I am one with the force, the force is with me. I am one with the force, the force is with me. I am one with the force, the force is with me. I keep repeating it over and over in my head trying to make sense of the chaos going on outside. Master Silvard told me to wait in my chambers in the Padawan area, but I was getting worried now. There was blaster fire coming from right outside the temple. To the best of my knowledge, Master Kenobi went to go confront Grievous elsewhere. So why was there a battle happening right outside the Temple? Why did Master Silvard want me to wait for him? Why didn't he want me to come with him? So many questions, such uncertainty. I decided I would be a good Padawan and wait for him to return or contact me on the comm. I wanted to be a good Jedi. I wanted to be a Master as good as Master Silvard or Master Yoda or even Master Kenobi one day, but as the Force wills it, patience was never my strong suit. The council must have known this and that is why I train with Master Silvard. He always had a reputation for discipline, patience, and kindness. The council wants me to acquire these traits, I would reason with myself.

"The Council has a reason," he would always remind me in his modulated voice. "We have to trust the Council and let the Force guide our actions. The Force is everywhere and connects us to everything, and we adhere to its bidding. The Force has been around before anyone can remember, and will continue to be around even after we are gone. We do not manipulate the Force, we work with it, let it flow through us. For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic, using the Force to guide them. What is the Jedi Code, my Padawan?"

Every time he asked I would stand up straight and recite the ancient words, "There is no emotion-there is peace. There is no ignorance-there is knowledge. There is no passion-there is serenity. There is no chaos-there is harmony. There is no death-there is the force."

"Exactly. Balance in all things. Peace is not the absence of emotion, but rather the control of your emotions. Knowledge, whether you know as much as Master Yoda, or less than a youngling is still knowledge. We remain must remain serein even in the direst of circumstances. Too much happiness or anger tips the balance so we must remain calm to think and keep our feelings under control. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, the path to the dark side. A hive looks chaotic at a distance, but after examining it we see all the creatures have a purpose. They have a job to do for the betterness of the hive and thus everything is harmonic. And as I said earlier, the Force has been around before anyone can remember, and will continue to be around even after we are gone. When our time is up we simply-"

"Become one with the force."

"Exactly my Padawan. This is why the mantra 'I am one with the Force, the Force is with me' is a reminder that there is more than ourselves. It is a reminder of what we serve and its power."

Well, the force was silent right now. It could tell me why I had not heard from my master yet, but that would be all too easy. With that thought, I got off my meditation mat and picked up the hilt of my lightsaber to walk to my cot where the comlink was located. I reached for it so that I would be ready if Master Silvard needed my help and attached it to the belt wrapped around me. Master Silvard expected me to be ready and I could only assume that this time would be no different. Pacing the length of the room feeling restless and beginning to worry for my Master. I sat on the sleeping cot, stood up and walked back to the meditation mat to sit down again. Still feeling antsy I placed my lightsaber in front of me and proceed to take it apart. The silver hilt was warm from the time I had spent holding it in the past few minutes.

Master Silvard was persistent that I know my basics, to know my lightsaber by feel. From the vertical notches on the hilt to the teardrop-shaped pommel. The distance from the activation switch to the emitter. The exact shape of my kyber crystal. I knew everything about this saber. Every edge, every point. It is blue now, but when I first constructed it as a Padawan, the crystal was transparent. Like the younglings before me, I traveled to Illum to complete The Gathering. After completing the trials the force led me to the crystal. Clearer than the purest diamond, pulsing with energy, I held it in my hand baffled and transfixed at the crystal I was going to use in my lightsaber. I allowed myself to breathe to the rhythm of the energy around the crystal, turning it over and over feeling every point and edge until something in my very soul clicked with the crystal and it turned blue. The whole ordeal was instantaneous, but at that moment, it felt like it lasted hours.

Not being able to stand to wait anymore, I decided to comm, my Master. I put my lightsaber back together and walked to the cot where I had placed my comlink.

"Master, what is going on? Are you all alright? Can I do anything to help?"

"Deco Kin! Listen to me, this is of the utmost importance. You must not contact me again for your safety. You need to hide and get as far away from the temple as you can. They're-" The communication broke off with the sound of static and then silence, leaving me confused. He had never seemed so worried about me. He had more than once told me that I was quite capable. Did he think that I could not handle myself right now? He must have a reason. But most worrisome was how the conversation ended. Would my Master be ok? What were they doing, and who were they? I'm sure he would be. He had been in dangerous situations many times before, I know this because I was with him for many of them. I have seen him come out of battles without a single scratch. This time should not be any different. Regardless, I would do what my Master said. I had to get away from the temple.

I took my brown robe and put it on, holstered my lightsaber, and put my hood up. I always hated my robes. They were always too long and make me look shorter than I already am, but at this time I am happy that my lack of height might be to my advantage. Bobbing and weaving always came to me, and the evasive maneuvers were that much easier when I first learned to spar.

I turned around for one last second glance, to make sure I was not going to forget anything. I did not see anything I could be missing and turned to leave out the door but stopped short and turned back around. If Master Silvad was acting this way it was because this situation is dangerous, this might be the last time I see this room. I took the whole room in. It was not large and had no decorations on the walls or ledges. A sleeping cot with a thin blanket and sheets and a bar hanging up where I hung my robes in a closet. There was a small area for meditation, and a desk to complete my homework stacked high with datapads from the library. The walls were such a light blue that it had taken a while to realize that there was any color in the room at all. It was not much to look at. The hum of electricity flowed through as well as the soft cool breeze of air coming through the vents. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The faint sweet smell of blue milk, my favorite drink, was still lingering. The sheets smelled clean like my soap. It was not extravagant, and as a Jedi, it was not supposed to be, but it was still mine, it was still home. I breathed in one last time, closed my eyes to burn the image into my memory, and turned around to walk out the door.

The door hissed as it opened which was not unusual, but a good reminder that I would have to be silent. Any door hissing could be heard from not too far away and lead them to me. Sticking to the side hallways instead of the main walkway would be best if I wanted to avoid people or potential fights. I kept my head down as I began to walk to not attract any attention to myself. I saw a few other Padawans standing outside their rooms trying to figure out what was happening. Some had only become Padawans, a very small few were almost ready for the trials, but everyone I could see had the same look of confusion on their face. I kept walking, my boots echoing around the hallway as I made my way out of the Padawan quarters. Some of the Padawans were talking to each other about what was happening.

"I've not heard anything from my Master. I sense that this is not a drill either. Could the separatists have regrouped and attacked the capital?" I kept walking. I passed my friend Acher Kahn who was looking as confused as I felt and as confused as everyone else. I recalled the countless hours Acher and I had stayed up together studying and joking, other than Master Silvard, Acher was the closest person to me. However, there was no time to stop and talk if my Master wanted me out of the Temple. I had to find him and help. If none of the other Padawans here had heard anything from their Masters then there was more trouble than I had thought. I sped my pace up not looking back. I am only thinking about how my Master, all of our Masters are in danger, and none of us knew why.

I rounded the corner leading towards the exit, still keeping along the back route. Still, nothing going on. I walked to the end of the hallway and heard footsteps, synchronized, heavy, rhythmic. I poked my head out enough to see who was coming. Twenty clone troopers clad in their white duraplast armor marching in a row with blasters at the ready. I felt safe. Relief even. The troopers were here and we would defeat the attacking Separatists. I saw a few Padawans walk towards the main walkway where the troopers were marching. they were patrolling the Temple to make sure whoever was attacking had not gotten in. The Padawans walked closer to the troopers. One opened their mouth to ask a question.

"Excuse me, Troopers, but could you tell us where the Masters are?"

The moment the Padawan had asked, I heard the unmistakable sound of a blaster. My eyes widened in horror and my heart dropped to my stomach as I saw the twenty troopers open fire on the Padawans. All color drained from my face and the only thing I could do was stand in shock. Padawans screaming, lightsabers igniting, and blue blaster fire filling the air. I watched as the troopers advanced on the Padawans. Some were already dead, some were fighting back blocking the fire as best as they could and I had to watch as the Padawans began to grow tired and missed shots, the blasters hit their mark. The troopers were picking off the Padawans, and as more and more succumbed to the hail of blaster fire the harder it was for the remaining apprentice Jedi to defend themselves and they too fell until none were left standing. What was going on?

I was going to be sick. I saw my friends, my colleagues that I had known almost all my life die right in front of my eyes. Worst of all, I just watched as my fellow Jedi were killed, I did nothing to help. Is this who Master Silvard was talking about? It must be. I was frozen unable to move from my spot for fear the troopers would see me. I had to get away though. As soon as I could, I was going to move.

I am one with the force, the force is with me. I am one with the force, the force is with me. I am one with the force, the force is with me. I am one with the force, the force is with me. I am one with the force, the force is with me. I-

"Check the rooms. No prisoners."

The clone trooper speaking jolted me from my trance and brought me back to reality. This was much more serious than I had thought. I would not survive if I was not smart. I would not survive if I did not get out of here NOW! I began running faster than I ever had before to get to the next hallway hyper-aware that more clone troopers could be near me. I still can not believe what I had seen was real. This was a nightmare. It had to be. But even my worst nightmares did not involve me witnessing the massacre of my friends, of my fellow Jedi. I stopped dead in my tracks as realization struck me. If the clone troopers had made it inside the temple, more than the Padawans in the Padawan quarters were killed. Dread sat in my stomach like a rancid meatlump. The Jedi Knights, the Jedi council, the Jedi Masters, Master Silvard could all be...no I can not think like that right now. Trying to see the future is a path to the dark side. Only the force can grant that ability and only if the Force wills it. I gripped my lightsaber trying to steady my nerves as my ragged breathing would give me away. I began to breathe in and out just as Kies had taught me.

"Allow your breath to fill your lungs Dec. Feel your lungs expand as you breathe in and deflate as you expel the air. Feel the force around you. Let it ground you. Feel it surround everything. Meditation in combat is crucial. It can be the difference between living or dying but can take time to master," Silvard would tell me. It was much easier to do in the sparing dojo than right now. In the sparing room, there were fail-safes. I knew what was happening and if I got injured a quick trip to the bacta tanks would help. There was no fail-safe here. The consequences were permanent. That made it that much more important to remain calm and centered. A few more deep breaths, focusing on my breathing, allowing myself to yield to the Force I proceed forward. I needed to find my master. After witnessing that atrocity I knew the only way out of this would be with his help.

The air was still and heavy. The sound of blaster fire was beginning to falter but did not stop, which could mean only one of two things. Either the clone troopers were being defeated, or...I could not think of the other option at this time.

The hallways twisted and seemed longer than usual as I was aware of what was happening in the main hallways and outside the temple, but I pressed on. I could hear the clone troopers marching around me, the blaster fire kept on, the sound of lightsabers blocking the oncoming fire and knew the battle had not been won yet. I was almost out of the temple when the blaster fire seemed to stop. I have to remain aware that the danger may still be present.

Smoke burned my nose as the scent of burning flesh filled my nostrils. Sweat beaded on my brow. I move with a purpose to find my Master. Frustration at the lack of my ability to connect with the Force and fear were making my stomach turn in knots. I was still sure that I was going to be sick. The vision of my friends getting murdered, forever embedded in my head. The images playing over and over. Each time like witnessing it for the first time. I had to stop this. I had to get to Master Silvard and then we could help everyone else. I run even faster. He would be outside the Temple. He always liked to be in the center of the action. He was never flashy, never wanted attention, but always wanted to do the most, to push himself, and me beyond what we were capable of.

"We do not grow unless we push ourselves. If you were never pushed as a youngling you would not have made it to the rank of apprentice. As my Padawan, it is my job to push you to your limits so that you may become a Knight, even a Master Jedi one day. In contrast, the council put you in my charge to push me to be a better master."

"I hope I have done that for you, Master."

"Of course you have Dec. I can only hope that the knowledge I have gained teaching you will pass on to you for when you become a Jedi Master, far greater than me, and eventually pass this knowledge to your padawans. You are destined for great things."

My eyes stung at that memory. I would not, I could not let him down. Not when he expected so much from me. I could only hope that I will become half the Jedi he wants me to be.

I made my way to the base of the temple where the halls were open and wide. While typically full of Jedi at all hours, now there were no signs of life. The hallway was littered with the bodies of my fallen comrades and clone troopers which was the only indication that there had been any sign of a fight in these hallways at all. Feeling nauseous and drained I kept towards the entrance.

I saw my master fighting and pushing the clone troopers back. The elegance of his Ataru form was like watching a river ebb and flow, one motion feeding into the next making his whole body a weapon. Crouching, jumping, spinning, a master at utilizing his momentum to decommission the troopers. I had been an apprentice to Master Silvard for eight years and I was still in awe of his abilities. I was relieved to see him holding his own against the troopers. If I forced myself into the fray I could break his concentration and cause him to get hurt, so I waited behind a pillar of one of The Four at the front of the temple. Master Silvard was a skilled master, but he was still subject to the limits of the human body, even with the help of the Force. I could tell he was growing tired even though he was in combat meditation. I knew I'd have to help him soon and began to creep forward taking caution that the troopers would not see me. The element

of surprise would be best in a situation like this. I was tired of running and witnessing the savagery of a massacre.

I was almost close enough to jump in and alert my Master and waited for a beat for Silvard to demolish the trooper in front of him, leaving the last trooper for him to best and still not wanting to distract him. I reached for my lightsaber on my belt and prepared to ignite it inching closer and closer until Sivard overcame the last trooper.

"Master," I said, with the relief at the knowledge that the danger was passed. Lightsaber still in hand I walked up to him. He turned around, eyes wide in shock until the realization that it was me.

"Dec! Thank the Force you're alright!" Releaf etched into his face as we made our way to each other. "I did not know if we would ever see each other again. I was worried about you Dec. When the troopers began attacking the temple we were all shocked. It seems that we may still be at a loss," his eyes darkened and his face sunk, "So many of us have fallen. I have been alive long enough to see a handful of devastating battles, but none compare to the carnage that lies before us. None. Regardless, I am delighted that your intuitiveness has brought you to me. How did you get out?

I almost started crying as I began to recount in detail what happened after I got off the comm with him. How everything seemed like it would be okay because the clones were there, but how that changed when they opened fire. My voice cracked as I remembered the sound of the bodies collapsing on the ground under the sound of blaster fire, the sound of the screams of the youngest padawans as they ran away and were shot in the back. How I was helpless to save Acher who had always been by my side, my closest friend. My stomach churned again as I recounted how not a single Padawan in the Padawan quarters was left alive and how I ran away once I heard them start to search the rooms for survivors.

Dec, that is truly terrible, and you are so young to have witnessed such carnage. We can get to safety and alert the Jedi who are off-world to what has happened. We can not bring back your fellow Padawans, but we can fight for their memory, for justice to prevail."

"Yes, Master. We should get away from the temple and acquire a ship rather than use the ones here, whoever is commanding the Clones could also be looking for ships we have here in the Temple."

"You are very wise Deco Kin. When all this is over and the Jedi have regained balance you will make a very wise Master Jedi. One day you will be asked to be part of the High Council, the next Master of the Order after Yoda. Dec, you are destined for gre-"

PEW!

I looked around for the origin of the blaster fire, lightsaber ignited and at the ready. "Master where is it coming from," I looked back at my Master to listen to his instruction and was met with a hard stare and tight lips.

"Master?"

He moved his hand to reveal the burned location of the blaster shot in center body mass. Silvard fell to his knees which prompted me to suck air in hard through my nose in shock. I looked around and saw it, the trooper who had shot my master. I charged at him with a brutal war cry. The trooper opened fire. Block. Dodge. Block. Redirect. Dodge. Charge. Block. I came upon the trooper and unleashed my raw fury and disgust letting the events that had transpired fule my blows. I watched the Padawans get murdered. Slash. I saw Acher killed by these...these animals, these murderers. Kick. I saw my Master shot in cold-blooded cowardice, and they would PAY! Stab, my final blow on tempo with the end of my thoughts. The clone's body collapsed to the ground dead.

Breathing heavy I retracted my saber and ran to my Master who was now lying on the ground. "Master! Master, I'm so, so sorry. This is all my fault!" I exclaimed as I knelt by his head. I looked up and down his body, only the blaster shot was proof that anything was wrong with him. "It's going to be ok. It's going to be ok, I promise. Do you hear me? We're going to get you fixed. I'll-I'll go get a med-droid, yes that's what I'll do," I choked out. The back of my throat was raw, a lump began to form. I squeezed my eyes closed and looked away, he couldn't see me like this. I opened them when I felt his hand wrap around my forearm.

"Listen to me, Dec." His voice was weak and the words were forced. I took a shaky breath and turned to look into his eyes. "This...is not your fault," he squeezed his eyes as he took in a sharp breath. "You-have-to-leave. 'S. not safe." Another breath, but more shallow. "I-am-so-proud-of-you."

I drew in a quick breath. "Master, you can't leave me! I can't do this alone, I can't, you-you have to let me bring you somewhere or get some help. You have to stay with me," I began shouting, panicking at the thought that Kies Silvard would no longer be my master, would no longer be with me. I was blinking hard, "You have to stay with me!"

He breathed in a raspy breath, "What is the Jedi Code Padawan?"

"Master we don't have time-"

"What. Is. The. Code?"

I did not straighten up this time. "There is no emotion-there is peace. There is no ignorance-there is knowledge. There is no passion-there is serenity. There is no chaos-there is harmony."

Silvard respired a shallow breath. "And the last one?"

"There is no death-there is the force," I only managed to choke out with a raw throat.

"Remember that. I am one with the Force," inhale. "The Force is with me," exhale. "You are destined for greatness, Dec," inhale. "You are destined for greatness," exhale. And then there was silence.

"Master? Master, you have to get up. Master Silvard. Master. Kies?" The time I was kicked so hard in the chest I had to spend two weeks in the infirmary did not compare to this. The time I was a youngling and all the other younglings hit me in the early stages of our lightsaber training did not compare to this. I collapsed on my Master's chest hoping and willing the Force to allow me to hear a heartbeat or any sign of life, but there was none. I lay draped over him soaking his robes with the neverending rivers of tears that surged from my eyes. I had lost everything. My body jerked back as my emotions charged a devastating shriek for the loss of what I had suffered. I fell back on him and continued to mourn. I mourned for the loss of my home. I mourned for Jedi Masters and Knights who fell. I mourned for the Padawans who died. I mourned for Acher, but I mourned for the only father figure I ever had in my life. I mourned for my mentor. I mourned my Master. I mourned for Kies Silvard.