I sat there while my sobs shook my body. It wasn't until I realized that if that trooper had been able to sneak up that more might come. I didn't want to leave my Master, but he was right. It was no longer safe at the Temple. It was no longer safe on Coruscant, and I had to disappear. I didn't know where in the galaxy to go, but I knew I wouldn't be safe here. My chest was still rattling, I pulled myself together enough to make my next move. I stood up and looked at the body of my Master and saw only peace on his face. He could have been asleep or meditating. It would be hard to leave him, but I had to go. I grabbed his lightsaber as a memento of his life. As a Jedi, it discouraged to have extra possessions. I would not permit whoever was behind this attack to take what belonged to Master Silvard's, the Jedi's. I also took everything I could from his belt. I did not know where I was going or what I was going to need, so spares would most likely be handy.

After collecting everything I could from my Master's body, I stood straight up. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened them again, I concealed my arms and hands in my robe and placed the palms of my hands on my thighs. I bowed towards him as a sign of respect to my slain Master, one last time. He would not receive a Jedi's funeral, so I would be sure to show the most respect that he deserved. I straightened myself out as I heard more troopers marching. I took off down the stairs, not looking back at what had been my home for most of my entire life.

I had to get off the planet, but I needed a ship. There could be troopers all over too, and I could not stay in the shadows forever. I had to be able to hide in plain view. As I rounded a corner to an alleyway, I knew what I would have to do. I took off my robe and ignited my lightsaber. Holding my mantle in my left hand by the hood, I use my saber to cut through the sleeves so it would only cover my shoulders. I cut my robe so that it would go to my knees and not my feet. Jedi robes are very recognizable, and I had to mask it. I knew I had to get rid of my Padawan braid as well. Other than my lightsaber, my twist would be the only thing that could identify me as a Padawan Learner, a Jedi. That also meant that it would classify me as a target to the clones and whoever was controlling them.

"I have to do it," I reasoned with myself. "It is the only way I have a sliver of a chance to make it out alive." Tradition states, a Master would cut off the braid in a ceremony to represent the transition from Padawan to Jedi Knight. Sometimes it would happen as a battlefield promotion. They had done that with Master Obi-Wan when he defeated Darth Maul. The council counted it as a substitute for the trials. Master Kenobi had defeated Maul after his own Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, had died fighting the sith lord. Every Padawan knew the story. Regardless, there would be no ceremony for me. There would be no battlefield promotion. What hurts the most was there would be no Master Silvard to tell me it would be ok. To say to me, he was proud of me. I took my hand and ran it up and down the thin braid by my right shoulder. I memorized the feel of the woven bits of my hair and the ties that kept it in place. With a deep breath, I ignited my lightsaber and brought it up to my head. I dared not breathe, save I cut off my ear. With a quick flick of my wrist, the braid was gone. I retracted my saber. This was no promotion. It felt like cowardice, but I knew it was survival. I would be no help to any remaining Jedi, any sentient being if I was dead.

I wanted to lie there and sob. My whole life was gone. Master Silvard would have told me it was foolish to do so, that it was not the Jedi way. He would have been correct, of course. The Jedi he trained me to be would have taken action, so that is what I must do. I gathered up the scraps I had cut off my robe and made a sack. In it was the rest of the scraps of my robe and my braid. If I left any of those there, the troopers would be sure to find it and know a Jedi from the Temple got away. I could not leave any trace towards me. No breadcrumb trails for the hunters to find their prey. I still threw up my hood to protect my identity. I took my lightsaber and hid it on my back, carefully concealed between my robe and tunic. I did the same with Master Silvard's saber. I would not be able to carry them in plain view, but I would still need access to safety. I should get a blaster too-but with what money? I had no credits, nothing to trade, well...nothing I was willing to part with. Any supplies I had I would potentially need. The only way off this planet is with credits. The only way I could get any is if I got a job, stole credits, stowed away, or earned credits by working on a ship.

I could not get a job here, it would be too risky, I could get caught or recognized by someone. I would not steal, it is not the Jedi way. Stowing away could be dangerous if I picked the wrong ship with a dicey crew. I'd have to find a craft willing to let me work for passage, wherever they were going. This was no time to be picky, but the farther away, the better. With my mind made up and my belongings gathered, I headed to the Spaceport. While it would still be dangerous, it would be a lot safer than going to the Jedi Temple to use a ship affiliated with the Jedi. The Coruscant Spaceport Authority was in charge of the Spaceport, but that didn't mean that there couldn't be any interference from the Clones or whoever was controlling them.

Walking out of the alley, I was met by a large group of citizens staring at the Jedi Temple and a holo. The Temple looked like it was on fire, so it could be expected that people would look, but the holo sent shivers down my spine. It was a collection of images of Jedi fighting back against the Clones, only the initial attacks of the Clones were cut out. Instead, it alluded to the idea that the Jedi were attacking the Clones. It was clone troopers fighting for their lives as Jedi after Jedi was shown besting the Clones. This...this wasn't right at all. Why wasn't it showing the troopers attacking the Jedi unprovoked? This was growing much larger than I had anticipated. Whoever was controlling the Clones had it in for the Jedi, but the holo showed a much more malicious intent. They were framing the Jedi. They not only wanted to get rid of the Jedi, but they also wanted to mar the reputation of the Jedi. It wasn't enough to get rid of them, the Jedi had to be irredeemable in the eyes of the public, to be demonized. It was like a punch to the gut. The murmurs of the sentients were deafening.

"I can't believe they would do that," a lady dumbfoundedly exclaimed with her eyes gazing at the flickering blue images being projected.

"I always knew there was something weird about that mumbo jumbo," said a younger man leaning towards his companion.

"They're all murderers," she agreed.

"How could they do that? Weren't they fighting together in the wars? This is disgusting."

"Treasonous bantha slime!"

"They were supposed to be peacekeepers."

None of them knew what had happened. I could feel the vexation swirling around my gut as my heartbeat quickened, and my face flushed under my hood. No one in this crowd had witnessed what I had. None of them understand the tragedy of what I had just lost. The sentients were content just standing around watching these-these lies being shown. Hot angry tears directed at these nerf herders boiled around my eyes. There might be some people still sympathetic to the Jedi, but they were not in this crowd.

I turned away and began walking to the Spaceport, weaving through the crowd that just had to stand still. I turned my head back every once in a while, not to make sure no one was looking at me, but because I would stick out like a sore thumb if I kept walking against the crowd without gawking at the smoking Temple and the holo of the treasonous Jedi. Even with my "disguise," I felt I could be recognized and caught at any time. All these people were seeing that the Jedi were murderous thugs, and a few would gladly turn me in if it meant getting a few extra credits. Even if we did not own anything, we still understood the value of a handful of galactic credits and what people would do to get some. The Hutts were famous for exploiting that kind of need and greed. They could easily be behind this. More than once, the Jedi have stepped in to disrupt the underhanded dealings of the Hutts and bounty hunters who answered them. Even if they weren't behind the massacre, they would hear about this and would use their bounty hunters to turn in any remaining Jedi that were found.

The thoughts to multiple people finding me were enough to make the color drain from my face and leave a pit in my stomach. Regardless, I pressed on. I would not get off the planet if I didn't keep moving. The crowds kept forming; holos appeared everywhere, showing the same lie as the first one I saw near the Temple. They were all watching, transfixed on the holos, and looking at the torched Temple. None seemed to notice the petite Jedi making their way away from the Temple. Good. I still have to make it across the city unnoticed.

Trekking towards the Coruscant Spaceport Authority, I contemplated what I could do. I had been trained to be an agent of the Force, a Jedi Knight, but I did not know if any of my skills would be useful to those who were able to let me work for passage. I had no idea if the CSA would even let ships take off under these circumstances. I had to try, though, each moment I was here would spell out the inevitable danger. I could only hide for so long as the holos would eventually give me away or when I made a mistake. My clothes still screamed Jedi even though I had altered them. At a glance, you couldn't notice, but if someone was watching out for a Jedi, you could tell these clothes belonged to a Jedi. Droids and Sentients were filling the streets as speeders raced overhead. Thank the Force it was dark. My face was still concealed by my hood, and I was glad because, without it, everyone would have been able to see the indignation their actions caused me to have. It didn't take a Jedi to feel what these people were feeling, and the longer it had been since the holos got out, the stronger their feelings of hatred toward the Jedi grew.

"All these people," I murmured as I squeezed through the crowd, "and not one of them knows the truth." Of course, they wouldn't know the truth. None of them were there when this happened, and the holos were showing lies. Along with the Temple being of fire, this was very damning of the Jedi. If I was not a Jedi, I might be standing alongside them.

"Dec, you have to put yourself in others' shoes," Master Silvard told me after we had completed a mission.

"Yes Master, but we came to help people, and at times they were resistant. Why would anyone dislike the Jedi?" I asked.

"When we came to this planet, it was to help restore the balance between the authorities and the people, correct? We came under the authority of the Jedi Council as representatives of the Republic. These people have had their authority figures unfairly strip them of their rights and oppress their voices."

"So you are saying that when we came as authority figures even over the authority figures on this planet, the people automatically believed we would be doing the same thing to them that their leaders had done," I reasoned.

"Yes. That is a possible reason. When we try to maintain balance, we must act as the neutral party, neither favoring one side or the other. We must wear shoes from both sides to understand their reasons. Even in our own lives, we must wear the shoes of others who we feel have wronged us."

The shoes of the citizens of Coruscant were uncomfortable to wear, and the odds of this situation getting resolved quickly are slim, so they would not be able to wear the shoes of the Jedi yet. This was frustrating, but I would keep Master Silvard's memory alive by living his teachings.

I rounded a corner and saw the CSA just down the way. "So far so good," I mumble to myself, keeping my head on a swivel in case I just jinxed myself. As I approach the CSA, I noticed three ships that could work. They all looked terrible.

"Be careful, you must be, padawan," Master Yoda would say. "That your feelings should not cloud your judgment."

He was right, of course. What I need is to get out of this system, no matter the type of ship. The VCX-100 light freighter was probably going to be my ticket out. I was in luck because I saw a crew working around it, loading it with boxes. Boxes of what, I'm not sure, probably didn't want to know, but it seemed like they needed a hand, and that was going to be the way into the crew to pay for transport.

"Um, hello. My name is Dec-Deckara. Do you all speak basic?" I asked a male crew member around my age.

"Jee oon't speak basic," He replied.

I furrowed my eyebrows. This might be a problem, I thought as I pursed my lips. "Oh, my hutteese is not that great."

"I'm just messing with you, of course, we speak basic, well except for T3-M8 over there. Only speaks droidspeak, isn't that right, Mate." T3-M8 beeped in agreement.

"Oh. Well, I'm looking for the captain," I looked around to see if there was anyone else that could be part of the crew. My fingers twitched, and I could feel my chest tighten. I had to get out of here.

"Oh yeah, what for?" He asked, his focus on loading the boxes to get on the ship. Is this guy serious? I was never going to get anywhere talking to him.

"I'd like to join the crew or at least work for passage."

"Hmmm, oh yeah? Why are you running from something? We don't need that kind of heat."

"Wha-no. I want to explore the galaxy. I've been here my entire life, felt like it was time to branch out."

"No family? No friends?"

They were all just murdered, and now I have to pretend I'm fine, I wanted to say. Instead, I just shook my head, "No. I recently lost my last family member. No reason for me to stay now." It's not a total lie. Master Silvard was like a father to me, the father I never had.

"Well, that's a shame." His eyes darkened a little bit at a memory. I could sense it. Instead of asking any more questions, he just picked up a crate and started carrying it to the freighter.

"So, where's the captain?" I asked once he returned.

"He's busy right now."

"Well can you get him, I need to speak with him. I want to-"

"Join the crew, work for transport, yeah, I know." He sighed and rubbed his neck. What was with this guy? He hasn't had the decency to even face me.

"Hey, Tip! Come over here!" He called out to a Twi'lek. "This girl here wants to join the crew." The Twi'lek walked up with purple skin and long lekkus. He was handsome, for a Twi'lek, I guess. There had been plenty of Twi'leks that were Jedi, Ahsoka Tano before she left the order, Aayla Secura, a kind and intelligent Master.

"Well, I don't care," he turned to me, "it's hard work just so you know. Not a lot of downtime. The names Tipmajut, you can call me Tip, though."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain." I instinctively start to bow but freeze. They can't know, not yet, not until I know I can trust them.

Tip laughed, "Captain? No, no, that's Zac." The man loading crates turns around to face me, a sly smirk on his face. A glint in his green eyes, barely visible under his messy brown hair. Oh. Oh no.

"Welcome aboard The Comet," says Zac. Tee three beeps in agreement, is that a taunting tone? Does the droid think this is funny?

"Thanks, Captain," I grumble and refuse to meet his eyes. Master Silvard would be disappointed in the way I was acting, after all, the Force has provided a way for me to get off the planet. "When do we leave?"

"Well, something has happened on the planet, so we're grounded for at maybe a few more hours. It's not great timing, but what can we do?" A few hours? I could scream. This was not turning out the way I planned. This whole day was not how I had expected. Instead, I just fake laugh. I gesture to some boxes asking if Zac wanted me to get them. He grunts in acknowledgment.

"Can't do anything, I guess." I decided to press my luck, see what people "knew" about what happened with the Jedi and the Temple. "Why the long wait? I heard there was an explosion or something." Zac and I walked into the ship. It wasn't much, but I could tell there was a lot of love Tip, and Zac had for the ship.

Zac just shrugs. "Not entirely sure. I've heard other people at the CSA say there was an explosion at the Jedi Temple, others say the Jedi just turned on the Clones and started killing them. To protect themselves, the Clones retaliated, I guess. Or so I've heard. Either way, any reports have been...unfortunate, to say the least for the Jedi."

"You could say that again," I mumble, the familiar pit in my stomach returning.

"What was that," questioned Zac.

"Nothing, I said it must be pretty bad for the Jedi." What an understatement.

Tip struts down from the ship, all the crates finally loaded. "We're all loaded. CSA needs to give us the go-ahead before we launch."

"So now we wait." Zac proclaims as he sits down in one of the chairs with a deep sigh and looks out the window. Something was different about him, not in the moment, but as a person. His eyes always seemed unfocused, as if he was trying to remember something. His expression was of someone who was constantly thinking, always calculating. It was unsettling. Since we were younglings, we were taught to let go of our emotions. But Zac was no Jedi, he held on to his memories and emotions. I hoped it wouldn't mean the end of the crew, the mission, or me.