Chapter Two:
Anakin watched as the stranger stood at Palpatine's desk, arms crossed, and clearly getting acknowledgements from clone units all over the Republic. After the final acknowledgement had been received, he gave a decisive nod, and then turned to Anakin. "Better than I had hoped for", he said. "About fifty percent, which is much better than I had hoped for. The downside is, though, that after this, things are going to get a whole lot nastier."
"In what way?" asked Anakin.
"In that Palpatine will get the other fifty percent of the clone units," replied the stranger. "And when he realises what has happened, he'll strike, and strike hard. But it will also be a hasty blow, and in my experience, those tend to go awry."
"But Palpatine will need a communications suite. You said so yourself."
"Which buys us some time, which we shall put to good use " replied the stranger. He turned back to the communications display in the chancellor's desk. "General Priority order to all units: You are to protect all Jedi with you from all attack, both from without and within. This order will take priority over all other orders. Acknowledge." He again nodded as the acknowledgements again came in. "Second general order: you are to obey the orders of any Jedi in your vicinity. This order is to be executed at all, repeat all, costs, so long as it does not interfere with the General Priority order. Acknowledge." Again he nodded as the wave of acknowledgements came in from all over the Republic. "Good. Now inform your Jedi commanders what has transpired, and that they may expect attacks on both their persons and any loyalist clone units from subverted units in their vicinity. They may also expect attacks from within the legions they command from subverted units. Tell them that you know the challenge and countersigns and are able to determine friend from foe You will, of course, take steps to neutralise these threats. Acknowledge." Again a wave of acknowledgements came from all over the Republic. "Good. Carry out your instructions. Out." He then keyed off all but the commanders of the loyalist clone forces on Corsucant. " You have additional objectives, all of which take priority over any other instructions, save the General Priority order I have just issued," he said. "One legion is to go and secure the Jedi Temple from all attacks, both internal and external, and hold at all costs until relieved by loyalist units. Two legions are to secure the main military spaceport and hold at all costs, until relieved. The remaining two will secure the Senate Building and guarantee the safety of all Senators. They will then hold the building until relieved. I will meet the legion heading to the Temple either en route or there. The watchword is 'Day will come again.' Acknowledge." After the clone commanders had acknowledged their orders, he replied, "Good. Execute. Exiled Lord out." He then keyed in another set of numbers.
"Aren't we going to the Temple now?" asked Anakin.
"A couple of things more to do, young Jedi," said the stranger, "and then we'll make our way there. Palpatine is no doubt either on his way or arriving at the main military spaceport…"
"Which is held by four legions," said Anakin.
Two of which are now unshakeably loyal to the Republic," replied the stranger. "He'll undoubtedly issue his 'Order Sixty-Six' from there once he gets to a communications suite…" He cocked an ear as the distant sound of blaster fire came echoing down the corridors. "Sounds like he's just done so and has found out the unpleasant truth: that someone has beaten him to the punch. Now things will get rather messy."
"In what way?"
"He'll strike at the Temple. If he can't carry out his aim of exterminating every single Jedi, he'll try and take out the Order's very heart… and it's future."
"You mean…"
"Yes, Anakin. He'll kill everyone at the Jedi Temple. Masters, Knights, Padawans, even the younglings. That, in essence is his 'Order Sixty-Six.' After that, he was going to blame the Jedi, claim that everything was a Jedi plot, and take supreme power."
Anakin stood there, horrified. "I should have let Master Windu kill him," he said.
The stranger came around from behind the desk and placed a fatherly hand on his shoulder. "Anakin, your basic instincts were right. Yes, Palpatine is a monster. Yes, what he has planned is monstrous. But Mace Windu was wrong in trying to kill him out of hand. Between the two of you, you could have contained him. If you hadn't acted, I would have. Not necessarily as… spectacular as you did, but I would have prevented Mace Windu from killing him. Palpatine must be brought to trial, in front of the whole Republic! You were right!" said the stranger.
Both men turned towards the desk as the communications suite started to beep. "Hmm, that'll be the illustrious senators," the stranger said. "I'll have to calm them before finishing here" he said. He went behind the desk and keyed in the console. Immediately he was assailed by several voices, which all of a sudden stopped when they realised that this was not Chancellor Palpatine.
"Who in all of the nine hells of space, are you!" shouted one senator.
"A friend of the Republic," replied the stranger. If you are wondering about the fighting, well, that's because we are in the middle of a rather complicated plot being executed by Chancellor Palpatine, also known as the Sith Lord Darth Sideous, to undermine the Republic and to take supreme power."
"What!" "A Sith Lord?" "Preposterous!" were just a few of the responses coming from the senators.
The stranger waited until they had all calmed down. "I assure you, it is true. The Jedi Council, informed by Jedi Skywalker, has indeed discovered this plot and have moved to neutralise it. After all, they did inform you that there was a Sith Lord around. They were as surprised as you all were when it turned out to be the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic himself."
"Can we speak to Jedi Skywalker?" asked one senator.
The stranger smiled. "He's here with me now. He can corroborate everything I've said to you. Jedi Skywalker, can you come over here and tell the good Senators what you told the Council, and what has transpired here?" said the stranger, and waved Anakin over to take his place.
"What do I tell them?" asked Anakin as he came over.
"The truth," said the stranger, as he stepped out of the field of vision. "But not all of it. Say that Master Windu and the others died trying to subdue him, but not that you tried to prevent Mace Windu from killing him outright. After all, the dead deserve their dignity, and this unpleasent truth could damage both him and the Order."
Anakin swallowed nervously, then turned to face the images of the various senators that had managed to get through. "As you are all aware, I was appointed Palpatine's personal representative on the Jedi Council," he began. "Today, in this very office, he admitted to me that he was the Sith Master that the Council had been searching for." He had to stop and wait for the astonished babble that erupted to die down. "I went to those members of the Council who were here on Corsucant. Master Mace Windu, three other Jedi Masters and myself came here and confronted Palpatine. He escaped, but not before killing Master Windu and the other three Masters."
"How was it that you escaped unscathed, Jedi Skywalker?" asked one figure.
"Senator Kimmeria, it was through the intervention of… our unnamed friend here that I managed to escape unharmed," Anakin replied. "When Palpatine killed Master Windu, he intervened and drove Palpatine off," he continued. "I cannot tell you who or what he is, but he is familiar with the Order, and I am sure that either one of the more senior Masters may know of him, or that, deep in the Order's archives, there is information on him. But that is immaterial to the current crisis. As you are aware, fighting has broken out, both here and at the main military spaceport. Two legions of clones, whose loyalty to the Republic is totally unshakeable, have been assigned to secure this building and guard your persons from those units that Palpatine has subverted to his own ends. They will do so until help arrives from Republic forces off-planet. I will be shortly heading for the Jedi temple to help secure it in the company of our… unnamed friend, with another loyal legion."
The stranger then stepped back into view. "I would like to make a suggestion, if I may," he said. "If you like, I can name a Senator, or group of Senators, whose probity is unquestioned amongst you, to command the loyal forces here. Would Senator Prince Bail Organa, Senator Padme Naberrie and Senator Mon Motha be acceptable?" he asked. When no word of dissent came, he said "Good. I would appreciate it if you now please sign off and contact those of your colleagues who have not been able to get through and please tell them of what has transpired. Will Senators Organa, Naberrie and Mon Motha please remain?" He waited until all the other senators had broken contact, then turned to the three who had remained. "Your Highness, Senators," he said, "I do propose to turn over control of the loyal troops here to you, but one of you has to be the chief commander. Would Prince Organa be suitable?" he asked.
"You seem rather… knowledgeable, for a complete unknown," said Mon Motha.
The stranger grinned. "I've been around for quite some time," he said. "And Jedi Skywalker is right: the Order does have some records on me. Probably buried and forgotten, but they are there. I know, because I put them there, in the company of the then Jedi Archivist."
"How long ago?" Bail Organa asked.
"A… while ago, shall we say," replied the stranger. I've been around a long time… and am aware of several things. For instance, Senator Mon Motha, I am aware of your 'little organisation'," he said to a shocked Mon Motha. "Do you think you could activate it, please, and put it at the disposal of the Republic? We may well need it," he said.
"But… but… How did you find out? We had thought it a well-kept secret," she said.
"And it was," the stranger replied. "Palpatine never knew about it. But again, how I found out is immaterial. The Republic is in danger. Please activate your organisation. Now, I propose," he continued, "to nominate Senator Prince Organa as the commander of the units stationed here. Does this meet with your approval?" he asked.
Padme Naberrie spoke up at once. " I agree. He has the experience, and is well respected. He should be acceptable."
Mon Motha said nothing, but simply nodded her assent.
"We are agreed? Then, Senator Prince Organa, I turn the command of the loyal troops here at the Senate Building over to you," said the stranger. " The watchword is 'Day will come again.' Tell them that you have come from Exile Lord, and that you are authorised to take command until relieved by a suitable officer of the Republic's forces, hopefully a Jedi. This" he continued, entering a string of numbers, "is my personal comcode. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to take our leave."
Bail Organa and Mon Motha winked out, but Padme Naberrie remained. "Sir, may I please speak to Jedi Skywalker? It's… a… personal matter," she said, looking nervously at Anakin.
"Go ahead, Senator. I understand quite well," said the stranger.
He stepped away towards the door leading into the Chancellor's office in order to give them some privacy.
Anakin approached. "I'm here, Padme," he said.
"Does he…"
"… know about us? Yes," Anakin said. "And I get the impression that he cares."
"Annie, I'm scared."
"Padme, no matter where I am physically, you are always with me. You and our child," said Anakin.
"But Palpatine! He was one of my most trusted councillors! A Sith Master? How could he fool everyone? How could he fool the Order?" continued Padme.
"He fooled everyone, Padme," said Anakin. "Me, especially, with his caring pose. But now we know, and we will deal with him. But Padme," he said, "I'll have to tell the Order everything… including about us. That's the only way to retain what little trust they may have in me," he finished.
"But they'll throw you out of the Order!" Padme said. "Even Master Kenobi wouldn't be able to save you from that!" she cried.
Anakin looked over to where the stranger stood. "Somehow, I don't think that will happen," he said. "Someone of both our recent acquaintances seems quite sure he can stop that," he continued. "Considering what I saw here today, and the… I don't know… his feel, I suppose." He hesitated, continued, "I think he could face down the entire Order and get them to do his bidding."
"He does seem… impressive," Padme said.
"Try being in his presence. Both as a Jedi and as a normal being," Anakin said. "Trust me on this: impressive doesn't even begin to cover it." He looked back at the image of Padme on the Chancellor's desk. "I'm afraid I'll have to go," he said. "You'll be safer here than anywhere else, I think. We have two legions here to Palpatine's one, and they should be able to hold the building. I'll see you soon."
"I can't wait, but I'll see you soon also," said Padme, and her image winked out. Anakin stood upright and turned to the stranger. "I'm ready," he said.
"Good! But I have one more thing to arrange," he said. He strode over to the desk, got behind the communications suite, and re-keyed in the set of numbers he had earlier entered.
"And what's that?" asked Anakin.
"Palpatine has by now realised that his plan to take over in one fell swoop has failed," said the stranger. "He'll most likely try to escape off-world, possibly using his spare legion to cover his retreat. But, if he's like most self-proclaimed dark lords, he'll be a vindictive little swine," continued the stranger. "When he realises just how his scheme was thwarted, mainly realising that the clone masters of Kamino have, shall we say, betrayed him, he'll want to wreak vengeance on them. So, I feel obligated to warn them of what they could expect," he finished. As he did so, the holographic figure of a Kaminoan appeared on the desk in front of him.
"Chancellor Palpatine?" it asked.
"No," said the stranger. "It is urgent that I speak to the Prime Minister of Kamino at once. Please get him immediately. My recognition code is 'Er-Ranalantae.'"
The receptionist keyed in the code and, as the information came up on the screen in front of her, started. "Yes, my Prince! At once!" and blanked out, leaving the stranger with a somewhat pained look on his face.
"My Prince?" asked Anakin.
The stranger sighed, and turned the pained look on Anakin. "I once held that title," he said, "but through my own folly, and that of my sire and brothers, lost all right to it long ago. The Kaminoans like to flatter me with it. I did ask them to stop, but…" he trailed off.
The holographic screen remained blank for a while. "I imagine that the Prime Minister is examining his people's records on me," he said in a dry voice. "Or, more likely, he has read the records and either has had heart failure or is now examining his options. Mind you, it has been some time since they last heard from me."
The holographic screen flickered back into life. "About time," muttered the stranger.
Before them stood the Prime Minister of Kamino. Unusually, for such a self-assured race, he seemed nervous, fidgeting as he faced the stranger. "Prince Ma…" he started, but the stranger cut him off.
"I suppose you were reading what your people have recorded about me," he said. Then, you had a little... discussion with your advisors on the course of action you should take, in particular, who you should betray: a certain Sith Master, or me." The last two words were uttered in a silky tone full of menace that, to Anakin's Jedi-trained senses, simply screamed I would be the worst one to try and betray.
The Prime Minister flinched, hesitated, and then drew himself up to his full height. "As if even to suggest…"
"That you would be capable of such an act?" finished the stranger. "I can tell you that your predecessors chose wisely: the codes I had implanted into the clones worked. This is simply a courtesy call to thank you, and to warn you that a certain Sith Master of both our acquaintances may try and seek revenge on you, once he realises how such a thing could occur." As he spoke, the sound of blaster fire crept closer to the Chancellor's office. "As it appears he may have found out, the decision is no longer in your hands," he said. "I would suggest using the codes on the clones in your own facility there, and use the clones that respond to look to your own defences, both from internal and external attack."
The Prime minister visibly trembled as the enormity of the situation hit him. "I shall do as you suggest, my Prince," he said. "And the… special commission?"
The stranger paused, thinking. Then, he muttered what, to Anakin, seemed like a prayer of some kind. "The special commission. Yes. Release them. And you may use my genetic material… for all the good it may do you. But look to your own defences." The stranger cut the communications link, and then turned to Anakin. "Time to go, he said. He strode towards the door and activated his lightsabre and shield.
Anakin activated his weapon and followed. Despite his qualms, it felt good to be at last doing something. For some strange reason, he once again felt that he was with Obi-Wan as his padawan, and once again facing great odds. "Where are we headed?" he asked.
"To the flyer garage, and then to the Temple," said the stranger. He stepped towards the door and it opened to let them through. As they strode down the corridor the sound of fighting grew closer. "Sounds like we may have to cut our way through some obstacles…" Anakin trailed off, astonished. He had almost called the stranger Master. And indeed, it felt as if he was in the presence of a great and powerful Jedi Master. Except that he is definitely no Jedi, he thought. "How do we tell the loyalist troops from Palpatine's?" he asked.
"Use your feelings," the stranger replied. "The Force will be able to tell you who fights for who." He stopped at a corner, and peered around. In front of a bank of turbolifts there raged a firefight between two groups of clone troops. He turned back to Anakin. "Stay close behind me and cover my back," he said. "My shield will cover us. Oh, and by the way," he continued, " don't turn your nose up at the offer of a blast rifle or pistol. In the right situation…"
"Like now?" asked Anakin.
"Not quite, but they do have their uses. Otherwise, they would never have been created."
"But Master Kenobi considers blasters uncivilised," replied Anakin.
The stranger sighed. "Damn 'lightsabre mystique'," he muttered. Then, looking Anakin directly in the eye, he said "Rule One of Combat: No weapon is uncivilised in a fight! Fighting itself, by its very nature, is uncivilised. The only redeeming nature in a fight is the cause you fight for if it is truly noble and just."
"How do you determine that?" asked Anakin.
"If it feels just, and the deeds you perform are just, then it is just," replied the stranger. "Ask yourself: how would I feel if what my opponent says differs from what he does? Not the clearest of advice," he continued, "but it is the best I can do. Believe me, better minds than mine have struggled with this." He looked at the firefight, then looked at Anakin. "Ready?"
Anakin nodded. "Now!" shouted the stranger. He raced around the corner, lightsabre held high, shield in front. Anakin followed, his weapon held in a guard position. Both beings bore down on the attacking clone troopers, the stranger shouting out a war cry in his strange tongue. "Auta i lome! Aure en tuluva!" The attacking troopers turned and found themselves suddenly in a whirlwind of lightsabres and shield. The defending troopers let out similar cries, and cut their way into the fight. Within minutes, it was over. The stranger deactivated his weapons and, as he bent down to pick up a blast rifle, the commander of the defending troops came up to him and said "Herulva?"
The stranger started, and turned to the clone trooper. "They programmed that into you?"
"Yes, heru," said the clone officer. The stranger shook his head in amazement and muttered what sounded suspiciously like a curse under his breath. The clone officer ignored this and asked "Your orders, heru?"
The stranger sighed. "We are heading to the flyer garage. You will escort us there. " He moved towards the turbolifts.
"Herulva, there is a major firefight in the flyer garage. Is this wise?" asked the clone officer.
"We have to get to the Jedi Temple. So far, the flyer garage seems the best way to get us there in time," replied the stranger.
"Heru, we have gained control of the airspace around the Senate building," said the clone officer. "We can get you a gunship to outside any of the windows on this floor."
The stranger smiled. "That is excellent news," he said. "Arrange for one to meet Jedi Skywalker and I outside the Chancellor's office. We'll be waiting." He turned to Anakin and said "Back to the Chamberlain's office, Anakin." He stooped down and relieved a dead trooper of his blast rifle and charge belt. "Oh, and Anakin?" he said, standing back up."
"Yes?"
"Catch!" said the stranger, who tossed the blast rifle and belt at Anakin. Anakin caught them and looked at the stranger, who was relieving another dead trooper of his rifle and belt. "What do I do with these?" he asked.
"Use them, of course!" replied the stranger. Standing upright, he slung the blast rifle and started to buckle on the charge pack belt. "Sure, using lightsabres by themselves may sound civilised, romantic, noble and all the rest of that crap," he said, "but, in the end, a lightsabre is nothing but another weapon to be used in what is, in the end, a rather filthy business," he finished.
"Nothing but another weapon?" said an incredulous Anakin. "But... but... a lightsabre is..."
"The weapon and emblem of a Jedi Knight," finished the stranger. He turned a cool gaze on Anakin. "I know. I was there when the Order was founded," he said.
"You were there when the Order was founded?" exclaimed Anakin. But... but... that was thousands of years ago!" he stammered. If his claim is true, he thought, then this stranger is older than even Master Yoda!
"True," conceded the stranger. He flashed Anakin a grin. "Don't look my age, do I?" he said. He started off for the Chancellor's office, a stunned Anakin Skywalker trailing along in his wake. "Actually," he said, "if you know what to look for, I do look my age. You mortals really don't know what to look for, but the best clue is in the eyes," he continued.
"In the eyes?"
"Yes. But as I was going to say," said the stranger as they entered the Chancellor's office, "while the Jedi have always used lightsabres of some kind, it was somewhat different at the very beginning. You see," he said, heading over towards the shattered window, "they did remember what I told them: that a knight was, in the end, a warrior. And that warriors must be ready to use all kinds of weapons. So they trained in using arms of various kinds. The 'mystique of the lightsabre' was a somewhat later development," he concluded. He looked around the office, his gaze roving across the dead Jedi. "Seems I may have to remind them of that... again," he said, moving to pick up the weapons of the fallen. He came to Palpatine's lightsabre, hesitated, and then waved Anakin over. "Here, hold these," he said, handing Anakin the weapons of the slain Jedi. "We'll reclaim the dead later." He then picked up Palpatine's weapon with the tips of his fingers, looked at it with some distaste, and then put it into his pouch.
The whine of turbines approached the window. The stranger walked to it and looked outside. "Ah," he said. "Our ride approaches." He stepped back as the shape of a gunship filled the window. The pilot managed to get it as close as he can. "Looks like we'll have to jump," said the stranger. He then took the small leap across the gap separating the gunship's personnel compartment from the window frame. Anakin followed.
The stranger turned to one of the clone troopers in the compartment. "Give me the comm.," he said. He took the communications headset from the clone trooper, and said to the pilot, "Take us to the Jedi Temple. Maximum speed."