Chapter7

Bail saw a cloud of black smoke from the Temple. Worried, he headed towards it. He went into the main entrance to see Anakin Skywalker, surrounded by fallen troopers, gutting the last of them. All around there were black carbon scoring, from all directions, and dead troopers as far as he could see down every corridor. Anakin, in utter exhaustion fell to his knees. His light sabre turning off. Bail ran over to him, "You alright? What happened?" Bail asked, getting to his knees to be at eye level with the shattered Jedi.

"I just need a minute, we need to get to the Senate, Palpatine is a Sith, he needs to be stopped, will you help?" Anakin said breathlessly as he stumbled to his feet. Bail laid a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"Yes. I'll help you."

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Obi Wan dived up out of the water and started to climb the rock face. The climbed into a cave just as two seeker droids emerged from the water, their search lights glowing. They entered the grotto Obi Wan was hiding in, and when searching round with their lights, they lit up a huge Nos monster. It lunged out in anger and swallowed one of the droids. It lunged out of the cave past Obi Wan. Obi Wan continued to the back of the cave, jumped over a nest of baby Nos and continued down the tunnel system.

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The clones on Kashyyyk came across a wrecked boat and a dead Wookie. It was Tarful. Noticing some movement on the boat, the clone troopers fired warning shots at the boat. "Everyone out of there!" a sergeant ordered. A little creature, about two foot high popped it's head over the railing. It was covered in mud and it's long hair frizzed in all directions.

"Wookiee good . . . eat Wookiee." the creature laughed manically.

"Did you find something?" the trooper asked.

"It's nothing, nothing." the creature laughed again.

"It's nothing, nothing. All these Wookiees are dead. Move to the east." the trooper said to another.

"Yes, sir." Suddenly Chewie climbed up behind the trooper and through him into the water. Chewie then barked.

"Right you are, Chewbacca. Faster that will be." the creature said in a more dignified voice. Chewie leant over the railings and picked up the little boy hiding there. So far he had been very quiet. Tarful then jumped up in the boat and the creature took his hair off to reveal Yoda.

"Stink, this mud does. A moment to bathe, give me." Yoda jumped into the river as Tarful climbed onto the AT-ST with Chewie and the child. Yoda, out of the water, put his robes back on. "Not far, are we, from the emergency ship. Quickly . . ." Yoda whistled and a large flying insect called a Can cell appeared. Yoda jumped onto the back and took off as the Wookies and child followed on the AT-ST. The clones continued to search the swamp.

Yoda and the Wookies and the child reached the top of a hill. Chewie reached up and pulled down a branch to reveal a Wookie escape pod. Yoda opened the door and climbed in. "Good-bye. Chewbacca and Tarfful, miss you I will. Good friends you are. For your help, much gratitude and respect, I have. Look after Han Solo you must." The Wookies barked and Han waved as the pod took off into the sky.

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Bail walked out of a tunnel into a huge underground platform with two of his aides. He was stopped by two royal guards. "Identification . . . "

"Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan." Bail said as he and his aides past over their ID cards. The guards checked them over and then gave them back. Bail entered and boarded his star ship with his crew. The platform rose to the surface of the office building and took off into the morning sky.

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Obi Wan hid from the clone troopers as he listened to their conversation.

"Did you find Kenobi?" a captain asked.

"No one could have survived that fall." the trooper replied as they walked on.

"Start loading your men on the ship."

"Yes, sir." Obi Wan sneaked down to the secret platform and entered the cave where Grevious' ship awaited. He entered the starfighter and took off to the skies. Flying away from the planet, Obi Wan punched in several co-ordinates and codes until a beeping sound was heard. Obi Wan lifted his comlink and spoke into it. "Emergency Code Nine Thirteen ... I have no contact on any frequency. Are there any Jedi out there? . . . anywhere . . ." there was a burst of static and a fuzzy hologram appeared.

". . . Kenobi . . ." Bail said.

"I've locked on. Repeat." Obi Wan said as the hologram came into focus.

"Master Kenobi?" he asked.

"Senator Organa! My Clone Troops turned on me ... I need help."

"We have just rescued Master Yoda. It appears this ambush has happened everywhere. We're sending you our coordinates." Obi Wan quickly received the co ordinates and arrived swiftly at Organa's ship. The door to the main hallway slid open to reveal Yoda and Bail Organa. The three started to walk down the main hallway after greetings.

"Master Kenobi, dark times are these. Good to see you. it is." Yoda said.

"You were attacked by your Clones, also?"

"With the help of the Wookiees, barely escape, I did."

"How many other Jedi managed to survive?" Obi Wan looked concerned, especially for Anakin.

"Anakin, managed to get the Jedi and the Younglings out of the Temple he did. Other Councillors dead, and Anakin, gone to face the Chancellor he has." Yoda said, with a slight sound of sorrow in his voice.

"I saw thousands of troops attack the Jedi Temple. I found Anakin there, he told me to look for you two." Bail said.

"Have we had any contact from the Temple?" Obi Wan said, hoping that there was a chance they could get in touch with other Jedi.

"Received a coded retreat message, we have."

"It tell all Jedi to stay away from the Temple to go into hiding, that they were under attack and to wait for further messages."

"We must go back to help Anakin, he's there alone!" Obi Wan said, suddenly realising what danger Anakin was in.

"It's too dangerous to return." Bail said.

"What do you suggest hmm?" Yoda asked Obi Wan.

"To go to Padme's apartment. After it is over, Anakin will go there and get her off to safety."

"I agree. In a dark place we find ourselves." Yoda said, shaking his head.

"Wait, what has Senator Amidala to do with this?" Bail asked, puzzled.

"Married they are. Expecting a child. Kept secret for her sake it was. Now, in danger anyway." Yoda looked tired and old. Bail had known Amidala was married to a Jedi, but he hadn't thought it was one so high up as Skywalker. It explained many things. But now they were in danger and they had to get to Coruscant.

Bail, Yoda and Obi Wan went into the cockpit to await landing on Coruscant.

"We are receiving a message from the Chancellor's office, sir." a pilot said.

"Send it through."

"Yes, sir." The pilot pushed some buttons and Mas Amedda appeared on screen.

"Senator Organa . . . the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic requests your presence at a special session of Congress."

"Tell the Chancellor I will be there."

"Very well. He will be expecting you." Mas Amedda image disappeared from the screen.

"It could be a trap." Bail said.

"No, I don't think so," Obi Wan interrupted, "The Chancellor will not be able to control the thousands of star systems without keeping the Senate intact."

Once they had landed, the elevator doors opened and they stepped out.

"Welcome back, Senator. May I see your clearance?" a guard asked.

"Certainly." Bail said, handing over his ID.

"Thank you, you may proceed. We will take custody of the Jedi."

"It would be better if we stayed with the Senator." Obi Wan said, waving his hand.

"It would be better if they stayed with you." Bail and his aides went to the Senate. Yoda and Obi Wan went to the Temple to se what could be salvaged before going to Padme's apartment.

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Bail walked through the Main senate chamber and enetered the Senate pod of Naboo and sat next to Padme. Captain Typhoo and two handmaidens were in the pod also.

". . . and the Jedi Rebellion has been foiled," Palpatine was saying.

"I was held up. What's happening?"Bail asked, leaning over to Padme.

"The Chancellor has been elaborating on a plot by the Jedi, to overthrow the Senate," Padme whispered back. She had a frown on her face.

"That's not true!" bail exclaimed.

"He's been presenting evidence all afternoon," Padme said in disgust.

"And the Senate will go along with it, just like they always do." Bail said in abject defeat.

"The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated." Palpatine continued to applause. "Any collaborators will suffer the same fate." Further applause sounded. "These have been trying times, but we have passed the test."

A light sabre sounded in the auditorium. "Darth Sidious!" Anakin shouted as the pod he was standing on floated into the centre of the arena. He was hooded and cloaked as he stood on the railings of the pod. It drifted to the centre, Anakin's blue light sabre humming and glowing. "Lies become you Sidious," Anakin spat out, harmless absorbing the laser bolts being fired at him from guards until Palpatine signalled them to stop.

"I don't know what your talking about Master Skywalker," Palpatine said.

"You reek of the Darkside, Chancellor," Anakin's head lifted to show the glint of death in his eyes. "You have killed thousands of lives to bring you to this point. Ultimate power. You are scarred, not from an attack from the Council, but from using the draining dark side. What was it Chancellor, what did you do? Force lightning? Force choking? Or did you simply defenestrate him? I saw Master Windu's body at the bottom of the Senate building, scarred by Force lightning."

"What makes you think any of the people here will believe you?" Palpatine said.

Anakin cloak shook off, revealing his bloody tunic, "Because I am the Chosen One. Born of the Force to kill you!" Anakin said waving his light sabre towards Palpatine. "Grevious is dead! The war ended! I order you to relinquish your powers of authority and democracy rule!"

Palpatine looked up, revealing his withered face to the Senate. "Never!" he said withdrawing his sabre from his sleeve and showing all in the Senate the bright red Sabre. Shocked and scared, they ran out, leaving the two to fight. Palpatine on the edge of the podium and Anakin flying on the pod. In the corner of his eye, he could see Padme being taken out by Bail. She kept looking back, a worried look on her face.

Run! Anakin sent mentally as he and Palpatine faced off.

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