Chapter III
As the starship Celest slowly left orbit of Nirvania I and headed towards Coruscant at full speed, self-proclaimed Emperor Palpatine issued Order 66. Jedi everywhere were slaughtered by Clone troopers, but the five elite Clone troopers and their Jedi companion remained without communications and thus were unaware of the evil happenings in the rest of the universe…
"We're ready to enter hyperdrive, sir." Epsilon33 reported in to Lieutenant Sigma.
"Excellent. Lay in a course for Coruscant and engage." Sigma ordered.
"Should I inform Master Guin?" Epsilon33 asked.
"He said he wasn't to be disturbed. I'm sure he'll come out when we arrive." Sigma responded.
After a minute or two, Alpha7 entered the command center of the ship.
"Sir, I've fixed the communications system." Alpha7 reported.
Suddenly, the communications panel beeped and a small hologram of Chancellor Palpatine appeared.
"Lieutenant Sigma33, execute Order 66." He said gruffly.
Lieutenant Sigma gulped as the hologram winked off. He always knew this day was going to come… Order 66 was an emergency protocol that each clone commander was specifically trained to enact. It identified the Jedi order as traitors to the Republic that had to be eliminated with all haste and with extreme prejudice, but how could Master Guin be a traitor? He was nothing but loyal to the Republic.
"How old is that message?" Sigma asked.
"Only 20 minutes, sir." Epsilon33 reported from his station. He too looked distressed from the message. They had all grown to like Master Guin and now they had to do something they didn't like nor wish to do.
Sigma sighed and slung his rifle off his back, activating it.
"I… I'll do it." He said, hesitatingly.
Stillness, the only sound in Guin's quarters aboard the Celest was the soft hum of the ship. He sat on the warm floor with his eyes closed and his legs crossed, meditating. Something was terribly wrong. There was a great disturbance in the force. He felt… pain.
Suddenly, the door to his quarters opened, the light from the outside corridor flooding his dark room. He slowly opened his eyes and looked up. Lieutenant Sigma stood there, holding his rifle.
"You told me to tell you when we arrived, sir." The clone said with some sadness in his voice.
Guin frowned, looking at the trooper's rifle, "I know why you've come, Lieutenant… Just get it over with."
The clone gulped and aimed his rifle at the Jedi. He held his finger on the trigger unable to squeeze back as if he was frozen. He had grown a great respect for the man and now he was faced with doing something that he could not do.
"Why do you hesitate? Are you not supposed to kill me?" Master Guin asked, closing his eyes.
"I… I… can't, but I have orders…" Sigma said, holding tightly onto his rifle.
Master Guin opened his eyes, looking up at Sigma, "What does your heart tell you?"
Sigma paused for a minute until finally lower his rifle.
Guin got up and headed for the door, saying, "Quickly, we must get down to the Jedi Temple! Something is wrong... I think Chancellor Palpatine is deceiving us…"
Master Guin and Lieutenant Sigma entered the command center, getting odd looks from the other clones.
Still holding on his rifle, Sigma eyed his men. He stepped forward and cleared his throat, "I don't know if the Jedi are good or bad, but I do know Master Guin is a good man and is loyal to the Republic. I trust him with my life."
Sergeant Phi stood up and said, "Why would Chancellor Palpatine deceive us? He has been nothing but loyal to the
The four clones there traded looks with one another, obviously thinking about this. Lance Corporal Alpha7 was the first to stand up. He slung his rifle off his back, saying, "You have my rifle!"
Private Epislon33 was the second to stand up, saying, "Mine too!"
Private Kappa48 sighed, blow out put out his cigarette butt and said, "What the hell? We're all gonna die…"
Guin smiled and looked at the last clone seated in the corner, "Sergeant Phi?"
The sergeant glared and said, "My loyalty lies with the Chancellor and the Republic not with you… traitors!"
Guin sighed and said, "Very well, you will be put in an escape pod with no weapons or communications when we leave. Until then, you'll be put in the brig."
The sergeant clenched his teeth as he slung his rifle off his back, saying "I don't think so."
As Phi, pulled the trigger back, Guin, seemingly at the speed of light, pulled his lightsaber off his belt and activated it, the silver energy emanating from the handle. As the blasts of fire came towards him, he quickly deflected them with his lightsaber, sending one of them speeding back towards the angry clone, hitting him directly in his head, instantly killing.
"That was amazing, sir…" Epsilon said in awe.
"Not really, I was aiming for his gun." Guin sighed, deactivating his lightsaber.