The Book of Heartache

"Take them!" Bant yelled over the rumble as she handed Mian off to a group of senior padawan's that quickly gathered up the severely stunned younglings. She had seen that they were led away from the scene of Master Na'tho's death but now she had to reach her own padawan.

As the healer headed toward a darkened corridor, a young male Twi'lek called out, "Where are you going?"

"I have to find Liril." Knowing the younglings were safe, she raced into the dark and dust filled corridor, her link to her padawan the light, which guided her.

The collapsing structure ceased to exist as her entire being focused on the flickering flame of her padawan.

Hang on.

Liril was in one of the training rooms. Her entire being was drawn to the singular goal of finding the girl.

Bant froze as she entered the corridor leading to the rooms. The floor was rough and uneven from layers of debris and small bits of stone rained down on the healer as she pushed her way into the dust heavy hall. Deep in the corridor, she realized it was not debris that made the floor rough, but that it was shattered, held in place by the rest of the structure. Using the Force, she created a small shield over her head to keep the falling stones from striking her down.

"Liril!" Her voice was raw and choked from the dust-laden air. "Liril!"

Sensing the familiar presence of her padawan, Bant rushed over the broken stone into one of the smaller practice rooms. One of the walls and part of the upper level had collapsed into the simple room. A great statue of one of the ancient Jedi lay toppled on the floor where it had fallen through.
Panic nearly overpowered her as she cast out for the fading light of her padawan. "Liril! I'm here!" Fear tightened her chest, praying her padawan was not beneath the statue.

"Here," a boy's voice called out.

Approaching the shattered arm of the ancient carved figure, Bant shifted until she caught sight of a bit of movement. "I'm coming." On her hands and knees she eased herself over the debris and into a small shelter created by the fallen figure.

The area was nearly free of debris save the dust. In the thin light, the healer found a young Nikto padawan holding Liril close. The boy's tunics were weighted down with dust and tears streaked his similarly colored face.

Liril's tunic was black with blood, her legs crushed under the base of the great statue and she was unnaturally twisted about. "The ceiling caved in," the boy sobbed as he hugged the Vesian closer. "She tried to shield us but there was just too much."

The Book of Destinies Entwined

Padmé was sobbing uncontrollably. Still sheltering the young woman, Bali tried to get her to her feet. He needed to get her away from any more potential explosions but Padmé refused to move.

"Please, Senator, we must go. Your safety—"

"Anakin!" Padmé cried out in grief. "I can't—"

"Yes, you can," the padawan pressed. "You must for the people of the Republic, for the people of Naboo, but more important than that for yourself and for your unborn children." Pulling Padmé to her feet, he shifted so her deep brown eyes faced his. "Only you can protect Anakin's children. He's not dead as long as you have them."

The senator reached out sadly and gripped his singed cloak. Slowly she nodded.

Wrapping a billowing sleeve across her shoulders, Bali led her back to where Bail Organa and Dex had taken shelter. The crackle from the burning remains of the diner almost deafening behind them.

Dexter Jettster stood there silently with a dumbstruck look painted on his rust colored face. The cigar dangled precariously from his open mouth before tumbling over his stained gut and falling to the ground. "The one time I try to go straight and look what happens." Scratching his butt with one of his four hands while another scratched his head, he added, "Never lost a ship in all my years, blow up a diner in no time."

"Sorry, Dex," Bali said softly, the guilt lining his weary features.

One of the thick red arms reached out and patted the young man on the shoulder. "Humph, like I always say, Jedi are easy to find, just follow the explosions." Using his oversized hand, Dex nudged Bali pointing him toward the flames.

The padawan's heart sank as a silhouette stepped from the smoke and fire. "No," Bali whispered, fear lacing through him as he tried to pull Padmé closer. "We must go. Now."

Yet, for all of the padawan's power and insistence, there was nothing he could do, before he could react, Anakin was right there as if time and space had condensed. "My wife," the smoke blackened figure said as he grasped Padmé's arm.

The senator cried out as she was ripped from Bali's grip. Her wild brown eyes focused on her husband. Fear reflected in her very being as she started to pull away. "You killed them."

"They deserved to die," Anakin growled.

The dark Force swirled violently around the young man, whispering of danger. Faced with the dark sider, Bali gripped Padmé's arm and drew her back. "You are a Sith!" the padawan spat sheltering the young woman as the two men activated their weapons.

Anakin tightened his grip on his weapon, the red glow casting evil shadows across his singed form. He moved to strike but Padmé's small hand fell to his wrist. "No," the Naboo whispered. With her other hand, she reached up and brushed her fingers over her husband's sooty face. "You are among friends."

The young man's brows tightened in frustration, then the anger returned, as did the swell of darkness from within. "You have been corrupted with Jedi lies."

"You think so little of me? Think me so weak that I cannot make decisions?"

Frozen in his striking position, Anakin turned slightly to better gaze upon his wife. "That Jedi—"

Bali cut him off. "Did not send your men to kill you by order of the Emperor Palpatine."

"My men are traitors and weak-minded fools."

"No, you are the traitor," Bali countered. The harsh look aimed at him nearly made the padawan shrink away but he held firm, his weapon defensively at ready. "Your master ordered your death." The anger rose in his voice. "He wanted you to do his killing and when you were no longer useful he ordered you dead."

When Anakin shifted, Padmé mirrored him keeping herself dangerously close to her husband's lightsaber.

Bali refused to back down. "Your master—"

"He's not my master!" Anakin screamed.

Padmé sighed loudly drawing everyone's attention. She said numbly, "Why do you carry the weapon of those who have attacked me then?"

"It's just a lightsaber, this Jedi—"

"You are no Jedi," Bali shot back.

Anger flared in Anakin's eyes and the Force around him. "That Jedi—"

"Is protecting me," Padmé calmly replied.

Bali shifted again to better protect Padmé. "On my honor and with my life."

Anakin's gaze slowly fell to the silver cylinder in his grip and he lowered his weapon slightly. "You think I would hurt you?"

And the darkness receded.

Seeing the moment open to him, Bali took it. "You are an agent of Palpatine," the young Jedi said, activating his weapon and taking a defensive position as he pushed Padmé back. "He has destroyed the Jedi Temple, laid siege to the senate and murdered far too many to count this day alone." When Anakin showed no response to his words, the apprentice continued, "You led those soldiers here to kill us all. Can you not see that? While we are here waiting for more soldiers to arrive, my master is doing something. He is trying to stop the man that has sent assassins after your wife!"

"Bali," Padmé said softly pulling at his arm.

"Palpatine is scared of Anakin." Bali met Padmé's worried gaze. Exhaling slowly, the apprentice spoke in an even tone, "That is why your men turned against you."

"No, my men were tricked."

"They were following Palpatine's orders!" Bali shook his head, his thoughts reaching back to the whispers of a dying Jedi master. "He knows you will betray him, your children will cause you to betray him. You are too dangerous to keep alive." Looking to Padmé and taking a leap in logic. "He sent you to rescue your wife by killing her Jedi protection. He sent your men to kill you and her."

The young senator's hand fell to her abdomen. "Politics had nothing to do with it," Padmé said, "he wanted me dead because of my pregnancy?"

"Nothing that happened in the senate would change the outcome." Bali paused wishing the pieces of the puzzle had come together sooner. "He was all ready in control."

Urgency moved through the Force and there was no time left the waste. "Nochian Spex told me everything, but then I forgot when the Sith—Palpatine—took the information." He met Anakin's uncertain gaze. "You left me to him. A thirteen-year-old boy to face a Sith lord all alone. You let him kill me while you ran away."

The expression in Anakin's blue eyes shifted so quickly that no particular emotion showed through.

"The children have to live and I cannot protect them here," Bali flatly finished. Eyeing Padmé. "We must go."

"What else did Spex say?" Anakin demanded.

Closing his eyes, Bali reached through the disturbed Force, across the ocean of pain writhing through it. His answer would condemn his master or save the galaxy.

"Tell me!" Anakin barked.

Knowing what had to be done, the apprentice spoke, "He said that Master would do something to help you defeat the Sith lord." Bali struggled. Bits and pieces, merely vague images came to him. He had always ignored them before because nothing fit together, but now he could not. "Master killed the apprentice. The one who tried to kill Padmé."

"He will do what?"

"I don't know."

"Stop lying!"

The image of the ancient Bendu Monk, Anun Mon'Ari, staring into the sunlight came back to the apprentice as the voice of a long dead Jedi Master from a muddy world whispered through the Force.

Forgotten where we have come from. Be reminded we will when the ancients see the light again.

Bali shook his head as the forgotten whisperings did little to ease his confusion. "Anun Mon'Ari will see the light."

"Who is that?" Padmé asked.

"A Jedi trick." The power of the dark side rebelled once more in the young man, becoming more powerful with every passing moment. "You're lying!" He lashed out and if it were not for Bali, he would have struck his wife who bravely insisted on putting herself in the way. In retaliation for the padawan's heroics, Anakin brought the Force to bear and sent the youth crashing into the ground.

"Am I?" Bali returned as he bound back to his feet and used his saber to drive Anakin back a step. Green and red fiercely clashed. His own anger and frustration—pain—getting the best of him. "My master will kill the dark lord and then where will you be? Which side do you chose because there is no going back if you are wrong."

Cruel lines sharpened Anakin's features, but then his gaze found Padmé's hurt look as she turned away.

Exhaling sharply, Anakin answered, "I have already chosen."

The Book of Arriving

The last few steps were the most difficult as Obi-Wan's strength wavered dangerously. He gripped the railing, using it to support him once reaching the landing.

Pausing to focus, the Jedi knew he had two options, kill Palpatine or die trying and the latter was not acceptable. Taking only a brief respite, he knelt where he stood, his eyes closed allowing only the light and pure energies of the Force to enter his being. He took the proffered strength gratefully for he knew he would need it.

Calming his mind, the Jedi focused on the task ahead. Then smoothly rising to his feet, he approached the sealed door. Behind it, the dark energy brewed as if waiting to escape the moment the Force seal protecting it was broken.

Obi-Wan was unsure that even if he were in better health he could have broken the seal. It was very powerful. He wondered if Yoda was great enough to break through.

A plaintive, searching whistle echoed from the spiral staircase as Warbler's battered green form glided up the center of the shaft.

The Jedi offered a little smile at the familiar sound. No Sith lord stood a chance against a tenacious PodBot. "I do not suppose you would help me again?" Obi-Wan softly asked.

Warbler chirped.

"Can you fry this door?"

An indignant speel of whistles sounded from the tiny droid.

Obi-Wan frowned, realizing he had offended it but having no idea what Warbler was saying surmised it probably was not very nice. Hopefully a small power surge would disrupt the balance in the Force seal just enough so he could break it. "Can you overload the circuitry?"

He was quickly answered with an affirmative beep and the little droid quickly went to work at the panel next to the door. Warily the Jedi took a few steps back from the door not wishing to be taken out by a potential explosion.

The brief crackle of power dampeners over loading just before the Force seal was disrupted enough for Obi-Wan to act. Concentrating, the Jedi stepped close and placed his palms flat against the door. Striking at the darkness that protected the door, the Force's light broke through and the dark energies easily dissipated.

Passing into the secret back entrance of the chancellor's offices, Obi-Wan paused to study the charred body of Mas Amedda sprawled where he had been attacked. The Vice Chancellor looked as if he had been fleeing for safety. He did not make it.

Stepping around the still smoldering remains, the Jedi took his lightsaber in hand and proceeded carefully. Once more he stopped and reinforced his shields. Drawing the Force protectively around him, he approached the open door to the security corridor. Reaching out, Obi-Wan sensed no immediate danger outside the pervasive darkness that flowed throughout the senate.

The familiar snap-hiss and hum of his lightsaber filled the eerie silence. Blue light splashed across the Jedi as he walked through the security corridor without hindrance.

There were no guards. No soldiers. The chancellor's office was empty save the lone figure of Palpatine standing near the expansive windows. Sickening yellow light filtered through the smoke billowing from the ruins of the distant Jedi Temple and filled the room.

Knowing what had to be done the Jedi strode toward destiny.

The black robed figure of Palpatine stood in front of the massive view studying the destruction he had ordered. Turning the older man smiled at the Jedi and then walked slowly across his office. His dark robes pulled as he gathered them and sat down in the plush chair behind his elegant desk. Leaning forward, he pressed his finely covered elbows against the smooth black yarel wood imported from Naboo. Pressing his fingers together, he studied them briefly before calmly looking up at his visitor. The blue glow of Obi-Wan's lightsaber reflected in Palpatine's dark eyes. "I have been expecting you, Master Kenobi."

The Book of the Protector

The archway was straining under the weight of the collapsed upper levels even as Jedi raced through it into the narrowing passageways of the older sections of the temple.

Mace Windu raced with the crowd but stopped as a large column broke free and tumbled toward the archway. His face a perfect mask of concentration, the senior councillor harnessed the power of the Force and guided the massive piece of marble away from the arch allowing it to fall safely to the side.

The strain from this among many other instances had thoroughly exhausted the Jedi Master but he maintained his focus on sparing as many lives as possible. While all his energy and strength was devoted to maintaining the sanctity of the archway as the last of the Jedi raced to safety he was unable to stop the fall of another column that brought the ceiling down on him.

The Book of Slow Burning Rage

"Your Order is dead. As we speak, the Jedi's time is over. Soon all that shall remain is you."

"Never."

"Defiant to the end," Palpatine said, leaning back in his plush chair showing no fear of the assassin before him. "I should expect that though. My captains are reporting the Jedi are fleeing deeper into their precious temple. It will not save them," he wickedly teased. "My soldiers will not stop until all that is left is a deep crater. No one will be allowed to survive. Your comrades in the galaxy are being hunted down and slaughtered as we speak." He cackled. "What can one little Jedi do?"

"What I have to." Obi-Wan closed the space between he and the dark lord.

"Oh, no, that is close enough." Languidly raising his arm, Palpatine unleashed a burst of purple lightning from his fingertips.

Obi-Wan countered with his saber, catching the dark energy in the pale blue blade. "Not yet."

Another round of wicked laughter filled the air. "Oh, you impress me, Master Kenobi. Yes, indeed," the former chancellor now newly crowned emperor said with glee. "I saw it when you killed Darth Maul. All my work gone to waste thanks to a little Jedi padawan." The playful, mocking tone turned dark as Palpatine shifted to better face the Jedi. "But your continual interference in my plans has grown tiresome. I lust to see you cut into tiny pieces."

"You will have to do it yourself, your apprentice is dead."

Palpatine offered a withering smile and a dismissive wave of his aged hand. "Ah, yes, troublesome creature she was. Good riddance." The dark lord cocked his head slightly to the side as if in curiosity. "I can feel the rage burning deep inside you. No amount of meditation and reciting of code will quell the fire."

"You know nothing," Obi-Wan growled, shifting a few steps to the side so he could better gauge the best plan of attack.

"Oh, don't I?" the Sith lightly answered. Leaning back into the plush seat, Palpatine placed his elbows on the chair arms leaving himself open and appearing quite defenseless. "You think I cannot feel the white hot spike cutting through you? Without mercy you killed the boy's mother."

Obi-Wan betrayed no emotion at the dark lord's statement.

"Twisted and devious as Vengier may have been, she was not capable of keeping secrets from me."

"Her name was Halla Keizian."

Palpatine looked thoughtful for a moment then offered up a cold smile to the younger man. "Sweet that you remember her name. How did it feel to put her out of her miserable existence? To drive the point of your saber blade through her and as she reached for her child?" A slight pause. "Your child." When Obi-Wan did not answer, the dark lord continued. "She betrayed the Order. She betrayed you."

"You drove her mad."

"I made her!" Palpatine barked, slamming his fist to the desktop causing it to rattle violently as the dark tides grew more powerful.

For all that he believed in and all that Palpatine had tried to destroy including Halla, the Republic, the Jedi Temple and most importantly Bali he had to respond with cool, swift action to destroy the enemy of all that was good and light.

"You destroyed her!" The Jedi bound forward, his saber blazing, only to be tossed back by another burst of Sith lightning. He landed steadily, bringing his weapon about to defend against another burst. Teeth gritted together, struggling against the pain that was raging through him as his clothing smoldered from the counterattack.

Pleased laughter filled the room as Palpatine once more relaxed into the cushioned seat. "You may fool the Jedi who are so afraid of emotion that they choose to ignore the fire in you but I am not so easily dismissed." Relaxing, Palpatine turned his attention to the window and all that was going on outside. "You have struggled with your anger all your life and all your meditations cannot dampen it."

Giving the Jedi a sidelong glance, he asked, "Did you find the approval you so desperately seek in your young, naïve padawan?" Snickering as only silence answered him. "Whereas your dear master simply could not appreciate what he had? Jinn was so wrapped up with that silly prophesy of the chosen one. He forgot that the source of true power is strength of will." Rising to his feet, Palpatine met Obi-Wan eye to eye. "I will rule the galaxy and all will bow before me." Tightening his fist, as the dark powers gathered, he continued, "Skywalker and your apprentice are dead. You are alone and Spex's prophecy has fallen."

"Spex?" But the word was hollow with Palpatine's pronouncement of Bali's death.

"Nonsense that the chosen one will betray and kill me. Skywalker cannot kill me if he is dead."

Obi-Wan was not listening. Instinctively he relaxed his shields just enough to reach through the Force seeking the bright signature that was his padawan. There was so much turmoil in the ancient energy source that the search was difficult.

So focused on finding Bali, he did not notice the darkness moving until it was too late. Obi-Wan howled as his shields were ripped apart leaving him exposed to the agony and terror of the dying and fearful. The powerful emotions quickly overwhelmed the Jedi as he cried out again desperately trying to reinstate his shielding but the dark lord would not allow it.

Manipulating the Force with ease, Sidious slammed the Jedi to the floor. "You will bow before your new master or you will die!"

The Book of Duty

"No, I will not let you," Bali said sternly as he refused to move even as the fires of Dexter's Diner continued to burn. It really was not all that difficult because his back ached terribly from the lightsaber slash Anakin had inflicted upon him. "It is not wise," he added as he was forced into chasing after Padmé Amidala.

She ignored him and approached one of the dead Praetors. Her deep brown eyes focused sadly on the dark armored figure with terror still painted on his face. "Anakin slaughtered them," she whispered as Bali joined her.

"They would have killed us all."

"But why do I feel like he would have done it even if they were not a threat?"

"The dark side has a powerful influence over him."

"So does love." The young senator discarded her singed cloak and knelt before the dead soldier. Picking up the blaster that lay still in his grip, she then carefully covered him.

"We must get to Dexter's ship and leave while we still can," the Jedi pressed.

Padmé calmly turned and aimed the blaster at the apprentice. "Move or I will shoot you."

"I like that in a girl," Dexter grunted to the Alderaani senator whom he had softly been speaking too.

With reflexes quicker than the human eye, emerald green flashed and vanished in less time than it took the front of Padmé's blaster to strike the ground.

"Senator Organa," Bali loudly pleaded, "talk some sense into her."

The hesitation was too long and Bali knew the moment Bail Organa spoke he was not going to like it.

The man from Alderaan said, "If we are the last free or living senators of the Republic then we must do what we can to stop this slaughter."

"By getting yourselves killed?" Bali demanded as he grabbed Padmé's arm and led her over to Dexter and Senator Organa. "You will be better protected among your own systems."

Padmé and Bail Organa exchanged understanding looks before focusing on Bali once more. The tall senator spoke diplomatically, "Our positions will lose their power with time and distance. The greatest impact we have is if our presence is here. We must go back to the senate and plead with Palpatine or stand with the rest of the senators as traitors."

"You are both crazy," the wounded padawan replied. "You are consigning yourselves to death," Bali finished.

The Naboo rested a hand on his arm. "If your master's efforts fail, then nothing we do matters. Leave or stay, we will all be dead and none of it will matter." The brave face of the senator wavered revealing the frightened girl she was underneath. "Besides, I am not ready to give up on my husband. I must try to reason with him and I cannot do that on Naboo."

"This is not protecting you," Bali said evenly.

"Sure it is, you can still protect me, you just have to go where I go." Then she gave him a warm grin.

"Master is going to kill us."

"Not if Palpatine's army does first."

The Book of Formidable Barriers

Anakin raced through the empty corridor as it gently curved around the senate chamber. At the scene of the fallen and cut down senate guards, the young man activated his ancient Sith lightsaber.

Twisting about, he surveyed the damage to the wall and the occasional flash from the damaged conduit. Stepping over the red clad bodies, he entered the spiral staircase but was immediately stopped by an irritated string of beeps and whistles.

Warbler zipped about blocking the entrance to the staircase. The tiny droid beeped and chirped threateningly as a small panel opened and a small repair arm appeared.

Unbothered, Anakin moved toward the little green sentry but just as he was about to step up on the first stair step, a small electrical charge was fired from the droid.

"Hey!" he growled and swiped at the green shape.

Warbler zapped him again.

The reaction was less than kind. Striking the tiny droid with Force enhanced strength; Warbler was sent careening into the wall. A startled chirp a split second before the impact was all the little figure could offer.

Pausing, on the first step, Anakin twisted to look back at his handiwork lying on the floor. The side of Warbler's oblong shaped form was cruelly smashed in and the little droid showed no signs of life. And yet, the former Jedi apprentice could not pull his gaze from it.

Why would it be so determined to keep him off the stairs? It could not have won. There was never a chance.

But it still fought. Why?

Love, caring? It was a droid, nothing more.

His thoughts rebelled as the memory of a spunky astromech that once accompanied a girl queen.

The Book of the Encroaching Darkness

"I cannot. I will not."

The words were the most difficult the Jedi had ever spoken. The pain raged through his brain from his destroyed shields and the dying of the temple as well as so many others ravaged his mental well-being. He was blinded by the constant flow of tears and was helpless to stop them.

The dark energies in the Force encircled him. "No," he growled between clenched teeth as he fought the pressure around him. He fought against being forced to bow before the dark lord. The muscles in his arms quivered, as they were about to give. "I would rather die."

Sighing, the dark lord loosened the attack on the Jedi. Moving from behind his desk, but still sure to keep the polished wood structure carefully between he and the Jedi, he studied the groaning figure. "Such a waste. I should have killed the boy when I had the chance and been done with it. At least then, it would have been worth my suffering of your existence. I would have gotten a useful apprentice, instead of a sick Jedi."

Obi-Wan was not listening to the dark lord's words as he struggled to get control of his mind and draw at least some rudimentary shields to protect him against the emotional onslaught. In the deepest recesses of his mind and heart, he was still reaching for his apprentice but through the turmoil could not zero in on that warm signature.

Were the dark lord's words true, Bali was dead and he had nothing left to loose except his life. Without the apprentice, it meant little. If the information were a lie, then he would still be protecting Bali.

Watery blue eyes opened slowly, seeing only the deep red blur of the carpet. Glancing wildly about, he spied a silver shape among the red.

"Think of the power that could have been at your command, or the worlds that would have trembled under your might. You squandered it all for a pathetic padawan." Palpatine smirked. "If he had been bettered trained, he would not have disobeyed and have survived. Maybe I should have turned him instead."

His focus eluded him and Obi-Wan could not draw the weapon into his grasp.

"Broken his disobedient spirit—"

"Never," Obi-Wan growled as he allowed himself to tumble forward onto the thickly woven carpet. The lightsaber falling easily into his grasp as he pulled the Force to him, but even as it failed, the Jedi bound to his feet of his own strength of will. Throwing himself at the desk, he knocked the various objects of the chancellor to the side as he slid across the polished surface. The pale blue blade springing into existence even as the Sith tried to defend against the Jedi's last, best effort.

Palpatine's eyes widened in shock the instant the glowing blade pierced the dark robes. With the last of his strength, Obi-Wan thrust his arm forward driving the blade clear through the dark lord's chest.

The Sith's eyes then narrowed in dark rage. The Force swirled as the darkness welled up and exploded from Palpatine slamming into the Jedi, engulfing him in the suffocating energies. An explosion ripped through the Force throwing Obi-Wan across the room, smashing him into the wall with a sickening thud.

Palpatine sank to one knee, heaving raggedly and clinging to his desk for support. "You will pay!" Raising a pale hand to strike the Jedi dead, he was stopped the instant Anakin Skywalker burst into the room with his red lightsaber ablaze.

The Book of the Light

The upper levels of the temple were gone but the cannon fire continued as the ships of the Grand Army of the Republic circled as if predators. Clouds of pale dust and dark billowing columns of smoke rose slowly from the doomed structure.

As the cannon fire continued, one of the newer walls, merely two thousand years old, crumbled and collapsed taking with it much of the additional housing that had been built to accommodate the swelling ranks of the Jedi order. An inner section of the temple was revealed that had not seen light since the Republic was young.

In the smoke and dust filled sky, a little light still managed to filter through. Under the fallen section appeared the more stable wall of a much earlier expansion of the ancient temple. Golden and crimson marble masonry glinted in the diminished luminescence.

Staring into the light was a statue of the gentle, age weathered face of Anun Mon'Ari. Stone eyes faced the temple destroyers with Jedi serenity. Carved into the intricate stone cloak of the Jedi guardian was the ancient script of the Bendu monks telling the story of Anun's communion with the Force.

The Book of Keeping Promises

Groaning and clawing at the deep red carpet, Obi-Wan struggled to get up but his strength failed him and his aching muscles could not hold his weight causing him to sink back to the rough carpet weave. Fighting again, he managed to pull an arm beneath his body and prop himself up just enough to raise his weary blue eyes to the interloper. The exhaustion was almost enough to numb him to the pain that was equal in both body and mind.

From a deep gash above his left eyebrow, a thin trickle of blood traced its way down his cheek into his beard. His nostrils flared with the pain filled breaths as he still struggling against the agony racing through his system. Slowly allowing his head to finally rest on his arm with the last of his strength bled away, Obi-Wan consciously touched the Force offering a silent prayer that Bali would remain safe and cradled in the ever-flowing energies of the Force.

"Jedi assassin!" Palpatine cried out while clutching his chest wound with one hand and pointing wildly to Obi-Wan with the other. "Assassin! Kill him, General Skywalker! Kill the traitor to the Republic!" The dark energies of the Force swirled wildly around the room as Palpatine struggled against his injury.

Anakin's startled gaze jumped from Obi-Wan to Palpatine. "Chancellor?" he asked starting for the older man.

Pointing at the downed Jedi, Palpatine howled, "Kill him! Kill the traitor!"

After a brief pause, whatever emotions stirred behind the younger man's eyes stilled as he obediently nodded. "Yes, your Excellency. I will deal with the assassin." Holding his weapon at ready, he slowly approached the fallen Jedi. His bright blue eyes appeared purple as the red glow of the lightsaber splashing over his face.

"The last, desperate act of a dying Order," Palpatine growled. He struggled to support himself with his desk, pain marring his withered features. "Let him join his rebellious comrades in death! All threats to my position will be destroyed," the dark lord spat. "Kill him, General."

The red blade swept about as Anakin moved forward to deliver sentence.

Obi-Wan remained motionless, his pale gaze fixed to the deep red carpet. He did not know where his padawan was. He did not know if the boy was alive or dead but hoped that the Force was with him and protecting the youth where he could not. A deep aching clung to his heart for his failure in completing Bali's training.

"I condemn you as a traitor to the Republic," Anakin briskly announced. He had uttered these words many times before putting down so-called traitors and did not have to think about them. "Under the Martial Law Act, empowered by the Supreme Chancellor Palpatine of the Galactic Republic, I sentence you to death for crimes of heresy and treason against the state." Bringing his weapon back over his head to deliver the killing blow, he paused before bringing the red blade gracefully toward the Jedi.

The hum of the saber tip brushed close to Obi-Wan's ear but he did not react, meeting the moment with Jedi calm. Surprise bled through his tired being as the red blade swept harmlessly passed.

Anakin twisted about allowing the blade to arch around and at the last moment released the weapon. Red flashed slicing deep across Palpatine's chest. All the dark energies that the Sith wielded exploded from the man in a final, powerful burst of retribution engulfing the room with darkness.

Anakin who was violently thrown across the room suffered the brunt of the explosion. He crashed into the floor with a dull thud just as the two halves of Palpatine's body crumpled to the floor.

In the blink of an eye, the dark power had dissipated. Or maybe it took longer Obi-Wan did not know. He could have lain there for a week and it would have felt like a heartbeat.

"Master Obi-Wan," a soft voice damaged the unnatural silence that had filled the room.

"Yes," the Jedi answered.

"Your padawan," there was a long silence. "I betrayed Padmé." Another moment passed. "Your padawan said he would protect her…and the children with his life."

Obi-Wan was grateful for the words confirming Bali's continued existence.

"Make him keep that promise," Anakin's fading voice demanded.

"It would be against his nature not to," Obi-Wan said softly, not possessing the strength to move to see the other man. Yet, a small smile found the Jedi and he could not help it. His padawan was alive and safe.

Footsteps thundered into the room. "Blessed creators!" Bail Organa's voice boomed over the strange silence.

His padawan was in a lot of trouble.

"The army! They have got to be stopped!" Bali cried out as he too stumbled onto the scene. Seeing both his master and Anakin on the floor, he reached out and grabbed Padmé before she could get too far into the room. "No, you must not—"

"Anakin!" Padmé called out. "No!"

The tall senator raced to Palpatine's desk pausing briefly at the sight of the dead man laying in pieces on the floor. Fighting the obvious revulsion and focusing on the communications unit, he commandeered it.

Padmé roughly shoved her way through Bali's protective barrier and raced to her husband's side. "Ani? Ani? No, Anakin, please, don't go." She sobbed, pressing the side of her face to Anakin's still chest, but could do little else as the dying burst from the dark lord had killed him. "No. No. Please. Ani come back. No," she mournfully wailed.

Bali looked from the weeping senator to the image of his motionless master on the floor. His heart ached at the sight and forgot about everything happening around him as he slowly approached.

"Palpatine is dead," the Alderaani said firmly into the comm. "I am Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, senior member of the Republic Loyalist Committee. Army of the Republic, you will stand down. Cease fire immediately."

Slowly footsteps approached Obi-Wan's still form. Bali knelt at his master's side and a light, trembling hand brushed the ginger strands from Obi-Wan's closed eyes. The older Jedi's forehead was cool and damp to the touch. "It is over master, Senator Organa is calling down the army." A flutter of his master's eyelids reassured the youth of the older man's life. Reaching out gently, he pulled the ginger haired man close, gently cradling his master's head. "They are fighting in the galaxy. They are fighting the army."

Obi-Wan's brows knitted together in a mask of pain, but he never opened his eyes. Reaching out, the padawan sensed his master's psychic pain. It reminded him when the dark lord had stolen the information from his mind that Spex had given him. With the ease of a hand pressed to his master's forehead, the apprentice used touch to extend his own mental shielding until he could protect his master's mind from the agony in the Force. "It will be all right," the padawan whispered. "Hang on, help will be here soon. Hang on, Master." He did what he could for the injured Jedi, offering him strength through the Force and it seemed to help a little.

Padmé rocked her husband, weeping softly. Bali drew his attention from Obi-Wan briefly just to watch her for a time. Tears glistened on her cheeks as she leaned forward and whispered so softly only Anakin could hear but Bali willingly listened in, "I promise to tell the children about you. What a great loving, caring man you were. I will tell them what you gave up for them. They may never truly know you, but they will always know who you were."

"Cease fire immediately. In the name of the Senate of the Republic, you will stand down and await orders. Palpatine is dead. Allied navies are en route. You will stand down or be destroyed."

"Standing down, Senator," came a curt voice over the comm unit. "Awaiting orders, sir."

A great sigh escaped Bail Organa as he sank to the chancellor's plush desk chair. "Acknowledged." After a moment, he reached forward to call for medical assistance.

"Hang on, Master," Bali repeated.

"Of course," Obi-Wan said slowly as his pale blue eyes opened on the youth leaning over him. "I am not going anywhere," he slowly slurred. "Have a disobedient padawan to train." When Bali grimaced, he reached up, struggling to grasp Bali's arm but was too weak to maintain the hold. "I have a padawan to finish training."