The rays of light from the morning sun streamed into the otherwise darkened room of Chancellor Palpatine's ceremonial office. The crimson walls of the space normally offered a warm, inviting feel to those who entered. However, this was not the case in that very moment; to anyone who entered the open space now, the room would feel small, and cold, as if all the light and happiness had been sucked from the galaxy. A feeling that could be felt by many a force user on the planet.
Standing before the panoramic window that offered a clear view of the vast landscape that was Capitol City, Chancellor Palpatine's eyes were closed in deep thought. His long, boney fingers knitted together over his stomach, the most powerful man in the Republic, clad in a maroon robe, allowed a wicked smile to form on his face as he began preparing for the moment he had been waiting for so long to happen. Opening his eyes, Palpatine turned to the sound of a hissing door, followed by a chorus of several lightsabers being ignited, as well as several blasters being primed.
"Welcome, Master Jedi," he stated in mock civility, a deceptive smile forming on his lips as he walked around his desk to stand in the middle of the room, "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit." Looking to the center of the large group of Jedi and clones, each with their respective weapons trained on him, Palpatine could make out the unconvinced scowl of Mace Windu, who, after stepping forward so that he was now only ten feet from the man before him, had his lightsaber leveled at his throat.
"In the Name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic," he seethed, "YOU are under arrest, CHANCELLOR!"
Palpatine's title was said with such venom, that the other Jedi in the room were a bit unnerved at this new air of hostility in their otherwise docile colleague. Palpatine's smile fell into a deep scowl as he began to leer at the Jedi before him.
"Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?" he growled. Windu's own scowl deepened as he pressed his amethyst blade closer to Palpatine's neck, causing the latter to crane his head back in order to avoid being burned.
"The Senate will decide your fate," Mace growled back. The scowl of Palpatine's face deepened as he let out a noise that could only be described as a low growl. Glaring daggers at the dark skinned Jedi, a wicked smile formed on Palpatine's face.
"Clones," he barked, "execute order 66!"
For a brief moment, the air was still, only for the silence to be broken by a scoff from Anakin.
"Nice try," he mocked with a smug grin on his face, "but their chips have them follow orders from the Chancellor."
Unknown to Anakin and the other Jedi, the clones were fighting a raging battle in their heads.
Even Rex removed his helmet, the bucket grasped tightly in his left hand as he clutched at the right side of his head.
"And as decided by the Security Council not too long ago," he continued, although with a slight scowl at the sudden shift he felt in the force, "YOU are no longer the Chancellor."
The room was quickly filled with a sickening cackle, emanating from the evil man in the Jedi's presence.
"Young Fool," Palpatine laughed as his eyes flicked to the clones flanking the Jedi, each now shaking in their armor as they tried to resist the control he had over them.
"The title means nothing.
In the end, they answer to me...
And me ALONE."
And it was at that moment, each Jedi could hear it...
The internal pleas of their faithful seconds.
From Wolffe...
Master Plo...Good Soldiers Follow Orders... I'm scared.
To Gree...
Luminara...Good Soldiers Follow Orders...I'm so sorry.
To Cody
Obi-Wan...Good Soldiers Follow Orders...Forgive Me.
And Anakin was nearly brought to his knees by the anguish radiating from his Captain, whose grip on his helmet disappeared as the plastoid piece of armor clattered on the floor. Turning to his ever loyal second-in-command, Anakin saw Rex clutch at his head with both hands, while by his side, his fellow brothers tried with all their might to keep their arms from raising their blasters.
But one by one, they all failed...
Leaving Rex as the only one who had not drawn his weapon.
That is until Anakin stepped forward.
"Rex?" Anakin called cautiously, extended his hand to the suffering clone.
But the moment he was with two feet of his captain...
"Anakin STAY BACK!"
In an instant, Rex's pistols were drawn, pointing straight at the man who had lead him and his brothers into battle...
Who loved his general as he DID his brothers.
But what broke Anakin's heart, were the tears streaming from Rex's eyes as his hands shook.
"S-stop him," Rex muttered under his brother, shaking his head in a last vain attempt to shake away the voice within.
"Sidious, Stop Him...
STOP HIM!
HURRY!"
In the blink of an eye, Anakin and Mace dodged the two shots fired from Rex's pistol, with the latter of the two Jedi lunging at Rex, tackling the clone to the ground as the other clones opened fire on their Jedi generals, each deflecting the shots with their weapons, but with pain in their hearts as they fought against their soldiers...
Their friends.
Obi-Wan's heart broke as he used the force to throw Cody and a few 212th clones against the wall, rendering them unconscious.
Mace felt Plo's anguish resonate through the force as he redirected a blast from Wolfe's blaster back at his shoulder, flooring him in a second before throwing Sinker against Boost and Comet.
With Shaak Ti by her side, Luminara shed tears as she used the force to send Gree flying into her men.
And Anakin cried in agony as he fought his own men.
But in the end, even though it hurt them to do so, the Jedi made took care not to KILL their men, only incapacitate.
And when it was evident that the initial danger was clear, the floor littered with wounded or unconscious clones, the Jedi returned their attention to Palpatine,
With Mace Leveling his blade once again at the sneering Sith's throat.
Palpatine released another growl as he flexed his fingers on both hands, each acquiring a lightsaber. All Jedi stood at the ready for what was about to happen.
What happened next was a blur; a powerful blast was sent toward the Jedi, who in turn nearly had been knocked from their feet. After recovering from the sudden attack, the Jedi turned to Palpatine as he ignited both crimson blades of his lightsabers that were previously hidden in his grey robes.
Mace, upon recovering from the initial blast, quickly shouted;
"TAKE HIM!"
In an instant Shaak Ti, Obi-Wan, Luminara, and Plo Koon engaged Palpatine one on one. Palpatine, thrusting one hand forward, blasted Luminara back into Shaak Ti, who managed to catch her disoriented friend. Plo took advantage of the opening and attempted to place a well-aimed downward stroke on the Sith Lord's body, only to be blocked by said Lord, who, using his own legs, swept the Kel Dor's out from under him, which resulted in Plo landing hard on his side. Just as Palpatine was about to bring his saber down for the killing blow, it was blocked by the azure blade of Master Kenobi.
Anakin watched with wide eyes as his former master took on the former Chancellor in a fierce duel, with the latter gaining a serious advantage with both of his sabers. The ferocity of Palpatine's attacks soon became too much for Obi-Wan as he tried to counter the fierce onslaught, not noticing that the Sith Lord was backing him toward the steps leading to the ornate desk. Anakin watched in horror as Obi-Wan tripped over the first step, landing on his back.
Palpatine, laughing wickedly at the fallen Jedi's predicament, decided to relish in his apparent victory.
"And so," he began ominously, "This is where the story of the Great Obi-Wan Kenobi ends."
Bringing both of his sabers high above his head, Palpatine prepared to bring both crimson blades down onto Obi-Wan, while the other Jedi looked on in horror. Obi-Wan calmly closed his eyes as he prepared himself to accept his fate as Palpatine brought his arms down hard atop the fallen Jedi.
"OBI-WAN!" screamed Luminara as she was about to watch her colleague be killed.
However, as Palpatine's blades came down, Obi-Wan did not feel the burning that was normally associated with a wound received by a blade of pure energy. Opening his eyes, Obi-Wan found out what, or rather who stopped the killing blow. Letting out a relieved laugh, Obi-Wan gave a sly grin to his former padawan.
"Impeccable timing as always Anakin," the exhausted Master joked to his former student.
"You know me, Master," answered Anakin, casting a deadly gaze at the shocked Sith Lord. With that, Anakin forced Palpatine away from Obi-Wan, with the dark force user landing on his back in surprise. Looking to where he had just been standing, Palpatine saw Anakin stalk toward him. Rising quickly, Palpatine attempted to bring both blades down on Anakin, only to have them pulled from his grasp towards Anakin, who sliced the hilts in half as soon as they reached him. Hoping to save himself from his apparent demise, Palpatine attempted to try his luck by manipulating the boy as he had been doing since the Battle of Naboo.
"Anakin, my boy," he began, stammering in an attempt to feign weakness, "please, I beg you! Don't you see that the Jedi are manipulating you? They are using you to overthrow me, to overthrow the Senate...The Republic!"
Anakin, however, was having none of it.
"Why should I believe you?" he growled, "Everything you've told has been nothing but lies."
Palpatine, racking his brain to try and find a way out of his current predicament, suddenly froze as a brilliant idea formed in his mind.
"I've was always telling the truth when I said you had potential."
This made Anakin stop in his tracks. Palpatine noticed that the young Jedi's face, as well as his form, seemed to relax. Realizing he was staring to get his hooks back into Anakin by sensing the confusion in his mind, Palpatine slowly rose to his feet. After doing so, he began to approach Anakin, while speaking in the fatherly tone the young Jedi had grown accustomed to.
"I always urged you to act on your feelings," he began, treading these dangerous waters carefully, "because I knew they gave you strength. You see Anakin, I am not like the Jedi, who fear strength; I embrace it, as you should."
Seeing the Jedi lower his weapon, Palpatine knew he had him.
"Embrace these feelings that the Jedi make you repress. Let them flow through you. And," he continued with a tempting inclination, "You can protect the ones you most love."
Just as it seemed like Anakin was finally going to fall to the temptations of the Dark Side, an all too familiar aura filled the air, causing every force-user in the room to freeze. The aura itself was soon accompanied by the unmistakable sound of a walking stick repeatedly making contact with the hard floor echoing through the space. Looking to the entrance of the office, The Jedi and Sith Lord noticed the clones move aside, revealing the one being in the universe Palpatine most despised.
"Lies and deceit; tools of the Sith they are."
Palpatine sneered at the green, diminutive Jedi who had just entered his office. Making eye contact with the little master, Palpatine noticed a jovial smirk spread across Yoda's withered features.
"Seen through your lies, young Skywalker has, Lord Sidious," Yoda finally said after a long moment of silence, using the Sith Lords official title, "confuse his hesitance for submission, you should not. Strong he is with the force, and stronger still to resist the pull of the Dark Side."
Yoda began to notice Anakin come back to reality with his words, his form relaxing as he took in what the little Jedi was saying. Bringing his attention to the Grand Master before him, Anakin sent an apologetic look to Yoda, ashamed that he had once again been swayed by the Dark Side. Yoda sent a reassuring smile, as well as positive vibes through the force, relaxing Anakin as he returned the smile. Looking back to Palpatine, Yoda continued his speech.
"Beginning to the think Jedi were wrong, I am," he continued.
"Jedi must be compassionate, the Code tells us, but to indulge in more raw feelings, forbid that, it does."
Looking to Obi-Wan, Yoda sent a knowing smile toward his old friend.
"However," he continued, "affected the strongest Jedi, such raw feelings have, yet break them, they did not, for add to a Jedi's compassion, these feelings do."
"Break Master Kenobi after the fall of Duchess Satine, these feelings did not,"
Obi-Wan returned the smile as a single tear slid down his cheek at the memory of his love dying in his arms.
Turning to Luminara, Yoda spoke again.
"The betrayal of Padawan Offee," Yoda continued, noticing the pained look on the Mirialan masters face at the bitter memory, "Painful it was, but persevered, Master Luminara did."
And finally, Yoda turned his attention back to Anakin who, now accompanied by a recovered Plo, had leveled their lightsabers at Palpatine, who continued to sneer at the little green Jedi.
"Crippling it was, for young Skywalker to let go of his Padawan," Yoda said, bowing his head in sadness at the remembrance of his own misdeeds, as well as the Councils', in that situation, "but, by relying on is feelings," Yoda continued, bringing his head back up to gaze at Anakin with pride, "proved her innocence he did, and moved on, I sense he has."
The Yoda cast his eyes on the incapacitated clones.
"And the bonds, created by Jedi and Clones...Resilience in defending each other, these feelings have created."
Now looking to all the Jedi in the room, Yoda decided to wrap up his little lesson.
"Compassion and attachment," he began, "long thought to be paths to the Dark Side, they were. But now realize, I do, formed from love, these feelings are. And similar, compassion and love are, as held for the ones we care most for, they are."
Soon, every Jedi was bolstering a smile, even Mace, who came to accept the truth in Yoda's words.
Sensing the anger leaving Anakin, Palpatine seethed in anger at the knowledge that he had now truly lost.
Letting out a shrill screech, Palpatine sent a bolt of lightning from his fingertips toward Anakin, who cried in pain as he fell to his hands and knees, dropping his lightsaber in the process. Before Plo or Yoda, or any of the other Jedi could react, Palpatine had used the force to summon Anakin's lightsaber to his outstretched hand. Igniting the saber, Palpatine turned to deflect the downward strike from Plo and, taking advantage of the Kel Dor's surprise, ran the Jedi through the stomach with his newly acquired azure blade. Plo let out a gasp of pain as he fell to the floor, arms grasped around his injured abdomen. Just as Palpatine raised his saber for the killing blow, he felt an invisible force grab his hands.
Yoda, who had already sensed the change in attitude in Palpatine, was still surprised when he was able to incapacitate Anakin, and seriously wound Master Plo. Not willing to watch his old friend be killed, Yoda reached out with the force as Palpatine was about to deliver the killing blow on Master Koon. Yoda was once again surprised when Palpatine took advantage of the situation by using the pull from Yoda to strengthen his sudden thrust. Steeping back Yoda quickly ignited his own lightsaber as Palpatine began a vicious onslaught with Anakin's.
Said Jedi, having recovered from the surprise attack, quickly rushed to attend Master Plo, along with Luminara and Shaak Ti as Obi-Wan and Mace rushed to help Master Yoda.
"Skywalker," Plo rasped out.
"Yes Master Plo?" Anakin replied, his voice laced with worry. Anakin soon felt an object being placed into his mechanical hand. Looking down, he saw that Plo had placed his own lightsaber in Anakin's grasp. Anakin, looking to Plo in shock, was surprised by the laid back comment the elder Jedi gave.
"I'll want that back."
Offering a semi amused smirk, Anakin turned to Shaak Ti, Luminara.
"Get him out of here."
With a nod, the two female Jedi helped Master Plo out of the chamber so he could get proper medical attention.
Turning back to the fight, Anakin was surprised to find Obi-Wan knocked unconscious. Sensing that he was, however, in no immediate danger, Anakin rushed in to assist Mace and Master Yoda, who had now cornered Palpatine by the panoramic window, which had been blown out from the blades making contact with the glass.
"You Jedi fools will pay for your insolence!" screamed Palpatine as he managed to knock Yoda's lightsaber away from him, resulting in the elder Jedi receiving a full blast of force lighting, which, although he managed to block with his own superior powers, threw him back into a wall, rendering him unconscious. Windu, attempting to take advantage of the Sith Lords preoccupied position, charged at him, only to have to use his lightsaber to block another onslaught of force lightning. Anakin had turned away as the light was terribly blinding.
"The oppression of the Sith will never return!" Windu yelled over the sound of crackling electricity.
Looking to Palpatine, Anakin noticed that the Sith Lord, who had dropped his stolen blade to use both hands in his assault, appeared to be rapidly aging before his eyes; his face becoming wrinkled as his hands shriveled from the effects of his own lighting being rebounded toward him. However, Palpatine refused to be bested and, after gaining a second wind, produced a fresh onslaught of light. The combination of energy between the lighting and Saber were becoming so unstable that a ball of energy began to form between the two forms. Noticing this, Mace turned to Anakin.
"ANAKIN! FIND COVER!" After a moment of hesitation, Anakin leaped to the other side of the desk, and, using the force, pulled the unconscious forms of Obi-Wan and Yoda to him. Sensing that his friends were safe, Mace, with a newfound determination, returned his attention to Palpatine as he pressed forward with his attack. Soon, the instability of the ball of energy became apparent. Palpatine, noticing this, began to cackle excitedly.
"I hope you realize, Master Windu," he mocked, "that if this energy is unleashed, we BOTH DIE!"
Mace, having already come to that conclusion, closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
Opening his eyes again, Mace glared at Palpatine with a fiery determination.
"Then you have lost."
Palpatine's eyes widened in horror has Mace stepped closer until finally, a massive flash of light filled the room. The light was also visible by the Jedi, including a recovering Master Plo, clones, and senators on the landing platform several stories below, who had to squint in order to avoid being blinded. The light was soon followed by a deafening explosion; the vibration from the blast shattered every window within a 100 yard radius. Within ten seconds, the chaos had subsided.
Anakin, sensing that the worst was over, slowly rose from his cover, which at this point was just a vertical slab of durasteel. Looking around, he noticed that the entire office was scorched from the blast. His attention was soon drawn to a raspy breath. Looking behind him, Anakin could make out the partially burned form of Palpatine, whose body appeared almost totally burned from the left side of his face, down to his left hand.
Palpatine, upon seeing the young Jedi slowly approach him, reached out a hand, as if silently begging for assistance.
"Anakin, my boy," he rasped out, "help me."
What the Jedi did next, however, filled Palpatine with fear.
With an outstretched hand, Anakin called his lightsaber back to him. After moving himself so that he was standing directly over the crippled Sith, Anakin kneeled down, and placed the hilt at Palpatine's chest. Closing his eyes, Anakin reached into the force so as to calm himself. Feeling the welcoming warmth enter his body, Anakin felt the life of the Sith Lord be extinguished as he ignited his blade through Palpatine's heart.
With no malice or hatred in his heart, Anakin brought an end to Darth Sidious.
"Anakin."
The pained gasped caused Anakin to whirl around. The sight of what lay on the other side of the window sill brought about a feeling of dread; Mace Windu, his neck and upper body severely burned, as he lay prone to the young Jedi before him. Running to his fallen master, Anakin kneeled down beside him as he examined the extent of his wounds; it did not look good.
"Palpatine?" Windu softly questioned.
"Dead. I had to finish him."
Nodding slightly, although painfully, Mace allowed a small smile to grace his lips. Anakin never thought he would see the day that the Great Mace Windu would smile at something he did.
"You have done well, Anakin," he rasped out, "you have brought the galaxy closer to peace.
Perhaps you truly are the Chosen One."
Anakin, recovering from the shock at Windu's congratulations, returned the smile his master had given him.
But then, Mace's face turned somber, the melancholy expression made even more so by what he said next.
"Should you see her again...tell Padawan Tano..Tell Ahsoka...
That I Am Sorry."
Recovering from the shock of the mention of his former student, Anakin gave a warm smile, accompanied by a nod, to the stricken master...
One which was gratefully returned.
Soon, however, Windu's smile fell, his head slightly turning to look past Anakin at Capitol City. Mace's face soon totally relaxed as his eyes glossed over.
And with that, through the force, Anakin felt Mace take his final breath.
Anakin, his own smile long gone, allowed a tear to trickle down his cheek as he lowered his head in mourning of the fallen master.
Sensing a multitude of lifeforms behind, Anakin turned to find a partially recovered Obi-wan and Yoda staring sadly at the moment before them. Approaching the scene, Yoda gazed mournfully at his old friend and, after closing his eyes in a moment of remembrance, brought up a clawed hand to gently close Mace's eyes.
On the landing platform, The brief celebration of Palpatine's fall soon turned somber as Anakin, Obi-Wan and Yoda walked onto the platform, followed by members of the Corusaunt Guard, led by Fox in a two-by-two formation, carry the body of Mace Windu on their linked arms. The fallen Jedi's body was soon loaded onto a gunship to be transported back to the Jedi Temple.
But Five's attention was focused on his brother who had gone in to take Palpatine down...
Each strapped down on a stretcher, their wrists bound together as Medics kept each in an induced comma.
It was then that Fives knew what happened, tears falling as he felt Shaak Ti pull him into a loving embrace, her own tears falling at what had transpired.
Nearby, Anakin watched the scene before him, his own heart aching.
But his thoughts were interrupted by a member of the Guard, one he recognized as Lieutenant Thire.
"Excuse me General."
"Yes Thire, what is it."
"I have just received word from Commander Thorn at the Military Complex...They have apprehended Nala Se and are holding her in the detention facility."
At the mere mention of the shifty Kaminoan, Anakin's somber expression turned into a deep scowl.
Looking to the other assembled members of the 501st, Anakin called to a trooper with armor similar to Cody's, only in 501st blue.
"Lieutenant Vaughn!"
"Yes General!" Vaughn called back, snapping to attention.
"Inform the council that once Master Windu has been returned to the temple that they are needed at the Military Complex."
"Yes General," Vaughn replied smartly before turning his attention to his comlink.
As he did so, Anakin's expression morphed into one of sheer determination.
Now we'll get some answers, he thought to himself.