Disclaimer: It's George's sandbox. I just play here, cause it's fun.
AN: Here's chapter 31! Thanks for all the great reviews!
Never Gone
Chapter 31: The Chosen One Arises
Lea stopped the speeder and jumped out, running into her aunt and uncle's home. She looked around and ran to the sitting room where she found her family and Anakin's family gathered around the Holo viewer. She gasped, as she realized what was on the screen.
"What's going on?" Lea asked, as she looked around.
"We were hoping you could answer that. The Holonet reporter said that this is coming from some planet called Mustafar. What in blazes are Anakin and Padme doing there?" Ruwee asked.
"I wish I knew. This all started when some Sith assassin kidnaped Padme to lure Anakin back to Naboo. Once we got here, Obi-Wan made me leave to get to safety. It must have been part of the Sith's plan to separate Anakin and Obi-Wan. They obviously used Padme to lure Anakin to Mustafar," Lea said, as she watched her frightened cousin. Padme watched on in horror, as her husband fought the Sith Lord.
"I can't believe it!" Lea said, as she finally got a look at the Sith Lord's face.
"What is it?" Shmi asked. Lea looked at her, noticing that she was very pale and shaky.
"The Sith Lord that Anakin is fighting is Chancellor Palpatine," Lea said.
"That is the Chancellor of the Republic? Owen asked in disbelief.
"I'm afraid so. This whole thing was a trap for Anakin," Lea said. Shmi began to sob again and Cliegg comforted her.
"I'm going to try and get a hold of Obi-Wan," Lea said, hoping that he was all right.
Obi-Wan ran up the steps of the Jedi Temple to inform them of what was going on. He held the important data chip securely in his hands. For weeks, he and Anakin had been trying to figure out the codes on this data chip that Anakin had swiped on his second trip to investigate Tarkin's office. He knew they were something vitally important and something possibly of danger to the Jedi and the galaxy.
As he entered, Aayla Secura saw him.
"Obi-Wan!" she called.
"Aayla, I must see the masters. Anakin and Padme are in terrible danger," Obi-Wan said.
"We know. Haven't you see the Holo news?" Aayla asked.
"No, I haven't, why?" Obi-Wan asked.
"There is something you need to see. The masters are in the situation room," Aayla said, as she led him there.
"Obi-Wan, we thought you'd be with Anakin. What are you doing here?" Mace asked.
"Padme was kidnaped by a Sith assassin. We were lured to Naboo and then separated on purpose by Dooku. Asaaj Ventress took Padme and got Anakin to follow her. I don't know where they are, so I returned to Coruscant, because I knew that's where Dooku would go. He informed me that wherever Ventress was leading Anakin to was a trap set for him by the Sith Lord," Obi-Wan replied.
"He was telling the truth," Mace said, as he pointed at the holo screen.
"Force..." Obi-Wan said, as he watched his brother meet the Sith Lord's saber attacks furiously.
"It's been Chancellor Palpatine all along," Obi-Wan said.
"Yes, we have been blind," Shaak Ti admitted.
"This makes it even more imperative that we decipher the meaning of these codes on this data chip," Obi-Wan said.
"What codes?" Kit Fisto asked.
"I'm not entirely sure, but I believe they are codes that hold a specific meaning or order to the Clones. Anakin thought so as well when he snatched this data chip from acting Senator Tarkin's office a couple weeks ago," Obi-Wan said.
"Anakin broke into Senator Tarkin's office?" Mace asked.
"He believed that Tarkin was in on a plot to harm his wife and it appears that he was right," Obi-Wan replied.
"Why have we not heard about this data chip before now?" Pablo Jill asked, a slight amount of venom in his voice.
"None of your were interested in anything Anakin and I had to say. You dismissed his vision of Ventress and then she turned up after all and kidnaped his wife. As Padme is fond of saying, this whole mess is the result of a failure to listen," Obi-Wan replied.
"Right Obi-Wan is. Blind we were not to see the Dark Lord when right in front of us he was. Trapped the Chosen One, the dark Lord has. Partially our fault he and his wife are in danger, it is," Yoda said.
"You can't be serious Master Yoda," Mace said.
"There is no proof that the boy is the Chosen One either," Adi Gallia argued.
"No? He has defeated three of the galaxy's worst assassins and I have confidence that he will defeat Sidious," Obi-Wan said.
"It is an eight hour journey from Coruscant to Mustafar. Do we even attempt to send anyone there?" Kit asked.
"Over it will be by then. Discover the significance of these codes we must. Great danger the Jedi are in, I fear," Yoda said.
"But how do we go about deciphering the codes?" Kit asked.
"The Kaminoans likely programmed the codes into the Clones at Dooku's command," Obi-Wan said.
"Go to Kamino master Fisto and Knight Secura will. Make them tell us what they mean and how to prevent tragedy, they will," Yoda ordered. Kit and Aayla nodded and immediately left for the trip the Kamino. Suddenly, Barriss Offee ran into the room.
"Masters, the Senate building and the Temple have been surrounded by droid armies!" Barriss said.
"Get to the Senate building we must before allowed to escape Dooku is," Yoda said. The Jedi left the room, preparing to fight for their Temple. Obi-Wan spared one last glance at the Holo screen.
"May the Force be with you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, as he drew his saber and left.
Sweat poured down Anakin's face, as he clashed sabers furiously with Palpatine. Palpatine cackled evilly, as the young man met his every saber thrust.
"Yes...you are powerful young one. Join me...and together we can rule the galaxy. You would have everything and anything you desire. Your wife and family would be safe, as long as you served me," Palpatine taunted.
"My family won't be safe...until you're dead," Anakin said, as he reached up and swiped his brow with his sleeve. Palpatine frowned and snarled.
"Then if you will not join me...you will die!" Palpatine screamed, as she brought his saber up and then down on the young man. Anakin caught his saber with his own blue blade and struggled to overpower the Sith Lord. Palpatine cackled evilly.
"Your love for that useless woman makes you weak," Palpatine sneered. Anakin snarled.
"You'll find out just how weak I am!" Anakin said, as he pushed Palpatine back. Their sabers crackled and hissed, as they met blow for blow. Anakin flipped over Palpatine and whipped around, trying to catch him by surprise. But the experienced Sith Lord whirled around and met his attack. Palpatine chuckled.
"Kenobi has taught you well. But your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side," Palpatine sneered, as he swept his leg under Anakin's feet and pushed the young man back. Anakin fell to the hard ground on his back and skidded back painfully.
"Ani!" Padme screamed. Palpatine cackled, as he grabbed her arm.
"You know Senator, you may still be of some use to me," Palpatine said, as he began pulling her toward a hovercraft used to travel across the lava river on the dangerous planet.
"Anakin!" Padme screamed, as she fought and struggled to get away from Palpatine.
"You know Anakin, if you will not turn, then perhaps one of your children will. Perhaps I will keep the good Senator alive long enough for her to bear your children. Once I choose my heir, I will eliminate her and the other child," Palpatine cackled, as the hovercraft hummed to life and left the platform.
"Nooooo!" Anakin screamed, as he got up and raced for the other hovercraft, taking off after them in across the lava river. Padme huddled in the corner of the hovercraft, trying not to cry. But the tears came anyway, as she was carried farther away from her beloved. She wrapped her arms protectively around her mid section, never wanting Palpatine to lay a hand on their twins.
Anakin sped his hovercraft up beside Palpatine's. The evil Sith Lord struck at Anakin with his saber and Anakin parried. Palpatine sneered and shot Force lightning at his enemy. Anakin screamed in pain, as the lightning knocked him off balance. He quickly recovered and stood back up. He hopped onto the ledge of his hovercraft, painfully aware of the endless lava river below him. Deeply rooting himself in the Force, Anakin Force jumped onto Palpatine's hovercraft and met the Sith Lord's saber, as it was brought crashing down on him.
"Young fool, you seriously underestimate the power of the dark side," Palpatine spat.
"And you underestimate the power of love!" Anakin retorted, as their sabers clashed furiously, as the hovercraft continued to fly across the sweltering lava river.
Aayla Secura and Kit Fisto arrived on Kamino ahead of schedule and quickly demanded to speak to Prime Minister Lama Su.
"What may I do for you honorable Jedi?" Lama Su asked, after they had been escorted to his meeting room by Taun We.
"We need you to tell us what these codes mean. And we must have the truth," Kit said sternly.
"There are only two codes here of real importance," Lama Su said, as he scanned the information on the data chip.
"Tell us what they mean. Millions of lives could depend on it," Aayla pleaded.
"I have been ordered never to tell by Count Dooku," Lama Su replied.
"Count Dooku is no longer in control of the situation. Tell us what you know and we will see to it that the gesture serves as a form of clemency for your cooperation. We can extract the information with a mind probe, but we prefer not to resort to something so barbaric," Kit said. Lama Su sighed and agreed.
"The first one is called order 66. It can only be activated by the voices of Darth Sidious or Count Dooku," Lama Su said.
"And what is the purpose of this Order 66?" Aayla asked.
"It would order the Clones to turn on the Jedi and kill them and any of their conspirators," Lama Su said. Kit and Aayla gasped in horror.
"And the second order?" Kit asked.
"Order 99 is the fail safe that Count Dooku had programmed into them in the event that he or Lord Sidious ever lost control of the Clones," Lama Su replied.
"What exactly does Order 99 do?" Aayla asked.
"Unlike order 66, order 99 is not voice activated. It requires a special password to be activated and can be done by anyone who possess that password. It releases a lethal chemical into the bloodstream and stops the heart instantly. It is quick and painless," Lama Su said. Both Aayla and Kit looked at each other sadly. They didn't like the idea of killing the Clones, but it was either them or the Jedi. The Jedi had never had complete control of the Clone army. Palpatine possessed the ability to take control anytime and eliminate all his adversaries.
"Tell us the password. The lives of millions depend upon it," Kit said. Lama Su sighed and handed them a data chip.
"Open a comm channel from your Jedi Temple to all the Clones. Execute order 99 and recite the password and it will be done," Lama Su said sadly. Kit nodded and took the chip.
Aayla and Kit returned to their two seated star fighter and opened up a comm channel with the Temple.
Obi-Wan and the other Jedi fought the droids back from the entrance of the Temple.
"Masters! There is a transmission from Master Secura and Master Fisto!" a young padawan informed them. Yoda, Mace, and Obi-Wan left the battle and headed for the situation room.
"Greetings masters, we have learned much in the last hour. It seems that the Sith possess the power to take control of the Clone army at any time with Order 66," Kit said.
"Is there a way to stop it?" Mace asked.
"No master, but there is a way to neutralize the threat completely," Aayla replied.
"How?" Obi-Wan asked.
"We must open up a comm channel to all the Clone troopers and execute order 99. The order must be followed up with the code: one–alpha–zero–two–bravo. And the password: True are the ways of the dark side. The Sith shall rule the galaxy forever," Kit recited. Obi-Wan nodded, successfully taking it all down.
"No choice we have. Execute order 99, we must, if to save the Jedi Order and the galaxy, we are," Yoda spoke. Obi-Wan nodded and opened the necessary comm channel...
Sweating profusely now, as the hovercraft floated past a lava waterfall, Anakin clashed furiously with Palpatine. His muscles ached and burned, but his petite wife in the corner kept him going strong, as his desire to see her safe drove him above all else.
"You know, I've been thinking Anakin. Perhaps after your wife gives birth to one of my new apprentices', I will keep her around for a while. She is very beautiful and would make a nice addition to my collection of concubines," Palpatine taunted with a cackle. Anakin snarled, as he swept his saber furiously, meeting Palpatine's own thrusts.
"I will never let you lay a hand on her, you sick bastard!" Anakin yelled. Palpatine cackled again.
"It does not matter Anakin. Even if you managed to defeat me, you, your family, and your Jedi friends are still dead," Palpatine goaded.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Anakin bit out, as their sabers hissed and crackled.
"Soon, I will execute order 66 and turn the Clone army on the Jedi. Even if you kill me, there is no way to stop it and the Jedi and their conspirators will die!" Palpatine yelled, as he slashed wildly at Anakin. Palpatine laughed at the surprised looks on Anakin and Padme's faces.
"The Clones are already here, at the orders of Chancellor Palpatine. Look around," Palpatine said. Sure enough, back on one of the platforms, a battalion of Clone troopers stood ready for orders. Suddenly, the Clones began to falter and started dropping to the ground. Anakin and Padme looked confused, while the evil smile disappeared from Palpatine's face. It was replaced by a look a fury and rage, as he grabbed his comlink and searched for the correct frequency in which the Clone's would respond to. The cultured voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi met their ears.
"Clone army, this is General Obi-Wan Kenobi. Execute order 99. Code, one–alpha–two–bravo. Password, True are the ways of the dark side. The Sith shall rule the galaxy forever," Obi-Wan recited. Palpatine let loose with an angry howl, as he crushed the comlink in his hand. Anakin smirked.
"It seems that part of your plan isn't going to work, thanks to master Obi-Wan," Anakin taunted.
"No matter, I will still kill you Chosen One and then I will rule this galaxy!" Palpatine screamed, yellow eyes bleeding at them.
"No, you're the only one that's going to die today, Sidious," Anakin replied. Their sabers clashed, meeting in another deadlock. Sidious laughed, as he Force pushed Anakin against the edge. He brought his saber down, preparing to slash Anakin across the chest. Moving quickly, he dashed out of the way, but not before Sidious' saber grazed his chest. Anakin cried out in pain, as the saber burned him, leaving a laceration. Padme cried out in horror, as she could see the red line across his chest through his now torn open tunic. Fortunately, after a brief inspection, Anakin determined it was only a surface burn. Gritting his teeth, he pushed the pain away and staggered to his feet. Anakin brought his saber up and met Sidious' again, but the Dark Lord turned Anakin's aside and circled with him. Cackling evilly, the Sith grabbed a hold of Padme's arm and hauled her to her feet.
"One step closer and I push your beloved wife over the edge!" Sidious taunted.
"Nooooo!" Anakin screamed...
Count Dooku and Willhuff Tarkin watched on in horror, as the entire Clone army fell dead.
"How...how did the Jedi get a hold of Order 99?" Dooku wondered. Tarkin snarled.
"Skywalker and Kenobi were poking around too much. They must have found the codes and discovered what they meant," Tarkin reasoned. Dooku thought for a moment.
"All is lost," Tarkin said.
"No, all is not lost. We still have the plans for the Death Star. If we could get away, we would live to enact our revenge. Come, this way," Dooku said. The two men hurriedly made their way to one of the space ports.
"Report Master Gallia?" Yoda asked, as she entered the room with the other council members.
"We have successfully dismantled the threat of the droid armies. The Clones are dead, but I'm afraid Dooku and Tarkin have escaped," Adi reported. Yoda nodded, knowing that there was no immediate threat from them. They would retreat to plot their revenge, but this time, the Jedi would be ready for their return. The real fight was still going on and the Council members, including Obi-Wan turned back to watch the raging battle taking place over a river of lava.
"If you join me, I will spare her," Palpatine said, as he pushed Padme forward over the side so she could look at the lava below. Tears fell down Anakin's cheeks, as he watched the Sith Lord prepare to throw his wife over the side. He would do anything to save her, but he knew that Palpatine was lying when he said that he would save her.
'Help me save her...please!" Anakin pleaded to the Force.
'Let go young one," Qui-Gon told him.
"What do you mean master?" Anakin asked.
"Let go and release everything into the Force. Let it fill you completely. Only few beings possess the connection with the Force that you do. Immerse yourself and become one with it's power. Only then, can you save Padme and defeat the Sith," Qui-Gon replied.
"But...I don't know how," Anakin fretted.
"Let go young one...let go," Qui-Gon instructed. Anakin listened and did as he was instructed.
"Sweet Force..." Obi-Wan gasped, as he watched the white light surround Anakin's body.
"What's happening?" Mace Windu asked.
"Merging with Anakin, the Force is. Using him as it's instrument to destroy the Sith it is. The Chosen One, the boy is," Yoda concluded, as they and the entire galaxy watched on in wonder.
Palpatine snarled, as he felt the pure goodness of the power emanating from the young man before him. Anakin's eyes snapped open, and Palpatine tried to hide his shock and fear. His sapphire eyes were now lit with a white light, making them appear to glow. Palpatine snarled evilly.
"You have no true power. Allow me to show you the power of the dark side!" Palpatine said, as he shoved Padme over the edge. Palpatine cackled evilly and Padme screamed. But both ceased when Padme stopped in mid air. Slowly she floated up and over the side, straight into Anakin's arms. He smiled gently at her, as she stared at him in awe.
"Everything will be all right now angel," he told her softly, as he set her down behind him. Anakin turned back to Sidious and ignited his sapphire blade once again. Sidious let out a maniacal scream.
"I will kill you both!" he screamed in rage, as he let the Force lightning flow out of his fingers and toward them. Padme ducked away, but the lightning never came close to her. Anakin's light saber and the strange lightwere absorbing most of it. Sidious angrily poured more into his attack, but the lightning was being stopped by the strange white aura around Anakin. It was much too late when Sidious realized that his attack was bouncing off the strange Force shield around Anakin and Padme. The Force lightning was reversed and sent back at him. The incredible force of the attack sent him over the edge and falling toward the lava river. Anakin and Padme looked over the edge, as Palpatine's body fell. His screams filled the air around them and they soon turned to screams of agony when his body caught fire, as he neared the river of fire. Padme pulled back in horror and turned away from the gruesome sight to bury her face in Anakin's chest. Palpatine soon crashed into the flowing lava, incinerating every last bit of his body. Anakin held Padme close, as the white glow around him slowly faded. He stumbled slightly and fell to his knees.
"Ani, are you okay?" she asked. He looked up at her and gave her a half smile.
"I'm fine angel, just a little drained," he replied.
"It's over, isn't it?" she asked, hope shining in her eyes.
"Yes, it's over my love. He'll never hurt us again," Anakin said. Padme threw her arms around his neck. Their lips met in a passionate, deep kiss and for a few moments, they drowned in the feel of each other. Anakin reluctantly pulled back and stepped to the controls of the hover craft. He slowed them down and turned them around, heading back to their ship. Anakin was very aware of the Holo news crew following them. Once he landed the hover craft, he quickly whisked Padme into his arms and into their ship before the reporters could hound them. A few moments later, the Sapphire Angel left Mustafar headed for Coruscant...
In the next chapter, everyone reacts to Anakin's victory. Tarkin and Dooku have disappeared without a trace. And the galaxy begins to clean up the mess left behind by Palpatine in the final chapter of Never Gone. But don't worry, there will be a sequel! I will reveal more about the sequel at the end of the next chapter! Thanks for reading and let me know what you think:)