Hours after the capital spire had been taken by the Republic, a Geonosian chitin hulled schooner appeared off the coast of Coruscant. In the red glow of sunset, it sailed past the Grand Harbor and up the peninsula towards the city's industrial district. Around the clock, the smokestacks belched thick black smoke into the skies.

It was also in this district that one could find the Republic dockyards, which had been constructed centuries before to build ships to transport vast amounts of ore during one of the Outer Rim's mining booms. By the time of the Battle of Geonosis, many of the docks lay abandoned and flooded, unfit for building ships, but perfect for smugglers or those who didn't want to be seen.

And so the Geonosian schooner sailed into one of these docks and dropped anchor. Count Dooku stepped off a short time later, carrying a leather case filled with parchments. He walked through the rows of abandoned warehouses with purpose, ignoring the destitute and downtrodden who lived in the dilapidated buildings

As the sun finally slipped below the horizon, Dooku reached the building he was looking for. It was an old ironworks that had long since closed. There was only a single door that could still open, although one would need to be skilled with the Force to even attempt it. It was a large iron door far too heavy to even attempt to push.

Dooku raised a hand and concentrated. There was a metallic shriek as the hinges began to move. Soon it was joined by the sound of metal on stone as it opened just enough for him to enter. He stepped inside and closed the door, producing more shrieking.

From the darkness of the warehouse, a man in a dark robe appeared, his face hidden by a hood. "Welcome back, Lord Tyranus."

Count Dooku smiled. "The Force is with us, Master Sidious." He held out the leather case. Although it may have seemed innocuous to the average observer, it contained the plans for the most powerful weapon ever designed or even dreamed of until then.

"Indeed. You have performed splendidly."

"I bring even better news, Master. The war has begun."

Lord Sidious smiled in sadistic glee. "Excellent. Everything is going according to plan."

Throughout the Jedi Temple, there was great sadness. The bodies of the Jedi slain earlier that day had been arriving for their funerals since mid afternoon and they were expected to continue until morning. The loss of Jedi on this scale was unheard of since the founding of the Republic, and the war only foretold of more deaths.

In the Council chamber, Masters Yoda, Windu, and Obi-Wan discussed the future of the Order and the events of the day. Obi-Wan and Mace Windu stared out one of the windows at the Grand Harbor and the many, many military ships that were now arriving.

Obi-Wan noticed a Hyperion gate opening out at sea, but thought nothing of it. "Do you believe what Count Dooku said about Sidious controlling the Senate? It doesn't feel right."

"Joined the Dark Side, Dooku has," Yoda said from his Council seat. "Lies, deceit, creating mistrust are his ways now."

Mace Windu nodded. "Nevertheless, I believe we should keep a closer eye on the Senate."

Obi-Wan sighed. "I agree."

"How is your Padawan doing with his new arm?"

"Better than I had expected, to be honest."

Jedi healing magics hadn't been able to do much for Anakin. They worked by using the caster's life force to speed up the natural healing process, although there were a few who could use the magics to heal scars as well. None of the magics though could regrow a lost limb, unless that was a trait inherent to the one being healed. Anakin had received a mastercrafted enchanted prosthetic arm that was just as dextrous as the one he had lost. Typically, prosthetic limbs like this went to wealthy sailors injured at sea.

Mace Windu nodded. "Where is he now? I thought he would have been here for the funerals."

"He's on his way to Naboo, escorting Senator Amidala home." There was a long silence before he spoke again. "I have to admit that without the homunculi, we would not have found victory today."

"Victory, you say?" Yoda's voice was full of doubt. "No, Master Obi-Wan, not victory. The shroud of the Dark Side has fallen. Begun, the Great War has..."

Along Coruscant's Grand Avenue below, thousands of homunculi marched towards the Senate building. The sounds of their footsteps echoed down the canyon of white stone as citizens cheered for these saviors of the Republic. News of their victory in Geonosis had spread like wildfire. There were also those who spoke in hushed whispers about the sudden, inexplicable appearance of this army in gleaming white armor. They felt as though these soldiers were the harbingers of dark times. Perhaps both views were correct.

Anakin and Padmé had returned to Varykino Villa in the mountains of Naboo, but not for refuge this time. The gazebo where they had first kissed just days prior was now decorated with chains of beautiful white lilies and sheer silk draping. The stars were just starting to appear in the sky above and torches flickered around the gazebo's perimeter.

Anakin held out his hands, one flesh, one brass, and took hold of Padmé's own hands when the priest instructed him to. A mere week before, both of them would have dismissed the idea of marrying as impossible, and yet there they stood at the water's edge, feeling as though it was the most right thing in the world. They couldn't bear the thought of not being together anymore, even if their connection could only be spiritual from day to day.

Artu-Deetu and See Threepio, who had been recovered after the battle, stood by and watched as the priest placed his hand over their masters' hands and gave a blessing. The true significance of the ceremony and the repercussions that knowledge of it could cause were completely lost to the two automata. They recognized that Anakin and Padmé were happy, and to them, that's all that really mattered.

The priest raised his hand and closed his holy book, pronouncing the Jedi and the Senator as husband and wife. Anakin and Padmé kissed, all tragedy and worry gone from their minds. The warm glow of love and the purest of joy were all they felt at that moment.

When they broke the kiss, they looked into each other's eyes, sparkling in the torchlight and the light of the moons peeking over the mountains. They made a vow that no matter what would happen in the world, they would love and stay beside one another until the ends of their lives. Both of them held one another tightly and they looked out at the rippling reflections of the moons on the lake's surface. This was the happiest that either had ever felt, and nothing in the world at that moment could change that.