark Force gathering strength. He glanced about carefully, trying to discern the source but it seemed to be everywhere.

It was over, right?

Sheltered green eyes spied Obi-Wan in a small opening a few levels below the Naboo pod station. He smiled with relief seeing the older Jedi there.

When the older Jedi nodded approvingly, Bali felt Obi-Wan's weariness and something else. The apprentice carefully shifted to eye his master better and caught a glimpse of the older Jedi's bloodied cheek but Obi-Wan shook his head in silent warning. The youth knew that it meant he should return his attention to the senator and her protection and he reluctantly obeyed.

The Book of Doubts

From the small viewing room, with its clear view of the chancellor and most of the action, Anakin Skywalker remained pressed to the window watching intently. His bright blue eyes never wavering from the image of his wife, dressed as a handmaiden, standing boldly for all to see.

His insides were in turmoil. His heart was joyful at the sight after Palpatine's bold announcement of her assassination. His instincts were to have lashed out and hunted down her murderers but his heart had told him Padmé lived.

For he too would have died if that bond of love was ripped from him.

The young man's heart sang at the sight of the determined senator standing there in the center of the chamber. Anakin laughed inwardly, seeing the handmaiden ruse had tricked her attackers.

But now, his heart was silenced. His mind told him that she had betrayed the Republic. His beautiful wife had thrown a good man out of office and the Republic was weakened for the taking of anyone who chose. He had dealt with lessor traitors more swiftly and harshly.

After Palpatine's warning to the mutinous Senate, the room had exploded into cheers and jeers, but mostly arguments and nominations to accede Palpatine. All the while, Mas Amedda furiously beat the gavel to the podium crying out for order that never came.

Anakin shook his head. After everything Palpatine had done for them, this was how she treated him? He saved the Republic! Now he is being cast aside for his disagreeing politics?

For a time, Anakin watched his wife, who was caught up into the fury of the moment, adding her voice to the rising din. Hoping the anger that was rising would abate. He loved his wife. So entranced by the lovely vision at war with the dedication of Palpatine, he almost ignored the barest trace of warning through the Force. It began as a hum, nearly drowned out by the Senate. Soon it became a great vibration as darkness moved.

Momentarily his thoughts returned to his wife, then beyond her at the handmaiden sitting behind her. He just stared at the green draped figure.

Padmé's look-a-like handmaiden was dead, that was the one that was killed. She only had one, so who was with—

"Jedi," he growled, recognizing Bali.

Anakin knew it was because of the Jedi that his wife was there. With the strange shadow that seemed to be clinging to everything, he could not divine whether the intention was for good or bad. After all, His Excellency had warned him that the Jedi were trying to fortify their place in the changing Republic and his wife's sympathies were being played upon.

Padmé had always been strong willed and of her own choices.

Staring into the roaring senate, he knew his wife would not have willingly brought such upheaval or done so much damage unless she was being coerced.

Jedi are not allowed within the senate chamber.

Deciding he needed to get to Padmé, he exited the room and headed through the crowded corridor towards the Naboo entrance. Senate pages and reporters from all over the galaxy crowded toward the press and public secured viewing decks to see what was happening and to get the scoop on other media outlets.

The crush of life forms in the corridor pressed passed him, slowing his charge down the hall.

At the back of his thoughts something tugged lightly. Brushing it away, Anakin focused on Padmé. Still that elusive something tugged at him, its urging became so powerful that he finally stopped.

Turning abruptly, Anakin marched the other direction toward a private lift that would take him up to Palpatine's office. He paused briefly before activating the control panel and remembered that he had intended to go to Padmé but for some reason it was not nearly as important as his need to speak with the Chancellor immediately.

The Book of Haunting Images

Senators had begun to pour out of the chamber, some grumbling and others stunned by the apparent ease of ending the potentially tyrannical rule of Chancellor Palpatine. Still some wondered aloud why he had given in so easily.

Bali was still garbed in the handmaiden's cloak, bright green eyes looked over the sea of beings searching for his master from under the lowered cowl. Grasping Padmé's arm he pulled her into the hall. "We must get out of this crowd."

"But—"

Padmé's argument was cut short as she was nearly trampled by a tall Ner'Ifian.

"I think you are still as much a target now as before."

"Oh."

A large Metholite senator blocked their journey through the hall. The harsh look on the stony gray face softened as a large eight-fingered hand reached out and patted Padmé's shoulder speaking in his native tongue. A smaller figure of the same species raced up to the large senator, bowed to Padmé and immediately began translating in broken basic. "This is Senator Morcorial of Metholitiam. He congratulates you on your bold entrance and thanks you for speaking out against the chancellor and his martial law that is strangling our world."

"Of course," Padmé said nodding to the large senator. "I must do what is best for the everyone in the Republic."

The Metholite senator continued in his deep, rumbling tone, and was quickly translated. "May your beauty ever last and your ugly handmaiden always be faithful."

Padmé nodded gratefully to the blessing.

After the Metholite's wandered into the crowd Padmé looked to Bali. The padawan grumbled, "I am not ugly."

"For a handmaiden, yes, you are. For a Jedi, well that is different," the senator straightened slightly returning her attention to the moment. "I have much to do—an official statement—I must speak with Senator Organa and—"

Padmé stopped and quickly searched the crowd. "Where's Obi-Wan?" Panic filled her as she had imagined the older Jedi would have joined his padawan while she was in chambers.

"He is waiting for us at the Entrance of Justice and Peace. He felt it best to remain as unobtrusive as possible."

Calming somewhat, Padmé was relieved and did not miss the irony of the particular entrance the padawan was leading her toward. While the Senate Complex was designed to support the private transports and security of the various delegates with protected landing pads and entrances there were four more public entrances spread about the massive structure. The Entrance of Law faced the ancient structures that had housed the early senate that had designed the government they enjoyed now. The Entrance of Industry faced toward the old industrial section of the city planet reminding them that it was commerce that brought the galaxy together. The Entrance of Life faced into the Biviny section of Coruscant where all forms of life gathered socially. And finally, the Entrance of Peace and Justice, marked by a great arch that had been hand carved by the finest artisans of the time. From there, across the bright blue sky and through the thickening layers of clouds one could see the spires of the Jedi Temple rising above it all.

"Oh, wait," the young woman said. "What about Warbler? I think that reader is just down the maintenance hall not too far away."

Bali paused. "I think I should get you—"

"If it can help, my safety will hold for a little while." She offered the youth a reassuring smile. How long could it possibly take?

"A quick detour."

Padmé tried to lead, but Bali made sure to keep her close, sheltering her as well as possible. When she found the little maintenance corridor, they ducked into it and Bali quickly pulled the green cloak off roughly handing it to the senator.

"You might need this," he said as he pulled the little droid from the pouch of his utility belt. Warbler's limp antenna flopped over the side of the padawan's hand as the little green form was drawn forward and cradled.

"There," Padmé said as she pointed toward the small workstation sitting at the corner of the hall.

Sitting down on the stool, Bali activated the small droid, but held on tight. "I want to plug you into this reader so be nice."

An indignant chirp and squeal ripped from the tiny PodBot the instant it was pushed back into the mech reader landing. It beeped irritably as the old reader screen popped and fizzed to life revealing a diagnostic station.

Quickly working his way through the screens, he found the reader screen. Scanning the dialogue, he softly grumbled, "Yes, I know you do not like to be shut down but unless you want stuck in the apartment, I suggest you quit complaining."

Warbler chirped a response.

Ignoring the unhappy reply, the apprentice quickly accessed memory files pertaining to the time period of Palpatine's visit at Padmé's apartment. While the information was gathered, he glanced across at the senator who had wrapped herself in the simple green cloak and was leaning against the wall. "It will only take a moment."

"It is fine. I too am curious why your little friend was so upset." Padmé folded her arms across her chest, but her attention fell to the floor.

"What upset you?" Bali asked softly, facing the screen again. Jerky video playback splashed across the view screen. Brief images of Padmé's apartment flared up. Many images of him from the apartment in the temple appeared. He paused, studying the little lines that were drawn on certain points of his face. An image of the thirteen year old boy he had once been appeared with similar markings. The little droid chirped and the images were overlapped briefly. Bali smiled. "That is how you recognized me?"

A happy whistle answered the question.

The smile faded at the image of the chancellor and the dark face that overlapped it.

The Book of the Tempest

Tucked into an alcove at the edge of the Entrance of Peace and Justice, Obi-Wan wondered what was taking Bali and Padmé so long. Pulling his mind from the light healing meditation, he brushed against Bali's closed thoughts. Concern raced through the older Jedi but he was quickly placated with a warm pulse from Bali. Although, he did sense that his padawan was upset but did not feel danger associated with it.

Tugging at the edges of his cloak, the Jedi drew a little deeper into his hiding place to keep from the crush of life forms spilling out of the grand entranceway. He was so tired and wished only to find a nice, quiet spot to rest.

From his place, he could stare out under the great arch of he Entrance of Peace and Justice. The sky was as bright as it could be and filled with inviting sunlight. Just at the edge of the false horizon, Obi-Wan could see the temple spires rising up, glowing under the cascading light.

He smiled at the inviting image of home.

Fingers wrapped around the newly singed and frayed edges of the reddish brown cloak material as he contemplated discarding it, feeling that it would only get in the way.

The thought was shocking because he was not quite sure of getting in the way of what. The Force was screaming at him from every direction but there was no source to zero in on. Bothered by this, he again reached for his padawan and was rewarded with a familiar pulse and the knowledge that both Bali and Padmé were just a short distance down the corridor.

Sighing heavily, the Jedi pulled his cloak tight around his cold form and stepped slowly into the open. Tired muscles carried the Jedi forward as his thoughts returned to his need to get some rest.

Just a little while, that was all he needed.

Across the statue garden that surrounded the Senate Complex, Obi-Wan's attention was captured by the large shadows that passed over the cast metal figures. Straightening slightly, the Jedi strained to see what sort of large craft had entered the restricted airspace.

The strange rumble of unease in the Force took on a physical manifestation as the entire complex began to quake. Keeping his attention to the outside world, Obi-Wan could easily see the sound and vibration was not from within the planet but from above.

Heavy battle ships crossed low in the sky blotting out the warm sunlight. Destroyers and troop carriers threw large shadows over the Coruscant afternoon. The white armored troopers began a mass deployment quickly filling the plane around the senate with war machines as if dropping into the middle of a battlefield instead of the relatively peaceful government core world.

The Republican Army marched on Coruscant.

As armed ground troops raced toward the senate building, batteries were quickly set up and began firing on civilian and ambassadorial transports as they hurriedly tried to leave the Senate Complex.
Just as Obi-Wan began to retreat into the building to find his padawan and the senator, the Force spiked so powerfully that it elicited a sharp cry of pain that sent him to his knees. A brilliant orange flashed in the Jedi's pale blue eyes as he watched heavy cruisers in the distance open fire on the peaceful Jedi Temple.

The Book of Pain

In the midst of the still bustling corridor, delegates and commoners alike moved a wide circle around Padmé and her Jedi protection. Bali howled again before toppling forward, nearly pulling the helpful senator to the ground. "No. No!" he cried out in pain before another painful burst through the Force ravaged his senses. "They…no!" Tears ran freely and muscles quaked as he struggled against the psychic attack.

Padmé dropped to her knees next to the trembling young man wrapping a gentle arm over trembling shoulders. "What is it?" Her words were nearly drowned out by the roar of starship engines and the panicked cries of the beings that had turned from the exit ahead and were now racing toward her and the apprentice.

"We're under attack!" Voices rang out in every tongue, but the terror was clear. "The Republican Army is arresting the Senate! They're shooting civilians! The Jedi are dead!"

It took all of his strength to draw his shields tight squeezing out the terror and pain lashing out through the Force. Tears still flowed, blurring his vision but he managed to get to his feet and drag Padmé from the center of the corridor to safety. With a little help from the senator, Bali steadied himself but continued to struggle to keep the powerful emotions in check. With a renewed focus, he grabbed Padmé's wrist. "We must get you to safety."

"But—"

"They are arresting senators, you are high on their list," Bali said, the determination strong in his voice even if it wavered with pain. He roughly brushed fingers across his eyes wiping away the tears that continued to flow.

The stunned Senator provided no hindrance, allowing him to lead her through the panicked structure.

Master! Bali screamed through the constricted training bond.

Mercifully he was quickly answered but he knew his master was in just as much psychic pain.

"We must get to the lower levels," Bali pulled Padmé across a large atrium and into one of the gently sloping corridors.

The Book of the Arrested

"I am a member of the senate loyalist committee," Bail Organa said sternly as he was quickly surrounded by rifle toting, white armored figures. His dark eyes briefly alighted on his personal assistant and the two members of his private guard that lay dead a few meters way. The dark haired man slowly raised his hands in submission not wishing to provoke them. "This action is illegal."

"You are under arrest for high treason against the Republic."

"Treason?" Bail roughly challenged but at the threat of the rifles eased back and spoke in a calmer tone. "I am doing my duty as an officer of the Senate, you will release me."

Placing a blaster riffle muzzle against the senator's chest, one of the soldiers barked, "By the order of his Excellency, the Emperor Palpatine, you are—"

"Palpatine? Emperor?" Bail whispered, the soldier's words striking him like a blast of cold water.

"Take him to holding to await execution!" The lead soldier barked causing the other two to roughly drive Bail into the corridor toward the chamber where other senators were being forcibly escorted. All around lay the bodies of pages, personal assistants and guards.

The tall senator tried to struggle free but was just battered into submission by the heavy rifles as he was pressed on, forced to step over the still forms of those who had been gunned down. Most of the blaster wounds were still smoldering from their backs where they had been shot while fleeing.

His gaze paused on a brown cloaked figure lying amongst the bodies. With his attention briefly distracted, Bali stumbled over the body of a young Rodian and fell to the gray floor. He quickly twisted about, the clatter of the rifles making his heart skip a beat knowing he was now dead.

Just at that moment, blue flashed and the formerly lifeless, cloaked figure burst to life taking the leg of the nearest soldier before the swift action of his free hand sent the other one flying. In a few short moves, Obi-Wan had taken out Bail's captors.

"Master Kenobi?" he stammered in shock.

Reaching out, Obi-Wan grasped Bail's elegantly cloaked arm and drug the stunned man to his feet. "We must move quickly."

The Book of Placation

Revelling in the glory of wanton destruction, the dark robed figure took in the breathtaking view from Palpatine's expansive office windows. The dark lord laughed to himself, delighting as the central spire of the ancient Jedi Temple toppled under the firepower of his grand army.

The Temple Spire's support gave way with a thunderous rumble, then shifted and crashed into the High Council tower sending both into the main structure glancing off and smashing into the surrounding city levels. The lower levels buckled under the weight and were crushed as the upper level surface was torn from the temple walls.

Great, billowing clouds rose up, threatening to obscure the continued assault. For Palpatine, he did not need his eyes to witness the mayhem. The terror in the Force told him everything.

The doors of the anteroom opened and Anakin stalked into the chancellor's office seemingly oblivious to what was going on around him. "You summoned me, your Excellency?"

Palpatine turned, offering the young man a sad look. "They have brought this upon theirselves," he said calmly as he motioned to the window to view the great army that surrounded the Senate Complex and the continued attack on the Jedi Temple.

Anakin remained quiet which disturbed the dark lord as the young man's thoughts were hidden behind powerful shields. Reaching out with his dark power, Palpatine lifted the veil he had wrapped the youth in. He was pleased when the shock reached Anakin's eyes and he felt the young man move to shield against the psychic shock.

"It is enough to numb your senses," the dark lord said. "You understand why I had to do it?" he asked, twisting to study Anakin intently. Sensing the doubt in the young man, he tweaked his words just enough to elicit the political loyalty he needed for a short time longer. "They may not thank me now, but someday, probably long after I am dead, they will understand why I am doing this."

"Of course," Anakin answered dully. Orange bolts reflected in Anakin's glassy eyes.

Smiling wickedly inside, Palpatine extended the dark Force bubble once more around the young man, effectively closing his senses from the outside world. Yet, filtering only what he wished Anakin to feel. "Pain is good. It gives us strength."

"Strength," Anakin absently replied, his gaze fixed to the dust rising in the distance. Fixed to the weapons of destruction focused on the temple as it crumbled under the assault.

The Council of Reconciliation tower collapsed, smashing into the Council of Knowledge tower causing it to dangerously shift. The Reconciliation tower crushed the outer wall of the temple, tearing away the facing of the temple's fourth addition and ripping the city around it asunder. It smashed deep into the planet crashing through the levels down to soil and stone that had not seen the light of day in many millennia.

"The senate is being protected by the Republican guard, all institutions are being protected, unfortunately," he paused to gauge the younger man's state of mind, "the traitorous Jedi defied orders to stand down. They refused arrest. We show no mercy to those that would harm the sanctity of the Republic so the army was ordered to fire."

"The Jedi Temple?" Anakin asked softly with an uncertain waver in his voice as he watched the destruction being played out before him.

"Their time is passed. Come, let us watch as a new order is ushered in."

Anakin watched silently as the last of the spires fell and the cannon fire focused on the primary structure.

"They will no longer be peddling their influence among the senate. They will not offer false promises. The proper authorities of the Republic will keep dissenters in line. The Jedi will no longer interfere, no longer obstruct justice." Laying cruel eyes upon the young man, he spoke with absolute authority, "You will command a great army to keep the peace and protect the interests of the right, General Skywalker."

The Book of Fleeing

"Bail!" Padmé called out at the sight of the disheveled Senator Organa being led down the narrow flight of stairs. The lights flickered and the staircase rattled as the rumbling around the Senate Complex grew more powerful.

A thunderous quake nearly shook the senators and Jedi protectors from their feet, forcing all to grip the rails as aftershocks reverberated through the structure.

"What was that?" the tall senator asked as the vibrations eased up.

"The temple is collapsing," Obi-Wan half groaned as he pushed the two politicians on.

The dark haired senator grabbed Padmé's arm comfortingly as they fled down the spiralling maintenance staircase flanked by the two Jedi with the glowing lightsabers lighting them through the brief moments of darkness.

"Where are we going?" Padmé asked as a teary eyed Bali pulled her and the other senator across the landing and into an empty hallway.

"Out of the building," Obi-Wan said softly suffering in the same manner as his apprentice. "There is an old service port than will take us into the lower levels.

"What?" Organa asked, stopping. "No one knows what is down there. It's crazy."

Obi-Wan studied the defiant man briefly then spoke calmly, "No crazier than getting shot out of the sky trying to escape or getting arrested staying on ground level."

Quickly acceding Obi-Wan's point, Bail allowed the master and apprentice to guide them into the dark underbelly of the city planet.

The Book of the Besieged

Thick, choking dust saturated the wide corridor that Mace Windu sprinted through; careful to avoid the fallen sections of fallen ceiling that littered his path. The only relief from what was happening around him came when he tightened his shields, nearly blinding himself to the Force.

It was the only way he could function.

His eyes the only sense he could trust.

Through the haze, he saw figures moving. "No!" he barked. The authority in his voice the only indicator of who he was. "Head deeper! The outer walls are collapsing."

The ancient structure shuddered violently as the last of the spires toppled, crashing through the upper levels and falling. The Jedi master paused reaching out to the wall and waiting for the jolt that would knock him from his feet.

The instant the initial quake subsided, he raced on toward the atrium that lay ahead. A mournful howl rose up from the shuddering temple as more walls collapsed under the continued attack.

With what little senses he allowed himself, Mace knew the Jedi were not the only ones dying. As the great building collapsed, it was tearing apart the many levels of the surrounding city causing massive casualties as the planet's false surface caved in around the temple.

The Force swirled in agitation at the upheaval.

"Go! Go!" His master roared over the groans of the dying temple to those who raced into corridors and staircases that would take them deeper. Their only hope was to go deep and find escape.

A senior padawan raced through the debris to the master. Her green skin was a chalky white from the dust and in her arms, her cloak was bundled around a tiny, wriggling shape. Pitiful cries escaped the young rescue from the now destroyed crèche. "Master!" the padawan half wept, tears streaking down her face. "They are firing on everyone who leaves the Temple. They are killing—"

Pausing in the midst of the devastation. Mace grasped the young woman's shoulders. "Take the child, yourself and lead as many as you can down to the Bendu Temple. Go."

Fearful eyes met his and the padawan focused on the infant in her arms. "Yes, Master."

"Go," he said a little more forcefully, waiting until she obeyed and vanished into the dust.

The padawan's voice rang out above the constant rumble and explosion. "Follow me!"

Reaching for his comm, he called to any other Jedi who could hear. "We are under attack! They are firing upon anyone who leaves the Temple. Retreat to the lower levels."