Hey everyone, sorry this Chapter is a bit late. I'd wanted it out sooner, but had to rewrite it. I'd originally planned for them to somehow get ahold of a Venator, but it just wasn't possible. This became my new solution. This chapter also took time because I had to figure out the right technical details on ships to use and such. Such as using the Sundered Heart, better known as the Tantive III from ROTS. This is the ship that Organa would be seen bringing Leia to Alderaan with. As well as having to figure out a starfighter that had a hyperdrive. Thank you for that one, Anakin.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy, and as always,

May the Force be With You.


Kittani Jaxx, Jedi Padawan, hid inside of a storage room at the Jedi temple. She had been running for the past half hour alongside Gant Sarat and a group of younglings and padawans. She and Gant were the oldest there, with a large group of younglings in their care. They'd been watching the holonet news coverage of the Senate meeting, waiting to see the arrest of Chancellor Palpatine. But everything had gone wrong. The news feed was cut just as Master Kenobi and Knight Skywalker appeared, and then the explosions had started. Coruscant was under attack by the Separatists, the temple had been targeted by orbital bombardment. Then, things had gotten bad.

Kittani froze at the sound of footsteps outside, multiple people, and the occasional clicking of armor. "Check these rooms. We have to find them." The voice, definitely a clone's, said. She should have breathed a sigh of relief. Less than an hour ago she would have. Now it sent a chill of fear down her spine.

"Kittani. We're cornered… There's nowhere to hide." Gant whispered, barely a breath in her ear. She nodded some, and looked to him, removing her saber. They'd locked the door. She could plunge her saber into the mechanism, but that'd blow any chance they had at hiding.

"We give the younglings a chance to escape… there aren't many." She said. Gant nodded, his own saber out and ready to ignite.

Some of the footsteps had stopped, and there was the sound of someone splicing the door controls outside. The door opened, revealing two clones as light spilled into the darkened room. Kittani ignited her saber and Gant pushed with the force, sending the two clones into the wall to stun them. She charged while they had the element of surprise. A clone in Two Twelve Orange was there as she came out, she prepared to strike.

"Commander, wait!" The clone shouted. Her saber was at his neck, but she froze when she saw the telltale symbol of a Twi'lek child's face painted on his helmet.

Sergeant Boil carefully lowered his rifle. "Commander… it's me. We aren't going to hurt you." He said, his tone careful and steady. Kittani's heart was racing. How could she know? The clones had been shooting at Jedi when she fled. They'd heard the Supreme Chancellor issue Order 66. Was Master Kenobi even still alive?

Boil carefully moved his hands up to his helmet, removing it slowly. She couldn't sense deceit from him, and his eyes showed it too. After a moment, Kittani extinguished her lightsaber and practically threw herself at Boil, wrapping her arms around him. Boil patted her back some for a moment, then sighed. "Commander. We have to move. General Plo Koon ordered us to gather up as many younglings as possible and make our way to the main hanger."

She nodded some, "Boil. What's going on with the clones… I thought the chips were removed?" She said as she motioned for Gant and the younglings to come out, that it was okay. Looking around, Boil was leading more than just Nerra Squad. He had a mix of troopers from both the Two Twelve and the Five Oh First with him.

"Turns out some of them weren't as loyal to the Generals as we'd thought." He said, shaking his head. "From what I can gather, some mid ranking officers must have dropped the ball and turned their men against us."

Kittani was saddened by this. All the hard work that had gone into stopping the war and it'd just gotten worse. She looked to the clone troopers, now all recovered and ready, and then back to Gant and the younglings, more than a few of which who were clearly afraid, as was she. She then looked to Boil again and took a breath. "Alright. Sergeant, think your men could form a protective ring around the younglings? They have training sabers but are still learning. Gant… what do you say? With me at the front?" She asked, smiling some.

He nodded, "I wouldn't want it any other way Kittani." He said with a smile. They were both afraid, she knew she was. She took a deep breath, releasing her fear to the force, then nodded.

"Alright. Let's move." She said, the clones in position and Sergeant Boil with her and Gant. They began to move towards the hangar quickly, keeping a tight formation to guard the younglings. The temple had an odd silence to it now. Normally one would see Jedi and Temple guards everywhere, but now it was a strange silence that unnerved Kittani.

Her feeling was reinforced as they rounded a corner, coming into one of the more open areas of the Temple. The bodies of Jedi and clones covered the ground. The large room smelled heavily of ozone. She could feel the fear of many of the younglings in the force, and was sickened by the scene herself. "Come now. Let's keep moving. We aren't too much farther now." She said to reassure them. They made their way through the room, Kittani making sure to avoid the bodies as much as possible for the younglings sake.

They had to keep moving. The writing was on the wall at this point. The Jedi Temple, the only home she'd ever known, was no longer safe. Coruscant was no longer safe for the Jedi. Was anywhere safe for the Jedi? She pushed the thought away and instead compartmentalized like Boil had taught her. Focus on what she could control, which was getting them to the hangar. The distant sound of blaster fire was becoming clearer, and as they approached another section of hallway Boil lifted his hand up in a signal for them to stop.

"The hangar that General Plo Koon designated is up ahead. There will be a group of loyalists between us and the others." Boil said. "If we move fast, we can take them by surprise."

Kittani nodded, "Where do you want myself and Gant at Boil?" She asked. She'd been learning tactics quickly, but he was still far ahead of her in tactical knowledge.

Boil looked to her, "Do you trust me, commander?" He asked.


"Move, Jedi dogs!" Boil shouted out as they marched. He prodded Kittani in the back with his blaster as they approached the loyalist clone lines. The fighting was hellish, but at the least, it reassured him that the Jedi and his brothers were still up and fighting. He watched as a Five Oh First officer turned, raising his rifle.

"Sergeant! What're you doing? You know our orders!" He barked.

"Lieutenant. I have a plan. We show them we have younglings. It'll make them hesitate, they'll do something stupid or they'll surrender." He said.

The officer lowered his rifle and contemplated it. "Alright… But one sudden move and they won't leave this hallway." He barked. Boil nodded and pushed Gant forward this time. They had to get as close as possible for this to work. The two Jedi moved forward with him. Once they got close, the lieutenant grabbed Kittani by her shirt.

"You're gonna come with me!" He said, starting to haul her away.

"Lieutenant!" Boil snapped, the trooper looked back, his face level with the barrel of Boil's carbine. "I can't let you do that." Boil fired twice, the other clones in his squad letting loose on the loyalist clones. The two young Jedi dropped their hands, having hid their sabers. They quickly joined in, Boil focused on firing quickly. It pained him to have to gun down his own brothers but… he'd made his choice, they'd made there's. He flattened himself to the wall, acting fast as they pushed up. The loyalists had next to no time to react. They weren't expecting to get outflanked.

"Push up! Let's move!" He shouted and took the example of Commander Cody by leading from the front. The Jedi were with him, and the rest of Nerra squad not far behind. The other troopers were bringing the younglings up, keeping a covered formation around them.

The Hangar was pure chaos. Boil had directed his men to engage the other loyalist defensive positions as they'd spread out. The Jedi and troopers had fallen back to a defensive position around some gunships, a few fighters, and some supply crates.

"Hawkeye! I want suppressing fire there with alpha team." He said, using his helmet to designate the fire zone. "Radar! Keep the enemies heads down there!" He said, directing his two teams to either side as he tried to get control. Master Cin Drallig was leading the defense across the way.

"Sergeant! We got incoming!" One of the Five Oh First shouted from behind them. More loyalist clones had appeared, and were firing at them.

"I'm on it!" The male Padawan said, moving in to cover the clones and younglings.

"We have to move Boil!" Kittani shouted.

He nodded, he couldn't let the pressure get to him. "Alright! Back in formation! Keep the fire up as we move! Commander, I need you two covering our flanks! Blackout! I need your squad covering the rear! Give those shabuirs' something to think about!" The Five Oh First corporal nodded.

"Cover me!" His vod shouted, grabbing a thermal detonator, priming it, and slinging it down the hallway.

"Alright! Let's move!" He accessed the defending troops across the way. "COVERING FIRE!" He bellowed before charging out, firing his blaster with one hand as he kept the others moving. A wave of blaster fire poured out from the defensive position to cover them, and multiple Jedi leaped up, lightsabers at the ready and rushed out to cover them. He stopped at the barricade, an open gunship door, and lay down suppressing fire for the others as the younglings were ushered in and the Jedi slowly fell back.

"Sergeant Boil. Glad to see your mission met with success." General Plo Koon said as he fell back, the blast door of the gunship closing after him.

Boil nodded, taking a breather now that they were in cover. "Glad to see you're still fighting General. I found as many as I could. What's the situation?"

"Good work Sergeant! And I have to say it isn't well. We're cut off here… and I fear we've lost contact with the rest of the temple. Master Yoda is here, helping to lead the defense…"

"Incoming!" A clone suddenly shouted.

Several gunships came swooping into the hangar, low, their weapons primed. Boil turned his blaster towards the gunships, as did many of the other clones. The gunships opened fire, ripping into the loyalist positions, covering them.

"It's the strike team!" A clone trooper shouted. The gunships landed, doors sliding open as multiple troopers offloaded, accompanied by General's Skywalker and Kenobi, along with two civilians. The fire from the loyalists had gone quiet, them regrouping, and Boil took a breath, looking to his squad.

"Alright… everyone take a breather and check your ammo… Something tells me this day is just getting started."


Anakin helped Padme down from the gunship, then made room as Kix and Jesse made room for the Laati's medical droid to work on Rex. He looked around, and what he saw pained him. There were so, so few Jedi left. Maybe forty Jedi ranging from Padawan's to Masters, and not all of them were Knights, instead, many were from the Service Corps branches. However, it did seem that they had managed to save a good deal of the younglings.

Master Yoda made his way over, "Outmaneuvered us, Palpatine has. In the Senate, what has occurred?" He questioned them, it was clear to Anakin the old master seemed pained at the loss of so many.

"Master. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith Lord we've been looking for. It would seem that many of the clones chose to turn against us and follow him." Obi-Wan answered. "He is… He is more powerful than I could have ever imagined. Far more powerful than Dooku. How he could have hidden this from us for so long…"

"Focus on the why, we must not. For a Millennium the Sith remained hidden. Trained in deception, they are."

Anakin spoke up, "Master's Windu and Fisto are still at the Senate building. If we rally the clones and Jedi here, we could go and help them. We could still capture him…"

"No. Succeeded, Palpatine has. Against us, the Republic is." Yoda said before pointing out the open hangar door. Anakin turned to look and saw one of the Emergency broadcast holoscreens moving through the streets. Alongside the flashing warning screens, it gave the warning to avoid any and all Jedi as well. Stating that they had attacked the Supreme Chancellor and were traitors.

"I… how could he have known?" Padme asked softly. "How did he know we were coming?"

"I… it was Appo." Anakin turned to see Rex laying on his stretcher, looking over at them. "H… He changed after Umbara… wasn't as trusting." Rex took a slow breath. "Guess he wasn't the only one." Kix quickly moved in, making him rest.

Anakin couldn't believe it. Betrayed by one of his own officers, and so many of his men. He looked to Master Yoda, as were so many others. "Master, what should we do?" He asked.

Yoda seemed to ready himself. "Escape, we must. Stay on Coruscant, we cannot. Hunted… we now are." He said.

"We'll need a ship… or ships." Master Shak Ti said as a clone worked on her arm, the burn from a blaster bolt obvious. "The few transports we have here would never hold us all." She added.

Senator Organa stepped forward. "I think I might have an answer to our problems." He said. "It would be a tight fit, but the Sundered Heart should be able to carry everyone. But… it isn't heavily armed. We would need an escort. It has a small hangar bay… It could fit two of the fighters here." He added.

"That would be… dangerous." Obi-Wan said. "We'd have to escape through the battle."

"Danger, yes. But, our only option, it is." Yoda said. "Distracted with each other, both sides will be. Protect us from starfighters, our pilots can. Know of a safe place, I do."

"I'd have to collect my own ship… I have to get to Naboo." Padme said suddenly.

Anakin looked to her, "What do you mean Padme? We have to stay together." He said. "I won't lose you."

She sighed, "You won't Anakin… but… my family is there. I can't leave them." Anakin knew there was no changing her mind. His mind instantly flashed with the thoughts of his nightmares. Of the voice saying that he could not protect her. What if something happened to her?

"Then I'm coming with you." He said.

"Anakin. You can't. We'll need you as an escort pilot for the escape ship." Obi Wan said, looking at him seriously.

"I can do both Obi-Wan." Anakin pressed. "I still have my old ship here. The Azure Angel. I modified her with a hyperdrive."

"Anakin… we need…" Obi Wan started before a clone trooper interrupted.

"We have incoming! Looks like some of the Coruscant Guard got dispatched!" He shouted.

Before anyone could protest, Anakin took off running, pulling Padme with him. "Get everyone on the gunships!" He called out.

"Ani! What are you doing?" Padme asked as she hurried to keep up with him.

"It'll be a tight fit, but I can get us to Republica 500 faster than the gunships, and with less attention," Anakin said. "Besides. I need R2 to fly with me." He added as he got into the cockpit, helping her in after him. It was tight, with his arms around her to grab the controls. "Just hang on."

He powered the ship up, arming his weapons systems and going through his checklist in his head. Obi-Wan and Master Plo Koon had also gone to their starfighters, while the others were loaded onto multiple gunships. Anakin lifted off, and, making sure Padme was secure, shot towards their nearby apartment.

The fight had descended to the upper level of Coruscant. Anakin flew low, using the cityscape itself as cover for them both. There was no way he could engage in a dogfight, not with Padme here.

"Are you sure this is a good idea Anakin?" Padme asked him, clearly a bit panicked by the speed with which he flew. They were practically streaking over the engagements in the city in an effort to avoid engaging. A few blaster bolts were streaking past the aircraft itself. He focused on piloting and could see the building approaching. He could also see that the clones had transformed it into a temporary headquarters.

"Oh, this is gonna be rough. Hang on Padme!" He said as he throttled up to the max, making for the hangar where her ship was held.

"Anakin… the doors are closed!" She warned him.

"I see it!" He said as he armed his ships proton torpedo launcher. He fired one, watching as it streaked into the door, him following its trail. They shot through the new entryway, and Anakin immediately slammed on the reverse thrusters, spinning the ship around in the small space of the hangar and then using his engines to slow momentum. He dropped his landing gear, and after a bit of skidding, the ship came to a stop.

Panting some, Anakin opened the cockpit and helped Padme down. "Is that what you call flying most of the time?" She asked, not able to suppress her chuckle.

"Hey. I got us here, didn't I?"

"Well, Yes. But I think those clones will take interest in why we just invaded their base." She retorted. "R-Too and Threepio should be here shortly." She said.

"Both of you! Hands up! Surrender now!" A clone suddenly shouted. Anakin instantly moved to protect Padme, drawing his lightsaber as the clones moved to encircle them.

"We're surrounded," Padme muttered. "Told you so."

"Yeah yeah," Anakin muttered. "Any plans here?"

"I was hoping you'd have one." She said.

The clone shouted for them to be quiet, but was then interrupted.

"Oh, Mistress Padme! Master Anakin! It is so good to see you, what is going on outside?" Threepio said as he and R-Too came into the Hangar. The clones turned to see the new disturbance, and this was Anakin's chance. He reached out with the force, lifting the group of clones into the air as they all shouted out. He swung his arm, sending them flying into the wall of the hangar.

"Well, that's… one way to handle it." Padme said as she hurried over to her personal yacht. "Threepio. You're with me. We're going on a trip."

"Oh! Shall I pack you some things, Ma'am?" The service droid asked, hurrying off to help Padme. Anakin turned to R-Too.

"We've got a bit of a fight ahead of us R-Too. You ready buddy?" He asked, the droid beeping out his answer and heading over to the droid port for his fighter. Anakin hopped in, getting settled. "Padme, do you read me?"

"I hear you Anakin. I'm ready." She said, her ship powering up.

"Alright… let's link up with the others." Anakin said, rocketing out of the hangar after Padme.

Anakin did one final check of his systems as he formed up with the Sundered Heart, along with Obi Wan and Plo Koon. They were already gaining altitude, preparing to escape Coruscant's gravity. Padme's ship had fallen into a close formation with the CR-70.

"Well, glad to see you could join us Anakin," Obi-Wan said.

"Hey, I promised I would." He said, grinning. "Besides, this is where the fun begins. Do you think I'd miss out on that?"

"I hate to interrupt, but it would appear we've finally gained the enemies attention." Master Plo Koon said. "Both of them."

Anakin looked ahead and saw a series of vulture droids charging at them, along with a flight of Hyena bombers. Diving after them were a group of clones in ARC-170's.

"Anakin. Master We can handle the fighters. You need to keep those bombers away from the ships!" Obi Wan said.

"On it!" Anakin called out. He set his target designators to mark the bombers, and throttled up. It was a game of Nuna between the three Jedi fighters and the droids, followed closely by clones. They were closing, incredibly fast. Anakin held his fire. Then, just as it seemed they would collide, Anakin opened up along with Plo Koon aObi-WanWan. They peeled off, drawing the fighters attention while Anakin aimed for the bombers. He opened fire, throwing his fighter into a spin and cutting through two of the Hyena's with his cannon fire.

He kicked his fighter around as hard as he could to give chase, the Bombers still charging at their target. Anakin opened fire on the remaining two bombers, hitting one and sending it spiraling into the other. Suddenly, blue plasma blasts shot past his cockpit, he glanced back to see three of the clone pilots giving chase.

"R2, focus power to the rear shields." He said as he pulled up, pushing his ship into an upward climb, putting some distance between him and the ARC-170's. He kicked his ship around again, jackknifing into a downward dive at them before firing, clipping one's wings as he rocketed past. The other two refused to give up, still pursuing him. He dove down, through the wreckage of a venator, but the pilots followed. He waited till they exited the debris field, then cut power to his fighter and used the force to swing it around, firing at both ships and finishing them. He throttled up, trying to stay near the slower corvette.

"We're nearly clear for the hyperspace jump." Senator Organa announced. "Both sides are too busy with each other. But we have a problem. There's a droid Frigate blocking our path." He said.

"I'm on it. Just be ready to jump. Obi Wan, Master Plo Koon, go ahead and get to the Hangar." He said. His was the only ship able to make hyperspace jumps, if they didn't make it on board, they'd be left behind.

Anakin went to full throttle, charging at the Munificent frigate. It was then that he heard Master Kenobi.

"There's too many after us. We can't land!" He said. Anakin looked around and saw the two Eta fighters with a large number of droids after them.

"Hang on, I'm coming!" Anakin said, preparing to turn his fighter about.

"No! Stay on your attack run Skywalker. Master Kenobi, make for the Hangar. I'll be behind you."

"But Master Plo Koon!" Anakin challenged.

"It's okay Anakin. Finish your attack run." The Jedi Master said, turning his fighter around and engaging with the droids, drawing them off Obi Wan. Anakin watched as Obi-Wan gained speed, making it to the ship.

A burst of Flak returned his attention to the frigate in front of him. Arming his proton torpedoes, Anakin fired a spread of six, aimed right for the control bridge. They all struck home, and the Frigate's flight path began to deteriorate as the fires spread.

"Okay, you're clear! Prepare to jump!" He said as he primed his own hyperdrive for the jump to Naboo.

"Wait! Master Plo Koon isn't on board yet!" Ahsoka suddenly shouted over the coms.

Anakin searched around, trying to spot the Kel Dor master's ship. He quickly locked on to it, and it wasn't good. Master Plo Koon had multiple fighters after him, including droid Tri-Fighters. His own Eta was smoking heavily from one engine, fire spurting out of it.

"I… won't be able to make it on board. There are too many." He said.

"I'm coming to help!" Anakin declared, but the Master stopped him.

"No. If you don't leave now, it's just putting everyone at risk. Go. I will be okay Anakin."

"But Master Plo!" Ahsoka said.

"Don't worry about me. Goodbye, Little 'Soka." He said, and before they could argue, his coms went offline.

"We're ready to make the Jump. Sending coordinates to yourself and Senator Amidala, Jedi Skywalker." Bail said.

Anakin watched as the corvette jumped into hyperspace, then closed his eyes and, on her mark, jumped to Naboo with Padme.