Star Wars: Arda Unleashed

by Lord Exar Kun

After the Arda Campaign ended in victory for the Republic and their local allies, the galaxy's eyes returned to the wider Clone Wars. However, the Dark Lord Sauron has yet to be vanquished. Now he has come to the wider galaxy free from the binds of Arda, and is ready to be unleashed upon the stars. As the Chosen One's fate, the Republic's and the Jedi Order's remains to be seen.

29. For Wrath and Ruin

Chapter 29

For Wrath and Ruin

"Senator Snopps, what a pleasant surprise that I'm able to reach you." Padmé began. Reclining herself into her seat as she beheld the holographic manifestation of the opposing Senator. An aged, but not old man. His gaze thoughtful and already eyeing Padmé with all the expected wariness of any seasoned politician. He was sat in what Padmé assumed to be his office here on Coruscant. His robes were of the night variety, clearly having been awakened from sleep. His hair a bit on the frazzled and unkempt side as well. But, even through that he steeled himself. Plastering a thin, and amenable smile to his lips as he interlocked his fingers between one another and bowed his head in greeting.

"Senator Amidala. A pleasure, my Lady. Though, you're right, it is rather late for a call such as this."

"I simply assumed you were already awake." Padmé coolly rebuffed. Feeling emboldened for no particular reason, but pressing all the same. "After all, we shouldn't fool ourselves, let alone try to be too coy at this hour, Senator. Everyone's aides have been waking everyone because the Jedi Temple is currently on fire, and under attack by security forces of the Galactic Republic. So, if I may be so bold," She was, and Padmé flicked her left hand dismissively. "Let's dispense with any feigned mannerisms regarding why we're talking to one another." To that Senator Snopps gaped ever so subtly. His lips parting slightly before he readjusted. Clearing his throat and patting his unseen knee of imagined dust, so Padmé assumed.

"Very well, my Lady. It is rather bold of you to assume I have anything in need of saying to you on matters of Galactic Security."

"I don't think so." Padmé smiled thinly. Her pulse racing as she felt a hot fire rage within her heart. "By now you must have had every Senator on the Security Council either directly message you, or have their people talk to your people. There is nothing bold in assuming commonplace political acumen. Unless you mean to say you don't find matters of Galactic Security to be of any interest to you?"

"No, that's not…" Snopps stumbled, and Padmé smiled more openly. To which the elder statesman scoffed a low chuckle. Shrugging his head and rolling his shoulders as he did. "Very well, my Lady. Yes, I am aware of the situation regarding the Jedi Temple. The whole Security Council is and by this conversation it's clear every Senator, Delegate or Representative worth a pinch of salt is aware of it. The whole galaxy is aware, I am sure. What I am curious about, is why you feel the need to contact me, madam?" Snopps wondered. His tone taking on a hint of arrogant pomp. "You are not on the Security Council. You are afforded no knowledge nor insight into our dealings regarding matters of the State. The Supreme Chancellor has the situation under control."

"Divesting any real input or power you have been granted onto someone who very plainly does not have the power afforded them must be very reassuring to your constituents." Padmé uttered her insult. Senator Snopps' brow rising in response.

"I don't-"

"Here's why I am contacting you Senator, Chairman," Padmé readjusted herself. Lowering her voice to the more notable politeness common of her reputation in the Senate. "I'm sure by now you have heard of your fellow Council members being contacted by Senators Organa and Mothma?" Snopps' brows again twitched, but this time into a furrow inwards.

"No?"

"Ah, then I see I may have overestimated how informed you are of the situation at hand, Senator." Padmé intoned. "The Chancellor has launched a coup and is attempting to kill all the Jedi before he can accomplish his direct grab of power."

"That is a wildly bold statement and assertion to make, Senator Amidala! I would be careful were I you." Snopps warned, but Padmé merely shrugged her shoulders.

"Jedi have already been attacked by elements of the local detachment of the 501st Legion here on Coruscant, Chairman. Some Jedi have even managed to escape, and detail the attack to myself and several other senators."

"What? Who?!" Snopps pressed, but Padmé shook her head.

"I can't tell you out of confidence. As you are aware, I'm sure, the statement released by the Department of Homeworld Security, all persons who are identified as or present themselves to be Jedi are to be considered dangerous. Not only will I not risk their safety, but my own."

"I can't corroborate anything you say if you won't share where you got your information from, Senator."

"So," Padmé craned her neck thoughtfully. "You question the validity of the Jedi who are under attack by elements of the 501st Legion within their Temple?"

"I...well no. I don't question that they are under attack. I question why?" He debated.

"Senator Snopps...are there security troopers outside of your home?" Padmé knowingly asserted. To which the Corulag Senator remained quiet. Again his eyes traced over Padmé. Clearly unsure what was happening here. Clearly unprepared for the Senator from Naboo's manner and tone. Most everyone had an idea of who Padmé Amidala was. Padmé knew this. She knew herself. But, tonight? Tonight she would be whoever, and however she needed to save her husband. To save her children, their future, and the Republic. She'd play the karking game, and she'd play better than anyone, so help her!

"Yes, there are security troopers outside my residence. Outside of every Security Councilors home, I am sure."

"For security purposes I am sure. The Jedi I imagine are making a concerted effort to have you killed."

"I haven't made any such assertion, my Lady."

"No, but you're complicit in your position that the Jedi deserve to be shot for...what? I don't believe the Chancellor's office has detailed why this security action is underway?"

"Not in its entirety, no." Snopps nodded.

"Ah, so we are in agreement then."

"On what?"

"That because we don't know why the 501st Legion is attacking a location on Coruscant, in Republic territory, it is legal and rightful that the Chancellor has done so, because of unstated security concerns. That, even though we do not know why; as you assert, the Chancellor and the security forces have attacked the Jedi Temple, that it must be in our best interests that he does so."

"You are twisting my words."

"No, Senator, I am reading between the lines." Padmé pressed harshly. Her brown eyes narrowing as she did. "Regardless of what you think, the reason why you and your comrades on the Security Council are being 'watched' is because there will undoubtedly be a special session of Congress called come the morning. And, spare me the presumption there won't be, Senator Snopps." Padmé leveled and she watched the older man thinly smile her way. Clearly he was both incredulous, but...impressed by her projection of control. "There, during that special session I and members of the Delegation of 2,000 will demand the Security Council invoke Contingency Order 65, removing the Supreme Chancellor from command of the Grand Army of the Republic."

"Oh?" Snopps wondered, chuckling as he did. "You and your people will? So, what is this then? Your attempt at flattery? Because if I may say so, you have done a horrid job of it thus far, my Lady."

"I wasn't aware I needed to pitch you the idea of saving our democracy from ruination." Padmé countered, and immediately she could see Snopps restrain a retort. His chin adjusting in discomfort.

"What do you want, Senator Amidala?" He finally asked her plainly.

"I want assurances here that you will vote to enact Order 65, Senator Snopps." To that the man loosed a single haughty snorting laugh.

"On what grounds?! That you believe due to unnamed and unseen Jedi I have no access to that the security actions taking place require I aid in launching a coup?!"

"It isn't a coup, Senator. Don't project what Palpatine is doing with what I am asking." Padmé now calmly rebuked. "You will do so because your vote is the only one standing in the way."

"You can't expect me to believe you have all…" Before he could finish Padmé watched as Senator's Snopps features twist. Realizing something. "That's what Senators Organa and Mothma have been calling the others about."

"Those of them as can be counted on."

"So...I am the one vote you and yours need, and this is how I am talked to? This is how I am treated, Senator Amidala?! I had expected much more from someone with your reputation and pedigree."

"I haven't it in me to negotiate with those who sit idle as their democracy plummets into despotism and coup, Senator Snopps."

"Your accusations are-"

"When the Jedi who have escaped," Padmé cut Snopps off with a darkness to her eyes. Unseen by herself, but a gravel in her throat as she glared at Snopps. "When they learn that there was one man who could have stepped in to stop their friends from being murdered – when they learn their younglings and comrades were slaughtered and that a one, Senator Zafiel Snopps, could have waylaid the slaughter, but instead chose to do nothing...well." Padmé huffed through her nostrils. "I can only imagine what those who have lost it all will think?"

"Are you threatening me, madam?" Snopps wondered incredulously once again. His tone low, and shoulders raised.

"Threatening you?" Padmé raised her brows this time. "No, I am warning you." Padmé affirmed. Her pulse racing still, her body shaking as some manner of exhilaration tinged by fear and rage coursed through her blood and bones. "Because, regardless of what you think of me, Senator Snopps, I will remember this call. I will be there at the special session come the morning. I and the whole galaxy will hear the Security Council vote to keep Chancellor Palpatine in power regardless of the chaos that then erupts in the Senate. The Jedi who live and escape this purge, because someone always does from coups and purges such as these, they will see who voted to keep him in power. Then I will make it my life's mission, short as it may be after that moment, to let every Jedi know who had the power. Who had the option but due to feckless cowardice, and obsequious obedience to a man who will line your pockets with many credits I am sure...did nothing." Padmé seethed. "I am not threatening you, Senator. I am warning you. And, by all means...if you want to see how the coup plays out, and which side means you'll get rich off of more, then do so. If you also wish to test which side will allow you to enjoy your cushy position of power the longest, also do so. I believe they call that comparing and contrasting. Or maybe realpolitik? I'm not quite sure."

"You are making a very dangerous-"

"No, Senator. No." Padmé shook her head. Pushing herself into a stand and leaning forward to her holocomm's terminal. "You are dangerously underestimating who you are talking with. You've already proven that. Clearly you don't know who I am. You don't know what I am, and if you want to test me, dare me, place yourself against me. Do so. We shall see who wins this challenge."

"I...I-" Before he could finish Padmé cut their communication. She supported herself against the table she had been sat at. Shoulders shaking. Her stomach churning and turning over. Her blood still feeling like it was pulsing as a rushing rapid on Naboo. Yet, as she loosed a shaky and stabilizing breath from past her lips she tilted her head up and felt...good. An air, and feeling of some kind of victory racing over her. Some morbid sense she was in the right. Even as she admitted to the quiet of her own thoughts she had just threatened this man's life. Had lied of about speaking with Jedi. Though such had been more a half-truth than an outright lie she thought.

"What will morality matter if we're all dead? A throne of moral self-righteousness atop a pile of bones." Padmé scoffed to herself. Shaking her head, feeling her lip twitch upward in self satisfaction. "Kriff that." It wasn't about who was right, right now. It was about who would win.

Padmé swore, she would.

---

"Master Windu!" Anakin called out to the Master of the Order as he was brought into one of many conference rooms within the temple. He looked bad. His breaths were hard and heavy. His body shaking though nobody made note of it, as the Force rippled with pain outwardly. His defenses against projection clearly waning by prolonged suffering and exertion. His tunic matted from sweat and what Anakin was sure to have been some sort of battle with Palpatine.

"Skywalker." Mace greeted as two large knights set him down along a seating platform that ran in a crescent along the whole of the room along multiple levels. At its center and at the bottom where Anakin stood with Gandalf, Galadriel, Gimli and the sons of Elrond. Along with him now were several Temple Guards, dressed in their foreboding long tunics, and passively expressionless masks, with not a word spoken by them. Rather oddly they had appeared. Their sort having fought during the main attack on the Temple by the clones. But, after his display no less than four of them had remained at Anakin's side. Anakin hadn't bothered to ask why. Figuring that, perhaps, Master Drallig had sent them his way. Regardless, they stood guarding the room. Two at the bottom with him, and two up on the higher seating levels.

"We had all thought you and the others-"

"Had been killed." Mace finished for Anakin, nodding as he did. The two knights who had brought him in turned to Anakin.

"We found him in one of the ancient access tunnels beneath the Temple."

"I can speak for myself." Mace interjected. The two knights cringing at his voice. Both apologizing as Anakin thanked and dismissed them with a slight nod of his head.

"All of us nearly did die, Skywalker." Mace kept going. His breath hitching with pain. "Master Kolar fell first. Then...then Tiin. Kit...he and I kept engaging Palpatine. You were right, of course. He was...is Sith. Powerful and skilled with a lightsaber."

"I'm sorry, Master." Anakin began, taking a seat beside Mace. "I...did...did Dooku-"

"Yes." Mace nodded. His brow furrowing and eyes creasing, but he managed to restrain whatever emotions he had there. "Kit fell. I thought he had been killed but he's alive."

"What?! Where?!" Anakin jumped at the revelation but Mace waved him down.

"He's still in the Executive building. But, there's more." Mace intoned, Anakin turning to his companions watching, and listening silently and respectfully as Master Windu recounted his ordeal. "I had managed to duel Palpatine to the ground. I had him at my mercy. That's when Dooku arrived."

"Kriff…"

"No." Mace shook his head. "He didn't intervene, if that's what you're thinking, Anakin." It had been, and Anakin was silently thankful for it. "Palpatine and he had an...an argument I guess you could call it. Dooku goaded me to kill him, and I made to." Mace admitted with hardly a sense of regret to his voice. As his shoulders tensed and his right hand fell to his ribs in pained support.

"You...went to execute him?"

"Wrong as it may have been, Anakin, I was willing to live with my actions. I feel no regrets. Now, least of all. Because, he wasn't done. He threw me and Dooku back. Engaged us both, and we managed to defeat him...kill him." As Mace uttered it, Anakin again turned to the others. Namely Gandalf. The White Wizard loosed an almost unheard groan as he and Galadriel quickly shared a look.

"He put on a ring, didn't he?" Anakin asked, and Mace eyed Anakin for a long moment. Tilting his sight onto Anakin's friend's. Probably recalling the reports he had read of Arda following Anakin and Obi-Wan's rediscovery and return to known space.

"I hadn't seen it at first. There was this...pale light. A howling scream." Mace's brow tilted in as he recalled some memory that sounded ghostly to Anakin and all those with him now. "It was dull like a sickly green hole had opened up. Palpatine stood back up. Me and Dooku had managed to each stab him. Run him through! He was...dead...dying." Mace shook his head. Wiping a sheen of pained sweat from his brow. "He stood up and he didn't have any features. More like...like a silhouette. Eyes burning hot. And something...a ring on his finger. It had these symbols on it. Red and glowing. I didn't have time to make any out. The Force thrummed. The dark side felt all encompassing in that moment."

"A ring of power." Gandalf intoned as he neared the two Jedi. "Your Chancellor Palpatine, he has somehow managed to create a ring like that of Sauron."

"It hadn't hit me until...later. But, yes. From what little I know of your world...it makes the most sense. And, yet no sense at all." Mace shook his head. "I don't know what it is, I don't know how it works, but whatever that ring did...it allowed him to get back up. As strong...maybe stronger than before!"

"I know, Master. I...we only just managed to get the clones to stop attacking the Temple."

"I'm sure there's a long story there." Mace added. A low and tired breath escaping his lips. "We don't have time for too much recounting. We have work to do, Anakin."

"Ye...yes Master…" Anakin nodded. Though he again appreciated Mace's condition. Worn, tired, battered and clearly in pain. "Master we have been working on going after Palpatine."

"We?" Mace repeated. Anakin pointed to his companions.

"Us. Those of us who were on Arda. We all have a little understanding and history with rings of power. Though admittedly less so for me."

"In one manner of speaking, Anakin." Gandalf corrected. "You held the One Ring, and let it go. There is wisdom there. Even if it is not clear."

"Well…" Anakin sighed. "I guess. But, my point is we need to get Palpatine removed from office. I've already got a plan underway."

"Give me the details."

"Master...you're hurt." Anakin rebuffed. Able to sense that Mace wanted to seamlessly take control now that he was back. "You need-"

"There isn't time for debate, Anakin!" Mace cut him off. Though his face curled in pain quickly after. "I-"

"That will be enough." Gandalf, surprisingly to Anakin, cut Master Windu off. Setting his staff down, he sat beside Mace. Who eyed him incredulously. "You are in pain, and have been through quite the ordeal. Anakin has been through no less an ordeal within this Temple. Your comrades, the Jedi, have been killed cruelly and without regard for mercy or reason. You are not alone in grief, nor hold ascendancy in will or control! Let Anakin speak, and allow me to look at your wound, and let that be both the end and start of it! Agreed?" Gandalf offered...though it was clearly more a command. Anakin watched in stunned silence as Gandalf chided, respectably still, but chided Master Windu for his manner. The Jedi in kind gawked at Gandalf for a long moment. His eyes searching Gandalf. Perhaps even reaching out in the Force? He would find the brimming presence of the White Wizard in the light if he was.

Whatever the case, Mace ultimately averted his gaze and nodded subtly. "Alright."

"Good." Gandalf hummed. "Now, move your hand here." He pushed Mace's cradling hand aside, and pressed his own against his tunic. Mace seethed, but anyone who could feel the Force felt a sudden shift occur. Gandalf closed his eyes and began uttering...something. Not an act Anakin was wholly unfamiliar with. Still...every time he saw it he was baffled by it. "This should help you." Gandalf began, opening his eyes as he did so. Mace's brow remaining furrowed but clearly seeming somewhat relieved.

"Thank you…"

"Proper treatment is still necessary, my friend. But, you should be put at some measure of ease." Gandalf informed, patting Mace's shoulder, boldly if Anakin had anything to say about it. Nonetheless, Mace nodded his thanks again. His face betraying just a hint of confusion. Unsure of what Gandalf had just done to relieve the pain. Nonetheless, he turned to Anakin. An expectant look to him now.

"What's your plan?"

"I...uh…" Anakin took a minute. Shaking himself from hearing, Mace Windu of all people, ask him what his plan was! He had to be quick...he couldn't let his own disbelief ceom off as...well like a lack of preparedness. Even through the anxiety, fear, and no small amount of exerted energy, Anakin had to remain forward, thoughtful. In charge.

"R...right. Uh, Senator Organa had come to the Temple. I had engaged, and killed uh...well do you remember Serra Keto? Master Drallig's missing apprentice?"

"Yes…?" Mace elongated as he eyed Anakin confusedly.

"Seems she had become apprenticed or...something to Palpatine. She led the clones against the Temple. Look," Anakin sighed and adjusted himself where he sat. "Whatever the reason or however – we can figure this all out later. Right now, Senator Organa is working on getting the Senate's Security Council to activate Contingency Order 65 against the Chancellor. This," Anakin motioned his hand around himself absently. "This is all because of Contingency Order 66. With it, Palpatine has instructed the Grand Army to turn on the Jedi."

"He's been planning this for a long time…" Mace uttered with a knowing huff to his tone.

"He has." Anakin nodded. His eyes narrowing angrily. Though he suppressed the steeped rage within himself. "Anyways," Anakin continued. "Bail wants to blindside the Chancellor come the morning. There has to be an emergency meeting of the Senate to justify this. Even if a sham, Palpatine will want the veneer of this being legitimate."

"Our battle…" Mace began, cutting Anakin off.

"What?"

"He will use the battle in his office as pretext. As his excuse!" Mace seethed. Though he visibly fought to restrain his wrath. The Force bubbling as he did so.

"Likely." Anakin agreed. "But, we won't let him get away with his lies for too long, Master."

"How so?"

"Bail needs the Security Council. But, if we can use something to shake the Senate while the cam droids are all broadcasting then all the better. A confession! If I can get to Palpatine, and make him admit to what he is, who he is...his plans with all of this? Then, maybe we can use that to force the Senate to at least fall into disarray. Something, anything to force the Security Council into an untenable position. Uh...politically I mean."

"You would be facing him." Mace plainly stated.

"Quite possibly. Likely even, I suppose." Anakin shrugged. "We have to take that risk. Me, Gandalf and Galadriel. They have rings of power."

"More rings?"

"Not of like make, my friend." Gandalf answered Mace. "These were forged long ago. Made without the corruption of Sauron. Who I daresay through some acquired knowledge on this Palpatine's part, must be of origin to the ring he wields. In sorcery and knowledge of some manner. This much is clear." Gandalf hummed. Lost in a thought unknown to Anakin. Though, he was quick to shake himself from it. "They have no power any longer. They've faded with the destruction of the One Ring. However, they may reignite if in the presence of another ring. We know not the power nor intent of this new ring. Regardless of it, I and the Lady are prepared to lend what power, 'magic,' to this encounter."

"It sounds like a good idea. If nothing else." Mace agreed. "But…" He trailed off. Averting his gaze from both Gandalf and Anakin.

"Master?" Anakin questioned.

"Kit." Mace answered after another heavy and thoughtful silence. "He's alive."

"Kriff!" Anakin smacked his his own forehead. "I'd already forgotten, Master. Maybe...we can-"

"No." Mace shook his head. "I mean, yes. We need to get Kit out, but...he's inside of the Executive. He's hurt, but...Skywalker," Mace adjusted himself and looked to Anakin pointedly. "He can access a security terminal there in the Executive. If we're lucky they haven't scrubbed their cams or hidden all traces of what actually happened there! If we can get any recordings from his office then we can present those!"

"What if he doesn't allow recordings in his office, Master?" Anakin questioned. Even if he did really like the idea. In principle at least.

"If I and the other masters were the pretext, and I think we were, he has to have recordings activated within his office. At least for this past day if no other. All we need is the beginning of our interaction. He claimed control over the Senate, and launched himself at us. Only a Jedi or a Sith would do so. We stated his arrest on record on behalf of the Senate. Some will cynically look at that and claim we're there to launch a coup, an assassination, whatever have you."

"But the point isn't to convince everyone." Gandalf seemed to intuit from what Mace was saying. "The goal, as you said Anakin, is to confuse these senators. These men and women who would help in deciding Palpatine's fate."

"If this plan of yours is the way we choose to deal with this." Mace finished with an absent wave of his hand towards Anakin.

For his part, Anakin remained quiet. Turning from Mace and allowing his thoughts to wander over what the Master had offered. If what Mace had said was true, and Anakin didn't doubt him, Master Fisto could potentially gain access to a security station inside the Executive Annex. If so, whatever the feed or recording they found – it could prove useful in at least making the senators uncomfortable come the morning. Which was the point. Anakin wasn't naive, nor stupid. The senators in Palpatine's pocket; which he only today truly believed to be a thing...or problem...nonetheless, those beings would be live for all the galaxy to see. Palpatine would want to make a show. So, Anakin believed and so did Senator Organa. If they showed some evidence at least questioning Palpatine's declaration or case involving this Jedi attack predicating Order 66, some senators may feel uncomfortable being so openly subservient to him. Which could pressure the Security Council further. That was the point. But, Kit was injured…

"We need a distraction." Anakin announced, turning back to Mace.

"What do you mean?" Mace wondered.

"Master Fisto." Anakin kept on, approaching and kneeling himself beside Mace. "If he is able and willing to get these recordings we can't have him hobbling through the Executive. He'd be picked off by the security forces inside the building. Clones, the Senate Guard, those crimson robed guards, anyone and everyone would shoot him."

"Ah, I know this one well!" Anakin glanced over shoulder as Gimli approached. "Draw the eye of the enemy, and make him blind to all else that moves!"

"Well," Anakin smiled thinly. "Aragorn had a good idea then." He turned back to Mace. "It's a good idea now too. Palpatine will figure out soon enough that the attack here has stalled. We need that evidence to upset the Senate." Anakin intonated. Mace nodding as he did.

"But, we don't have enough Jedi to launch any sort of coordinated attack on the Executive. Doing so would undermine the entire narrative at that."

"True." Anakin agreed standing himself up. "Which is why it won't be Jedi causing the distraction. Well, just one anyways." Anakin smiled again. Mace searching his expression from where he sat.

"You're going." He stated knowingly. "He's more powerful now than he was mere hours ago, Anakin. He'll-"

"True enough, Master." Anakin cut Mace off. "But, I don't think he'd kill me. At least not right away. If what Dooku said was true, and he's been after me for years...well I think he'll want to have a nice chat. Considering everything that's happened today. Plus, Kit could use backup if he gets caught. We need to formulate an escape for him."

"You can't give yourself over to him." Mace cautioned, and to some deeply suppressed part of Anakin, Mace's seemingly genuine concern touched him. "I don't know everything that's happened since my leaving, but it's obvious from what I have heard and felt that you have been instrumental in stopping this massacre from devolving too far, Anakin."

"Maybe so." Anakin nodded. "But, I don't mean to die. Not today, Master." Anakin turned to Gandalf. "I'll be bringing some backup with me too."

"Ah!" Gimli chortled with a clap of his hands. "Now this I like, laddie!" The dwarf cackled. His presence in the Force burning hot for battle.

"This confrontation is coming sooner than I would have thought." Gandalf noted. "I'm not quite so sure we're ready to face this foe."

"Ready? No, probably not." Anakin agreed.

"But, face them we must." Gandalf knowingly intuited. Nodding slowly, knowingly. But, showing none of his prior conviction to have been shaken. "Very well, lad. If this is what you need to do, I shall help you. As best I can."

"Aye, so shall I laddie!" Gimli added grasping at his newly acquired blaster.

"We shall be of help, of course, Anakin." Elladan spoke for both him and Elrohir. Whom nodded beside his twin brother.

"Good...I'll need you. All of you." Anakin smiled. "Not just because I need help...that's a given. But, you folk are off-worlders. The clones inside the Executive may be unsure how to respond to you at first. Though that will change quickly once they're given the order. Nonetheless, I know all of you can fight. Even if you've not used blasters before."

"They're not quite so difficult to understand the basics of, laddie. Even these elvish princelings will prove worthy I feel!"

"Funny, Master dwarf." Elrohir smirked. He then turned to Galadriel stood off tot he side of the room. Her eyes still scanning the endlessly shifting holographic images of the Temple and its many floors and errors occurring across it. "What about you, Grandmother? Will you come with us?" Elrohir asked, causing Galadriel to shift. Looking to him and his brother, before to Anakin and Gandalf.

"I shall join you, yes. Perhaps we may yet discover the true strength of this Chancellor and his ring." She stated. Though Anakin suspected her mind was elsewhere. With how everything was happening tonight he wouldn't blame her for having frayed thoughts.

"Good." Anakin nodded, mostly to himself. "Now, Master can you contact Kit?" Anakin turned to Mace. Who seemed to study Anakin's off-world friends. Probably judging him for bringing them with him. But, luckily for Anakin, Mace didn't say anything. Instead he just painfully sifted through his tunic and pulled his comlink out.

"He's on my personal channel. Just…" Mace intoned and activated the communicator. "Kit? Kit, are you there?" They all waited as the comlink remained quiet for a time…

---

"Kit? Kit, are you there?" Kit's large eyes fluttered open. A sharp pain rattled his chest as he sucked in a breath. He repressed the sensation and winced. Shifting uncomfortably where his body had been cramped and jammed into this service vent. His comlink rung in his head. The sound of Master Windu's voice reaching him.

"Kriff…" He cursed under his breath. Reaching down where he had let the comlink fall to the shaft floor beside him.

"Kit?" Mace's voice questioned from the opposing side. Kit realizing he left it on two-way communication. He checked at his sides. Down the shaft, and then out towards the hallway beyond the shaft. He didn't see or hear anyone moving in either direction. Though the hallway clearly concerned him more. The Force came to Kit, and he used it to release the seething burning pain in his chest that radiated out as prickling malice. But, he also reached out and felt around himself. Still sensing a flurry of motion and feelings. Countless bodies and beings moving through the Annex with raised attention and adrenaline. Clones and security personnel as all hell broke loose across Coruscant. From what Kit had been told and heard from Mace.

"This is Kit." He finally answered bringing the little metal cylinder to his face. Grunting and seething breaths from his nostrils. "Did you make it back to the Temple, Master?"

"You're still alive." Mace retorted. Though Kit knew him well enough to know he was relieved. Even if he sounded deadpan.

"More or less." Kit smiled to himself as he answered.

"Good...very good. And, yes I made it back to the Temple, Kit. A lot is going on and we don't have time to explain everything, but I'm here with Anakin."

"Good to hear you're still alive, Skywalker." Kit genuinely interjected.

"Same for you, Master." Anakin's voice, a bit further way replied. "However, me and Master Windu have a rather big favor to ask of you."

"I'm feeling a bit favored out, if I'm being honest." Kit tried to remain jovial. Though a sudden sharp burning pain rippled over his chest and he seethed. Forcing the pain form him into the Force. "But...but go on and ask." Kit managed after the vibrating prickling burning subsided some.

"We know you're in a bad spot, Master." Anakin added. "But, I and Master Windu think we have a way to try and help stop this purge. And, a way to get you out."

"All ears, Skywalker." Kit replied as he fought back the pain some more. Resting his head to the cold ventilation wall.

"We need you, if you can, to access a security station there in the Executive Annex. Find if the Chancellor had security cams or something setup in his office, and copy over the beginning of your confrontation with him. Yours and the other masters. If we can get that evidence out, we can use it to try and force the Senate to stop this attack on the Jedi." As Anakin finished Kit sat there momentarily perplexed. His eyes closing as he let the idea sit on his mind. Idly glancing to the hallway and thinking about if...could..how...everything and anything.

"That's a…" Kit stopped himself shaking his head. "That's a tall order."

"We know. But, I and some friends will come to the Annex. We're going to cause a distraction for you. And, if we're lucky, help get you out of there."

"How bad are things out there?" Kit interjected. The silence that followed after basically answering him.

"Pretty bad, Master. Lots of Jedi are dead. A lot of clones too." Anakin answered for Mace.

"Would any security station here have that kind of security clearance?" Kit wondered.

"Not just any one." Mace offered. "However, if you can find a hub inside of the Executive it would have access to any key terminal. With the chaos happening today if you manage to get a hold of security personnel you could compel them to...help you."

"Compulsion huh?" Kit smirked to himself.

"With everything that's happening, I don't see what a little intimidation or mind trickery could harm." Mace flatly and coolly offered up. And, if Kit were being fair, he had a point. This was life and death. Coup, purge and survival. Not the time to stand on the high ground and allow others to die for a sense of moral superiority. And, it wasn't as if Jedi didn't do as much on 'normal' missions regardless.

"Wh…" Kit began but stopped himself. Smacking the back of his head into the vent wall again. Every fiber of his logical being telling him this was a dumb idea! But, another part of him...wondering if it was possible. Kriff, it sounded possible.

Anakin and Mace were not the types to come up with plans that were poorly thought out on the surface. Even if done on a timer so to speak. Kit knew he could trust them. And, from how Mace sounded and felt through the Force; what little Kit could glean, it seemed as though Anakin was taking the lead here. Kit couldn't know what had happened, but whatever it was...he didn't envy anyone who had been stuck within the Temple in the last few hours.

"Kriff…" Kit shook his head. Eyes tilting up as he sucked in a breath and forced the words from his mouth that followed. "When could you begin this distraction, Anakin?" He asked at last.

"I can get to the Executive in less than fifteen."

"And, what would this distraction be?" Kit also wondered.

"Palpatine won't ignore me. I'll make sure of it. Nothing you need worry about, Master."

"Sounds a little ominous." Kit managed to force a chuckle out. Before he steadied himself with a shaky breath he hadn't realized to be in his chest. "Alright. I'll keep this channel open. When you get here, activate the com. I'll hear the receiver ping and I'll know you're here."

"Don't do anything stupid, Kit." Mace interjected.

"This is all a little stupid, Master." Kit flatly retorted. "But, I do need to move sooner rather than later. Don't worry though." Kit grinned to himself. "I'm capable in a scrape."

"That's the worst assurance I've ever heard."

"Talk later, Master." Kit managed another weak chuckle to Mace. Turning the comlink off of the two-way. Adjusting himself and crawling painfully, horrendously out of the vent. Behind the same large pillar that blocked eyesight of it.

Kit shakily pushed himself up. Gripping the pillar with both arms slightly wrapped around it to steady himself. Calling on the Force, and wrapping it around him. Bidding a silent plea to the Living Force to give him strength as he peeked around the pillar. Seeing no one in sight. Glancing eyes about for security cams. Knowing generally where they were in this building from many prior advisement's and missions regarding the Annex.

"Okay…" Kit intoned. And, with a flash of motion like a blur, he sped forward with the Force at his feet. Moving across the hall. Dashing down and around a corner. Around another pillar. He'd need to get his bearings. He needed to find a security hub.

"And they're not exactly on a map." Kit intoned to himself.

---

"Halt!" The clone roared from where he and what looked to be a squad of his fellow troopers were. All of them lined up along the massive walkways leading into the Temple District. Crates and emptied ammunition canisters being set up as cover for the troopers. Further back landed LAAT's along the walkways also set up as barricades and defensive positions. Whilst further up onto the plaza that surrounded the Temple on all sides clones were creating further makeshift defensive positions.

"Rank and number, trooper!" The man, simple in look, blonde haired, older and dark eyed addressed the trooper. His clothing was gray, a suit common of his branch. He wore dark gloves along his hands, and had a cap perfectly set atop his head. Whilst behind him stood a small squad of CSF police forces. Dressed in their own uniforms, looking distinctly uncomfortable by the sight of clones demanding they remain where they were. While this man, a Corporal with the Security Bureau, stood idling. Glaring at the troopers.

"Trooper!" He called again, and loudly. "What is your rank and number?!"

"We are not authorized to dispense such information. Now step back! If you approach you will be fired upon!" The trooper howled back with a bark of military trained authority. His troopers all remained steely and unmoved. Some crouched, others stood by light posts and buildings that led their way to the Temple District. The Security Officer sneered, but turned on his heel and marched away from the troopers. Back behind him were a few parked CSF speeders, a horde of men stood beyond and set up a barricade for any nosy civilians. Though most had followed the declaration by the Department of Homeworld Security and moved indoors. The CSF along with security personnel of the Security Bureau itself were all now being blocked from moving into the temple District. It had begun happening more than half an hour ago now. Nobody knew what the kriff was going on.

"This is Corporal Ilarik, I need to speak with Director Vandron." The Corporal, Tass Ilarik announced after he approached a holocomm terminal. Easily keying in for the Security Bureau headquarters. The whole Bureau and all its personal placed on Tactical Alert across Coruscant. Nobody was getting sleep, and anyone who had been was shaken awake for duty. Everyone had heard of it. The Jedi had finally done it. They had launched a rebellion. A coup! Tass stood tall, planting hands behind his back. Adjusting himself as the operator told him to wait. Because he, like so many others, would not allow this to stand.

The military, the Security Bureau, Republic Intelligence, CSF and even the good common citizenry in COMPOR, would not allow this! The Jedi may have gotten away with much in years before. But, they would not simply be allowed to take control of the Republic for their own power hungry ends. The Supreme Chancellor...the man had tried to stop this. Tass and everyone like him knew that the time had come. The Jedi were no longer allies of the Republic. No longer working on behalf of the people or the Republic. They were out for power. The mighty had fallen, and fallen far.

However, this sudden action by the 501st Legion was alarming. Security officers and police forces all along the outside of the Temple District were now facing off against a far more heavily armed, and well trained force. No longer seemingly assaulting the Temple. Cleansing it of its rot within. Rather...guarding it? Nobody knew for sure. Neither Tass nor any of his many colleagues here in the field. After all, they couldn't get into the area to see what was happening! The Jedi Temple still burned. Thick smoke stacks billowed upwards and choked the sky lanes while orange and red fires illuminated the whole building in a deathly glow. Yet, no more were there sounds of blaster fire, explosions or the distant buzzing hums of lightsabers. Though, those truly would've been harder to hear, regardless. It made no sense…

"Corporal Ilarik," He turned his gaze back to the holocomm as a woman, very evidently not Director Vandron, came into view as the expected blue shimmering apparition expected of the machine. "I am Major Oniye Namada. Director Vandron is busy attending to matters of state. You may relay your report to me." This woman, dark eyed, dark toned, her hair put up in some manner of a messy bun sat underneath her officer's cap, and dressed in a pristine white uniform was much like Tass. To the point, stone-faced, and commanding. He respected that about any of his comrades. Though, he still truly would've liked to relay this development to the Director.

"Major." Tass greeted. "I do not know if you've been properly informed. However, we have a situation occurring at the Jedi Temple."

"Are you referring to the insurrection? Or the military units refusal to act?" She somewhat snidely interjected.

"Ah, then you have been informed, ma'am." Tass coolly nodded. "Then I shall relay my own update of the matter. Yes ma'am, I am referring to the Legion refusing to not only advance on the Temple, but block any movements by units not associated with the 501st Legion. Other Security officers on the ground here with me are experiencing the same across the entire zone leading into the Temple District. Since you are more appraised of the matter than I, I presume, have new orders been issued regarding the matter?" Tass wondered with a quizzical tilt of his head.

"Elements of the Security Bureau and Republic Intelligence are aware of the situation, Corporal." Major Namada offered. "You and what security or police forces you have with you are to maintain your distance from the clones. Do not engage them, nor press them for information. It would appear they are refusing contact with any person. Both on the ground and over holocomm or comlink."

"Are we aware as to why, ma'am?"

"No, Corporal." Namada answered truthfully. "The Security Bureau is extending its Tactical Alert to include elements of other operational clone units on-world. Over the next hour or so you shall begin receiving clone detachments from various legions or corps. Do not interfere with their operations unless otherwise ordered by the Bureau, Corporal."

"Understood ma'am." Tass nodded.

"Furthermore, Corporal, whatever free elements of the CSF you have available should instead be directed towards the surrounding outlying areas around the Temple District itself. Enemy elements and that of the Jedi Rebellion may be attempting to escape during this current communications fallout."

"Of course, Major." Tass nodded. "I'll have several squads sent out immediately."

"Good. Any and all persons who present themselves as members of the Jedi Order, or those who seek to hide their affiliation are to be arrested if possible. However, deadly force has been authorized. As I'm sure you're aware, Corporal."

"Explicitly, ma'am."

"Good." Major Namada nodded. "Get to work Corporal. The Bureau shall keep you appraised as need be." She ended her communication. Leaving Tass to turn and activate his comlink to an open channel. Immediately hit by orders and requests for further orders by various other members of the Security Bureau and likely by the CSF as well. He turned his head towards the walkway leading to the Jedi Temple. Noting the additional approach of what looked to be a company of clones. Taking up further defensive postures and positions. A harrowing sight for himself. Though he did his best to hide such a fact.

"Sergeant!" He bellowed turning to his gathered squad of CSF police officers. "Send out patrols along this sector up top and below. Begin searching the area for any persons who present themselves as Jedi. Or, attempting to hide their affiliation with."

"Ye...yes, sir." The lightly armored human male nodded. His confusion with what was happening evident. The look of his men also showing through even those who had masks on their faces. None but those who knew...well knowing why the Jedi were being rightly persecuted.

"Deadly force authorized, Sergeant. Now, go!" Tass further bellowed with a wave of his hand. The CSF meandering for a moment longer before the Sergeant began mumbling the orders as best he knew. Tass turned his back to them. Clasping his hands behind his back. Stood tall, prim and proper, wearing his uniform. His small silhouette stood against the walkway lined with clones and a burning Temple beyond him.

---

"Mistress Padmé, we've returned!" Threepio announced as he came into the apartment from the veranda where a shuttle idled. Padmé came into the view of the veranda. Her brow furrowing slightly as Threepio came close followed out of the shuttle by three persons. She recognized all three, but she didn't know one of them very well.

"Threepio. Good to see you. Who are our guests?"

"Hmm, oh yes. You remember Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took."

"Hello miss!" Pippin greeted with a hearty wave.

"Miss." Merry bowed. Padmé smiling their way as she dipped her head. Making sure to mask her anxieties and fears as best she could even as the orange glow of the Temple still showed in the distance.

"Ah and this is Mistress Tauriel, my Lady." Threepio introduced the tall woman. Clad in her usual green attire, with her long reddish-brown hair hung low to her back. She greeted Padmé with a wave of her hand from her chest.

"We only met briefly before, my Lady. Your husband sent us here to be with you and your children."

"Aye!" Pippin interjected. "You needn't worry about her or anyone in the Delegation knowing about you and Anakin, miss. Everyone knows. Anakin sent us here to help keep watch over you considering all the madness happening out there."

"That's right." Merry nodded.

"Bail told me that you lot had been with Anakin." Padmé smiled. Allowing a hint of her worry to poke through the carefully constructed facade. "But...I don't know what...I mean Anakin would…"

"Ah you mean the whole fighting business." Merry intuited with a slight smirk. "You may not think it, miss Padmé, but me and Pippin know our way around a fight."

"Oh yes, quite a bit of it in fact. Certainly more so than many hobbits." Pippin agreed.

"I don't doubt it." Padmé smiled. "I just don't see how I could be in…" Padmé began, but her mind flashed with thoughts that hit her seemingly from the ether. Palpatine...the man would use any tactic to suppress any moves made against him. He would attack the Jedi. Cordon off the senators of the Security Council. But...did he know? Her eyes darkened, and she averted her gaze from the others pondering before she looked back at her guests.

"Did Anakin state whether or not Palpatine knew about his and my marriage?"

"In not so many words, my Lady." Tauriel answered. Padmé only then noting the elven woman; as she understood her to be, carrying a blaster.

"I see." Padmé nodded. "Then I suppose Anakin knows what he's doing." Padmé smiled. Her own pulse racing just a bit harder as she realized more fully she was in more danger than she had initially thought. Her children were in more danger than originally thought. It made her...angry. Seething, dark anger. She felt her breath hitch, but she didn't let it be heard, and suppressed it.

"Do um...do you know how to use that, my Lady?" Padmé wondered pointing to Tauriel's blaster.

"I was shown very quickly by Anakin how to operate this weapon. That, and we have a dwarf with us who is very quick to learn the use of such machines." Tauriel's eyes glinted almost mischievously. Allowing Padmé to smirk and feel a hint of relief fall over her.

"That Gimli fellow?"

"That's him!" Pippin snickered.

"I see." Padmé chuckled. "Well, I'm glad you three are here. If Anakin thought it necessary then I'm sure it is. But, since that's the case…" Padmé strolled away from them. Still regaled in her nightgown, she knelt beside one of her sofas, and pressed a hidden latch on the underside of it. A hiss sounded and a compartment hidden in the side of the sofa opened revealing no less than four blaster pistols. Like those commonly found on Naboo. The ELG-3A blaster pistol.

"Take these, Pippin, Merry." Padmé offered coming to a stand.

"Ah, I had hoped to try one of these out." Merry took the weapon carefully. Whilst Pippin shook the metal device in his hands.

"Be careful with those please." Padmé instructed. "The last thing I want to explain to Anakin after this mess...hopefully gets taken care of, is that any of you got hurt because you weren't careful."

"Oh, we will be, my Lady." Merry assured. Turning to Pippin as he tilted his blaster towards the roof holding it in both hands. "Pippin!"

"Oh, sorry! Yes, careful miss!" Pippin nodded vehemently. Nearly dropping the pistol as he did. Padmé shaking her head while Tauriel frowned behind the hobbits.

"Okay...crash course then." Padmé intuited and smirked. "Threepio," She turned to the golden droid. "Go tend to the twins. Make sure they're safe and move them as quietly as you can from their room into the closet in the guest room."

"The closet, mistress?"

"Yes." Padmé nodded. Her eyes set and fiery, thought unseen by the others. "Places with as little window access will be best. Get them inside the closet and you wait with them. Don't make any sounds, as best you can Threepio and don't come out unless I, and only I tell you otherwise. Understood?"

"Um...yes mistress, at once. Goodness…" Threepio mumbled worriedly. Turning to do as Padmé ordered. She turned to the veranda watching the shuttle break away. Assuming Artoo had to still be in there driving the shuttle for them. As the little droid had yet to appear and she knew Anakin wouldn't trust just anyone to fly to her apartment directly.

"Alright. Now you three." Padmé addressed the hobbits and elf. "If you're going to use these things, you should learn how to actually use them. I'm not what you'd call an expert, per se." Padmé intoned, though her mind flashed to the many...many instances of her having to use a blaster in her life. "But, I do have a fair bit of experience with them. So, let's get started. First we'll look at the safeties." Padmé began teaching. Her mind flashing to all the chaos of the night. How this seemed...almost comical. But, nothing was off limits it seemed.

So, for her safety, and that of her children, she'd show these three how to use blasters. Wondering if they would have need to use them. A small part of her daring Palpatine to test her…

---

"All summons demanding every available Senator and Representative attend the session have been sent, Master." Mas Amedda noted. His small shimmering blue form stood atop Palpatine's desk. At the front of the room two crimson clad guards stood like statues guarding the main entrance. Whilst four more were scattered across the rest of his office. The same office that still bore the sight of the battle that had happened here hours prior. While small droids attended to the open and shattered viewport glass. Cleanup already underway for the Supreme Chancellor.

"Good. I don't want anything getting in the way of the Declaration, Amedda." Palpatine intoned. "Have the guard within the Senate Rotunda doubled. No...tripled." Palpatine smirked darkly. His shimmering eyes dancing in the ravenous darkness that engulfed and surrounded him. The yellow of them shining like lights in the dark sat beneath the shadowy hood covering his brow. "I want every one of the Senators to have guards stationed at the entrances of their pods. I want them to know the Republic has their security in mind. That we will watch them. We are watching them."

"Of course, Excellency." Amedda bowed his horned head.

"Excellent. Keep me appraised, Amedda. It will be a long day come the morning." Palpatine noted, flicking his hand. Using the Force freely to shut the comlink off. No longer having to nor caring to watch every little motion or action he took with the Force.

However, Palpatine was on alert. The Force rippled and growled in the dark of his office. The ring sat upon his finger still shone the crimson crawling runes of words unknown to him. He found himself looking to them and wondering what they meant when his mind had nothing else to distract it. Palpatine was sure he needed to explore the powers and functions of this ring. But, that was not what had put him on alert. Indeed he found the ring mostly innocuous since he had put it on his finger. Save for the aforementioned call to attention it seemed to have on him.

There had been a great rumble in the Force. Not unlike he had felt months ago when Anakin and his Master had been lost on Arda. The rumble to life of light and power. The Force had echoed even across the vastness of the stars. Much as he had reached out to touch that world, Arda. Much as Sauron had rumbled in response back to him. His darkness echoing over all of Coruscant. Anakin had done much the same, but it had been steeped in light.

"Oneness. A curious thing." Palpatine intoned to himself. Ignoring the watchful, guarded presences of the guards. They were more trophies than true guards. Useful, but to totally necessary where Palpatine knew his power to be of greater use and capability. Nonetheless, they much as the whole of the Government Sector and especially the Executive Annex were on high alert.

This presence though, that was what concerned him. He had felt it explode into being an hour or so ago. The dark pungent odor within the Force that was Sauron seemed to have retreated. A blinding light of Oneness had shone out and Palpatine recognized the underlining power and being within it as the Force had announced it to his senses. Anakin had managed to once more delve into the Force so deeply he had become One with it. Oneness without death...not a feat many Jedi were known to have accomplished. Let alone a Sith. Were Plagueis still alive, Palpatine knew his old Master would be fretting. Wondering what this meant? Even in his cold so called calculations of the Force, there had always been a part of Plagueis that was, for lack of a better term, superstitious.

Both of them had seeded the Force with the dark side. And, so the Force answered their interjection with a 'Vergence.' With Anakin Skywalker. Palpatine wasn't sure if he was as disbelieving in the concepts of the Living Force as Plagueis had been. Rather, Palpatine, Sidious, felt there was room for a conscious thought, but for the freedom of one's own will to subsume the thought, mind or will of some cosmic perception the Force may have had.

Besides, already the Force's will could be and had been undermined. If Anakin was meant to be the answer to the actions he and Plagueis had committed, then the Force's answer was anemic at best. Anakin had proven to be easily manipulated. He could be used to commit terrible, so called, acts against those who either did or did not deserve it. He could kill, and kill easily. He could call upon and fall to the rapturous temptations of the dark side. If the Force had a will, then it was a will, but not an imposition of said will. It could be turned against. It could be fought against. It could be subsumed by a greater will. One with the power to enact said will. Palpatine was that will. He was that power.

It brought a slight smirk to his now freely shown face. Lined in the gray skinned marks of his flesh. Tinged ever so slightly by the lightning reflected by poor Master Windu. He was free. Palpatine was free, and his will be done.

An alarm rung out. Palpatine tilted his head back as the suddenness of the reverberation assaulted his ears. He narrowed his eyes and hummed in dissatisfaction. His guards all jolted to even greater attention. The four in the room proper closing in and forming a sort of disjointed semicircle ahead of him and his desk whilst the two at the entrance turned and stood facing the doorway.

Without prompt Palpatine snapped his fingers along his desk and called up the security station nearest his office. Within a few seconds of doing so, hearing the idle chime of the holocomm a figure appeared. One of countless clones in their crimson coated armor.

"Why is their a security alert in the Executive Annex, trooper?" Palpatine plainly wondered without introduction or niceties.

"Chancellor, sir!" The trooper saluted quickly. "A Jedi has been spotted inside of the Executive, sir! Making his way on one of the lower levels. A team of security troopers have already been killed."

"How do you know it's a Jedi?" Palpatine asked plainly.

"Lightsaber marks on the dead, sir. One of them sent an emergency broadcast just as he was killed, sir."

"So, you've lost sight of the Jedi? I presume." The Chancellor coolly intuited and the trooper clearly fumbled for a moment for an answer.

"Ye...yes sir. We presume the Jedi to be moving through the ventilation system. We've found a chute that's been pried open. We're going to begin sending units into the vent systems, along with security droids to drive the Jedi-"

"What level?"

"Sir?" The clone wondered confusedly.

"What level was this Jedi last spotted on?"

"The thirtieth, sir." The clone finally answered.

"Have all security units inside of the Executive form up along main exits. Have all security droids activated and flush the vent systems, as planned trooper. I shall come attend to this matter, myself." Palpatine intoned pushing himself up from the desk.

"But, sir-"

"That will be all, trooper." Palpatine ended the call. Reaching out through the Force as he did so. Sensing adrenaline, some small measure of renewed chaos within the whole of the vast Executive complex. The echoes of dead and confused in the further reaches of the building...but not too far. Palpatine hummed at that. The thirtieth floor wasn't too far down from his office.

He idly tilted his head to his adjoined work area and that hallway. A thought coming to him. Lost in the hard fought duel and battle that had come before. In all the moves and movements made in the proceeding hours.

"How many corpses have been cleaned off these floors?" Palpatine asked the nearest guard.

"Two, your Excellency." A muted, but husky voice replied without turning to him.

"Their species?"

"An iktotch and zabrak, Chancellor."

"No nautolan?" To that the guards seemed momentarily confused. Just to then prickle in the Force that they understood what Palpatine already did.

"No, Chancellor."

"Send out an alert. Master Kit Fisto is alive and inside my place of residence." Palpatine seethed and rounded his desk. "All of you come with me." He ordered simply, and authoritatively. The dark side bristling, the Force flowing into his ring and out in a miasma of darkness that coated and flowed into Sidious.

None of the guards would dare challenge his orders. Even if they secretly believed them to be dangerous. They followed. As one of them made the message known through the Executive Annex. Kit Fisto was the Jedi.

Another rebel in need of liquidation.

---

(Before)

Kit moved down the current hall he was in. Dashing right behind another pillar that ran down the length of the corridor. He sighed a heavy breath. Resting his brow against the cool pillar as he did so. His chest burning hot. Small trickles of blood managing to escape from the otherwise cauterized wound across his person. Breaking through charred flesh and scabbing skin. He called on the Force. Had been since he had begun moving. Pulling on it and begging it for strength. Centering himself was difficult through the torture, but he did what he could. He did his best.

He pulled his face back from the pillar. Loosing a shaky breath. Tilting himself left and back behind himself. Noting the uncomfortable silence of the hallway as he did. The idle whir of machinery and electricity that hummed behind the walls and in the lights that lined the building. He turned back right and angled himself to peek around the side of the pillar. Seeing a far off doorway at the end of the hall. On either side of it was another hallway. Kit didn't have the whole Annex printed to memory. But, if he had his bearings, he believed he was near the center of the building. He had been moving deeper, so he thought. Based on the holographic maps that were placed in certain hallways he also believed he was going deeper. If so, he remembered that security stations usually held their command hubs nearer said center. Many were sprinkled about the building, but the hubs were small command centers. Usually full of security personnel...which made finding one seem a bit less enjoyable. But, he would do as asked. If the Order had any hope of surviving this night.

"Okay...okay let's go." Kit ushered himself. Once more pulling the Force to him and thrusting himself forward around the pillar. Dashing from one to the other. Remaining as invisible as he could. Reaching the end of the hall he planted his back to the nearest wall. Peeking his head around right down the hall his back faced. Down it he saw another door at the end, before the halls made another turn both left and right.

While in front of him...well left out of the hall he was in, the hall deviated at the right. Which kit believed led him deeper into the Annex. Which, he thought was good. He was close. So he hoped, and so the Force bid him. He thought. Everything was a bit nauseous and woozy as of late.

"Alright." He sighed and ran forward dashing as a blur of motion once more. He ducked low, hopefully out of sight of any cams scanning the walls. Until he reached the end of the hall and smoothed himself around its corner into the new hall. He reached out with the Force as he did so. Feeling the myriad assortment of presences and beings all across the Annex. Though, specifically he sensed someone close. Or a group of people.

Kit grasped at his lightsaber from on his belt. Thanking himself for having the good mind to keep it with him even after that...woman came into Palpatine's office. He shook his head. He couldn't think of that right now. He moved ahead. Slowly now. Continuing to duck himself into a partial dip at his waist. Which burned his entire chest fiercely, but through seething grit teeth he released as much as he could into the Force. Enduring the pain as he reached a door on his right.

"Sweep the halls."

"Aye, sir." Kit paused turning around as he heard the distinct voices of accented clones.

"Kriff…" He cursed. Wondering if they were sweeping for him? No...no they'd be more rushed. The Force would...well he hoped it would be more urgent in his mind. Kit pressed the access panel on the door and it slid open. He entered it, and used the Force to pull it back closed to soften the sound of it doing so. Kit pressed himself along the side of the doorway. Using the Force to hold the door down as he did. He fought to control his breathing and the pain. As the rustling of boots along the metal and carpet beyond the door slowly sounded and got nearer. They were idly bantering about something. Kit couldn't tell nor did he try to. Instead he waited.

Finally the door's access panel beeped. Kit grit his teeth and fought with the gears as it made to open. The grinding of metal sounding as it tried to open before stopping and releasing. Kit narrowed his gaze his breathing intensifying and a sweaty palm gripped his lightsaber hilt. The door chimed again. Again it tried to slide open. Again Kit used the Force to pin the gears and stop them from doing so. The door managed to grind itself open an inch, but again it shut as its internal sensors realized it wasn't opening. Sounding out on either side with a ping of error.

"...not opening…" Kit managed to make out from one of the clones. One of them was confusedly speaking to another. That much Kit could make out with the sense through the Force. They stood there for a moment longer. Kit wasn't sure what for. But, in a few more seconds he heard them walk away. He remained pensively stood against the wall. Not daring to release his hold on the door. Imagining they would somehow know he had. Opening it then to rain bolts across his body and kill him! Paranoid thoughts, he knew they were.

He wasn't sure how long he held himself there. Short and silent breaths the only thing escaping him before he relaxed. Easing his unknowingly tensed shoulders and releasing the many rigid muscles laden through his body.

Only then did Kit look inside the room proper. Realizing he was inside of a droid closet. Not a small closet neither. An entire room lined with six docks, three on either side, for astromech droids. While there was a small platform on the ground at the far end of the room for mouse droids to station themselves and recharge. Along with two small ports on the wall on either side of the platform for the mouse droids to enter and exit. Far too small for him to use...not unless he cut a hole in the wall with his lightsaber. But, that was a bit much. There were currently two astromechs in their docks. One on the far right and one in the nearest left dock. While no mouse droids were to be seen.

"Luck, or will of the Force?" Kit wondered to himself. Snorting lowly and some would say un-Jedi Master like. Not that anyone was here to judge as he approached the nearest droid on the left and patted its dome. Almost like knocking on a door. The droid sprung to life. It looked to be an R3 unit. Its domed reddish tinged decal head turned to Kit and the droid whirred quizzically.

"Hey there. Mind telling me where we are?" Kit wondered the droid chirped in binary in response. "No, I know we're in the Executive Annex. I mean where in the Annex? I seem to have gotten lost. I need to get to the security hub station on this level. If you can help me out with directions I'd really appreciate it, friend." Kit bid with as genuine a smile he could force onto his face. Idly checking over shoulder as he scanned his surroundings within the Force.

Again, the droid whirred and beeped. Moving out of its dock. The wheels sounded as the droid rolled itself over to a small square port in the wall beside the door Kit had come in through. Kit followed with a slight hobble to his gait. The droid came to a stop and positioned itself straight. Its computer interface arm extended out from the front of its cylindrical chassis and thrust into the port. The R3 whirred happily. Turning its domed head to the right near Kit and in front of the door. Kit stepped away and the droid's optic eye flashed. A shimmering blue projection of the entire Executive Annex came into view. A red tracing line formed within it, and the R3 zoomed in. Showing the storage closet it and Kit were in on the thirtieth level. Whilst also showing that down the hall, take a left and then a right you'd reach the main command center. A large circular room filled with computers, monitoring stations and...security guards.

"I'm close...very close." Kit sighed, planting his right hand along his wound gingerly as it rattled through him. Kit mused, but as he did the R3 whirred confusedly.

"I...it's a long story friend. How long have you been offline?" The droid noted it had been so for the whole day. Not on call it would seem. "I see." Kit nodded. "Well it would appear...that a coup of sorts has begun here on Coruscant. The clones and the Chancellor are attacking the Jedi." Kit noted, not really a lie either. The R3 in response began chirping wildly and confusedly.

"Whoa, hold on!" Kit urged as it seemed to momentarily...panic for lack of a better word. "Look, there's a lot to explain little friend, and I know you're confused. I am too. I was attacked by...a very bad man. You see," Kit knelt with a seethe of pain. "This gash here? Does your memory contain any information on the Sith?" The droid's head turned, but then beeped an affirmative. Limited for the war where Dooku was concerned it seemed.

"Good. Then, you know they're not good people. They hate the Republic and the Jedi. Well...the Chancellor, he is a Sith." Again the droid whirled and whirred in disbelief, pulling its tool from the port as it did so. Could droids even disbelieve something? No matter, Kit shushed the little droid. "I know, I know! It's a lot. But, if you don't believe me there's a way you can see I'm telling the truth." Kit offered, and the droid's optical eyes shifted. Watching kit in what he could only describe as careful consideration. Before it beeped curiously.

"See...I need to get to the hub to show people the truth! I and several other Jedi went to arrest him when we learned he was a Sith. He attacked us. The Chancellor has never been known to be able to use the Force. But, even if so why would he have need to attack me and my friends?" Kit reasoned, and the droid remained momentarily silent before beeping lowly. Agreeing, it sounded off. Kit hoping its logic matrix was neither too smart nor too dumb to prolong this conversation.

"If I can prove to you that he did this, maybe you could do me a favor, deal?" Again the droid beeped a slight and careful agreement. Kit nodded as the droid did so. "Okay. We both get what we want. If I'm telling the truth that is." Kit manged to chuckle and pat a hand atop the droid. "If you can get into the security hub that'd help me out. Look to see if the Chancellor had any sort of security monitors, cams or whatever in his office. I know they'd be segmented from the rest of the Annex, but I figure they'd have to have an access route. It'd take me time or help I don't have to gain access. But, a droid? One such as yourself I bet could gain access in no time. Especially if you have the right tools for the job?" Kit wondered in a leading fashion. To which the R3 beeped an affirmative. It was a repair model, and used primarily for computer terminal work. The Force seemed to be on Kit's side at the moment. He was thankful for it.

"Very good. Okay, once you gain access look for when me and three other Jedi arrived in the office. One of them was Master Mace Windu. If you see that I'm telling the truth, copy that recording. Us entering, the Chancellor attacking. That'd be enough to prove that he's a Sith. If I'm not telling the truth, then no harm done." Kit raised his hands up and off the droid. One still holding his lightsaber as he showed himself to be amenable. "Deal?"

The droid whirred its head back and forth. Clearly seeming to 'think' it over. Before it beeped an affirmatory and jutted its body back and forth like a nod. Kit beamed a genuine smile and pat the little domed head again. "Alright...alright, R3...F3. Good to meet you bud. Now, I will go cause a little distraction...and here I thought someone else would…" Kit mumbled to himself. Quickly shaking the subcontracting oddity aside. "Doesn't matter. You head to the security hub and find that footage. If it's not there feel free to report me to whoever you need to. If you do find it though...come find me uh...two levels up at the nearest docking bay. What would that be from here, two up?" The droid indicated that it'd be hangar 32-D.

"Alright. You can send the clones there if I'm lying. Otherwise find me there. Okay?" Arthree nodded again, or looked to nod. Before Kit gave a thankful smile and stood back up. "Time for that distraction. Get moving friend." Kit ushered and opened the door. Banging the side of his fist into the control panel. Allowing the door to freely open free of his own use of the Force on it. The droid whirred and wheeled past Kit out of the room. Kit exited after him and dashed back down the way he had come in the hallway. Grasping at his stolen comlink as he did.

"This is Kit." He began snapping the comm to life. "Quick update. I'm going to cause a little stir before you guys get here. Meet me at Hangar 32-D for extraction. Hopefully your distraction is bigger than my own." Kit didn't wait for nor expected a response right away. Instead he pocketed the comlink and snapped his green lightsaber to life.

As Arthree moved out of sight down the hall Kit walked back up the hall he had come to, finding the bend to the first hall. As he reached out into the Force he felt several beings in the Force. Steeling himself, closing his eyes and calling on the Force he planted his feet.

"Hey!" Kit bellowed. At the end of the hall three red coated troopers turned with military quickness and immediate defensive posturing. "Looking for me?!"

"Jedi! Blast him!"

"I'll take that as a yes!" Kit ran forward! A hail of bolts flew towards him. He swerved and dashed out of the way of them. Reflecting and deflecting those as the Force guided his hand and arm to do. Until he came upon them! Stabbing and running a trooper through whom howled and fell over as Kit withdrew his saber.

"Jedi spotted on floor thirty! I repeat Jedi on floor thirty!"

"Perfect." Kit intoned and ducked as the second trooper to his left shot at his head. Kit sliced up cleaving one arm, slashing down across the man and his armor. Cleaving him as he fell over. Allowing Kit to throw the third firing at him with the Force. He had managed to dodge the incoming bolts with painful undulations of his own form. Tossing the clone into the wall and throwing his saber into the pinned man. He gave a gasp as the saber punctured his chest and Kit called it back to himself. Allowing the body to slump to the floor motionless.

Kit took a moment to ease himself. Feeling adrenaline subdue the pain in him. Taking that moment to look at the dead clones. A sudden sadness crossing his mind. He shook his head and felt his lips curl in disgust. "Sorry fellas...damn it." Kit cursed. Turned and use the Force to pull a vent cover from off the wall behind one of the pillars. "Let's confuse everyone." Kit intoned. Just as the alarms began blaring across the whole Executive Annex, and he threw himself into the vent and began moving through the shafts to...who the Force only knew where.

Up...he needed to go up.

---

"Dammit...alright then." Anakin intoned as Kit made his message known. Anakin piloted the shuttle that carried himself, Gandalf, Galadriel, Gimli and the twins as it made its way closer to the Executive Annex. They had left the Jedi Temple, and Anakin had reiterated his orders to the clones. Gifting his one shuttle access to come and go from the Temple's airspace. Being all but escorted out by LAATs manned by the Legion. Until reaching the Executive where Anakin's codes seemed to still work. Palpatine not moving fast enough? Or, him expecting Anakin to come to him…? Either way, it worked for Anakin.

"Alright, everyone remember the plan?" Anakin asked the assorted group as he pulled the shuttle around the Executive building. Circling it until he zeroed in on Hangar 32-D as Kit had mentioned.

"Yes, lad." Gandalf offered coming up behind Anakin, placing a comforting hand atop his shoulder. "What of your friend? Have things changed?"

"A little." Anakin nodded as he pulled the shuttle in. The hiss of the hydraulics announcing outside as they released from the main body of the shuttle. "Kit will make his way up here. But, it sounds like he's altering the plan. Fine, as long as he knows what he's doing. We still need to play our part and give him time to do...whatever it is he's doing. So," Anakin kept going as the shuttle gave a slight jolt as it landed. "We get out of the hangars. You all follow me inside I demand to see the Chancellor, and...I make a scene of it."

"You sure this will work laddie?" Gimli called to Anakin. The dwarf having long circled his stolen blaster over in his hands time and again. Testing how he would use it based on the very quick introduction to how they worked by Anakin while they had been in the Temple.

"Sure? Not a bit, Gimli. But, we'll do our best regardless." Anakin intoned sarcastically. The shuttle coming to a stop atop the hangar floor and pulled closer into the building at Anakin's direction. Within no time it came to a full hissing stop. Anakin peered out the cockpit. Noting the arrival of no less than five security troopers.

"Looks like a squad of men."

"Will they be any trouble?" Gandalf wondered.

"Trouble? I doubt it. Let me do the talking."

"Of course." Gandalf chuckled lightly as Anakin pushed out of his seat and made for the ramp. He formed himself up along the center of the ship. Gandalf, the twins, Gimli and Galadriel stood behind him. An odd sight for sure. But, Anakin trusted these folk perhaps more than he would have an entire embassy of Jedi knights. Nonetheless, he loosed a breath. Calling on the Force to reinvigorate his shaking and worn body. Much as he had many times in the war on many battlefields. Waiting as the shuttle ramp descended with another hiss of hydraulics and compressed air.

"Alright, everyone be cool and calm."

"Aye, we know laddie!"

"Especially you Gimli." Anakin shot back over shoulder. A sly smirk to his face as Gimli scoffed. Anakin turning back and marched himself down the ramp. Flanked by his friends from Arda. Stomping boots to floor he swerved around the shuttle and marched towards the interior. His face set into a stony contortion. As he came into sight Anakin could see the clones readjust themselves. Their stances adjusting. Even as one, likely their squad Captain, came forward raising a hand Anakin and company's way.

"General Skywalker, sir. We had not been expecting you." The clone began. And, as he did only then did Anakin hear the distinct rumble of an alarm blaring through the whole building beyond the main access doors in and out of the hangar bay. He could guess it had been Kit's work. He hoped the Master knew what he was doing…

"Clearly there is a security situation happening here, trooper." Anakin began. His voice smooth and cool. Authoritative as he could make it. "There is a full rebellion underway at the Jedi Temple, and you troopers do not have the Annex secure?!"

"Yes...I mean, no sir!"

"Which is it?! Yes or no trooper?!" Anakin demanded with an air of disbelieving anger to him. His companions behind him looking to one another in muted impressed expressions.

"N...no, sir! The Annex is not fully secured! Sir!"

"Then why are you in my way, trooper?! Your squad needs to be dealing with the security situation, no?! Do tell me, what exactly is happening here that you men feel free to harass me in the hangar bay and not tend to the matter?" Anakin crossed his arms.

"Yes, sir! Apologies, sir! An enemy agent, a Jedi Knight has been seen inside of the Annex, sir! Security has already locked all major access and exit points while further teams attempt to flush the Jedi out of hiding, sir!"

"Hiding where?"

"We believe the ventilation systems, General." The clone Captain added.

"Does this hangar bay have direct access to the ventilation systems?"

"I...am unsure, sir." As the trooper answered him Anakin tilted his head around the large room. He turned from right to left. Which apparently prompted the clones to follow his lead. Anakin didn't see any vent covers or access routes to his right, or even over left, but as he looked up he spotted a chute cover from the ceiling.

A low rumbling sigh loosed from his chest and Anakin internally cursed. But, he did have an idea.

"There are no ventilation access points in this room, trooper."

"There...there aren't?" The Captain tilted his head.

"I don't think there are, sir." One of his men offered. Sounding a bit woozy.

"He's right, sir." A second trooper nodded. "There are no ventilation access points in this room."

"Precisely, men. There are no ventilation access points in this room." Anakin repeated, waving his hand before himself. Pulling as much strength as he could from himself onto the apparently stronger mind of the Captain. He didn't want to cause any damage to any of this men of course. The Force could be used in such ways...so, he put pressure, but didn't overpower their will with that of his own.

"Ye...yes, General sir. There are no ventilation access points in this room. I apologize, sir."

"No need for apologies, Captain." Anakin offered with a slight smile. Though he quickly hid it and clasped his hands behind his back authoritatively taking a harsh stance as he did. "Now, you and your men will guard the entrance to this hangar! Under no circumstances allow anyone to enter unless I have given you express authorization to do so. Am I understood?!"

"Yes sir, General." The Captain bowed his head.

"Good. Now I have business with the Supreme Chancellor. We have to get this security situation under control. These people with me are Delegates from the world of Arda. Disseminate to everyone in the Annex that these persons are political guests of the Republic and shall not be harassed. By my order and by standing precedent, of course."

"Of course, General." The Captain nodded. Issuing a silent thrust of his hand commanding one of his men to bring a biometric scanner forward. A simple one to gain a facial and body recognition of Gandalf and the others. Within seconds they were all scanned, and names were quickly given to faces. The troopers thanks them and led them outside of the hangar into the halls adjoined to it.

"These five have access to and from this hangar bay, understood Captain? With or without me."

"Yes sir, General." The Captain nodded again. He and his men beginning to take up a simple post outside of the hangar bay.

"Good. Remain at your posts, troopers." Anakin bid, and silently thereafter moved into the building with his friends in tow. Only once they were free of earshot did Anakin release another sigh.

"Now that is some fanciful acting, my friend." Elladan offered with a low laugh.

"Ah, but not quite just acting, I daresay." Gandalf intuited. Anakin casting a smirk back their way in response.

"The Force allows us to influence others minds. Some in simple ways, such as that. Telling someone that they don't see something, or that we're allowed access. Because we want them to believe it they do. Now, most Jedi don't abuse that power, and it all depends on how strong your mind is. Some aren't quite to easy to fool. Their Captain was a bit harder to convince than the rest."

"Fascinating." Galadriel offered. "If worrisome."

"I know what you mean, my Lady." Anakin offered as the six of them made their way past another stationed troupe of clones. Stationed by a ventilation access tunnel along the wall. One of them pulling the grating off as two more stood with their blasters aimed and ready to fire.

"It's all...an ethical question. But, forgive me if I'm not willing to have that debate. At least not right now."

"We understand, lad." Gandalf spoke for everyone as they all turned into a larger corridor. This one twice as big as the last and lined with massive columns. Along the left side, lay more halls and corridors for deeper access into the Executive building. While on their collective right was a long wall of viewports looking off into the night of Coruscant.

"Kit, if you can hear me this is Skywalker." Anakin began, nudging his head forward, bidding the others to follow him. Bringing the comlink to his lips as they went. "Hangar 32-D has a vent access point inside of it. The guards won't enter it. Once you get in you do whatever you have to do. I and my...friends will begin making some noise soon." Anakin offered.

"Copy." He heard back from Kit. His voice sounding heavy and breaths uneven. "They've...they've got droids inside the vents after me. I think...I hear scraping all around me. I don't think they know which I'm in…"

"What are we doing then?" Anakin wondered. Offering Master Fisto a chance for input.

"Well they're on me. Giving a...friend time to get that data. If it exists." Kit offered through heaving breaths as Anakin imagined the nautolan to be crawling or shimmying his way through the vents. "If you can pull them off me and my friend then you'll give us both breathing room to get to the shuttle. I don't know what that'd look like, Skywalker."

"I have an idea." Anakin offered simply. Not bothering to ask who this friend was. Kit was busy enough. "Keep moving. They'll be on us in no time."

"Copy. Good luck Anakin."

"You too, Master." Anakin shut the comlink off. "Okay." Anakin intoned for the hundredth time today. Turning to his friends. "I'm going to do something exceedingly stupid. Are you guys ready?"

"Aye, I'm ready for anything laddie!" Gimli smirked through his beard. Hoisting his new blaster as he did. The twins nodded their readiness while Galadriel kept her wits to herself. Turning and tilting her head about the halls. Seeming like a Jedi. As if she was sensing for something. Anakin figured she was 'feeling' for this ring Palpatine had. So, he let her be.

"We're ready, Anakin. You just tell us what we need to do." Gandalf offered, pressing another comforting hand to Anakin's shoulder.

"Okay...good." Anakin nodded and turned, pointing his left arm down the hall. "They'll come from there, I think. That leads towards the main access turbolifts. The arteries of movement on this side of the Annex. If everything on this floor is like the others. I've seen my share of them. The clones aren't our concern. Not yet anyways. That'd require the Chancellor to issue new orders. You five are more at risk than me that way."

"Bah!" Gimli scoffed. "Let that old man bring them to us, lad!"

"Oh, I will." Anakin smiled in a mixture of dark humor and unease. "Just know to not shoot unless they shoot first. You five are off limits for now. Just like me. But, there are others in this building who won't pause. Crimson guards, you saw some of them today."

"Ah yes, I remember them. Foreboding a look to them." Elrohir nodded.

"They're intimidating. But, there's also Senate Guard. They look similar, but wear blue robes and armor. Frills on their heads. They may shoot first and ask questions later. Like I said, if things turn and the clones open fire...you guys defend yourselves."

"We shall aim to not kill those as do not need it." Elladan offered Anakin. Seeming to sense his apprehension at hurting these beings.

"Right…" Anakin nodded. "If and when Palpatine himself arrives, you three get out. You two, don't stay much longer if he's too much for us." Anakin addressed the twins and Gimli along with Gandalf and Galadriel respectively.

"So long as you need help, we'll stay laddie!"

"No, Gimli!" Anakin rebuffed. "If...what Master Windu said is true, we don't know how powerful Palpatine has become. I won't risk you guys when it'll be me he wants."

"Anakin…" Gandalf began, but Anakin raised his hand.

"You and they can help shepherd Kit out of here. You get the data he has to Padmé, Gandalf. If I can't do it. If not Padmé then Mace back in the Temple, anyone who can get it to the Senate! He wants me. He'll be focused on me. That's it. That's the end of story." Anakin darkly intuited. Turning his eyes back down the large hall. A security squad moving from the interior out, and forming down the hall in the opposing direction. Paying Anakin and his friends no mind.

"What about the ship...shuttle?" Elrohir wondered. "Who would fly that?"

"I have an autopilot set on it. If you five need to run back I've shown which button to press to Gandalf. Kit can handle it if and hopefully when, he gets there too." Anakin informed. Gandalf nodding that he had been informed as well.

"Any other questions?" Anakin asked. Allowing the silence to pass for several moments. The twins and Gimli adjusting and fidgeting the blasters in their hands as they waited. "Okay. You three move to that column. Spread out. Gimli, you stay over there, and you two, I trust to move as needed." Anakin offered. Pointing to an opposing column along the wall between viewport windows that looked outwards.

"Be careful laddie!" Gimli ordered, as he and the elves took up positions behind the column. Elladan aimed his blaster down the main corridor. Elrohir pointed the opposing direction while Gimli seemed to check between the two. A rather odd sight for Anakin. Elves and dwarves with blasters...but weird days and times these were proving to be and all.

"Ready?" Anakin asked Gandalf as Galadriel neared. Her expression, as ever, serene and unreadable.

"I am. My Lady?" Gandalf turned to Galadriel.

"There is a great evil here." She offered. "I can feel it. The air here is...heavy. Very heavy. A shadow lingers across this whole building, and those within it. The ebbs of something just beneath the surface. It seeks to spread out across the whole of your world, I fear." She intoned darkly. Her voice carrying a rumble of some strange power to it. Anakin, for his part, nodded.

"I sense it in the Force. Have for a while now. Palpatine isn't hiding himself like he used to. But, he feels...sick. The Force feels sick. Like...Arda. Whenever I saw one of those wraiths. When I was on that volcano's slope. Similar, but uglier...meaner...stronger." Anakin felt his pulse quicken. Anxiety tempted his mind and body.

"Take heart, my friend." Gandalf offered. Perhaps knowingly. "This darkness like all those that come before is a passing thing. What we do here and now will mean how long it may take to pass. Regardless of such we stand. Myself, your friends and allies. We will meet this darkness." Gandalf smiled. Bidding Anakin to do so, earnestly at that too. The wizard had a way of making someone facing death feel...well not so worried. Though, Anakin did hope death wasn't around the corner...so to speak.

"Okay. You sure you two don't need blasters?"

"Oh...I'm quite sure." Gandalf bowed his head. A knowing glint to his eyes. Anakin didn't doubt him, but did wonder what the White Wizard had in mind?

"Okay...like those three. Get behind this wall here. Once things start, you do whatever you feel necessary. But, we don't leave this spot. Not until Kit is safe and has what he needs."

"I remember, lad. Be quick now!"

"Right!" Anakin watched as Gandalf and Galadriel ushered themselves into a crook in the wall made by a door leading to what Anakin believed to be a storage closet. The two bundled themselves into the door while Anakin stood off to the side of the hall. Taking one more breath before he turned and made for a side panel on the wall nearest himself.

Over top of it, through the subtle blare of emergency security alarms, Anakin read the words in Aurebesh. 'Emergency Intercom.' Alongside it was another switch that'd call for security to your location. Ancient and meant for those who had lost access to a comlink.

"Here goes...everything." Anakin bashed the emergency switch cover. A sound of falling casing sounding as he pulled the switch! Immediately the alarm in the hall stopped. Replaced by a new more droning one, one that was kept to the hall and surrounding areas. Including this levels security stations. While Anakin snapped his right mechanical thumb along the intercom's button. His face close to the microphone as he steeled himself.

"This is General Anakin Skywalker. I am on level 32, corridor 32-56." Anakin began. "I have a security situation happening here. There is a Jedi present on this level. Me. Anakin Skywalker. I know every trooper in this facility has orders to not harm me. To consider me a General of the Grand Army. I order you to stand down! Do not approach this location! Do not access your communicators unless I give you freedom to do so.

'Furthermore, to the Supreme Chancellor. I know you're looking for me. I know you're expecting me, Palpatine. If you want me. I'm right here. I hear you have a new toy with you. You can send whoever you want to come collect me. I promise you this though, I won't be dragged to you like any Jedi padawan caught in a prison break. You want me? You want to test me?! With all those fancy powers you seem to think make you so karking important and beyond mortal comprehension?! Come face the Jedi who let go of a Ring greater than yours. Come face the...the Chosen One, my Lord. I'll be waiting. Just for you." Anakin released the button. His body shaking. The alarm continuing to blare. The sound of moving boots in the distance. Clone or Senate Guard? He didn't know. His emotions a furious torrent. He moved to the center of the corridor. Eyes of his friends on him. Anakin activated his blue lightsaber and held it down at his side.

"Come for me. Come and get me!" He seethed to himself. Waiting with bated breath.

---

"I'll be waiting. Just for you." Palpatine heard Anakin speak. He and his guard had just reached the thirtieth level. His face contorted into a mixture of rage, but no small measure of amused pride.

"Rather bold Anakin. Rather bold indeed."

"Your Excellency," One of his guards began as the seven of them paused. All having disembarked from the turbolift mere seconds before. With the new message, Palpatine brought he and his six guards to a stop. His guards looking to him, waiting his command. "This Jedi has issued commands to the clones not to approach." The same guard went on.

"Yes, I heard the little speech too." Palpatine subtly admonished the guard. "We'll play Anakin's little game. He doesn't want to harm the clones? That is a show of weakness. Send the Senate Guard to apprehend the Jedi. Divert all from the search of Master Fisto. He is meaningless to me. Issue an order to the local clone security forces in the vicinity to cordon off the corridor. If he attempts to flee, they have permission to fire on him. Via Executive decree."

"Of course, your Eminence." The guard bowed, beginning to issue Palpatine's commands.

"Now, you four follow me. We're going to have a chat with Anakin Skywalker."

"Orders, my Lord?"

"Stand guard. Of course." Palpatine all but scoffed. "I will attend to this matter personally."

"But, he wants you to, my Lord. Would you not be safer-"

"I am perfectly safe." Palpatine coolly assured. "This failing Jedi has come foolishly believing he can stop what is happening. Perhaps to even save poor Master Fisto? It doesn't matter. The Jedi Master is dying. Cleaved by a lightsaber." Palpatine cackled. "I am curious what Anakin believes he can do though? Better still, he has brought himself before me! I shall learn what has become of the Jedi Temple. Now, come with me." The Supreme Chancellor ordered. The six relinquished themselves to his will. The Chancellor turned and opened the turbolift once more. Entering it, his eyes glinting, and mind raging. All plans coming together. In the way he had imagined? Perhaps not. But, victory and revenge was certainly near at hand.

---

Another LAAT landed and deposited another company of red marked Coruscant Guard troopers. Already stood or position opposite the 501st were found dozens of such guard troopers. Among them were embedded members of the Security Bureau and their own sparse security forces as the CSF kept the rearguard. Corporal Ilarik watched as one of the crimson troopers jumped from the LAAT. This trooper's armor was nearly entirely crimson. An emblem of the Republic upon his chest, and his armor of the Phase I variety for the clones. His brown kama fell around his thighs, where Ilarik found two holsters on either side of the trooper's belt. A blaster pistol for each hand, of course. Ilarik cleared his throat and approached this trooper.

"Commander Fox, I presume! Corporal Ilarik with the Security Bureau." Ilarik introduced himself. The clone Commander, Fox turned his head to Ilarik. His protruding visor staring featureless back at the Security Corporal.

"Corporal." The clone greeted. "I've been brought up to speed on the situation on the ground. Has anything changed?"

"Beyond what I assume you know? I don't believe so, Commander. The 501st Legion remains unresponsive to all attempts to contact them. Either in person or via comlink. They won't share ID codes, nor who their commanding officer is. If acting Commander, a CC-1119 I believe, is still operational or not."

"I see." Fox nodded. "Allow me to attempt to make contact."

"Feel free, Commander." Ilarik waved a hand somewhat dismissively towards the nearby blockade of the 501st. "Though, I should say I don't think you'll get anywhere with them. We may need to start thinking of insurrection and riot control."

"Unless I receive those orders from my superior I will undertake no such operations, Corporal." Fox rebuked matter-of-factly. "I have several platoons worth of the Coruscant Guard taking up positions along all access and exit points on the top level. The CSF will move into the lower levels and search for any wayward Jedi attempting to flee."

"We've established that much, Commander." Ilarik shrugged. "I merely suggest you prepare yourself for any possibility. If the 501st remain nonoperational that is tantamount to treasonous. If we have the 501st Legion, of all legions in rebellion on Coruscant they will need to be stamped out quickly and efficiently. Lest the...unpredictable members of the populace get any ideas. Or, Force forbid, further elements within the Army get any such ideas of their own."

"That won't happen." Fox rebuffed again. "We clones know how to follow orders, Corporal. Whatever is happening here has to be some miscommunication. Now, if I may." Fox pushed by Ilarik. The Corporal bidding him to pass simply enough. Watching as the Commander boldly stepped a few paces closer to the stationary clone troopers up the walkway.

"Halt!" The same one as before called down to Fox. The Commander raised his hands, only slightly at his waist. "Do not proceed! If you attempt to do so you will be fired upon!"

"I am CC-1010, Commander Fox of the Coruscant Guard! Identify your Superior Officer at once trooper!" Fox commanded, and for the first time, the clones seemed to pause before retorting. Ilarik's brow cocked curiously at the sight and show.

"You are not to advance, Commander sir!" The clone replied to Fox. "Acting Commanding Officer remains CC-1119, Commander Appo! Now, step back Commander or you will be fired upon!"

"Understood." Fox bowed and stepped backwards. Turning to his gathered men and the security forces there. "Well, we got something out of them."

"Yes, but not enough." Ilarik offered coming into the circle. "Perhaps Commander 'Appo' has gone AWOL?"

"No, I don't think so." Fox intoned. "With Appo still in charge that means he will have directed these troopers into their positions. That means someone must've given him those orders."

"Certainly couldn't have been the Jedi! Order 66 has been enacted." Ilarik reasoned. "Every single Jedi is now an enemy of the Republic."

"Then we have to consider a fault in the higher chain of command." Fox continued to reason. Grasping at his comlink as he did. "This is Commander Fox. Get me a detailed list of acting commanding officers on Coruscant or in orbit! Everyone at Commander rank or higher at Legion level!" Fox ordered and a mixed rumble of voices met him back over the com as the people...whoever it was he was talking to, got to work.

"I understand the hesitancy, Commander, but surely you must see this as a problem. Not only for security but in regards to Order 66."

"Of course, Corporal. However, orders from up high are to wait and see. Up high enough to be beyond me. Or you, sir." Fox noted turning and walking away form Ilarik with a few of his men in tow. Issuing orders to his small growing army of crimson coated troops to take up positions surrounding the vast Temple District. Ilarik frowned at the troopers. Feeling adrenaline prickle at his senses.

They needed to quash this rebellion, and the Jedi. And, quickly! Ilarik, seethed a sigh and turned. Snatching his comlink and activating it. Dialing a frequency to COMPOR headquarters. His call was accepted and a gaunt human male answered.

"May I help you?"

"This is Corporal Ilarik with the Security Bureau. I wish to speak with Ishin-Il-Raz. Put me through to him. Inform him it is a matter of Homeworld Security."

"One moment, sir." the man dully replied. Putting him on hold as Ilarik waited to see one of the rising stars and leaders within COMPOR. If Director Vandron wouldn't activate COMPOR who were clearly sorely needed now. Then Ilarik would take that position up himself.

Damn the chain of command.

---

Author's Note: Hello all. L has become very busy with work and life. So, for as short a time as humanly possible I will be uploading and editing my chapters. I have no desire to return to managing this account, but since it has been difficult for L to manage his part (and you lot still want this story updated/finished) I am here to accommodate. For now.

As usual, if you find any grammatical errors I have managed to miss, you may direct message and I will fix what you have found. I thank all of you who leave long and detailed reviews, because your view or understanding of emotions, intents, or even just your assumptions/predictions are always fascinating to read. As well as generally helpful in terms of my own inspiration. But, to everyone who leaves any review, large or small, you are appreciated regardless.

And, yes I have begun a new story. So my time has been diverted there as well, but do not worry. This crossover is still my primary objective.

- LEK

Edit Note: Edited/Updated 06/14/2022