Chapter 4

Mace Windu was standing in the hangar bay of the Jedi Temple beside the other Jedi Masters when Skywalker joined him. The fear and anger was still evident in the young Jedi Knight's Force presence but, surprisingly, Skywalker had supreme control over it. "Master Windu," he greeted Mace. "I have to speak to you."

"There is some business I need to attend to first, Skywalker," Mace said. "Shaak Ti just contacted us; she has defeated Grievous on Utapau. We're on our way to deliver the news to the Chancellor and ask him to lay aside his emergency powers."

"He won't give them up easily, Master Windu. Palpatine's the Sith Lord we've been looking for; he knows the ways of the Force. He told me so himself and the Force told me that he was speaking the truth," said Skywalker

Mace could tell that Skywalker was speaking the truth because of the Force. "Then we have to act fast," he said finally before he glanced over his shoulder. "Masters Fisto, Tiin and Kolar, come with me."

"Master Windu, he's a Sith Lord. You're going to need my help to defeat him," Skywalker protested although Mace could tell immediately that he had ulterior motives for wanting to come with them.

"No, Anakin. Your thoughts are not clear. By bringing me this information, you have earned my trust but you must stay here. Wait in the Jedi Council Room until we return."

Skywalker opened his mouth to protest but decided against it and nodded. "Yes Master Windu." He stepped back and Mace, Kit, Saesee and Agen immediately made their way toward the speeder to head over to the Senate Building.

When they reached the Senate Building, Mace and the three other Jedi Masters immediately made their way through the twists and turns of the building before they reached the Supreme Chancellor's office. Mace strode in first with Saesee, Kit and Agen just behind him before coming to a stop in front of Palpatine's desk.

"Master Jedi, this is an unexpected pleasure," Palpatine greeted them.

"We have come here for one reason and one reason only," said Mace igniting his purple lightsaber; he was barely aware of Kit, Saesee and Agen doing the same thing. "In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, you're under arrest, Chancellor."

Palpatine's lips curled. "Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?"

"The Senate will decide your fate," Mace replied.

"I am the Senate," he snapped.

"Not yet."

Palpatine stood up and his lightsaber snapped into his hand from his sleeve. "It's treason, then..." he hissed before he ignited his lightsaber and leapt over his desk to attack the four Jedi Masters. The attack was so sudden that Saesee and Agen were cut down before they had a chance to block the oncoming blow and Kit soon followed.

"I've waited a long time for this," Palpatine hissed before leaping at Mace who blocked the oncoming blow with his own. He pushed Palpatine before moving backwards, falling into Vapaad almost immediately as the Chancellor struck again.

The two of them fought back and forth; lightsaber blazing and clashing into each other. All the while, Palpatine kept stealing glances at the door but Mace didn't register what he was looking for. He forced the Sith Lord back with his blade and blocked a blow that was aimed at his thigh. He thrust the lightsaber toward Palpatine's shoulder but the Sith Lord, surprisingly agile in spite of his age, easily dodged it before his crimson blade grazed Mace's leg.

Mace staggered only briefly before using Vapaad to its utmost in order to block the flurry of blows that the Sith Lord tossed at him. He blocked another blow before pushing the lightsaber away, incidentally causing the blade to slam into the windows of the office. The windows shattered sending a shower of glass shards flying outward. The Coruscanti sun illuminated the shadows of the office as Mace forced Palpatine to the ground.

Palpatine snarled in fury as he blocked another blow aimed at his head before Mace disarmed him and pointed his lightsaber at the Sith Lord's throat. "This is over. You are defeated. Surrender now," he declared.

"I will never surrender to you, Jedi," Palpatine spat glancing back toward the door, which remained closed and a spark of fear and shock glowed in the Sith Lord's yellow eyes.

"No!" He snarled. "This was not supposed to happen. I saw what would happen and this was not it. I was supposed to win!"

"But you didn't. You have lost, Chancellor. Surrender now," Mace ordered.

"Never!" Palpatine screeched before lashing out with Force lightning that Mace barely managed to catch in his lightsaber. Sparks of lightning slammed into his arm and a gasp of pain escaped his lips as he struggled to fend off the powerful strikes of Force lightning. Palpatine lashed out with the Force and the Force push caught Mace, who was still attempting to block the lightning, in the chest sending him flying straight over the Chancellor's desk.

The Chancellor leapt over it and nearly speared Mace in the chest with his lightsaber had Mace not brought his lightsaber up to block the blow. The agility of the Chancellor and the aggressive nature of Vapaad made the two opponents almost equal to each other and they were both hard-pressed to defeat the other.

However, the Chancellor had the advantage of Force lightning and Mace found he had to avoid the lightning as well as the Chancellor's lightsaber. Vapaad helped him immensely but Mace could see that he wasn't getting any closer to defeating the Chancellor. On the bright side, the Chancellor was in the same position.

Palpatine leapt backwards, eyes flaring with hatred as Mace flipped to his feet, lightsaber held in his hand. The Chancellor held out his hand and Force lightning arced from his fingertips to slam into Mace's lightsaber although he was pushed backwards a few meters. Palpatine ignited his lightsaber before throwing it at Mace who had to duck to avoid getting his head sliced off by the oncoming blade.

However, the distraction was just what Palpatine needed and a strike of lightning disarmed Mace before the Force lightning slammed into his body sending him flying to the ground. Agony coursed through Mace's veins although it was several long moments before the first scream tore through his lips. Palaptine held the lightning on the Jedi Master until he had screamed himself raw before he called his lightsaber to his hand.

"And now you die, Jedi," he sneered before he brought the lightsaber down. Mace had just enough time to shift slightly to where the blade, destined for his heart, missed and slammed into his lung instead. The pain was intense, however, and darkness began to creep over his gaze but Mace staved it off.

Palpatine seemed to have thought Mace was dead for he deactivated his lightsaber, put it away and walked back to his desk. Mace was only semi-conscious but he could hear Palpatine's words as he spoke into the comlink that was built into his desk.

"Commander," Palpatine said to the hologram of a clone captain that Mace thought looked like Commander Cody, who had gone with Shaak Ti to Utapau on Obi-Wan's orders. "Execute Order 66."

"Yes my lord," Cody said.

Palpatine repeated the message to the other clone captains before he called for someone to come into the office and a clone trooper walked into the office. "Captain, take the 501st to the Jedi Temple. Wipe them out. Order 66 is to be executed immediately," he ordered.

"Yes my lord," the clone captain said snapping a sharp salute.

Mace was horrified by Palpatine's words. He's sending the 501st to kill the Jedi in the Jedi Temple, he thought knowing full well that was what Palpatine meant by 'wipe them out'. Struggling to push the darkness that was threatening to drag him into unconsciousness, Mace stretched out with the Force, doing so subtlety so as to not alert Palpatine to the fact that he was still alive. Briefly, he recalled a bright, powerful Force presence standing directly between himself and the Chancellor but he could see no one there and he figured he was seeing things due to how close he was to death.

He snatched on to the first Force signature he could feel, which was Skywalker's. Skywalker, Palpatine has sent the 501st to the Jedi Temple. You need to evacuate as many Jedi as you possibly can, he shouted through the Force using what little strength he had left to send the thought across the kilometers that separate him from his fellow Jedi.

Master Windu? Skywalker's voice sounded confused. What's…?

You don't have time for that, Skywalker. The 501st is coming. Get as many people as you possibly can out of the Jedi Temple. Send them into the lower levels, on a transport, anywhere! Just get them out of there, Mace called; his voice lost all semblance of the stoic, emotionless Jedi he had made himself out to be.

Yes Master Windu. I can feel you're in pain. Do you need help?

Don't worry about me, Skywalker, worry about your fellow Jedi, Mace replied his voice returning to the calm, emotionless state that he was used to being in. He could sense that Skywalker would obey his order and he felt relieved that they would be able to save at least some of the Jedi within the Temple. There wouldn't be enough time to evacuate everyone.

Palaptine glanced distastefully at Mace's body before he called for his aide. "Get him out of here," he ordered his aide, whom Mace did not recall the name of. "Dispose of him and his pathetic weapon immediately.

"Yes my lord," the aide said saluting before he moved to Mace's side, grabbed him and his lightsaber and dragged him out of the office. Mace waited until they were well away from the office; his strength was slowly returning to him. The wound in his chest had been bad but it wouldn't be fatal so long as he got it to seen quickly.

Once they were on the turbolift and it began to travel to the ground floor, Mace pushed himself into a sitting position and ignited his lightsaber before stabbing the aide in the chest. He disliked killing but he couldn't afford to have news of his survival reach Palpatine's ears. It was better that the Chancellor thought he was dead.

When the turbolift came to a halt, Mace clipped his lightsaber to his belt before staggering out of the lift. He slowly made his way toward the entrance to the Senate building but he found he couldn't go very far. Resting his back against one of the pillars, Mace closed his eyes before slowly reaching out with the Force to try and reserve some of his dwindling strength.

"Master Jedi!"

Mace's eyes snapped open as Senator Organa and Senator Mothma rushed to his side. Mon Mothma reached him first. "What happened?" she gasped.

Mace couldn't reply as the world was starting to spin around him. Organa immediately stretched out a hand to catch Mace as he toppled to the ground. "Can't…tell anyone…about this," was all Mace was able to get out before unconsciousness claimed him.

0 o 0 o 0 o 0

Anakin ran through the twists and turns of the Jedi Temple with Obi-Wan at his side. He had already sent Ahsoka to Padmé's apartment as soon as Mace had left to take care of Palpatine. The only order he gave his Padawan was to make sure Padmé, Luke and Leia got off Coruscant, no matter what. He had got a confirmation from his Padawan that they were about to jump to hyperspace only moments before Mace's warning came. Now, he was issuing a Temple-wide evacuation order.

"Everyone, we have to get you out of here," Anakin gasped breathlessly as he rushed into one of the training classrooms where a bunch of younglings were hiding out. The 501st Legion had arrived only ten minutes before and already parts of the temple were destroyed and set on fire. Many Jedi had already been killed; only a few were on Coruscant, the rest were at various points across the galaxy and Anakin had felt the disturbances.

"Anakin, the 501st will be reaching this area soon. We need to go, now," Obi-Wan called from where he was standing guard.

"Come on, all of you," Anakin called helping some of the terrified younglings to their feet. "Run that way," he pointed toward a hallway that would take them to the secret back entrance most Padawans used to escape the Temple during their training years, "and don't stop, no matter what you hear behind you. Go!"

The younglings scrambled to obey and Obi-Wan immediately dived into another training room before issuing the same order. The two of them were joined by Chief Healer Vokara Che, Librarian Jocasta Nu and Jedi battlemaster Cin Drallig. Che raised her lightsaber. "Get as many of the younglings and Padawans out of here and then get out yourself. We'll cover you for as long as possible," she shouted.

"But Masters..." Anakin began.

"They're getting closer. You two need to go, for the sake of the future of the Jedi Order, go!" Nu agreed green lightsaber ignited and in her hand.

"The future of the Jedi Order is now in your hands, Master Kenobi, young Skywalker," Drallig said gravelly his lightsaber was also ready and his eyes held a fierce light in them. "Go!"

Obi-Wan placed a hand on Anakin's mechanical arm. "We must go," he said softly as an explosion sounded in front of them. "We have to get out of here."

Anakin swallowed thinking about his son before he nodded. "Let's go," he said softly before he turned to Nu, Drallig and Che. "May the Force be with all of you," he added quietly before he and Obi-Wan ran after the younglings and the rest of the Jedi evacuating the temple.

Anakin had no idea of where to go when they left the temple behind. The younglings were gathered in a small group trembling with terror in an alley near the temple. Anakin walked over to them while Obi-Wan, lightsaber in hand, kept watch. "Come," he said gently to the younglings. "We need to keep moving. Follow me."

The younglings nodded and Anakin took the lead before leading the way toward Coruscant's underlevels while Obi-Wan brought up the rear of the group. Head toward Dex's, Anakin, Obi-Wan said in the vaults of Anakin's mind. Dex will hide them for the time being until we get a transport to get them off the planet.

Yes Master, Anakin sent back wincing when he felt three deaths in the Force, most likely Masters Che, Nu and Drallig. What about the other Jedi? Master Windu never told me if the Jedi who aren't on Coruscant are also targeted but it's a safe bet to say they are, especially if it's true that in Luke's future, the Jedi were nearly extinct and he was the last one. He told me you and Master Yoda were the only ones who survived.

Then it's a safe bet to say the others are, indeed, targeted. That would explain those disturbances I've been feeling since before you came to me with Master Windu's warning, Obi-Wan said silently.

Anakin had felt the disturbances as well so he knew the other Jedi were, indeed, targeted in various places across the galaxy. What are we to do? He sent to his former master.

Right now, we need to focus on getting the younglings to safety, Obi-Wan sent back. After that, we will see.

Anakin didn't like his former master's cryptic answer but he doubted Obi-Wan knew what to do anymore than he did. He sighed before pausing when he felt the clones nearby and he immediately signaled for the younglings to take refuge in an alley that stood perpendicular to the street on which they were walking. The younglings immediately ran into it before crouching down in the shadows and Obi-Wan and Anakin crouched in front of them protectively all the while hoping the clones wouldn't see them. The alley ended in a dead end and the younglings didn't know enough about the Force to Force jump over the wall.

Anakin peered around the corner in time to see four clones walking down the street with their blasters in their hands. They gazed every which way but didn't once glance down the alley where the younglings, the Jedi Knight and the Jedi Master were hiding.

At that instant, one of the clones pulled out a comlink and the hologram of Palpatine appeared, Anakin's eyes narrowed and a flash of anger surged through him but he pushed it away. It wouldn't do anyone good if he got angry since he tended to act before he thought when he was angry.

"We have found no Jedi traitors in the underlevels yet, my lord," one of the clones said.

We're not the traitors here, Anakin thought.

"Keep searching," Palpatine's hologram ordered. "I know Skywalker and Kenobi escaped the Jedi Temple and that is likely where they went. Kill Kenobi and whoever is with them but I want Skywalker alive." Anakin had a sickening feeling as to why Palpatine wanted him alive.

"Yes my lord." The clone hung up before putting his comlink away and gesturing to his fellow clone troopers.

The four of them walked until they were nearly directly on top of them. Anakin's lightsaber was still in his hand and he gripped it tightly, hearing it creak but ignoring it as he glared at the clones who had betrayed them. Obi-Wan placed a hand on his shoulder before silently urging him to calm down through their bond.

Anakin nodded slowly before watching as the clones started walking again. They had only gone about three meters when one of the younglings sneezed before quickly holding her breath, large green eyes wide with fear as the clones froze. Anakin resisted the urge to swear before glancing at his master.

We're going to have to take them out before any of them can contact Palpatine, Anakin sent through the Force.

Obi-Wan sighed softly. I know, was all he said in response and Anakin watched as he drew his lightsaber but didn't activate it.

"I heard something, captain," one of the clones said to the captain.

"I heard it too. It came from that alley we just passed by. Let's check it out," the captain said before he gestured to two of the three clones with him. "You two stay here. We'll check it out."

Anakin swallowed before glancing at Obi-Wan who nodded in silent agreement before ordering the younglings, in a quiet voice, to move to the other end of the alley so as to not be seen by the clones. Anakin stood up slowly before watching as the two clones entered the alley. Obi-Wan, moving swiftly, dashed past them to catch the other two clones by surprise while Anakin ignited his lightsaber and swiftly disarmed the clones in front of him.

"It's Skywalker. Lord Sidious wants him..." the captain didn't get a chance to finish his words as Anakin's blade slammed into his chest and he used the Force to slam the other clone into the wall that lay next to them. He slammed the blade into the other clone's chest before slicing upward and the clone crumpled motionless to the ground.

Anakin deactivated his lightsaber before dashing to the other end of the alley where the younglings where gathered. Obi-Wan, his lightsaber clipped to his belt, joined him a moment later. "Did you get them, master?" Anakin asked.

"Yes," Obi-Wan replied before he turned to look at the terrified younglings. "Come, younglings, let's go."

The younglings numbly got to their feet, the older ones helping the younger ones, before they followed the two Jedi as they led the way out of the alley and deeper into the underlevels of Coruscant.

0 o 0 o 0 o 0

Yoda sighed as he climbed off Chewbacca's back and turned to gaze at the large wookiee and his companion. He had sensed the clones' betrayal just before they tried to kill him. Between him, Chewbacca and Chewbacca's companion, they managed to escape the clones who were attempting kill them. However, Yoda was positive other Jedi did not escape. He could feel the disturbances far and wide as Jedi after Jedi were killed by the clones they had once worked side by side with. He had to return to Coruscant as soon as possible and confront whoever was behind this catastrophe.

"Thank you I do," he said to Chewbacca. "Take my leave I will."

Chewbacca growled a goodbye before watching as Yoda walked toward the little ship that lay hidden away deep within the jungles of Kashyyyk. He then barked out his concern and Yoda glanced tiredly at the wookiee. "Careful I will be," he said quietly before he climbed into the ship.

The ship lifted off the ground and Yoda left Kashyyyk behind. Once he was clear of the atmosphere, he punched in the coordinates into the console of the small emergency starship Chewbacca had given him and jumped into hyperspace. Leaning back into his seat, Yoda stretched out with the Force but disturbance after disturbance darkened everything.

Clouds everything the dark side does, Yoda thought opening his eyes. See who has survived I cannot. Wait until I return to Corsucant I will.

0 o 0 o 0 o 0

Ahsoka felt the disturbances as she guided the spaceship above Naboo and she could tell Luke and Leia had felt them as well for they started crying. She put the ship on autopilot but didn't tell it to descend into the atmosphere before hurrying to Padmé's side as the senator attempted to calm her twin children down.

Ahsoka gently took Leia into her arms before rocking her back and forth. "They're Force sensitive," she said, "and I'm feeling several disturbances in the Force. I think they may be feeling them as well."

Padmé swallowed. "Disturbances?"

"Deaths," Ahsoka said softly. "I feel that many Jedi have been killed."

"Has…Has An…General Skywalker been killed?"

"No, I still sense him."

"What about General Kenobi?"

"I can't tell. I can only sense Anakin because of the master/apprentice bond," Ahsoka explained. "But I'm pretty sure if Anakin is still alive then Master Obi-Wan is as well. I don't know for sure though. Maybe I should contact them."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Padmé said softly. "What if something's happened? What if they're hiding and calling them gives away their position? What if whoever's killing the Jedi catch them and kill them too?" There was fear in Padmé's voice and Ahsoka sat down beside the young woman that she had come to see as a sister before her arm curled around Padmé's shoulders.

"Anakin and Obi-Wan will be all right. If anyone can survive this then it's them," she assured the senator. She was silent for a long moment before adding, "You're afraid for them both but mostly for Anakin."

Padmé gently rocked Luke back and forth in her arms as the little baby slowly stopped crying before gazing around with confused blue eyes, eyes that reminded Ahsoka so much of her Jedi Master that she couldn't help but look twice at him. She stretched out with the Force; she had sensed Leia's Force potential when she picked her up, it felt strangely familiar, and she noticed immediately that Luke's Force presence was just as if not more familiar than Leia's.

Realization hit her as she realized why the Force presence were familiar and yet different at the same time. During the war, Ahsoka had delivered a Force sensitive baby once before taking her to the Jedi Temple at the parents' insistence. She remembered feeling the Force presence within the baby girl was acutely similar to the barely noticeable Force presence of the parents; barely noticeable because the parents weren't Force sensitive. When she asked Master Che about that, the Chief Healer informed her that she had sensed the bond that is formed upon birth between the parents and their child. A child's Force presence would always feel similar to the parents' Force presence.

"Anakin's their father, isn't he?" Ahsoka asked.

Padmé glanced up sharply eyes going wide.

"I can feel it," Ahsoka said before she told Padmé what Master Che told her. "And Luke and Leia's Force presences feel very similar to Anakin's Force presence," she finished.

Padmé lowered her head before pressing her lips to Luke's forehead. "I'm positive Anakin wanted to tell you, Ahsoka," she said softly.

"He didn't trust me?"

"We didn't trust anyone with this secret, Ahsoka," Padmé said glancing at the Togruta Padawan. "The only one who knew was Master Kenobi and that's only because he managed to put two and two together and figure it out for himself. Anakin merely confirmed it."

"And you're confirming it for me?"

Padmé nodded. "We had to keep it a secret," she said softly. "If the Jedi Council found out then Anakin would have been kicked out of the Jedi Order. I didn't want that to happen but we were in love so we agreed to keep it a secret."

Ahsoka nodded slowly understanding what the senator was telling her; attachments were forbidden to Jedi and Anakin would have been kicked out of the Jedi Order if they found out about Padmé. Leia had fallen asleep in Ahsoka's arms and she gently handed the little baby girl to Padmé who shifted her grip so that she could hold both her children. Luke was wide awake but he was no longer crying.

"Let's go straight to Varykino," said Padmé. "Park a ways away from the lake house and we can walk there. I could use the exercise."

"All right Padmé," Ahsoka said slipping into the cockpit before sitting down in the pilot's seat and, after taking the ship off auto pilot, guided the ship through the atmosphere of Naboo and toward the lake country.

A/n what do you think?

Blaze: and that was chapter 4

Darth: I liked the duel but why didn't you have Mace kill the idiot?

Blaze: the story would've ended

Darth: oh

Blaze: yup

Mace: Give me my Mustang back!

Harry: it's mine now!

Severus: (rolls eyes) dunderhead, you don't even know how…

Harry: (runs over Palpy and Voldy before crashing into Senate Building)

Severus: …to drive. Never mind

Mace: (scowls and ignites lightsaber)

Harry: (climbs out of car and immediately takes off running)

Mace: (chases after Harry)

Severus: (sighs) I'd better make sure he doesn't kill the brat (walks after Harry and Mace)

Blaze: (chuckles) please review and I will post chapter 5 as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it'll be anytime soon