Amira walked the halls of the Temple once more. It had been hours since Anakin had left. Neither he nor Master Windu had returned and she had a strange sense of loss coursing through her body. Something had gone terribly wrong.
Then, she felt it. Danger was approaching the Temple. Some dark unimaginable threat was converging at the entrance. She hurried to a vantage point high above the main entrance and looked down.
Her heart shattered in a million pieces. He was striding into the Temple with a legion of Clone Troopers at his heals. She felt the evil; she felt the coldness; she felt the dark side. She swallowed her tears and fear and whispered to no one, "No, Anakin no."
She ran as fast as her legs would carry her and rounded up the younglings. Not even the older ones would hold out against such a force. Neither would she for that matter. She instructed them to hide and to trust no one.
There was no way out of the Temple for all of them. If she fled she might save two or three. If she stayed she might be able to reason with Anakin and save them all. Perhaps he was not coming to destroy but to subdue.
Within minutes she became painfully aware that the hope of survival was slim. She heard Anakin's orders to the clone troopers, kill all; leave no one alive. She could not breathe from the pain of this betrayal.
Using the shadows to move stealthily through the Temple she made her way behind a squad of troopers that had veered off. She ignited her weapon. They turned and fired upon her. She dispatched all five quickly and moved to located the next squad.
Success was an illusion. As many as she defeated there were hundreds more. She would never fight her way through them all. She felt defeat close at hand. Now she could only hope that some would stay hidden and survive.
A few of the older younglings had disobeyed her direction to hide and were engaging troopers on their own. They fought well and with some success, but the numbers were against them. She was proud of their courage. Oh but what Jedi they would have grown to be.
With several older younglings fighting with her she continued to engage the troopers. Anakin having finished his sweep through the Temple knelt before a hologram of his new master, "It is nearly done Master. Just a few younglings and Jedi Organa are left. I will take care of her myself."
The holographic image of Darth Sidious glowed before Anakin, "You have done well my worthy apprentice. I have other plans for Jedi Organa. She is not to be permanently damaged. I wish to place her in my custody."
Anakin questioned, "I don't understand. You said all the Jedi must be wiped out." Sidious answered, "She may have some use to me. My reasons I will reveal to you when I deem it necessary. For now carry it out as I have instructed."
Anakin bowed his acceptance, "Yes my master." The image of Sidious winked out and Anakin went in search of Amira Organa. He would rather just kill her than have to see who he once was in her eyes.
He checked the Council Chambers first. Instead of Amira he found several younglings hiding there. They recognized him and thought him friend rather than foe. He did not hesitate but struck them down. It was getting easier.
Amira clutched the front of her tunic as she felt the pain and the death of the last of the younglings. She had failed. Despite knowing the odds were against her the failure ate at her. She knew there was one thing left to do. Face Anakin.
She found him just as she had earlier that night in the Council Chambers staring out at the city. Only now the bodies of several younglings littered the floor. Not able to hold it back any longer she let the tears come, "What have you done?"
He turned and showed her a face devoid of any emotion, "You cannot possibly understand." She shook her head in misery, "Understand the murder of your brothers and sisters? You are right I do not understand."
She knelt and gently caressed the face of a small boy, "Go with the Force brave little Jedi." She looked up at him with anger coursing through her, "You did all this for what; your wife and child?" How does this massacre help you save your wife?"
He approached her, "I have done only what is necessary to save the Republic from the power greed of the Jedi. They wanted to overthrow the Chancellor and gain control of the senate. I have saved the Republic."
She glared at him, "The Chancellor is a Sith Lord. Who is it that is chasing the power? Look at yourself Anakin and you will see the ugly face of greed. The simple life of a Jedi was never quite enough for you was it."
He cautioned, "Careful Jedi. Your anger is showing. Anger leads to the dark side. One slip and you will find yourself embracing it as I have."
"Is that what you want?" she spat back at him, "You want me to become what you are, twisted and evil." He laughed, "You could not possibly become what I am. I grow more powerful by the moment."
She shook her head, "I will not let this stand Anakin. You know I have to fight you." He grinned at her, "You cannot win. You are no match for the power of the dark side." She ignited her weapon, "I will gladly give my life for the opportunity to take yours."
Strangely he did not ignite his own weapon but instead Force pushed her head first into the nearest wall. She fell instantly unconscious. He knelt over her to ensure she was still alive. Against his better judgment but in keeping with his master's wishes he let her live.
He left her in the chambers with a clone guard as he went to wrap up operations throughout the Temple. For a moment he felt the recognizable pain of regret. Amira Organa had always been a good friend. He wondered how would it be when he came face to face with Obi-Wan.