"To fight this Lord Sidious strong enough you will never be", Master Yoda told Obi-Wan Kenobi. "Die you will, and painfully." There was an air of finality in the Grandmaster's tone.

Obi-Wan swallowed hard. He could not, would not, fight Anakin. Ordinarily he would never dream of defying the Grand Master of the order. But desperate circumstances demanded desperate measures. "If I can make a suggestion, Master, why should we not fight Sidious together?"

The idea didn't meet with Master Yoda's approval. "Together, Master Kenobi? And if killed we are fighting him, what then, hmm?"

"With all due respect, Master, if you wish to fight Sidious, I believe you are going to need help. He killed Masters Windu, Fisto, Tinn and Kolar. Could you do the same?"

"Help me you would not. Get in my way you would. A master of Soresu you may be, but Sidious is vastly stronger in the Force."

"Master, I do not ask that you come to my aid, if I require aid. And who knows if my…contribution will not distract Sidious enough to give you an opening?

The diminutive Jedi threw him a pained look. "Master Kenobi, glimpsed the future I have. If confront Sidious you do, die you will. However…overconfident I must not be. And perhaps even a tiny amount of help will tip the scales in my favour. Very well. Heed your request I do. Fight Sidious together we will."

Obi-Wan allowed himself a dignified smile. "Excellent. You won't regret this, Master." Privately, he thought his chances of survival were good. Sidious would require at least a moment to kill him, and it was unlikely that he would get even that long a reprieve from Master Yoda.

"I suppose we will need a disguise to infiltrate the Senate Building."

"Yes, we will", replied Master Yoda. "An idea you have, perhaps?"

"I do, Master." Indeed, a plan was already forming in Obi-Wan's head. He set about explaining it to Master Yoda.

CA-577 – or Alpha as his comrades called him – was an experienced clone. In the course of five years spent guarding the Senate Rotunda, he had seen it all: drug dealers, bounty hunters, children trying to sneak into the Senate for a bet, senators who had "lost" their ID cards, you name it. So when he saw the pizza deliverer approach the entrance, he was initially apprehensive. The individual looked thoroughly unsavory-his stomach drooped past his shirt like jerba cheese and his hair, unkempt and dirty, reached down to his shoulders. In other words, he fit the profile of a death stick dealer. Only when they were face to face did Alpha relax. He had that the man was wearing a 'Republic Express' shirt.

"Can I help you?" asked Alpha.

"Republic Express", replied the deliverer, flashing an ugly smile. Alpha grimaced, noting that several of his teeth were cracked. "I'm here to make a pizza delivery."

"Of course. And who is it for?"

"Senator Bail Organa."

"Right. Stay here. I'll notify the senator that you've arrived."

Alpha reached for his holopad. But that was the last thing he remembered.

Obi-Wan was ready. As soon as the guard's hand moved towards his belt, he fixed him in the eyes.

"You don't need to notify Senator Organa", he said intensely.

"I don't need to notify Senator Organa", the clone repeated blankly.

"You will take us to his office."

"I will take you to his office."

The Negotiator stopped there. That should do it.

The guard led Kenobi through the aptly-named Great Door and into the Grand Convocation Chamber. Obi-Wan resisted the urge to look at the massive statues that lined the side of the Chamber. By using battle meditation, Yoda had given the younger Jedi enough power to alter his personal features. However, the disguise would only hold up as long as Obi-Wan concentrated.

Eight or nine guards were milling about the entrance. At the sight of the pizza deliverer, they moved towards him. It was impossible to observe their facial expressions through their masks, but they must have been quite intrigued.

"Is this man with you, Alpha?", inquired the nearest guard.

"It's all right", said Obi-Wan as quietly as possible. "I'm with you."

It's all right", repeated Alpha. "He's with me."

For one terrible moment, Obi-Wan's delivery man disguise vanished. He braced himself for running for his life – oh no wait, he couldn't do that – dropping his bag, cutting down the guards, and hoping that Master would catch on the emergency. Fortunately the troopers didn't seem to have noticed anything: they returned to their business.

After they left the Convocation Chamber, Obi-Wan headed into a refresher. There, he took his leave of his guide.

"Now then," he muttered, "the only question that remains is, how do I find the Holding Office?"

He brought the blue and white pizza bag close his face. "Master, where is the Chancellor's office?"

"Think I can see through leather, do you?!" responded Yoda, sounding thoroughly disgruntled. "Use your head, Kenobi. From where does the Chancellor emerge during Senate meetings?"

"The basement, I believe. Ah, of course. I'm on my way."

Five minutes later, following direction signs, they stood in view of the Holding Office. Obi-Wan retreated to a point in the passageway where the entrance was hidden from view by a curve and scanned his surroundings. There was no one in sight. He set down the pizza box. "You can come out, Master." he said quietly.

The Grandmaster dropped Obi-Wan's force disguise and clambered out of the delivery box that Republic Express had been kind enough to provide. "Bah!" he grumbled. "Felt this ridiculous I have not since…since…" He trailed off.

"Since when, master?"

Master Yoda waved his cane at him dismissively. "Never mind. A job to do, we have."

He motioned toward the Office's entrance. It was clear that Darth Sidious was inside: dark side energy was emanating from the door in waves, and each of them hit Obi-Wan like a tsunami.

Master Yoda closed his eyes and exhaled deeply, then fixed his eyes on Obi-Wan. "May the force be with us, Kenobi. And remember: cunning is this Sith Lord. Not playing by any rules, he will be. And neither should you do. Only one rule matters: do not let your anger control you."

A nod of agreement, then the two Jedi marched toward the door, headed for a battle that would hopefully save the Republic and the remnants of the Order.

Into the Holding Office they strode, Obi-Wan making sure to bring up the rear. Two Red Guards stood on both sides of the entrance, but Master Yoda knocked them out with a casual force push.

Sidious rose from his desk in an unhurried manner. He seemed to have expected them. At any rate he was grinning widely.

"I hear a new apprentice you have, emperor." said Master Yoda. "Or, should I call you Darth Sidious?"

"Welcome, Master Yoda! Let me be the first to wish you a Happy Empire Day!" exclaimed Sidious. Then he threw Obi-Wan a contemptuous glance. "I see you brought a friend. May I ask him to wait outside? This is no place for amateurs, you know."

Ignoring the jest, Obi-Wan ignited his lightsaber and got into a combat stance. He had no intention of being caught off guard; Kit Fisto, Mace Windu, Saesee Tin, and Agen Kolar had probably made that mistake. "By all means underestimate me, Sidious." he replied with practiced confidence and calm. "It worked well for Maul and Grievous, as I recall."

Sidious' face contorted into an twisted, hideous sneer. "You are deluded, Kenobi." he cackled. "I shall tell Lord Vader you died begging for mercy!"

Before the Jedi could take action, Sidious struck. Moving with blurring speed, he cast a ball of lightning at Master Yoda. The green Jedi was caught completely off-guard. The deadly projectile smashed into his chest and hurled him against a wall, from which he crumpled to the ground in a unmoving heap.

No. It couldn't be. Stunned and alarmed, Obi-Wan put on a burst of superhuman speed and rushed towards Master Yoda. His master was the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy. He couldn't have been dispatched so quickly, even by a Sith Lord. "Hold on Master, I'm coming!"

But as he reached his destination, the Force screamed a warning at him. Obi-Wan turned and raised his lightsaber in front of him, just in time to block a ferocious sweeping blow from Sidious aimed at directly his neck. But the Sith wasn't done. In an infinitesimal fraction of a second, before Obi-Wan could react or move, the scarlet lightsaber slipped below his guard and severed both his hands.

Obi-Wan's knees gave way, crippled by unprecedented, ruthless, and all-consuming pain. Even as he hit the ground, he felt Palpatine's saber slice into his neck. Then he felt nothing.

When Obi-Wan regained consciousness, he rubbed his forehead wearily, only to have his hand go through his forehead.

He no longer had a body.

As Obi-Wan process this information, he became aware of his surroundings. He was…floating…in total darkness. He couldn't see an inch in front of him.

"Well. It seems I've suffered a minor setback."

He tried to chuckle, but the sound was stillborn in his throat. "If only someone were around to appreciate my sense of humor. Anakin…where are you?"

How could he have been so stupid as to ignore Master Yoda's admonition? How could he have expected that his master would not stumble even once during the duel? He prayed Master Qui-Gon had not been watching the duel. He might have died of shame – if it was possible to die in the afterlife

"Is anyone there?!" he shouted at the blackness. Only silence answered him.

"I suppose I should be grateful I can still shout."

"Master? Master Qui-Gon?" he called, half-hopeful and half apprehensive.

"Qui-Gon is not here, Master Kenobi," came a deep, smooth voice behind him he knew all too well. He whirled around, or at least tried to. "Dooku," he hissed.

"Welcome to the afterlife. I deeply regret the circumstances of our meeting. However-"

"Unless you can tell me where to find Master Qui-Gon, or other deceased Jedi, I'm not interested in listening to anything you have to say, Dooku."

"He is not here," replied the Sith lord soberly. "He passed on before I arrived."

"To where?" As Obi-Wan spoke he felt blindly for Dooku, wondering if he emitted light.

"He chose to become one with the Force." said Dooku with a hint of melancholy. "However, forget your old master for the time being. We have more pressing matters to attend to. Master Yoda – Yoda – is in great danger."

Obi-Wan drew in a sharp breath. He had completely forgotten about the fate of Master Yoda. "What's happening? Is Master Yoda still alive? How do you know about the duel?"

Dooku's response was laced with self-satisfaction. "Not only is he alive, but he defeated Palpatine – and killed him."

Obi-Wan felt like Grievous' durasteel fist had smashed into his skull again. "No. You're lying."

"I anticipated you would say that. However, please reconsider. Despite our having been on opposite sides in the Clone Wars, I have great esteem and affection for you, Obi-Wan. As the student of Master Qui-Gon, you are practically my grandson. What is more, you have nothing to lose by trusting me."

With enormous effort, Obi-Wan achieved a semblance of composure. "It's not possible. Master Yoda would never kill an adversary – not in cold blood."

Dooku gave a sigh of impatience. "Since we are pressed for time, I will take you to the scene of the duel."

"What are you talking about-"

The next thing he knew, he was hovering above a giant mirror. A mirror that apparently showed the world of the living, because he could see the Holding Office. There was no sign of Master Yoda, but he could see Palpatine. The Emperor lay sprawled on the ground, his head several feet away from the rest of his body.

He tore his eyes away from the scene to look for Dooku. "What just happened? What did you do to me?"

Dooku's reply suggested he was right next to him, though the man himself was still frustratingly invisible. "I possessed you, Obi-Wan, so as to transport you to the portal beneath our feet. I apologise for doing so. It was the only way of doing so, since you have not mastered the technique of force essence."

"Force essence? Possession? And why can't I see you? Will you show yourself?!"

"We can indulge your curiosity later. Right now, we must focus on stopping Yoda. You see, I observed your duel. Your death caused Yoda to unleash his anger and hatred", explained Dooku. "Sidious was annihilated."

"Impossible. Master Yoda would never fall to the Dark Side. "

"How amusing," mused Dooku, apparently not listening to him. "Three years ago, I tempted Yoda to embrace the Dark side. I offered him riches, power, immortality, love, everything I could think of. But my efforts were in vain. And now it turns out that the only thing required to turn him was the death of a protégé at the hands of a mortal enemy. Of course he is not yet beyond saving. His head is still above the waters that is the Dark Side. But another emotional blow will surely cause him to sink."

"How can you know what is happening in Master Yoda's head? Can spirits establish connections with the living?"

"It was a most extraordinary fight." commented Dooku, again apparently not listening to him "It happened so quickly I hardly saw anything, not even a blur. One moment Yoda was at the bottom of the office's wall, and the next he was standing in front of Sidious, with his sword in his chest."

"I understand, but-"

"Consider, Obi-Wan. How could Yoda possibly have won the duel so rapidly?" Dooku replied. "And why else would his skin have turned a dark shade of grey and blue, as it did at Chateau Malreaux?"

"I suppose I must believe you, Dooku. But what do you expect will happen now?"

"We must attempt to reason with Yoda. He is on his way to Mustafar, to confront Skywalker. If he kills the boy, there is a risk that his fall will become permanent. And if that happens, Yoda will either attempt to take Palpatine's place, or turn the Jedi Order into a Sith Academy. Either way, it will mean civil war without end."

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. "Attempt to reason with him? And how do you plan to do that? By holocom?"

"No, through Force Essence. A technique I learned after leaving the Jedi, and before meeting Sidious. It allows me to manifest in the world of living…among other useful abilities."

More confused than ever, Obi-Wan looked around in the forlorn hope that there might be other spirits willing to help him. Anybody was preferable to Dooku. Perhaps he could make contact with them using the Force?"

"There is no else here." repeated Dooku firmly. "And you cannot access the Force, not having learned to preserve your essence."

Obi-Wan tried to reach out with the Force, but found that it was completely absent. "Confound it. Why did we leave Anakin on Coruscant alone?" He sighed. "Very well. I'll play along, Dooku. How do we find Master Yoda?" asked Obi-Wan after a long deliberation.

"There's nothing for you to do, Obi-Wan." said the count quietly. "There's nothing that you can do. Indeed, your attachment to the Jedi Order's doctrines might prove a hindrance. I will go alone to the land of the living."

"How?"

Dooku didn't reply, but when Obi-Wan contemplated the mirror again he had his answer. He wasn't looking at the Holding Office anymore, but at the cabin of a ship. In the middle of a capital, on a cushion, sat Master Yoda. In this kind of environment, the old master was usually given to meditating. But right now he seemed to be doing something else. He was staring blankly at a wall, as thought in a trance or as if his eight hundred eighty years had finally caught up with his mind. Either way, it was by far the most disoriented look Obi-Wan had ever seen him harbour.

Presently Dooku materialized behind him. "Master Yoda."

Master Yoda lowered his arms and opened his eyes, but didn't turn around. "Apprentice." he said laconically. "Learned to become a force ghost you have."

"I am not your apprentice." retorted Dooku. "But we can dispense with the pettiness. I have come here on an urgent errand. I know that you used your anger and hatred to defeat Darth Sidious. And that frightens me. Never before have you used the Dark Side, if I am not mistaken."

Master Yoda bowed his head grimly. "An accident it was. The slaughter of the Jedi brought me to the brink. Kenobi's death pushed me over it."

There was a moment of silence.

Then Obi-Wan saw Master Yoda's lips moving, but could not hear anything.

Abruptly, the glass pane from the room's door exploded.

Dooku arched an eyebrow, evidently skeptical. "I see. An accident. Then you will not use the Dark Side again?"

"No." replied the Grand Master, suddenly overcome by trembling. "Never again. Not even if it could save my life."

"I'm glad to hear you say that" said Dooku. "It appears that…once again, I underestimated you. But tell me, what do you plan to do with Skywalker once you've defeated him?"

"Attempt to capture him and bring him to trial, I will." Said Master Yoda, looking vacant. "Beyond redemption he is, I fear. Consumed, by Darth Vader. Still, I must try. Now leave me, apprentice. I must meditate."

Obeying, Dooku vanished from the room. The next moment Obi-Wan heard him exhaled deeply by his hide. "And now, we wait."

"Is there nothing we can do?"

"I could try to possess Yoda or Skywalker, though no spirit has ever attempted it. But it won't be necessary."

They sat down at the edge of the mirror and waited. Ten minutes later Master Yoda's ship came to a halt. He left his room and conferred with the pilot, who turned out to be none other than Bail Organa. For the first time since he had been shot down on Utapau, Obi-Wan felt the warmth of a flicker of optimism.

"Out of the way you must keep, Organa. Handle Skywalker, only I can" the green Jedi told the senator, in a tone that brooked no reply. "We do not know how he will react," he added, slightly more gently.

"Very well, Master. Good luck. But if it should prove necessary to deal the finishing blow…" He held up a pistol.

Master Yoda made a grunting noise. "When we get to that bridge we will cross it. Leaving the ship, he shuffled down the ramp. In the background, Obi-Wan saw rivers of lava. Dooku had not lied: they were looking at Mustafar.

Once on the ground, Master Yoda scanned the immediate surroundings for any sign of Anakin. He didn't see anything, but one of his ears twitched noticeably. Obi-Wan could hear it too: on the other side of two doors forty feet away was the sound of screaming and of a lightsaber in action.

Master Yoda dropped his cane. Racing forward, he opened the doors using the force and saw what was happening on the other side. In a large conference room, Anakin was slaughtering the leaders of the Separatist Council. Terrified and helpless, they were either begging for mercy or hiding in the furthest reaches of the room. Had things continued as thus the entire Separatist leadership would have been wiped out, which was surely more than they deserved. But now they were saved.

The moment Master Yoda opened the doors, everyone in the room froze, even Anakin. Slowly, he turned to face the grand master, pointing his blue lightsaber straight at the newcomer. His eyes burned with anger, but he seemed unsure what to do. It was clear that fighting the most powerful Jedi in the Order was not what he had bargained for.

The Separatists took the opportunity to scurry away through the opened doors.

"Surrender, Skywalker." declared Master Yoda. He spoke patiently, but his voice had a menacing undertone. "Enough harm you have caused."

Anakin tried to laugh, but only managed to produce a grimace. It would have been funny if it weren't so tragic. "Don't try to stop me, Master." he drawled. "I have grown more powerful than any Jedi. Even you."

"Your new master, fallen he has, Skywalker."

Anakin frowned and shook his head convulsively. "Liar!" he screamed. "You're trying to trick me!"

Obi-Wan stared in disbelief. Even after seeing what Anakin what done in the Temple, it seemed incredible that he could fallen so low in so little time. Where was the friendly and humble man he had spoken to before leaving for Utapau?

"Come back to us" Master Yoda pleaded. "We are your friends! We will forgive you!"

But Anakin seemed to be beyond reasoning. "You betrayed me!" he yelled. "The Jedi betrayed me!" Sword held high, he charged at Master Yoda.

The Jedi responded by shoving his right hand forward. Caught completely off-guard, Anakin was hurled against the doors on the other side of the room. His body collided with permacrete with a sickening thud.

Watching his apprentice slide to the floor, Obi-Wan was painfully reminded of his defeat at the hand of Dooku on the Invisible Hand. He prayed that Anakin had only been knocked unconscious. But soon his eyes widened: the boy was staggering to his feet! Keeping his balance with difficulty, he tried to pocket his lightsaber, only to realize he no longer had it. Master Yoda had just summoned the weapon to him and destroyed it.

"Surrender, Skywalker", said Master Yoda again. He moved forward a bit.

Anakin looked around wildly, as a hunted beast might do when it was cornered. He was probably deciding whether to fight his way past Master Yoda or run away, though neither option had much to recommend. At length he stretched out his hand and tried to push Master Yoda backwards. But the attack stumbled upon an unseen barrier, and the Jedi didn't move an inch.

Yoda waited until his opponent had stopped, then swiftly encased him in a force grip. The Sith Lord writhed desperately, but Obi-Wan knew it was no use-there was no way to escape a strong, properly maintained force grip.

Yoda proceeded to levitate Anakin all the way to the hangar. Organa was standing outside his ship, ready to intervene. "Organa, use your blaster. Stun him!" shouted the grand master.

The senator was happy to oblige. Drawing his pistol, he fired a blast which knocked Anakin out cold.

Master Yoda let his captive float to the ground. "Thank you, my friend." he told Organa, breathing heavily "A much more difficult battle, confess I expected."

"Yes yes, well done. But we must return to Coruscant as quickly as possible. We have a republic to save. Palpatine may be dead, but we can't risk Sage Pestage or Mas Amedda taking his place."

Master Yoda nodded curtly. "Yes. To the Senate, the clones now long belong, but Darth Sidious' advisors will attempt to usurp control."

With a burst of Force speed, Master Yoda entered the Sundered Heart. Organa, though carrying Anakin's body, was close behind him. Within seconds they fired up the engines, and the ship vanished into Mustafar's red sky.

And now Obi-Wan turned away from the mirror, and returned to his thoughts. Anakin was redeemed, and the Sith were finally destroyed. Those events were nothing short of miracles. He wanted to leap for joy and relief, and almost did so. But his holiday mood quickly faded as he remembered where he was. What he was. It was the beginning of a new age for Anakin and the Republic, but he would not be there to enjoy it. He felt a spurt of anger and disappoint wash over him. This wasn't fair. He was too young to die- it wasn't his time.

He stood up and called for Dooku as loud as his incorporeal body would allow. Obi-Wan would not admit defeat so easily. He suspected – no was convinced – that resurrection was possible to Jedi who had died prematurely and for a righteous cause. One way or another, whatever the cost, he would return from the dead.