Anakin piloted the plane, his face scrunched and tense…. Padme sat a seat back. Ahsoka sat next to her former master. This situation was wholly unprecedented. Ahsoka just looked on and thought, that they have to do the action – to escape from their pursuers.

They had after all flown this very ship many many times before! Under very different circumstances. And Padme was not too bad of a pilot herself. Ahsoka could not but notice the weak and timid side of Padme today; the always strong senator who was pretty handy with a blaster seemed like she was not able to do anything. She looked on every time at Anakin with fear and petrification. But Anakin did not look much at her either. Why?

His mind must be racing with the events of all that has happened, thought Ahsoka. I can only imagine what he must have gone through in this short span of time – in a few weeks, from meeting her a last time before Mandalore, with pride and authority in his actions. He was respected by all the other Jedi who walked past him and the Clones adored him. To now, when he has just – mercilessly eradicated the Jedi Order… I choose Anakin over the Order, Ahsoka thought to herself. He saved my life when the Order would have sent me over to the Republic for certain execution.

Why did that happen? Ahsoka thought of Bariss Offee and the Temple Bombings. Anakin and she were investigating this crime. Anakin hardly could conceive that he would commit a crime far worse than that. Of course, this was on the Chancellor's orders; what has that man done to Anakin?

This was only a few months ago. The level of intensity with being faced in face with a murderer sitting silent was beyond something she could ever have fathomed. But I can deal with this, Ahsoka thought. I am a Jedi… Was a Jedi. My whole life has led to this moment. The moment when the galaxy's fate is on the brink of Horizon. The moment when three jovial friends suddenly sit on a place in the galaxy where either the Jedi or the Emperor would overcome. How can the Jedi win? Ahsoka thought sadly. The Emperor has the whole Clone Army with him – the Jedi have few survivors; the fate rests on Anakin, it seems? How? Why does she trust him so much?

Ahsoka thought the Jedi and Anakin could be together… She now questioned that… what was I thinking? Organa was right. Anakin and Obi-Wan's confrontation … Well, it is good that didn't happened. Good that these ships attacked us

As to the danger to this ship, there wasn't any. Anakin would pilot it perfectly. This was the least of our problems. So I am grateful for this incident... I am happy Clones will not die too… Ahsoka thought sadly. Anakin was, without hesitation keen on killing them all. What has happened to him? Many things... Either we live through this incident and bring the galaxy to order or we all die. The odds don't matter. The matter is clear. Just like the very and only battle of one's lifetime.

Anakin piloted at full speed.

He raced past the two ships. "Senator Amidala? Why are you escaping? Where are you going?" The Clones seemed very furious with this decision… They are all so bloodthirsty today... Ahsoka thought.

But they did not shoot yet... they would not shoot down a senatorial ship... and curiosity, too, got the better of them. They needed to board the ship. And they hardly expected a senator to shoot past them and that stunned them.

They were not able to catch up.

Anakin skilfully flew past them at the speed of light...

Suddenly Anakin, felt exhilarated. I remember flying a few weeks ago with Obi-Wan... after rescuing the Chancellor... The push of his hand against the throttle gave him both an endorphin rush that suddenly triggered the entirety of Anakin's exhaustion of not sleeping for weeks – this rush was not a dark feeling of anger or hate so it could not fuel the Dark Side of the Force sustaining his energy – so it only weakened the hold of the force.

Why? How can I pilot this ship if I can't hold myself together? I have to. Anakin felt sleep and stillness envelop him like a snake crushing a grape; he had no-where to go to. He could not control himself. His mind took over – his psyche, the emotions Anakin had no control over seized over him and his consciousness. He had faint consciousness but no control. These spirits guided him to sprint off the ship beyond the normal mechanical prowess of the Starfighter; away from the Republic gunships until they were out of sight. This happened in a spit second to Ahsoka and Padme.

They ferociously braked besides an unexpected planet. 'Master!' Ahsoka said, before she could help herself. Anakin looked at her. This time his face was not scrunched or tense but smooth. He then collapsed onto the ground.

Padme rushed to him and held him by his chest and shoulder. She looked visibly controlled. Her quietened timidity suddenly sprang itself to the strength Ahsoka knew Padme to have.

'Ahsoka…

'Ahsoka. Don't take me to Obi Wan…'

'Anakin…'

'… Not… not yet.' Wait. Hadn't Anakin planned to go after this to Palpatine, after convincing his wife? Yet this did not come from his conscious voice.

'Please.'

Ahsoka was stunned to hear Anakin plead.

His eyes opened for a short period of time and there seemed to be a hint and shadow of blue within the greyish – brown. At least they seemed far more grey than brown. Then they closed and his body turned soft and limb. Lifeless…

'Ahsoka. You take him to the room.'

Of course. Padme could not lift Anakin when she was not far from delivering a baby.

Ahsoka held up Anakin's body – something she never expected she would ever do. But he hardly seemed heavy.

She held him and took him the room. But she didn't dare touch his lightsaber, let alone take it.

And Anakin was rested onto the bed – Ahsoka felt it too intrusive into his privacy to look more and walked back up the ship to Padme… She had to pilot it now.