Day had barely risen over Coruscant, and the thin morning light was just creeping over the horizon when the shuttle came rocketing into the atmosphere, amidst thousands of other ships. The vessel zoomed down towards its assigned landing platform, and docked neatly. The hatches hissed open, and the passengers milled out as usual, heading towards a group of clone troopers. Mace walked briskly forward, straight towards them. He couldn't concentrate, he couldn't hide. It was useless now anyway, he knew the dark side of the force was now very powerful on this planet, he could feel it. It would cancel out his power, and there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't hide. The clones methodically inspected the passengers' papers, checker them for any weapons, proceeded to half a dozen arrests, and cleared the others for entry. When Mace's turn came, the clone trooper nearest to him held up a hand.

"Halt! Please state your name and business"

"My name is Bar Felon, I am here to do business in the speeder bike department."

"Please present your papers."

Mace knew this was it. Either it worked or it didn't. He made a small movement of his hand, concentrating as best he could.

"You don't need to see my papers, everything is in order."

The clone seemed to hesitate for a second.

"Your papers sir."

Crap.

"You don't need to see them, you can clear me now."

"Sir, refusing to cooperate could get you in-"

He never finished his sentence, as a lightsaber swept across his chest in mid-word. The crowd gasped and pushed back, and the clones yelled in surprise and aimed the rifles at him. Mace didn't waste his time but leapt straight into the air, deflecting a few bolts as he did so, and landed twenty feet away, behind the clone lines. Dozens of shots were fired at him within a split second, and Mace, knowing he couldn't parry so many, leapt again to a high ledge of a building behind him, balancing on a narrow rail outside a window. The clones adjusted their aim and blasted away. Mace deflected most of the incoming fire, and dodged the rest, allowing it to melt away the transparisteel window behind him. He jumped inside, in cover of the lasers. Outside, alarms klaxons were blaring, and he could hear the clones yelling orders to each other down below. He knew it wouldn't be long before they got up to where he was. He inspected the corridor he had landed in. It seemed to be some sort of office building, with a wide lane leading all around it in a full circle, and many doors leading off into the central area. For as far as he could see in any direction, the corridor was deserted. A noise outside caught his attention. The familiar whine of an old Republic gunship. Damn. He ran to the nearest door and it hissed open for him, just as powerful laser fire burst through the window and shredded the floor where he had been standing only moments before. He saw he was in an office, with a small desk, several shelves, a deactivated protocol droid sitting in a corner, and a very frightened Gand staring at him with his three wide eyes. The opposing wall was made of glass and seemed to overlook a central tube that descended from the roof to the building's main floor. Mace ran over and looked down, not bothering with the alien. The central tube was about a hundred meters wide, and its sides were made of glass, the windows of hundreds of offices looking in at each other. He swung his lightsaber in one swift motion, shattered the glass, and with a running jump leapt straight out, into the abyss. He fell about twenty meters and landed surprisingly lightly, amid a few highly surprised aliens. He ran for the exit. He burst through the doors and immediately knew where he was. He could recognize some buildings he had seen upon exiting the shuttle, behind him. He was more or less on the opposite side from where he had entered the building. Ahead of him there was a large plaza surrounded by the typical towering Coruscant buildings. Mace dashed straight ahead, across the plaza. Behind him he could hear gunships and clones following. He dodged several laser blasts, and deflected some others. Where was he going? His feet seemed to be guiding him, straight to the Sith Lords. He let the Force lead him. He ran as fast as his legs would allow, and faster still. Ahead a single clone trooper came running out of a building, aimed his rifle and fired. Mace parried the bolt and sent it crashing back into the attacker's throat, who crumpled to the ground. He reached a crevice between two buildings, a street that descended out of sight. Many passageways crisscrossed below him, forming a maze linking habitations, shops, hideouts, and whatnot. Mace leapt down onto the nearest platform, where a dozen clone troopers were doodling, apparently unaware of the commotion above.

"Hey! Sto…"

The clone didn't even have time to finish his phrase before the blade of Mace's sabre cut his head clean off his shoulders. The other clones turned around at the commotion and were bewildered to see their captain lying headless at the feet of what appeared to be a Jedi Knight. Whatever the man was, he did not loose a fraction of a second, but leapt straight at them, his blade working furiously through their ranks and armour. The clones levelled their rifles and opened fire, but the Jedi was already amidst them. In several large sweeps, Mace cleared the platform. Two more clones came running out of a door at the end of the walkway and opened fire. Mace pared the shots with his blade and sent them back at the attackers. One clone ducked, while the other was struck in the chest and tumbled off the walkway, falling down into the bottomless abyss of Coruscant's streets. The surviving clone fired again and again at mace, who pared each and every bolt that came at him, walking straight towards him. When he was a mere meter away, the clone turned to retreat but the violet blade cut right through his chest, sending him toppling to the ground. Mace sheathed his lightsaber and looked around him at the many fallen bodies of the men he had just slain.

He ran down the walkway and into a door.

Mace Windu emerged from the sublevels some time later, several miles from the place he had "disappeared". The clones didn't seem to be on alert in this sector, so he took advantage of that fact to relax and catch his breath. He felt like he had been running for hours. He kept on his course, still guided by the Force. He felt he was near now, he could feel a tingling sensation, all too familiar to him. As he rounded the next corner, he beheld something that momentarily took his breath away. A towering building, rising so high that it made one dizzy just to try and see its summit. It was sober yet splendid at the same time. Upon the threshold was written in black letters, "Imperial Palace". The entrance was guarded by a dozen clones. Mace walked forward. Spotting him, the clones muttered to each other.

"Please state your –"

Same old, Mace thought. Before long his lightsaber was at work again, parrying bolts and cutting through flesh and armour. Once the clones had been dispatched, Mace sheathed his blade and entered the building. He began ascending the staircases, one level at a time, not incline on taking the lift, knowing precisely which floor he wanted to arrive on. Level forty-seven. On and on he climbed, until at last he reached it. He was surprised at the lightness of the guard at the Palace. He had encountered no one on his way up, which was most suspicious. Upon arriving on level forty-seven, he engaged upon a corridor, until at last he reached the door he sought. A plain door, with no ornament and no opening mechanism. Mace drew his breath, flicked his hand, and the door hissed open. Mace entered. Inside, the cloaked figure turned to see his new guest, and smiled.

The door hissed shut.