Taran gazed out at the morning sky of Coruscant from one of the large balconies on the Temple. The same day-to-day air traffic criss-crossed overhead. In short, it was a peaceful day, the same as which Coruscant had been experiencing since the Zillo beast. He breathed in the air of the planet as he waited for her to arrive. He didn't have to wait much longer. He smiled when he felt her presence behind him.
"Had a good night?" said Taran.
"Yes. Padme and I had a lot of fun sharing stories," said Ahsoka, hugging him before pulling back just enough to allow their arms to still be around each other.
"Good to hear," said Taran.
"Do you know?" said Ahsoka.
"Know what?" said Taran.
"About Padme?" said Ahsoka.
"Is there something I need to know about Padme?" said Taran.
"You mean you couldn't tell?" said Ahsoka.
"Couldn't tell what? Is there something wrong?" said Taran.
"Yes and no," said Ahsoka.
"You know I'm not good with trying to figure out these type of things. What's wrong?" said Taran.
"Padme is...pregnant," said Ahsoka. The response hit him like a Star Destroyer impacting him into the surface of the planet. He couldn't believe what he just heard. Padme Amidala, the senator of Naboo and secret wife of Anakin Skywalker, pregnant.
"But h-how did-" said Taran before he remembered when he went to go see Padme all that time ago. The bump he felt through her clothing. It all made sense now.
"Anakin doesn't know yet," said Taran, putting two and two together.
"No. He hasn't seen Padme for nearly six months," said Ahsoka. "Even when they went on that mission, she knew."
"I don't know how he's going to handle this bit of news," said Taran.
"Me neither," said Ahsoka.
"We'll be there for them both, no matter what," said Taran. Ahsoka nodded.
"Has the Council said when they're ready?" said Ahsoka.
"Should be in a few minutes," said Taran.
"A few minutes," she said, wondering the endless possibilities of what they would say.
"Nerve-wracking isn't it?," said Taran.
"Did you sleep well last night?" said Ahsoka.
"I barely slept, maybe a few hours at most," said Taran. "I was up nearly all night thinking."
"Don't worry too much," said Ahsoka, rubbing his upper arms.
"I try not to, but a life-decision is right ahead of me," said Taran.
"I know, but I know that no matter what challenge is ahead, we can take it on together," said Ahsoka.
"There's the optimism," said Taran, a small smile playing on his lips. The two teens went to make their way back inside the Temple complex. Suddenly, they both felt something. It was a deep sense of foreboding and danger.
"Something's not right," said Taran.
"I feel it too," said Ahsoka, instinctively looking around. They both looked in either direction, but saw nothing. Taran was thinking that maybe his nerves were getting the best of him, but he had this feeling before. Suddenly, he felt it again, this time stronger.
Look up
Both he and Ahsoka looked up, their lips slightly parted from what they were witnessing. From out of the sky, they saw a massive flaming shape plummet from the clouds at an alarming rate. Fire and smoke trailed from it as it continued its descent to the planet surface.
"That's a Star Destroyer," said Taran, not believing what he saw. The hulk of the triangular-shaped Venator-class Star Destroyer kept up its fiery plummet, not stopping until it crashed, destroying countless buildings when it hit the surface. A large mushroom cloud formed from where it crashed as black smoke and fire reached up towards the sky. Suddenly, some distance off, the wreck of another Venator was on a crash-course as well. In a matter of seconds, more and more started falling, followed by their debris and smaller objects that looked starkly similar to starfighters.
"What is going on?" said Ahsoka. Already she could feel through the Force the deaths of innocent civilians who had no idea what was heading for them until it was way too late. They're eyes searched the skies, until they saw thousands of small dark shapes moving down through the clouds. The shapes got closer and closer until they could see clearly the outlines. Their faces lit up in shock and complete horror.
Thousands of Vulture and tri-fighter droids.
The fighters streaked throughout every known direction, beginning to open fire on the surrounding buildings and areas on the planet. Following behind them were hundreds upon hundreds of Separatist landing crafts of all shapes and forms flanked by scores of gunships. Taran took Ahsoka's hand as they witnessed what no one would have thought the Separatists had the capability of doing.
An invasion.
Of Coruscant.
End. Leave your reviews and thoughts, or PM if you'd like. Tune in soon for the next installment, the Battle of Coruscant. I'm going to have it all completed in one go, so this might take a few weeks, hopefully no more than three-four at the most. Thanks for being fans of the work so far guys :)