Chapter 3

Reunions and Decisions

As the Republic Fleet made its final departure from Utapau's orbit, Obi-Wan stared at the stars and what he assumed to be the direction of Coruscant. He looked back at Cody who had just finished relaying Fox's orders to him. It was over. The Sith were dead and the war was as good as finished. All that remained were to get the Separatist leaders.

"Well, Cody. I think we know what we must do."

"Exactly, General. We will be-"

"Making our way to Mustafar? Couldn't have said it better myself, Cody."

Cody was surprised by this. It was unlike the General to say something like this. "With respect, General. We have our orders and we have to regroup with Central Command."

"Cody, maybe it's Anakin's bad influence rubbing off on me, but I feel that we have a chance to completely end this war without a single battle. Mustafar is on the Outer Rim, true, but it is also where the Separatist Leaders are hiding. We place them under arrest and we will end this war. The Separatist Generals will negotiate for surrender and the return of their leaders. Meanwhile, we will negotiate with the leaders to begin reintegration into the Senate. We can do this."

Maybe it was the high from defeating Grievous, but there was something in the General's voice that gave Cody confidence. Maybe they could do this. "Very well, General. But if we get in trouble, I will be blaming you for this."

Obi-Wan chuckled. "A good leader knows when to take the blame, Cody. But in this case, I will also be laying the blame on General Grievous' loose voice box. "

"Very good, General." Cody turned to relay Obi-Wan's orders to the pilots. Obi-Wan watched as the fleet began to turn in Mustafar's direction. It was almost finished. They were almost done.

On Coruscant, Senator Padmé Amidala paced back and forth while covering her belly. While the expected delivery date was only a month away, Padmé felt that there was something wrong with the pregnancy. At times, she felt like she was carrying twins or triplets. The biggest problem with being a high profile senator was that you were always in the limelight. There were many Senators right now that were under watch from tabloid holoreporters for either suspected ties to the Separatists or basic relationship scandals. If it came out that she was pregnant or that it was a pregnancy induced by a Jedi Knight, then hers and Anakin's lives would be all but ended.

From behind her, she could hear the sound of clanking footsteps. "Mistress Padmé, do you require anything? Are you feeling ill? Do you need me to contact Doctor F0-L3?"

Turning with a smile, she gazed upon the gold plated protocol droid C-3PO in all his worrisome fashion. While Threepio was definitely a worrier, there was no one she felt was more reliable to care for hers and the baby's needs. He was calculating, usually placing his faith in odds, but he would always follow through on what was best rather than what he feared.

"Thank you, Threepio, but I will be fine. Have you heard from Anakin?"

"Master Anakin has informed me that he is on his way home. He sounded very distraught. I fear the worst since the news from the Senate came out."

Padmé sighed. "I can understand that more than anyone, Threepio."

A series of beeps and whistles came from around the corner as a little blue astromech droid rolled up to Threepio's side. "Artoo has informed me that Master Anakin has arrived."

Padmé smiled and sighed a sigh of relief. The news of Chancellor Palpatine's death had been a surprise, especially when it was revealed that Master Mace Windu had been the one to kill him. The details were sparse and were subject to scrutiny, but she refused to believe the worst of Master Windu. He was a good man. A fine warrior and a dedicated Jedi. While he could be brusque, he wasn't heartless. If he had killed Chancellor Palpatine, then there had to be a reason. Not a good one certainly, but a reason nonetheless.

The doors to their apartment opened to reveal Anakin. While she had expected him to be feeling sad, considering his bond with Palpatine, she wasn't expecting him to look so... destroyed. He looked as if his heart had been shattered into a thousand pieces.

"Anakin, are you alright?" She ran to him, giving him a hug around the neck. "I heard what happened. Is it true? Was Master Windu really responsible for Palpatine's death?" Anakin rested his head on her shoulder.

"It's true, Padmé. He's dead. But there's more to this story."

"What do you mean? People are saying this is a Jedi plot to take control of the Senate. I know the Jedi wouldn't do that, but it isn't looking good for them."

Anakin smiled to himself. Padmé was always thinking in wider ranges rather than the short term. When something happened, she was always willing to see how things would affect the majority rather the minority. It's why he loved her more than anything in the world. And why he would have torn the Republic apart to protect her. "Padmé, you are going to want to sit down for this."

It was a half hour later when Anakin had finished telling his story to Padmé and it was clear that her entire world had been shattered. "That's... That's not possible, Ani. It just... it cannot be true."

"I didn't want to believe it either, Padmé. But the evidence is there. Palpatine was the Sith Lord behind all of this. The Clones should be going through his records now."

Padmé stood up, her hands instinctively covering her belly. "Sheev Palpatine was partly responsible for my nomination as Queen of Naboo. He was one of my staunchest supporters during the Naboo Crisis and helped me during my first years as Senator. I felt that the war had changed him for the worst, but I always hoped that he would relinquish the Emergency Powers once Grievous was killed. I just hoped for the best in him."

She turned back to him, tears welling in her eyes. "Anakin, this war is my fault."

Anakin shot up and ran to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "No. It was his fault. Palpatine began this war. He is responsible for the deaths that have occurred in this war."

"Anakin, I was the one who called for the vote of no confidence in Chancellor Velorum. I opened the doors for his ascension to Chancellor of the Republic. I gave him that power. This is my fault."

This time it was Anakin's turn to comfort her. Holding her close, Anakin patted her on the back. "Palpatine was a devious thinker. He manipulated hundreds of people during the course of his life. You were only one of them."

"But I was the one to give him the power he needed."

Anakin thought for a moment and smiled. "The same could be said of Jar Jar."

Padmé had to think about what Anakin was talking about before remembering. "Oh, right." she chuckled. "I can only imagine what it's going to be like to tell him about this." She laughed a bit more before wincing and covering her belly again. "Sorry, Ani. All this stress may not be good for the baby."

Anakin helped his wife sit herself down on the couch. "There. Is that better?"

Padmé nodded. "I'm fine. Just a little weary. It's been a long day."

Anakin wondered if he should tell her about the offer Palpatine had made him. The offer to save the one he loved at what could have been the cost of the entire Jedi Order. But could he have really done it? Sacrifice his comrades in arms just like that? Sacrifice Shaak Ti, who had guessed his feelings, but had promised to keep his secret? For three years he had been afraid to even trust Obi-Wan, his own master, with the knowledge of his marriage to Padmé.

The Code of the Jedi expressly forbids attachments like those of marriage. Of love. Yet, Shaak Ti has promised to protect my secret. This confused Anakin more than anything. He never thought any Jedi capable of such trust. And that made him doubt himself even more.

Am I truly capable of remaining a Jedi after this?

He looked Padmé in the eye, her warm and caring eyes. The wife he had promised his life to and she to his. If he were to continue this marriage, he would have to be honest and open with her. No matter what, he had to tell her the truth.

"Padmé, there's something I need to tell you." Taking her hands in his, he kept her gaze. "When Palpatine told me who he really was, he made me an offer. He told me that he could teach me the power to manipulate the midi-chlorians so I could prevent people from dying."

"That seems awfully generous for a Sith," Padmé pointed out.

"The price would have been to join him. To become his apprentice. When I found Master Windu standing over his body, I was furious. I wanted to harm him. I wanted to kill him. I wanted to rip him apart for taking away my one chance to save you!"

"Save me?!" Padmé pulled her hands away from Anakin and slid away. "Save me from what? I am not dying, Ani! I am just pregnant!"

"My dreams showed you in pain. Crying for me. I could feel your life slipping away. I saw Obi-Wan at your side and I wasn't there." He stood up and walked to the window, staring out at the city. "I hoped that if I took his offer, I might be able to help you if my dreams came to pass. That I could stop what had happened to my mother. That I could finally become the most powerful Jedi of all time. I just wanted to save you."

He turned around to see Padmé storming up to him, tears in her eyes, and a look that said that she was going to rip him apart. "Padmé, I-"

He was cut short as he felt a sharp sting across his cheek, his head jerking to the side. He looked at Padmé in shock, his hand caressing his cheek. "What was that for?!"

"That was for your selfishness!" Padmé yelled. "You were going to join a man who had willingly lied to the Galaxy for decades and expected him to keep his word? And you were going to do this for me?! Just because of some dream that made you think I was dying? Maybe I was just in pain because I was giving birth to an infant! A living being was exiting my body! Of course I would be in pain!"

Anakin had considered that before, but the severity of the dream had made him think that there was more to them. That the ultimate result would be death for Padmé.

"On top of that, you are willing to do horrible things for me?! What did you think my reaction would be? That I would be grateful and, I don't know, rule the Galaxy as your queen?!"

"I was only thinking of you!" Anakin yelled.

"You were only thinking of yourself! This was never about me! It was just about you not feeling like you did when your mother died!"

Those words stung Anakin. "And is that wrong? To want to protect the ones you love?"

"When it is for their sake! Not when it's for your own!" Padmé's body was shaking with rage. "Anakin, you have hurt me. And what's worse, I don't think you understand why."

"Padmé, I know he was lying to me. I know that now, I understand there would have been a terrible cost. At the time I wasn't thinking."

"Of course you weren't! But if he had been taken prisoner, would you have helped him escape? Would you still have joined him?"

"I don't know," Anakin shot back. "I don't know and that's the problem! I don't know what I would have done. I was afraid and I nearly gave into that fear. I would have killed Master Windu if he hadn't talked me down." He hung his head in shame. "I am sorry. I love you and I don't want to hurt you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our child."

"Anakin," she drew back from him, her gaze on the ground. "I need some time to think on this."

"Think on what?"

"Our future, Ani. I love you. I really do. But if you're going to put us above the Galaxy, I will need to think on us and whether or not we have a future together after this." Anakin was about to speak when Padmé held up her hand. "Don't argue with me, Ani. Please. Just... just give me some time. The next few weeks are going to be difficult for everyone, not just us. Besides, you will need to confer with the Jedi Council about this."

Anakin knew she was right. He didn't like it, but when Padmé was in this mood, she was right. He nodded his head in agreement. "As you wish, Milady." He gathered up his robes and made for the door. "I'll be at the temple if you need to contact me." Artoo gave a series of beeps and whistles as Anakin moved to depart.

Padmé gave a small laugh. "I think Artoo wants to come with you."

"He would be good company to have," Anakin agreed. He turned to Threepio. "Inform me if anything goes wrong with the pregnancy, Threepio. Take care of Padmé."

"I promise you, Master Anakin. I would sooner be deactivated than let anything happen to Mistress Padmé."

Anakin smiled. "I hope it won't come to that, old buddy." With one last look at his wife, he raised his hood and departed, the little blue astromech droid at his back.

Obi-Wan looked upon the beauty of hyperspace as the fleet pushed on to Mustafar. He was so close to the end that he could taste it. After all these years, the lost friends, the planets lost to the Separatists, it would be worth it. The war would be over. It was time for peace. A time that many would never see, including the one woman who would have ever made him consider leaving the Jedi Order, Satine Kryze.

Satine, the late Duchess of Mandalore, had been one of the most important people to Obi-Wan since he was a Padawan Learner. Having saved her life years ago during an assassination attempt on her life, he had fallen for her while they were on the run. Years later, after many encounters during the war she had worked hard for her planet to remain neutral on, she had been killed by his nemesis, the Sith Apprentice Darth Maul. Her death had thrown Mandalore into political disarray. The war had kept Obi-Wan from returning with an army to free it from the hands of the usurper Prime Minister Almec.

When will my duty end? When will I be able to return to my duty as a peacekeeper? When I was a Padawan, it would be mine and Master Qui-Gon's duty to find those in danger and to help them. Now? All I do is visit a planet, fight on it, and leave without making sure everyone is safe. The aftermath is never my concern.

He reached into his pocket and took out the one thing he had left of her: Her earring. A curved turquoise piece that she had worn as part of her attire. He had watched Satine die while he was restrained, her last words being her undying love for him. He had never wanted her to die for him or because of him. All he had wanted was for her to be safe. To lead her people. To live. Now she was gone and all he could do was remember her. Remember her and bring her murderer to justice.

I will find you, Maul, he thought to himself. I will return to Mandalore. I will find you and I will bring you to justice for what you did to Satine and her dream. I swear it.

"General." Obi-Wan turned to see Cody approaching him. "We're will be arriving at Mustafar shortly."

"Thank you, Cody. Have our gunners on standby just in case there's any ships in orbit."

"Yes, General," Cody said with a salute.

A few minutes later, the communications officer called to Obi-Wan. "General, we're picking up signals from a Separatist ship. It appears to be the only one in orbit above Mustafar."

Ever the negotiator, Obi-Wan had an idea. "Transmit a message to the ship. Let's give them a chance to surrender. Once we are out of hyperspace open the channel." The comm officer nodded and pressed some buttons before nodding to Obi-Wan to stand by. As the fleet emerged from Hyperspace, Obi-Wan could see that they were right. There was only one Separatist Battle Cruiser as well as a Droid Command Ship. Most likely, the leaders had only taken one so as not to attract attention from the Republic. As soon as they emerged, Obi-Wan began to speak.

"This is General Obi-Wan Kenobi of the Republic Fleet. We are here to place the Confederacy of Independent System Leaders under arrest. General Grievous, Count Dooku, and their master Darth Sidious are all dead. Your supreme leaders are dead and there is no one to fight for. Surrender and we will spare the lives of you and your crew. Resist and we will be forced to defend ourselves. The choice is yours. I should remind you, however, I do have a fleet at my back and, barring some unforeseen, event, your odds do not look to be in your favor."

A moment or two passed before a response to the transmission could be heard. "This is Droid General C3-G8. We have decided to accept your surrender."

Obi-Wan smiled at Cody. If there was one thing he could count on in a time like this, it was the cowardice of Battle Droids. "Well, the negotiations were certainly short here. Prepare a drop ship, Cody. Let's finish this."

"Yes, Sir, General!"

The Volcanic planet of Mustafar was not an ideal place that Nute Gunray would have chosen as a last hiding place for him and his fellow Confederacy Council Members. The Neimoidian head of the Trade Federation had been through an ordeal during this war. He had been captured, shot at, and pushed around. All he had wanted in the first place was the death of Senator Padmé Amidala. He had hated that wench ever since she had foiled his attempted invasion to secure more trade power for the Federation and to stop the taxation of the Free Trade Zones that would have cost the Federation financially. For years, Gunray had lived to see her head on his desk, but all his efforts had come to naught. With the death of Count Dooku, it seemed that victory was out of the Confederacy of Independent Systems' reach.

While conferring with his Geonosian colleague, Poggle the Lesser, the doors of the bunker slid open to reveal none other than Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Nute Gunray had a long history with the Jedi Master, going as far back as the Battle of Naboo, and instantly felt a sense of dread creeping over him. "Guards! Guards! Kill the Jedi," he screamed.

The five Battle Droid guards that had been assigned to the Council aimed their blasters at Kenobi before being cut down in a hail of carefully aimed blaster fire. From behind Kenobi came a squadron of Clone troopers that took up positions, aiming their weapons at Gunray and his cohorts. A smile spread on Kenobi's lips as he stared at the Viceroy.

"Viceroy Nute Gunray. It's good to see you again. Remember when Master Qui-Gon Jinn and I were sent to negotiate the end of your quite illegal blockade of Naboo? Well, I feel that those negotiations are long overdue. Please, have a seat," he said, gesturing to the many chairs placed around the Council table.

Reluctantly, Gunray did as he was bid with the other Council members following suit. Kenobi sat at the head and smiled at all of them, his Clone Commander standing to one side. "Now, I feel that we should discuss a few things. Like your unconditional surrender."

"You cannot do this," Gunray burst out. "When Lord Sidious and General Grievous get here-"

"Your masters are dead, Viceroy," Kenobi interrupted. "The war is over." A hush fell across the room. It couldn't be. Sidious was a Sith Lord. Nothing could defeat men like him. However, the tone Kenobi had used, combined with the look in his eyes, convinced Gunray of the truth. Kenobi was the one to break the silence.

"Viceroy, it has been three long years and I am tired of fighting. I suspect you are all tired as well and would like to see this come to an end. Now, you are going to come peacefully, onto my ship, and we are going to return to Coruscant to tender your official surrender. Or I can have my Commander here have his men drag you all on board. The choice is yours."

The Council members looked at Gunray for guidance. It was true. He was tired. He was tired of this war. He was tired of having to look over his shoulder in fear. He was tired of having to answer to Lord Sidious. He was just tired of it all. Lowering his head, he gave his answer. "Take us to your ship, General. We surrender."

The five towers of the Jedi Temple were among the tallest structures in Coruscant. Built nearly four thousand years ago, it was a symbol of the eternal presence of the Jedi Order and that it would be there to protect the Galaxy as long as it was needed. Unfortunately, the Jedi's role in the war had shaken the Galaxy's faith in them. Now, thanks to the death of Chancellor Palpatine, the temple was surrounded by protesters, all calling for the head of the man that murdered their beloved leader. As Mace Windu was being escorted to his quarters, the troopers had to keep him surrounded in order to protect him.

The grateful masses were tossing slurs at him. Murderer, Monster, Traitor, Jedi Scum, and those were the polite ones. After all he had done to protect them, years of service and sacrifice, they had turned on him just like that. Despite their hate, he stood tall, his head held high. When a bottle collided with his head, he barely flinched. When a brave few actually tried to rush him, their hands grasping for his throat, he didn't recoil. He was right. He had done what was needed. He had saved them from a terrible fate. They would be grateful when the truth was released during his trial and would be cheering his name. It was to be expected of the masses. They did what they were told and felt how they were told to feel. It was the way of life.

When the troopers cleared the protesters, Mace saw a group of Jedi waiting for him at the entrance. Sure enough, they were members of the High Council, having returned from their campaigns after hearing the news. Alongside Shaak Ti were Ki-Adi Mundi, Mace's former apprentice Depa Billaba, and Plo Koon.

"Master Windu," Depa said, moving forward to escort him inside while the troopers turned to provide a barrier. "We're glad you're okay." As they entered the main temple, her eyes widened as she saw the cut on his forehead where the bottle had hit him.

"It's alright, Depa. It's a shallow cut. It just needs to be cleaned and I'll be fine."

"We'll send a medic to your quarters," Ki-Adi assured him.

"Thank you, Ki-Adi, but I can take care of myself. I just need rest. It has been a trying day."

"We understand, old friend," Plo Koon said with a pat on the back as they walked through the temple.

Later in his quarters, Mace put the final touches on his bandage while looking at himself in the mirror. This had been the most important day in his life. The day he had saved the Republic. The people would hate him for now, but they would thank him one day. One day they would follow him into the abyss. One day, they would be cheering his name. One day.

Reaching into his robes, he pulled out the one item he had taken from the Dark Lord's sanctuary: A Sith Holocron. When he was in the Sanctuary, he had heard a voice. The voice that had taught him to open himself to the Dark Side. Using the Force, he had slipped it into his robes without the Clone's noticing in time. For a Sith Holocron to reach out to him, it had to have belonged to a truly powerful Sith Lord. A Sith Lord that could help him rebuild and bring order back to the Galaxy.

As he placed it on his bed, Mace pondered what this truly meant for him. All his life he had taught himself and others to resist the call of the Dark Side. It wasn't stronger than the Light, but it was faster and easier than the path that the Jedi offered. It was also a path to corruption of the self. A path that was hard to return from. However, he knew his strength. He was second only to Master Yoda himself in terms of power. If he was the to use the Dark Side, he trusted in his own strength. The strength that had allowed him to kill Sidious. He would use that power to protect the Republic and the Jedi Order. He would save it from those from without.

As he activated it, a hologram emerged from the opened Holocron. The figure resembled an elderly woman with her hair tied in two long braids that draped over her chest and held under a dark headdress with a red jewel in its center. However, the most striking thing about her were her eyes. They were black as the void of space itself. She was blind, yet the hologram seemed to be staring at him as if she could see him.

"So, you have finally brought me forth, young fool," she said, her voice sharp as a blade, yet soft as a whisper.

"I had to find you," Mace said, standing firm against the Sith Lord. "Who are you?"

"I am Darth Traya, founder of the Sith Triumvirate and the Lord of Betrayal. You have proven your potential by killing Sidious, but you have a long ways to go before you are ready to truly become a Master of the Dark Side."

"Wait," Mace said, holding a hand up. "I only wish to use the Dark Side in balance with the Light as a tool for rebuilding the Republic. I will never become a Sith."

The hologram scoffed. "You really think you can just taste the Dark Side as you have and not follow the path? You are tainted, Jedi Master Windu. You think I couldn't feel your thoughts as we entered the Temple? As the masses jeered and cursed you. You hate them. You think that things will go back to normal, Fool? You can never go back to what you were. You have the potential to be stronger than any Jedi. Including Master Yoda himself. You have the ability to rebuild the Sith Order from this broken Rule of Two. You can be so much more."

Mace thought on her words. It was true. He had been angered by their cries against him. They were cattle. Fools the lot of them. He could be more than what he was now. He could be so powerful that the Jedi Order would stand above the Senate itself. The Sith and Jedi could be one after millennia of being divided down the middle. He could be the one to bring true balance to the Force.

"What must I do?"

"Kneel to me, Master Windu," the Traya Hologram spoke. "Kneel and acknowledge me as your teacher."

Mace did as she bade. He would play along with her. The Sith Order wouldn't rise again, but a new Order would. He would create an Order that would incorporate the teachings of the Jedi and the Sith. He would do as the Holocron asked for now, but it would be he who was in control. Not a relic from centuries past.

"As you wish, my Master."