Chapter 68 – The Fall

Author's Note: I'm guessing this fic will be around 80 chapters, and we're beginning the climax now. Hopefully, I won't forget any of the loose ends I need to tie up. Lol.

Also, uh... this is a little bit fast-paced, I think? Maybe. I hope not. xP

~ Amina Gila

"You were wrong about Anakin," Kenobi had said after telling Dooku, curtly, that he had spoken to him, "And I think all of us were wrong about the nature of the Force."

That had been a few weeks ago now, and Kenobi has declined to say any more on the subject since. All he has said is that Anakin will not be a threat to them, if indeed he ever was – which he was; Dooku knows Anakin – and that Dooku should never have sent Grievous after him. Now, in the privacy of his own mind, Dooku can admit that perhaps he was wrong on that count. He had been… afraid, and he had acted a little rashly, something he has come to regret. He suspects that Kenobi, and even Tano, have had minor contact with Anakin since Obi-Wan's meeting with him, but he himself has heard nothing.

He tries to pretend it doesn't sting as much as it does. He made mistakes. A lot of them. Mistakes which he regrets deeply, but then, regrets change nothing. There is only one path forwards, and he'll follow it, wherever it takes him.

Over the past weeks, Dooku has spent a great deal of time lying out the groundwork for Sidious' defeat. They have to be clever about it, cunning, which is hard when they are dealing with someone who makes a career out of manipulating people. It's a talent that he has learned and perfected over many years, one that does not even rely on his Force abilities, which is more of a hindrance than anything else right now.

Dooku has no doubt that Sidious will know they are coming; it's only a question of if they can defeat him before he can effectively counter. The future is uncertain, clouded. Everything is concealed by the veil of the Dark Side, and… he is not very optimistic. Even if he has the Jedi as his allies, Sidious is… well, he's insidious.

The height of the war is upon them now, and Dooku is not ready. But then, he probably never will be. All he can do is take things one step at a time and trust in the Force to lead them to victory, no matter the cost.

**w**

The silence in the shuttle is heavy, oppressive, and Padme fidgets under it, trying and failing to still her movements. She has no doubt that her anxiety – and yes, her fear – are easily noticeable to her companions. They have prepared and planned and schemed, and now, finally, they are ready. They are ready to go after Palpatine, to eliminate him. She's relieved, but she's also terrified, because if it goes wrong… they are all doomed.

But, if he can be removed without destroying the Republic, even at the cost of her life, she is… okay with that. Silently, she spares a thought for Anakin, hoping that he'll be alright, that he'll stand with them if it comes down to it. She hasn't seen him in so long, and she misses him horribly. She doesn't feel the same when he's away, and it's been this way since the war started. It's – it's unfair is what it is. But soon, hopefully, it will all be over and then, they can finally reunite and build the life they've dreamed of.

"Let's go over the plan one more time," Windu says, breaking the silence, and Padme instinctively straightens, feeling the way Eirtae snaps to attention at her side. On the other side of the shuttle, Siri leans forward, eyes fixed on the Jedi Master.

They've gone over the plan several times already, but once more can't hurt. They're all on edge, and maybe assuring themselves that they're as ready and prepared as they can be will help settle their nerves some.

"I will report to the Council along with Master Tachi," Windu says. "They know we're coming, though they don't know the details, and while we send in a team to try and arrest Palpatine, former Senator Amidala will prepare a public address which Senator Organa will deliver. Hopefully, the clone Rex has successfully taken control of the communications off-world, jamming everything so in the event that we fail, Sidious will be unable to issue Order 66."

Padme lets out a shaky breath, nodding. "I'm ready," she says with more courage than she feels. Eirtae reaches over, squeezing her hand.

"As am I," Siri adds, meeting Padme's eyes.

"Then may the Force be with us all," Windu murmurs as the shuttle jolts out of hyperspace, heading down to the planet below.

The time has come, the time to take Palpatine off his throne.

**w**

Anakin is drifting in the currents of the Force, as he often does, letting them soothe him, when he senses the disturbance, a faint curling on the edges of his senses, whispering to him. Go, the Force tells him, and he sees a flicker of an image, which he immediately recognizes. Opening his eyes, he blinks a few times to readjust to the physical realm, marveling inwardly at how easy this is for him now.

It makes him wonder how the Jedi use the Force, how they draw on it, for if they do it as he is now, how could any of them ever lose their way? Clearly, they must not embrace the Force as he has; they must not have found balance. Is this, then, what it means for him to be the Chosen One? It's something he'll have to ponder later, when he has time.

For now, the Force has a mission for him.

It's strange to venture from the Works, pulling his cloak around himself, the hood shrouding his features as he makes his way towards the main communication center on Coruscant. For some reason, the Force saw fit to send him there, and the one thing Anakin has learned to accept over the past weeks, since he left Mustafar is that he can always trust the Force.

He hesitates briefly, uncertain, before slipping in through a maintenance entrance, unnoticed, reaching out to the Force. Where do I go? He asks a wordless question, careful to shield himself in case there are any Jedi around who might sense him. Why am I here?

In answer, the Force nudges him towards a backroom, an office or empty storage room, perhaps. He steps inside, and the quiet noise is enough to startle the person inside. In a moment, the clone has a blaster aimed at Anakin. If it had been someone else, Anakin would have reacted to defend himself, but instead, he stills entirely.

"Rex?"

Of everyone he could have encountered, Rex was the last one he'd expected to find.

There's a pause, and then, "Anakin?" the clone queries, visibly surprised, lowering his blaster. "What are you doing here?"

Anakin huffs out a breath. "I could ask you the same question. The Force told me to come here, I don't know why."

"Fives, Echo, and I came here to get control of the center covertly," Rex tells him. "We're going to temporarily jam all off world communications."

He frowns. "Why? What's going on?"

Rex moves closer to him, lowering his voice. "Dooku and the Jedi have a plan to deal with Palpatine," he answers. "We're here to protect our brothers. We won't let Palpatine use them against anyone, not when they can't control it."

Anakin nods, understanding. "Can I help?"

The clone that he would have led in another lifetime offers him a smile. "I thought you'd never ask, and for what it's worth… I'm glad you're here."

Anakin smiles back. "Always."

**w**

For weeks now, Ferus has been the Chancellor's shadow, following him almost everywhere, watching over him and protecting him. It's been… somewhat dull, admittedly, but he and Palpatine have settled into a comfortable relationship, one which he's coming to appreciate immensely. Palpatine has spoken to him about matters which are troubling him, and he even sent Ferus away on a mission for a few days, having him personally speak to the leaders of a neutral world to convince them to lend the Republic support instead of joining the Separatists.

He's content with the life he's building for himself now, outside of the Order, and he cannot deny the feelings of contentment which he's experiencing, free from the burden and weight of the war, helping the Chancellor find a way to bring a quick, decisive end to the war. They've spoken about politics, about the Republic and its faults, about what the galaxy ought to be. It's been… nice.

And so, nothing could have prepared him for the sudden, unexpected declaration from the Chancellor. Ferus blinks at him, once and then again, trying to make sure he didn't mishear.

"Dooku did what?" he splutters, horrified.

Palpatine grimaces. "It isn't something I've told the Council admittedly," he confesses, "But I didn't think they would believe me anyway. He was once one of them, and I cannot fault them for not wanting to see the monster that he's become. You are breaking away from them, my boy, and I think that you can understand and appreciate the evil."

"A… planet killer?" he asks faintly.

"Indeed," the Chancellor replies gravely. He taps at some controls on his desk, pushing a button to bring up a hologram. Ferus moves closer instinctively, horror washing through him when he sees the size of the thing, the details of the plans.

"Dooku planned this?"

"He did," Palpatine answers. "The plans were, thankfully, retrieved on Geonosis, but I do not believe he has given up on his dream of terrorizing the galaxy through force and brutality. In fact, and it pains me to tell you this, there are some… whispers that your once master has become a part of his schemes."

Ferus stills, hardly breathing. "She wouldn't," he denies, though he knows that she… abandoned him and the Jedi. She has turned traitor for all intents and purposes, siding with the Sith over her own people. It hurts, and there is a part of him that can never forgive her for the betrayal.

"The Council once thought the same about Dooku," comes the quiet reply, and he flinches. Palpatine waits for a heartbeat, looking at him with something far too close to pity for Ferus' liking in his eyes, before continuing, "I fear that she and Dooku are planning something together, and I fear that those plans might include Master Windu as well."

Ferus frowns. "But he's a prisoner, is he not, your Excellency?"

The Chancellor hums. "That is what Dooku and the Jedi would have us believe."

A chill prickles down his spine, and he swallows. "You fear the Jedi will betray you, betray the Republic, even? I'm not sure –"

"I am." The finality in Palpatine's voice renders him speechless. "I have been watching them for a long time, and you have seen how more and more Jedi are leaving the Order, turning against the Republic. It makes me wonder what else they are planning. All I want is to bring an end to this war, to bring peace to the galaxy, but the Jedi resist me at every turn."

This isn't the first time he's said something of this nature, but it is the first time he's been so blunt about it. It inevitably makes Ferus feel guilty every time, as if he's betraying the Jedi by not defending them – no matter how much evidence Palpatine has shown him which support his growing fears. Ferus finds it difficult to believe – the Jedi have always been good, right? But now… he no longer knows. He doesn't know anything anymore. If even Dooku, who was once one of the best, could Fall, why not Obi-Wan? Ahsoka? Barriss? Why not his own master or – or even Master Windu?

They're all traitors – except Master Windu, that he knows of – and who's to say that there aren't even more Jedi that are working against the best interests of the Republic?

He wants to trust the Jedi, but he can't, because more and more, Ferus is fearing that Palpatine is right, that there is more going on with the Jedi which neither he nor the Chancellor know. His shoulders slump. "I'm afraid you're right," he admits, though it grates on him to do so.

His eyes skate towards the plans of the planet killer, a shudder working it's way through his body. It's monstrous is what it is. How could anyone want to be a part of creating something like this? There is no good that can come from this, none at all. It's – it's wrong. It's something the Jedi ought to be fighting.

And it's at that moment when the door to the Chancellor's office slides open. Ferus jerks to attention as Palpatine closes the plans for the monstrosity. It's the Jedi. But… something is wrong. His eyes scan those who are assembled here: Yoda and Gallia, and more surprisingly, Windu and Siri.

What – what is happening?

He steps forward, Palpatine's words, his warnings, reverberating in his head. "What is the meaning of this?" Ferus demands, voice level but hard.

"This is none of your concern, Olin," Windu replies, almost coldly.

"Ferus, you don't understand what's happening here," Siri says, almost pleading. He might listen to her if he didn't remember so acutely how she betrayed the Order. She walked away from everything the Order represented when she went with Vader and the others. That she's here now, along with members of the Council… it doesn't give Ferus a very good feeling at all.

"Why, may I ask, are you here?" the Chancellor interjects before Ferus can formulate a response to her, or maybe an accusation.

"We know who you are Chancellor, or should I say Darth Sidious?" Windu responds. "We know you are guilty of a very long list of crimes, including treason. Surrender now. The courts will decide your fate."

Palpatine looks at him coolly, while Ferus' heart skips a beat and begins pounding even harder. He can't stop remembering what the Chancellor said only minutes ago.

"I fear that she and Dooku are planning something together, and I fear that those plans might include Master Windu as well."

"I have been watching them for a long time, and you have seen how more and more Jedi are leaving the Order, turning against the Republic. It makes me wonder what else they are planning. All I want is to bring an end to this war, to bring peace to the galaxy, but the Jedi resist me at every turn."

And yet… Windu seems so certain that Palpatine is Sidious. It's such a laughable thought. Palpatine is the Chancellor of the Republic. He requested Ferus to protect him. How could he be a Sith? That doesn't even make sense. If he was, why would Vader have been working against the Republic so much? Why would – why would any of the things that have happened, happened as they did? That – it – why?

"I believe you are mistaken, Master Windu," Palpatine answers, calmly. "I understand you must have been through a great ordeal while in Separatist hands. You are undoubtedly confused by the lies that Count Dooku has undoubtedly been feeding you."

"Enough games." Gallia steps forward then, and seeing her, his grandmaster, Ferus feels even more uncertain of himself, of what he should do. Who does he support? Who can he support? Who can he trust? Everything is so… confusing, his desire to protect the Republic, and its leader, by default, warring with his desire to obey the Jedi Masters, who he has always revered.

"Surrender," she continues, hand falling to the hilt of her lightsaber.

"Or what?" the Chancellor challenges. "You will force me?" He shakes his head. "Forget this nonsense, go back to your Temple, and I will pretend that you did not come here, speaking such treasonous thoughts. Go to the courts, to the Senate, if you are so certain of yourself."

Siri smirks. She actually smirks, as if something about this is somehow funny, and it makes Ferus' gut clench uncomfortably. That isn't ever how his master has acted in the past, and he's beginning to fear that Palpatine is right about her, about Windu, about all the Jedi. "Who says we haven't?" she almost taunts.

Palpatine leans back in his chair. "Then I will await the decision of the Senate and courts."

"Stalling he is," Yoda says suddenly, and Ferus looks at him, uncertain.

Is it possible that even Yoda could be a part of this? What the Jedi are suggesting, it's treason. They can't mean to arrest Palpatine by force, maybe even killing him if he resists, could they? They're – they're soldiers of the Republic now. They have no jurisdiction to arrest their military commander without due cause, without an order from the Senate or courts, right? They're really serious about this, though, and Ferus realizes, grimly, that he will have to pick a side. And fast.

He doesn't get the chance. Palpatine decides for him.

"Ferus, please escort the Jedi from my office," he requests.

Despite his reservations, Ferus steps forward, rounding the desk, one hand falling to the lightsaber hilt that he had chosen to keep. "The Chancellor has spoken," he says, no matter how uncomfortable he feels, no matter how much he's inclined to retreat under the sharp gazes of the Jedi in front of him, Jedi he's respected all his life. Until now, that is.

With his other hand, he pushes the button on his comm to summon the Chancellor's guard, letting them know that their presence is urgently needed.

It all happens at once. The Jedi draw their lightsabers, starting forward, and he immediately follows their example, his blue blade hissing to life as he shifts to stand in defense of the Chancellor. And then, the Red Guards burst into the room, blasters raised at the Jedi.

"Ferus, he's a Sith!" Siri sounds wounded, as if she has any right to be after waltzing off with Vader and the others.

"He's the Chancellor," he rebuts, blocking her lightsaber with his own, "And we are sworn to protect him, even from the Order."

"It's not illegal to be a Sith," Palpatine interjects mildly, "Or even to be a Force user and not a Jedi. You'll find that no court would convict me for self-exploration." He stands, suddenly, before Ferus can make sense of his words, holding out his hands and sending a Force wave crashing at the four Jedi, sending them reeling backward.

And then, he turns, springing for an emergency exit, the Red Guards moving to block the Jedi from following. After a moment, Ferus follows, holding his lightsaber up to hold off the Jedi as they lunge forward to pursue the fleeing Chancellor.

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