AN : Here is Chapter 13! Enjoy! And tell me your favorite Sith name, please!
Anakin put the shuttle on course for Tatooine and turned to check on Obi-Wan. Anakin was relieved to find his friend and mentor in a healing trance. He hoped that Master Windu would be able to secure the Chancellor. Anakin's skin crawled when he thought about how just a few weeks ago he would've done anything for Palpatine. He then set about meditating again. He closed his eyes and willed of his tension and fear into the Force; calmness entered into his being and fortified him. As he was enjoying this peace when a terrible shock through the Force jolted him into a vision, he saw the Temple on fire and it was being attacked. At first he couldn't see who was attacking then all of the sudden he could, clones. Then the vision started to jumble as more images of clones attacking Jedi through out the Galaxy came and left. He couldn't believe it. The only way this could be real was if Master Windu had failed to arrest Palpatine. The images kept coming and coming thousands of them, he couldn't tell who they all were, but he was sure of one thing, they were all dying at the hands of the clones they commanded. Then the sweeping images settled on Master Yoda and Anakin saw him escape this treachery. He came out of his mediation to hear Obi-Wan stirring.
"Humph…. How long have I been out?" Obi-Wan said, his voice not quite itself yet.
"I'm not sure, Master. I've been meditating. I have a feeling something very bad has occurred," Anakin said.
"What is that, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked, noting the gravity of Anakin's tone.
"I think the Jedi Order has been nearly wiped out, Master," Anakin said, tears coming to his eyes.
"Anakin, don't be ridiculous, how could such a thing happen?" Obi-Wan said.
"The Chancellor, Master. You must have hit your head. He is the Sith Lord we've been looking for. He tried to get me to join him, but I refused and he attacked me. I wasn't armed and knew I had to get word out, warn the council, so I came to get you. The Chancellor was on our tail; he went to strike me…"Anakin paused to catch a breath.
"Oh…I remember now. Did you get word to the council?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes, Master Windu said he'd handle it, but I just had a vision while I was meditating of the Temple being attacked by clones, then the vision jumbled up and I saw many Jedi falling to the Clones they were commanding. The only one I saw definitely survive was Master Yoda," Anakin said starting to get a handle on his emotions.
"This is not good. Anakin where are we going?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Tatooine," Anakin said.
"Good, lets finish your trial first, I think then we'll have a better sense of things," Obi-Wan said.
"Yes, Master," Anakin, said, a sad smile forming on his face.
Chancellor Palpatine stood outside the Jedi Temple after the clones secured it. He made his way slowly through the Temple savoring his victory over the Jedi. There was just one more thing he needed to do to make it complete, an apprentice. After inspecting the ruins of the Temple he made he, way to the crèche, which the clone had left, untouched per his orders.
"You have done very well Commander. Leave me with the infants," Palpatine said.
"Yes, my lord," the clone said and left the crèche.
Palpatine went from crib to crib touching each of the babies, looking for both strength in the Force and temperaments suited for the Dark Side. He spent hours checking and rechecking the many infants. Soon he started making reductions in inventive and painful ways. Then he was down to three.
"Yes, one of you three will be my new apprentice. You shall be known as Pravus," Palpatine addressed the first infant, "You shall be know as Dolor," he said to the second, "Finally you shall be Metus." Palpatine then turned and took his three potential apprentices out of the Temple.
Bail Organa paced the bridge of the Tantive IV. He had left just after the start of the attack on the Jedi Temple. The clone in charge had told him there had been a rebellion, but Bail didn't believe that. All the Jedi he knew were above reproach and believed strongly in Democracy. Then it hit him, the Jedi must have decided that Palpatine needed to be removed from office.
"Anything yet?" Bail asked Captain Antilles.
"Not yet, sir. We're listening on all frequencies," Antilles said.
"Sorry, Captain, I'm just anxious to find even one survivor of this disaster," Bail said.
"I understand, sir. Wait! I have a distress beacon from Master Yoda!" Antilles said.
"Finally some good news. Where is he?" Bail asked.
"I've acknowledged his transmission and received his coordinates," Antilles said.
"Good, take us there, best speed," Bail said.
"Yes, sir!" Antilles said.
Anakin dropped their shuttle out of hyperspace in orbit around Tatooine and immediately noticed something out of place, but couldn't put his finger on it.
"Master, this doesn't look right," Anakin said.
"I should say it doesn't look right, how many Separatists ships are in orbit, anyway?" Obi-Wan asked
"About twenty five, but they sure are angled weird to the planet," Anakin said.
"You're right, that is no formation I've ever seen before," Obi-Wan said.
"Let's get a closer look," Anakin suggested.
"Good idea," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin set course for the nearest Separatists ship as they approached they noticed that the ship's lights weren't on and she was adrift. The only activity was occasional thruster fire to keep the ship in orbit.
"It looks like they are in a standby mode," Anakin said.
"I think you are right, let's get down to the surface, maybe Senator Amidala knows more," Obi-Wan said.
"Good idea," Anakin said.
Anakin soon landed the shuttle near the moisture farm, Padmé and Beru ran out to meet them. As the two exited the shuttle Padmé ran to Anakin and wrapped him in a fierce hug.
"I was so worried about you!" Padmé said.
"I'm here now, Angel," Anakin said.
"What's wrong?" Padmé asked.
"I think the Jedi have been nearly wiped out," Anakin said.
"What?" both Padmé and Beru exclaimed.
"Anakin had a vision of this event, until we receive more information…"Obi-Wan said.
"Where are my manners, Beru, this is Obi-Wan Kenobi, my mentor and my friend. Obi-Wan, Beru Lars, my step-sister-in-law," Anakin said, making introductions.
"A pleasure, ma'am," Obi-Wan said, bowing slightly.
"Mine is more, General Kenobi," Beru said, sounding a bit intimidated.
"Let's get out of these suns," Anakin suggested then Padmé gave a grunt.
"Are you ok, Padmé?" Anakin asked.
"I'm fi…" Padmé's response cut off by another grunt.
"I don't think you are, Senator," Obi-Wan said.
"Obi-Wan's right, Padmé," Anakin said.
Padmé grunted again, falling to her knees, "I think its time, Anakin," she said.