Princess Aiel - There will definitely be some closure there. I am never one to leave someone hanging.

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Sewardsfolly - You're most welcome

Kal's gal - thanks

Brontesgirl - You shall see.

Darth gladiator 45 - thanks

EVERYONE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED AND MOST WELCOME. THANKS AGAIN FOR THE FUEL.

Chapter VI – ANNIHILATION

Anakin, using force enhanced speed, ran through the halls and the staircases of the temple. With the force guiding him, he knew time was of the essence. However he couldn't help but to notice the destruction everywhere. The tapestries that hung on those hallowed walls depicting legendary Jedi Knights and Masters of old, was either burned or cut down. The walls and floors had huge holes blasted into them. The rooms he had spent much of his time learning and training were now unrecognizable.

Anakin could not be stopped. He met clonetrooper upon clonetrooper. None could withstand him. He fought quickly and skillfully. Finally reaching the end of his journey, his path was blocked by six clonetroopers guarding the door to the council chambers. He was curious as to why this was. There is nothing of any value in the-oh force! He sensed the vague signature in the force that compelled him to come and the signature of many younglings. The need to get in there burned in Anakin's heart. As the troopers opened fire, Anakin ran towards them, catching the blasts with his sapphire blade. He performed a flying fleche. He leaped into the air, flipped and upon landing, sliced through the trooper in the middle and kicked unconscious the two flanking him. He turned his back on another one and thrust his blade behind him sending a whimper from the trooper's voice. He force pushed another one through a blasted wall and let him drop down a hole in the floor. And upon the last trooper that barred his way to the council chambers, he threw his lightsaber, killing him instantly. Anakin was fierce. With nothing to stop him, he ran, hoping he would reach them in time.

The dark lord of the Sith's eyes glinted yellow in the darkness of his hood. The apprehension in the air was palpable. The quickened breath of the younglings hiding there could barely be heard. He reveled in idea of what he was about to do. These young lives meant nothing. They were just like vermin to him, a pleasure to terminate. A child emerged from behind a curtain. He approached, looking up at him, "Master Skywalker, we are trapped. What do we do?"

The dark lord sneered maliciously as he ignited his red blade. He raised his hand to strike as he used the force to slowly close the chamber doors, eliminating the younglings' only means of escape. Just before the doors closed, Anakin Skywalker flipped into the room. And with his blade, he intercepted a fatal blow that the Sith was bringing down upon the child. The youngling ran to the far corner of the room. Anakin's eyes met his.

"To what do I owe this honor, brother?" The calm voice that issued from under the hood was laced with malevolence.

Anakin blinked and furled brow, "Who are you?"

His smile was undeniable in the dark of the hood. He removed it, revealing his face and glared at a stunned Anakin. The likeness was uncanny. Anakin stepped back, blinking his eyes as if trying to adjust his reality.

This has to be a trick, he thought. "You are not my brother."

"My name is Darth Patruus formerly known as…Aiden Skywalker." He twisted his lips in disgust as he uttered the latter name.

Anakin eyes narrowed, "Liar."

"Search your feelings, Anakin. You will know it to be true." Patruus slowly nodded his head and switched off his blade. He straightened from his battle stance.

Anakin frowned and stretched out with the force. Patruus was right. Anakin's muscles tensed. "How is possible?" He demanded.

"Our mother gave birth to two bouncing baby boys. Both were of the force. Shortly afterwards that fat slug Jabba lost me in a bet. I was then sold to Palpatine. You can figure out the rest." Patruus smirked.

"She never told me about you." Anakin seethed through his grinding his teeth and squeezed the hilt of his lightsaber. He was itching to make him pay for this assault on his mother's memory.

"Why would she?" He spoke with smile," To have a child taken from you is absolutely horrendous, unless, there is no father and you are a slave. Then I suppose it'd be a blessing." His smile morphed into a sneer, "One less mouth to feed."

Anakin's blood ran hot with rage through his veins. "Do not speak of her again." Anakin's voice was uncharacteristically calm as he struggled to control his anger.

Patruus ignited his blade and moved to attack Anakin. Patruus was ferocious with his blade. He spun around twirling his blade in his hand. The red and blue blades clashed and sparked as they came together and then parted. Anakin swept his blade back and forth, blocking Patruus's every attempt. Anakin sensed that even though they were twins, Patruus was not as powerful. Darth Patruus had to put extra effort into this duel and it seemed he liked to fight dirty. But then again, don't all Sith Lords?

In the corner of his eye, Patruus spotted two younglings hiding behind a chair. He spun on his toes to block Anakin's blade. "I soon will be more powerful than the emperor. I will overthrow him, and take his place as emperor. Perhaps then, dear brother, you'll reconsider turning to the dark side."

He stepped closer to Anakin and then sidestepped toward the younglings. Anakin was silent. He sidestepped in the opposite direction. They were circling each other, like two scorpions poised to attack.

"You could be my apprentice; maybe you'd like that better? It could be the family business, with my sister-in-law expecting and all."

Anakin lunged at him and swung his blade. Patruus blocked and sent a bolt of force lightening towards the huddled younglings. The bolts reached within inches of them before shooting straight up into the air. Patruus angrily locked eyes with Anakin, who had his arm extended with his fingers spread open. He had created a force bubble around the younglings, protecting them from any harm. Clever. Patruus advanced and suddenly was tossed to the floor by Anakin's shadowstrike. Blood trickled from his mouth.

Patruus back flipped, landing further away. He spat out the excess blood in his mouth and said, "Indeed you are powerful, Jedi. Perhaps my master is wise to pursue you. But not wise enough, I know his mind. He intends to supplant me with you." He grinned showing reddened teeth, "Join me, brother. Together we can destroy the emperor and rule the galaxy!"

"You are wasting your breath. You are not my brother and you never will be." Anakin spoke through clenched teeth. "I will not turn."

Patruus straightened, his mouth twisted with malice. "Very well, if you will not be turned, perhaps your child will."

Anakin's fury was absolute as he charged. Patruus sensed another Jedi coming and began force-throwing chairs towards Anakin, revealing crouched and hiding younglings. Anakin dodged and used the force to keep it from hitting another youngling. When he looked around, Patruus was gone.

"Younglings!" called Anakin deactivating his lightsaber.

The children tentatively emerged from their hiding places, peeking from around curtains, chairs and pillars.

"Do not be afraid. It's all right." Anakin looked around the room. They gathered around him.

The youngling he saved earlier approached and said, "Don't worry Master Skywalker. He doesn't look exactly like you. He doesn't have your scar."

The child pointed at the old scar he received during the clone wars.

Anakin couldn't help but to smile. His expression then changed to one of concern, "All of you, we must leave now. Stay together and move quickly."

He led the children out of the council room and towards the staircase. Obi wan came from around another corner. He had looked as though he had been in engaged in battle. He had soot on his face and his garments had burns.

"Where's Padme?" Anakin didn't care about the worry in his tone.

"Don't worry. Mace is escorting her through the tunnel to the ship. I had to disable the distress beacon. Besides, I couldn't leave my padawan." Obi wan placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled.

Anakin warmly returned the smile.

The temple walls shook as more explosions went off. Obi wan looked around and said, "Anakin, there is no time to delay. The temple is coming down."

Anakin turned his attention to the children and said, "Younglings! Follow Master Kenobi to the exit. I'll be right behind you." Anakin said firmly. "Remember, move quickly and stay together. Do you understand?"

The younglings answered in unison, "Yes, Master Skywalker."

It was a long arduous journey through the dark and dank 4800 meter tunnel. Padme's feet ached with every step as she continued along the path to the Pennport landing bay. She followed Mace's leadership through the twists and turns of the tunnel. He moved as quickly as possible with a lightsaber in his right hand and a flashlight in his left. A few times Mace asked her, "Do you need to rest Senator?" Even though Padme's back ached and her ankles were swollen, she considered the many Jedi in her company. The group was comprised of Padawans, younglings, and a few of the knights that made it away from what was to be their doom. Their very lives were in danger; stopping now would only increase their chances of failing to escape. She firmly said, "No, Master Windu. I can make it. Thank you."

She trudged on looking at the walls of the tunnel noting that they appeared to have not be in service for many a year. There were cobwebs everywhere, with the random appearance of insects here and there. She saw openings and entrances to other tunnels as she passed. She addressed Mace, "Where do these other tunnels lead?"

Without turning he responded, "There are some tunnels that lead to certain places and there are some tunnels that lead to nowhere. The Jedi, many thousands of years ago, built this maze below the temple for training purposes. Eventually they decided to use it as a means of escape should the worse occurs." He paused, "And the worse has occurred."

Mace stopped in his tracks. Padme looked ahead. "Did we take a wrong turn?" Before them was a wall of soil and rock barring them from going any further. She sighed. "Where do we go now?"

Mace turned left and walked towards the wall. "We go up." He pointed his flashlight to ladder. Padme smiled, relieved at the sight.

The Pennport Landing bay was an octagon shaped facility that doubled as a secret landing port for a small share of the Jedi star fleet. The fleet was kept in a separate landing bay secured beneath the surface of the public landing bay. Upon departure, the center of the public landing bay would retract allowing the Jedi fleet to ascend. Master Windu, Padme and the other Jedi surfaced from the underground tunnel through what was an engine service hatch. There the director of the landing port, Rokel Barakus stood nervously looking over his shoulders as Mace and the others approached. He remembered the moment the Jedi rescued him and his family from mercenaries. Rokeel's gratitude was his loyalty to the needs of the order. He ran a shaking hand through his brown locks. He looked surprised seeing a smaller number of Jedi than he expected. He stepped forward, "Master Windu I am happy to see you have made it out alive and well. You are the first group to arrive. I-is this all that's left of the Jedi? Tell me that I am wrong."

"I can't be certain of anything, Rokeel." Mace sighed looking at the ships, "Are the ships ready for take off?" The rest of the Jedi continued on and began boarding one of the ships.

"Yes. I personally prepared them myself." Rokeel shifted, "You must make haste Master Jedi. The troopers will eventually create a blockade and seal off your exit. I will keep watch for any other Jedi that may arrive after you. Their ships will remain ready."

"Yes of course, Thank you." Mace turned toward Padme who was now standing next to him. "I will now take you to your ship."

Padme shook her head, "No Master Windu. You mustn't waste any time on me. I can get to my ship myself."

"But I-"

"I insist. You must escape. The troopers are after the Jedi not a senator."

"Senator, you are in as much danger as we are."

"However they will not shoot me on sight." Padme paused, "I will be alright. Rokeel here can escort me if it would make you feel better." Rokeel nodded his head. Padme continued. "Now please, go."

Mace conceded. "May the force with you."

"And with you too, Master Windu." The hope in Padme voice perfectly disguised her apprehension.

Mace disappeared up the ship's landing ramp as it began to close. Rokeel removed his cloak and gave it to Padme, "Put this on. I do not want you to be seen."

Padme struggled to run with Rokeel to the public Landing port. She held her blaster close under the cloak as they carefully turned corners and passed through the crowds in the area. Finally, they reached the gate closest to the cruiser and exited on the landing platform. He turned toward her said, "Your cruiser is there." He pointed at the silvery smooth Nubian ship. Captain Panaka was standing before the extended landing ramp talking with someone. "You must hurry. Get out before the blockade is created."

She turned to Rokeel, "Thank you for everything."

"Don't mention it. Really, I mean that. Don't mention it. I have enough problems without having to worry about imperial entanglements." He smirked.

Padme moved quickly toward the ramp. Panaka realizing it was Padme turned from the person he was speaking to and said, "I just heard what happened. Are you alright, senator?"

"I'm fine Captain." Padme walked up the ramp as she removed the cloak and handed it to him. "Listen, I cannot ask you to come along with me. It's too dangerous."

"My lady, my job is to protect you." He stepped closer to her, his concern evident on his face.

"And you have done well but-", she raised a hand in protest.

"I must come. Master Skywalker will not be pleased that I am letting you go alone."

"Master Skywalker already knows that no one LETS me do anything. He will understand." She paused, "Go. It is not you that they want."

"Will you return?"

"I don't know." Padme was worried, thinking only of her husband who had not made contact with her. "Go now."

Captain reluctantly stepped back and smiled weakly, "Be safe. Return well."

"Thank you Captain. Padme watched the Captain step off of the landing ramp and pressed a button to close it.

She moved quickly to the cockpit of the ship where 3p0 was sitting awaiting her command. "My lady, it is good to see you safe and sound."

"Thank you 3p0. Hurry now. I am entering the coordinates for Tatooine." Padme feverishly pressed buttons and clicked switches.

As the surface of Coruscant became more and more distant, she slowly strapped herself into her seat. She noticed a faint smell of something burning. She flinched thinking it was the ship and relaxed realizing the smell was coming from her. She sniffed her shirt to be certain as the tears welled up in her eyes. Padme looked up into the viewscreen and saw in the distance a bright orange and red light with smoke issuing from it. The fear in her that something may happen to Anakin or might have already happened, overtook her like a wall of water crashing over her. She cradled her face in her hands as her shoulder shook uncontrollably. Please, please be alright, Ani.