"Can't you go talk to him later?" Ahsoka suggested as her and Anakin stopped in front of a window overlooking Coruscant.

"I suppose so." Anakin shot her a smile, before leaning on the closest wall and turning his head to look over the city below, "I don't think I've sat down all day."

Ahsoka darted her eyes around the hallway, making sure nobody was present. Then, she wrapped her arms around Anakin and pulled him into a kiss.

"Ahsoka!" Anakin quickly pulled away, scolding her with a hushed voice, "What if someone saw us?"

"Nobody's around. It's not like it matters anyway." Ahsoka shrugged, pulling him into another kiss. This time, Anakin didn't protest. They swiftly parted once they heard footsteps.

"Maybe we should just go back to our dorm." Anakin chuckled as a group of Clone Troopers hurried passed.

"Maybe." Ahsoka agreed.

"Chancellor." Anakin crouched beside Palpatine. After finding the Chancellor's office empty, he'd asked around - only to find out that the Chancellor was enjoying an evening at the Galaxies Opera House. Unluckily for Anakin, all the seats around him were taken.

"Ah, Anakin. My assistant called forward and told me you were coming. Come closer, I have good news." Palpatine spoke. Anakin leaned closer as Palpatine continued, "Master Kenobi has been deployed to defeat General Grievous. Hopefully, the war could be over by tomorrow morning."

"That's a relief. But I have news concerning the Jedi." Anakin said.

"I see. Leave us." Palpatine turned to the others sat on the balcony. Each of the other guests quickly stood up, before leaving the room, "Please, sit."

Anakin took a seat beside Palpatine, "I don't think the Jedi can be trusted. You were right to suspect them."

"Oh?"

"They've asked me to spy on you." Anakin explained.

"I see. And I take it they didn't take kindly to my suggestion to have you be on the Council?"

"They didn't."

Palpatine leaned back in his seat, eyes moving from the Jedi to the opera, "They don't understand you, Anakin."

"What do you mean?"

"How many times have the Jedi labelled you 'arrogant', Anakin?" Palpatine asked.

"Too many."

"You aren't. You remind me of myself at the beginning of my career." Palpatine smirked to himself, "I was ambitious. And sometimes I was reckless. But it was all for the Republic."

"I suppose you're going to tell me that that line of thinking is dangerous." Anakin sighed, also looking over to the opera.

"Not at all. It's one of the reasons I've risen so far in the Senate." Palpatine nodded, "You're ambitious, Anakin. I respect that about you, but the Jedi don't. When they look at you, they see something to be controlled - to be contained."

Anakin nodded, "I see what you mean."

Palpatine's smile spread a little, "Have you ever heard the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?"

"No, I don't think so."

"I thought not. It's not a tale the Jedi would tell you; it's an old Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Sith Lord so powerful and so wise that he was even revered by some Jedi." Palpatine recalled the story, "But he wanted more than just power, you see."

"What happened to him?" Anakin turned his attention back to Palpatine."

Palpatine chuckled lowly, "The fool fell in love. He swore to his mistress that he'd leave the Sith Order behind and join her one day. And he did. For years, they lived happily together. The only thing he was scared of was losing the love of his life, which eventually of course he did. His own apprentice saw him as weak and a traitor. He struck both Plagueis and his lover down while they slept. It's ironic; he was killed by the one he trusted most."

Palpatine's story left Anakin deep in thought.

"I'd like for you to accompany me back to my office, Anakin. There is something I must discuss with you in private." Palpatine said.

"Of course, Chancellor."

"General Tano." Mace Windu greeted Ahsoka over her communicator, "Is General Skywalker with you?"

"No, Master." Ahsoka answered. She'd been sat in front of the hologram-projected for about an hour now, flicking through channel after channel. She was almost glad to see the Master Jedi.

"I see. Well, I'm sure he's informed you of our decision to promote you to Jedi Knight." Windu said, "Anyway, we were hoping you'd be willing to assist Master Ki Adi Mundi on Mygeeto. He's run into some trouble with a Separatist attack."

"Without General Skywalker?"

"You'd have been promoted to Jedi Knight today, if not for his intervention. You won't be gone long - just a few hours while you assist him with his mission." Windu outlined, "I've taken the liberty of preparing your Clone battalion. You'll find your ship in the hangar."

And with that, he hung up. Ahsoka groaned. "Just a few hours." she repeated, before climbing to her feet.

Anakin followed Palpatine into his office. The Chancellor stopped by the long window behind his chair, looking out over the darkening sky overhead. "I've been fearing that the Jedi would try to take over the Republic." Palpatine confided, "I'm sure you understand why I couldn't talk to you about this back there."

"What makes you think that?" Anakin asked.

"Why did they ask you to spy on me, Anakin?"

"They were worried that you'd been in office for too long." Anakin explained, "Although I don't see the problem with that."

"And they are aware that the Senate voted for me to stay longer?" Palpatine said.

"They are."

Palpatine nodded slowly, "I'm afraid we cannot be sure about their intentions for now."

"Actually, Chancellor - last night I had a vision of Master Windu attacking you." Anakin said, "I think."

"A vision?" Palpatine turned to Anakin, "Last time you had a vision of a tragic event it... unfortunately... came true. If your premonition is to be trusted, then we must act quickly, Anakin."

"Huh?"

"The Jedi are fools. All of them." Palpatine slowly walked passed Anakin and into a nearby hallway, "To defend the Republic, you must do something that no Jedi has before."

"Like what?" Anakin followed behind the Chancellor.

"I'm sure you're familiar with the Dark Side of the Force, Anakin." Palpatine stopped.

Anakin stepped in front of him, "You know the Dark Side?"

"Anakin, if one is to understand the great mystery, one must study all it's aspects, not just the simple and dogmatic view of the Jedi. I know you harbour a strong hatred for them, Anakin. After all, they are the ones holding you back from your potential... and the one you love." Palpatine spoke with a grave expression.

Anakin immediately ignited his lightsaber, "You! You're the Sith Lord!"

"I know that the Jedi have been troubling you. Listen to me - don't continue to be a pawn of the Jedi Council. Every since I've known you - I've understood what drives you, Anakin. You search for a life of peace and of security. The Jedi hold you back from that." Palpatine said, slowly stepping passed Anakin, "Are you going to kill me?"

"No." Anakin answered.

"But you're fuelled by anger. It's what gave you the strength to defeat Count Dooku after all. Your anger isn't focused on me, is it?"

"I'm going to turn you over to the Jedi Council." Anakin switched off his lightsaber.

"Of course you should." Palpatine nodded.

Anakin pushed passed the Sith. As he left the office, a large grin grew on Palpatine's face.

"Rex, have a third of the battalion line up along the northeast of our outpost. Here." Ahsoka pointed down to a map of their general location, "Have another defend this point here. You and I will take point there with Master Ki Adi Mundi."

"Yes, sir." Rex saluted, before hurrying off to command his men.

"You've taken quite a shine to commanding your men." Ki Adi Mundi complimented as he headed over to the Padawan.

"Thank you, Master. I learned from watching General Skywalker." Ahsoka smirked.

"You're lining your troops up along the North? We haven't gotten many attacks from that direction."

"That's probably for a reason. We want to keep every angle defended, in case the Separatists try to flank us." Ahsoka explained.

"A good plan. By the way, I've just received word that Master Kenobi has made contact with General Grievous. I shall keep you posted on his progress." Ki Adi Mundi added, before racing away to join his men.

Ahsoka smiled to herself.

"Master." Anakin ran up to Master Windu, who was heading through the hangar to board a ship with a few other Jedi Masters, "Wait!"

"Can this wait, Skywalker?" Windu sighed, "General Grievous is dead. We're going to make sure that Palpatine will give up his emergency powers."

"I've learned a terrible truth. Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord." Anakin said, stopping Windu in his tracks.

"A Sith Lord?" Windu's eyes widened, "Are you sure?"

"Yes. He knows the Dark Side." Anakin confirmed.

"If this is true, you will have gained my trust." Windu said, "Stay in the Council Chamber and don't leave. I sense great doubt in you, Skywalker."

Anakin watched the Master jump into the ship, before hurrying away.

Master Windu burst into Palpatine's office, followed by Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar, and Saesee Tiin.

"Master Windu. I take it General Grievous has been destroyed then." Palpatine turned to face the Jedi, still sitting in his chair, "I must say you're here sooner than expected."

"In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic," Windu and his fellow Jedi ignited their sabers, "you are under arrest, Chancellor."

"Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?"

"The Senate will decide your fate."

"I am the Senate."

"Not. Yet."

Palpatine slowly rose from his chair. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint noise of the speeders outside and the gentle buzz of the four lightsabers. "It's treason then." he spoke, revealing a lightsaber handle from his sleeve.

In a split second, the number of Jedi in the room fell from four to one as Palpatine cut them down. Windu had to act quickly to block the Chancellor's attack. Windu was immediately on the backfoot, as he stepped backwards through a hallway, Palpatine following, unleashing relentless strike after relentless strike. Now in a separate room, Windu managed to dodge one of Palpatine's strikes, moving in with his own cuts, all of which the Chancellor blocked. Then, their lightsabers clashed. The two fighters pushed against each other's blades, neither willing to step down.

All Anakin could see from the Council Chamber was the faint flashing of lightsabers through the Chancellor's windows. Perhaps Palpatine had been right. Why were the Jedi so eager to remove him from power? Then he remembered his vision. "No... no!" Palpatine's voice echoed through his head as he imagined the Chancellor pleading for his life in front of Mace Windu.

Anakin furrowed his brow as he turned away from the window as raced out of the Council Chamber. He bee-lined for the hangar, jumping in his fighter and flying for the Chancellor's office.

Mace Windu managed to deflect Palpatine's lightsaber. The Sith jumped backwards, bouncing off of one of the room's floor lamps as he blocked one of Windu's attacks. Their fight eventually brought them over to the long window overlooking Coruscant. As they fought, the window shattered - spraying shards of glass across the room. Palpatine sensed Anakin's presence and dropped his guard for a second.

Unknowingly, Windu kicked Palpatine in the face, sending the Chancellor to the ground. Palpatine crawled into the corner of the window frame, his lightsaber dropping to the streets below. "You are under arrest, my Lord." Windu pointed the tip of his lightsaber at the defeated Sith.

Anakin rushed into the room. "Anakin!" Palpatine called, "I told you it would come to this. I was right. The Jedi are taking over!"

"The oppression of the Sith will never return." Windu declared, "You have lost."

"No, no... no! You will die!" Palpatine yelled, firing two beams of Force Lightning at Windu. Anakin covered his eyes as to not be blinded by the attack. Windu moved his lightsaber, deflecting the lightning, "He's a traitor!"

"He is the traitor!" Windu insisted, leaning into the lightning and pushing more of it back at the wounded Palpatine.

"I have the power to protect the Republic!" Palpatine called, "You must choose!"

"Don't listen to him, Anakin!"

"Don't let him kill me!" Palpatine pleaded. His own lightning began to scar his face, "I can't... I'm too weak! Anakin, help me!"

The stream of lightning faded as Palpatine slumped against the wall, gasping for air.

"I am going to end this once and for all!" Windu raised his lightsaber.

"You can't! He must stand trial!" Anakin countered.

"He has control of the Senate and the courts! He's too dangerous to be left alive!" Windu trained his focus on the Sith.

"No... no!" Palpatine raised his hand as Windu began to attack.

"No!" Anakin yelled, switching on his own lightsaber. In that moment, Anakin Skywalker disappeared into his own hate - hate that was targeting solely Mace Windu. Anakin swung, severing Mace's hand at the wrist. The Master screamed in pain, grabbing his arm.

"Power!" Palpatine chortled, firing more Force Lightning at the defenceless Jedi, "Unlimited power!"

Windu's body lit up with blue fire, before being sent flying down to Coruscant by the sheer power of Palpatine's attack. The Chancellor groaned, slumping back against the wall.

"What have I done?" Anakin stumbled backwards, dropping onto the floor lamp behind him.

"What- What you had to." Palpatine coughed, carefully climbing to his feet, "It's like you said, Anakin. The Jedi are not to be trusted."

"I ha- have to turn myself in." Anakin slowly shook his head.

"No!" Palpatine barked. Anakin looked up at his scarred face, "If you do that, they will kill you. Or imprison you."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Anakin breathed.

"Join me." Palpatine spoke, "I will give you the power to live peacefully with the one you love."

"And what about the Jedi?"

"They are now enemies of the Republic." Palpatine said, "All of them. Including your friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"What about Ahsoka Tano?" Anakin asked.

"Ah... of course. Your lover." Palpatine smiled, "Yes, she will be spared."

"Then..." Anakin gulped, falling to his knees, "Then I pledge myself to your teachings."

"Good. Good." Palpatine walked back over to him, "Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth... Vader."

Anakin closed his eyes.

"Rise, Lord Vader."

Anakin rose to his feet and let out a deep sigh.

"Now then. We must act quickly. The Jedi are relentless." Palpatine contiued, walking over to his desk. He pulled on a crimson robe, before pulling up the hood, "If they are not all crushed, there will be civil war without end. First, I want you to go to the Jedi Temple. We will catch them off-balance."

"Don't ask me to do that." Anakin pleaded, "I cannot massacre the Jedi."

"It is the only way for you to become powerful enough with the Dark Side to protect yourself and Lady Tano." Palpatine said, "As I said, the Jedi are relentless. Once they find out what has occurred here, they may take action against her."

"What about the other Jedi across the galaxy?"

"Their betrayal will be dealt with." Palpatine took a seat at his desk, "Now go. Move with great haste and show no mercy. And once you are done, travel to the Mustufar system and wipe out the remaining Separatist leaders."

"Yes... Master..."

"Once more, the Sith will rule the galaxy. And we shall have peace."

Rex let out a sigh of relief. Before him were piles and piles of defeated droids. "Good job, Rex." Ahsoka rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you, sir. How many casualties did we suffer?" Rex asked, removing his helmet.

"Not many. An artillery shot hit a few of our men on the northeastern side, but other than that we've done quite well." Ahsoka smiled, "Have we had any word from Obi-"

"Oh sorry, sir." Rex stopped her as his communicator began beeping. He answered, stepping away from Ahsoka.

"Captain Rex, the time has come. Execute Order 66."