Chapter VII – Exodus

Obi wan led the younglings and Anakin through the halls of the burning temple. On the lower levels, death and desolation presided. These floors were where some of the explosions had gone off. There were bodies everywhere. He only had the surviving tapestries, statues and perhaps even remembering the number of floors he passed to direct him to the emergency exit. It was as if he was back on the Outer Rim, leading troops into battle. But this was not the Outer Rim and he was not leading troops into battle. This was his home, the only one he had ever known, and it was going to be his final resting place if he didn't get to the exit. The sounds of the ceiling collapsing on to the floor above hurried his step. When they finally reached the archive room, they ran into the restricted section. Obi wan stopped in front of a tall bookcase filled with holo-recordings. He lifted a false holo-recording on the lower right side of the shelf and stepped back as the entire bookcase began to swing outward like a vault door. It revealed a set of controls, which included key codes and voice recognition. Obi wan feverishly punched in the access command sequence codes and at the sound of the beep, he firmly said, "Kenobi alpha 31587!"

The outline of a doorway appeared from a seamless wall. The door recessed into the wall and slid open to the left revealing a ramp leading to a dark tunnel. Obi wan ushered the younglings into the tunnel as he removed his flashlight from his belt.

Anakin looked warily at Obi wan, "I expected more troopers here than upstairs. I sense another trap." Anakin was muscles were tensed as he gripped his lightsaber hilt. He had been struggling to control his anger throughout the ordeal which he seemed to be succeeding.

"As do I, but we have no choice. There is no other way out." Obi wan tone hardened, "I sense someone coming,"

"Me too." Anakin looked over his shoulder and said with a smile, "It's a few more Jedi."

Kit Fisto and Shaak ti emerged from around a corner with a group of Jedi behind them. The group comprised of three older padawan learners, and five knights. The older padawans were visibly shaken by all the destruction around them. The knights looked as if they had been fighting non-stop for hours and hours on end. They were exhausted and tired.

Kit removed a flashlight from his belt, "Obi wan! Anakin! I am glad to see you both have survived." He turned his unblinking black orbs to the children standing at the top of the ramp, "Younglings, thank the force you have made it as well." He spoke with a smile on his lips.

Shaak ti removed her flashlight as well, "Obi wan, where are you headed?"

"We are taking the most direct tunnel to the Jobine landing bay. Master Windu has already gone through Pennport. We shouldn't risk going there. The empire might be aware of our access to it." Obi wan said.

"I agree. A large group has gone through Pennport as well. It wouldn't be a surprise if the empire knows about it by now." Kit sighed.

Shaak ti said firmly, "We must go now. There are troopers not too far behind us."

After everyone entered the tunnel, Kit entered the command codes on the panel inside the tunnel and sealed the exit door behind them. And so the Jedi began their 8200-meter journey to the Jobine landing bay through the series of tunnels that made up the Jedi maze. The speed of their movement would be limited due to the younglings traveling with them. The Jedi maze was a complex network of tunnels hewn from solid stone and it was rank with the smell of age. The Jedi followed this path few have traveled with hope pounding in their hearts.

For nearly three hours the band of Jedi Knights trekked through the dark and humid tunnels with relative ease. Occasionally they stopped to rest and gather their bearings as they journeyed from tunnel to tunnel. A series of explosions sounded off in the distance behind them. Shaak ti, who was guarding the rear of the group with Anakin and two other knights, said, "The troopers have entered the maze behind us."

"Then we must not make anymore stops." Kit looked over his shoulder.

They approached an intersection in the maze. There were tunnel entrances to the left and right of the group. Obi wan stretched out with the force to find where other troopers may be. He gasped just then, and his eyes were wide with shock.

"What is it?" Anakin called out.

"I sense troopers approaching ahead and from the left." He looked over his shoulder, "It appears they are trying to ambush us."

Anakin replied grimly, "Then they have found the other exits in the maze."

"We must change course." Kit offered, "We should take the right tunnel. It's more complicated but it appears to be the safest one. Besides, the landing bay exit is not much farther."

"The right tunnel could be where they want us to go." Shaak ti spoke suspiciously. "They may try to ambush us there."

"Considering we have younglings with us, engaging the enemy is not an option. I think the right tunnel may be the best choice right now. We'll just have to prepare ourselves." Anakin suggested, "Perhaps we should send scouts ahead of the group."

Internally, Obi wan was beaming. Despite the circumstances they were in, he couldn't hide now proud he was of Anakin. He sent a thought to Anakin, 'A wise recourse.'

He then said, "I agree. This will facilitate our escape in case we meet any opposition along the way." He nodded, "I will go. Who else will go with me?"

Shaak ti stood beside Obi wan, "I shall go as well."

"So will I" Anakin stepped forward. Obi wan knew he couldn't resist.

The Jedi went changed course and turned down the tunnel to the right. 800 meters into the tunnel, the three Jedi scouts broke off from the main group and ventured ahead, stretching out with the force to detect any troopers. To their surprise, there were more troopers infiltrating the vast Jedi maze than expected. However, to the disadvantage of the troopers, no one would know their way through but a Jedi.

Anakin's eyes narrowed as he sensed something approaching the tunnel. He slowed down as he reached an entrance to another tunnel on his left. "A platoon of troopers is in this tunnel about 2,500 meters from here. If left unchecked, they will intercept the main group before they even get here."

"Any ideas?" Shaak ti said with a smirk as she removed her lightsaber from her belt.

"I suggest we draw them off." Anakin returned the smirk, "Give them a taste of their own medicine."

The three Jedi knights turned left down the tunnel the troopers were in. They ran half the distance to the platoon and ducked in to a T-shaped alcove. There they remained waiting for the troopers.

The commander of the platoon led his troops along the route he chose. He had no map nor radar or coordinates to follow. The orders he was given was to infiltrate the maze and kill all Jedi that may have escaped into it. The only way to accomplish his mission was to order as many troopers into the maze and fan out. Things seemed to be getting more complicated as the maze proved to be more daunting than expected. He suddenly heard what sounded like whispering. He was sure it must be escaped Jedi fearing for their lives. He ordered his troops to follow him in to the tunnel.

"Hmm, looks like another dead end, Commander." One said exasperated. "And there is no one in here."

"What is the purpose of all these wretched tunnels? Those Jedi are such trash. I can't believe we used to take orders from them. What were we thinking?" The commander shook his head. "I don't know what made me turn down this way. Come on guys, let's go." He opened a channel to another commander outside of the temple. "We're leaving this crazy maze, seal off all the ends and have it flooded – just to be sure."

"Since they like to run and hide, like the Jedi scum they are, it would be a fitting end. They escaped fire just be killed by water." Another trooper smiled.

Just then, a long shaft of blue glowing light ignited in the dark at one end of the intersection, as well as another long shaft of blue in the dark at the other end. And finally a long shaft of green appeared in the dark behind them at the end of the long stem of the T, sealing off their escape.

"What the--Hey!" was all the commander could get out before he was cut down.

The other troopers desperately opened fire on the Jedi, randomly shooting in the dark. The clones did not see their death until it was too late. The incessant hum of the whirling blades ushered in the demise of the entire platoon. The three Jedi moved out of the dead end and returned to tunnel the main group was following. They continued to follow the path until they reached the end of the tunnel. There was a set of stairs hewn from stone with a blast door set above them.

Shaak ti said, "Since all is secure, I will go back to the main group. I will inform them the way is clear and they must go now with all speed."

Obi wan nodded and watched Shaak ti disappear into the dark.

Anakin climbed the stairs and stopped at the door. He looked over his shoulder at Obi wan, "What does this door lead to?"

"I am not sure. I think it leads to a generator room in the landing area."

Anakin turned back to the door pressed the access command codes and said, "Skywalker 80942." The blast door retracted into the ceiling and revealed a dark room. They both entered the room and sealed the door behind them. There was silence before Anakin spoke, "Master Obi wan?"

"Yes, Anakin?"

"I don't think this is a generator room." Anakin turned on the lights in the room revealing that it was nothing more than a janitor's closet.

Obi wan said, "It doesn't matter Anakin. It will do." He took a deep breath, "I am going to go out and look for Sly. He should be around here somewhere. Stay here in case the others arrive before I return."

"Be careful."

"I will."

"May the force be with you."

"I surely hope so." He said with a smile, "May the force with you too Anakin." Obi wan opened the door and stepped in the nook of a corridor and closed the door behind him. There was an abandoned laundry cart beside him. It was filled with janitor uniforms and cloaks. Obi wan had left his back at the temple and was grateful to see these here. Good ol' Sly. You always know what to do. He grabbed one and put it on; making certain his face was hidden in the hood. He stepped into the corridor noting that it was moderately populated by passengers and employees of the facility. However, none bothered to look in his direction as they were in a hurry to come and go. From where he was standing, he could see the service entrance a privately used landing platform. He stealthily moved toward it and spied through the window in the door, a tall slender being standing on the other side with his back to the door. The lizard like creature paced back and forth, licking his snout with his long forked tongue. He compulsively rubbed his claws together. His long green forked tail whipped back and forth nervously with each turn in his pacing. Obi wan opened the door just a crack and whispered, "Sly!"

The Abinyshi froze; only his scaly tail continued its movement of whipping back and forth. His eyes turned toward Obi wan. He blinked his eyes in disbelief and relaxed. He looked over his shoulders and moved quickly toward him.

"Obi wan." Sly whispered, "I hoped you would have made it out alive. Where is your aprenticcce?" Sly's accent caused him to occasionally stress the 's' sound whenever he spoke basic. He anxiously looked behind Obi wan.

"Sly, he is waiting in the janitor's closet." Obi wan said.

"Obi wan, you must be careful. There are troopers everywhere. They are here even. They are combing the placccce."

"Then we must leave Coruscant now." Obi wan dropped his hands to his sides in an effort to keep from folding them in his sleeves – a dead Jedi give away (pardon the pun). "Are the cruisers prepared?"

"You can't Obi wan-" Sly shook his snout.

"There is no time for delay. I have knights and younglings with me Sly."

Sly's eyes widened, "Oh no."

"What is it?" Obi wan sensed there was more trouble afoot.

"I thought it would be just of the two of you. Even getting two of you off this planet will enough let alone – how many are with you?"

"About 22."

"Oh my stars! That will be difficult. The empire has initiated the blockade around Coruscant. Communicationsss are being jammed. Troopers are asssking for identification. It is too hot to leave right now."

"We may not have a choice." Obi wan rubbed his beard.

"It is a foolish thing to do this. A Jedi battle cruiser has already been shot out of the sky in an attempt to break through the blockade."

"Oh dear."

"I suggested you stay at the Jobine Landing bay hotel – free of charge of course. My cousin owns it. Obi wan, stay there until the blockade is lifted Obi wan. Please. I'll personally bring food –"

Sly froze in the midst of his sentence as two clone troopers walked by clutching their blasters. "I hear they are going to flood the maze under the temple." One said.

"It'll probably take a couple years for that to happen. They have to find all the exits in the maze. There is no telling how many there are." The other responded.

"Well if it takes to long they'll flood it anyway."

The troopers disappeared around the corner.

Obi wan took a deep breath, "I see what you mean."

Sly nodded. "You mussst stay until it cools down. It's suicide to leave now."

"Do you know if Mace made it off from Pennport?"

"Rokeel sent me a messenger. He says that Mace made it off Coruscant. It seems his ship was one of the last two to make it off before the blockade."

"Two?"

"Yeah, I hear a Nubian cruiser made it off too."

"Good." Obi wan thought, Anakin will be relieved to hear that.