Anakin had over thirty minutes to think about his discussion with Palpatine while he was sneaking past security in the building. The security was busy hanging up warning posters, plastered with all the faces of the Jedi. Anakin made a mental note that he should steal Obi-Wan's. It would be rather amusing to see Obi-Wan's face if he saw that plastered in Anakin's room.

Okay, so just because Anakin had the time to think about what to say, didn't mean he actually did. That resulted in him barging into Palpatine's office and asking, "Are you a Sith Lord?" It was only after he asked the question he noticed Palpatine was dressed in a hooded black robe. Definitely not his normal Chancellor's attire.

That seriously made Darth Sidious question why he ever wanted to turn Anakin over to the Dark Side.

"Anakin, risky of you to show up. Tell me, did you know of the Jedi corruption all along? Or were you as shocked as I was?"

"The Senate is corrupt, not the Jedi."

"The Jedi are under the control of the Sith."

"You are a Sith Lord. Why else would you want the Jedi eliminated? You might have fooled the Senate and the Republic, but not the Jedi."

"Do the Jedi really believe I am a Sith Lord? They must have confidence in your abilities then, Anakin. One lone Jedi Knight against a Sith Lord? Doesn't seem like an even fight."

Anakin was unnerved. He had considered Palpatine a friend since he had come to Courscant. Palpatine knew things about him Obi-Wan didn't. Anakin loved having a confidant outside of the Jedi…and it turns out he had been lied to for all his life.

"Ah, so your Jedi abandoned you. They still do not trust you. Even Master Kenobi is not here to support you."

Anakin realized something else. "Did you plan this? Giving him the poison?"

"I hardly cared that much. As long as he dies like the other Jedi filth. Such a shame you had to ally yourself with him, Anakin. You could have proved so much more powerful as my Apprentice."

"I would never have joined you."

"You were never a true Jedi, Anakin. They Council never wanted you. Your fool of a Master failed to train you. The Sith was your natural calling."

"So you planned this. For how long? Since I came to Courscant? You were my friend. I trusted you! And you betrayed me!"

Palpatine stood up from his desk and suddenly Anakin saw the man others saw. Not the kindly, friendly old man, but the cold hearted Chancellor. He raised a hand and sent a bolt of Force-lightning steaming towards Anakin. He drew out his lightsaber a second to late and got thrown backwards into the wall. Palpatine advanced on him.

"The Republic is falling. Soon, nothing will be left but my new Galactic Empire. And all the Jedi can send is their failed Chosen One."

Anakin got to his feet, lightsaber extended.

Meanwhile, the clones had reached the Temple. Any Younglings were inside, guided by a few of the older Padawans, using underground channels to try and establish how many Jedi on missions were still alive. They were sending secret messages out to any Jedi they found surviving, including Bant and Garren. Every other Master and Master-Padawan team were doing their best to defend the Temple. There weren't enough ships to evacuate all of the Temple and no one was willing to help the Jedi, not at the risk of being declared likewise an enemy of the Republic. They had no choice but to fight here.

They were out numbered 300 to 1. The clones shared a collective knowledge and after fighting so long side by side with the Jedi, they knew enough to be a formidable threat. The Jedi were pushed backwards, forced into fighting back to back, being able to both protect each other while fighting. Hundreds of clone bodies were strewn across the steps of the Temple, but hundreds more were sill marching forward.

Obi-Wan had stepped in to help a Padawan whose Master had been shot down. Obi-Wan wasn't much help, he was fighting wildly, swinging as fast and effectively as he could. The Padawan was doing her best to reflect the blaster bolts, which Obi-Wan was not able to deflect. They were a decent team, but it wouldn't last much longer. The steady stream of fire was getting to be too much to defend against. The Padawan crumpled suddenly to the ground and Obi-Wan felt his spirit crumble with her. Someone else he had failed. A few minutes later, he collapsed to the ground next to her. He couldn't figure out what was wrong. He felt no pain, but no matter how much he struggled, he could not get to his feet.

Obi-Wan fought desperately from his position on the ground. He glanced down at his leg. His pant leg was scorched and blood was steaming down from a blaster wound. That moment of distraction cost him and another shot caught him in the arm. His lightsaber rolled out of his hands as he fell to the ground. His head violently collided with the stone steps of the Temple. Seconds before he blacked out, he thought Oh Anakin, I hope you're faring better.

In Palpatine's office, the blade of blue wavered for a second. Darth Sidious's blade cut across Anakin's chest.

"Beautiful, isn't it? The ending of the Jedi. Feeling them slowly die off, one by one. They are no match for an army."

Anakin regained his balance and continued fighting. Obi-Wan was out there dying. Even Master Yoda would struggle against an army of clones; Obi-Wan, without a voice or a sense of touch or a connection to the Force…Anakin needed to be there. Why wasn't he out there next to Obi-Wan? Protecting him like he swore he would?

"You failed him, Anakin. Just like you failed your mother."

"Not this time."

Anakin severed Palpatine's right wrist. Howling furiously, he sent a stream of Force lightning coursing through Anakin, who blocked it. Still pressing his advantage, Anakin moved his blade, willing himself not to pass out as pure energy coursed through him, and neatly sliced the head off the Sith Lord.

A/N: I'm heading back to school this afternoon, so another chapter might be posted later tonight.