Chapter 13 - Coming Darkness

Author's Note: What happens when the sun sets? It gets dark, right? ;)

~ Amina Gila

Aniya Skywalker

The trip is nerve wracking. It feels like I can't breathe. Everything depends on this, and this alone, perhaps even the fate of the entire galaxy. I can't lose my only hope at saving my brothers and sisters and Padme and – everyone. The only person not on the line is Jaufre.

I don't know who's doing what, but we're about to find out, and I'm terrified.

We're moving as fast as we can, but it's already dark when we finally arrive at the Senate and head for Palpatine's office, even if we run the entire way. Every second counts, and I can sense the turmoil here.

When we sprint through the door into the entrance room, Palpatine is on the floor by the now-broken window and Windu is standing over him, lightsaber ignited, hovering right over him. "You are under arrest, my lord."

This is exactly what Palpatine had warned us about – he's defenseless, and Windu won their duel, somehow, and – and I can see his... intent. He's about to carry through with it. I can feel it, but I don't want to believe it.

"Anakin, Aniya, I told you it would come to this!" Palpatine shouts, "I was right. The Jedi are taking over."

"The oppression of the Sith will never return," Windu replies venomously, "You have lost."

"No, no, you will die," Palpatine shouts, a blast of lightning shooting from his fingers, striking Windu's lightsaber.

I flinch back, memories burning through my mind. I haven't been electrocuted much, but it's enough to know I never want to feel it again. It was always worse for Anakin, and I can feel his raging emotions as he turns away, shielding his face from the brightness.

Dooku used that on him, back on Geonosis. It's – none of this brings any pleasant memories, and... Palpatine can use Force lightning. Of course, he can. He's a Sith. But – that hardly does anything to stop my hammering heart. What are we supposed to do?!

Windu is moving closer now, lightsaber hovering dangerously close to Palpatine, and the lightning is deflecting back, burning his face. And yes, he's using a very dangerous Sith ability, but he is defending himself. Windu was about to kill him. He's stilltrying to kill him. And maybe he's a Sith, but that doesn't mean it's not treason.

"You must choose," Palpatine calls. I know that, and I don't know what to do. Anakin looks just as desperate. Whatever we decide, it'll be together, but that doesn't answer what. I have no idea. Windu is in the wrong here, clearly, by betraying everything the Jedi hold dear, but Palpatine is a Sith.

"Don't listen to him!" Windu grits out, struggling to block the lightning.

Palpatine is smoking now, and – I don't want to watch this. We need to do something. We have to stop this. But – what Windu's doing is wrong, and it's horrifying, because being slowly electrocuted to death is a horrible way for anyone to die, but he's a Sith and he started the war. He's dangerous and he's evil and he needs to be stopped before he does anything worse, but what Windu is doing is – it's sickening. He's not doing it to defend himself, he's doing it to kill, to hurt. (Just like Obi-Wan did in my vision.)

"I can't hold it any longer. I'm too weak," Palpatine moans, the lightning abruptly stopping. His face is burned and scarred horribly, and –

"I am going to end this once and for all," Windu growls, a look of fury shining in his eyes. A look that always promises pain to one's opponent – a desire to hurt that won't be satisfied until it's done. And seeing that on the Master of the Order, someone we're supposed to look up to and respect, is...

How can he do this when it's against everything the Jedi have ever taught? Yes, the Sith have to be stopped, but not like this. Right? I can't believe it's come to this – with us trying to tell the very person who has constantly lectured us about the Code that what he's doing is wrong and un-Jedi-like. What has happened to our Order? What has happened to the Jedi? What happened to every single thing we've sacrificed for and fought for and everything that's defined our lives for years? This – what he's doing is against the one very thing that makes the Jedi better than the Sith, and what does that say about us?!

"You can't," Anakin protests, finding his voice first, "He must stand trial."

"He has control of the Senate and the courts," Windu retorts sharply. He's too lost in the desire to kill to even stop and think about what he's doing. Everything the Jedi always say the Sith are. "He's too dangerous to be left alive."

"He's a prisoner," I retort, as sharply as I dare but in the desperation of the moment, I hardly find myself caring anymore. "You can't do it! It's against the Jedi Code."

"He's a Sith. He must be destroyed," Windu snaps.

"Not like this," I protest, but he's already turned away, raising his lightsaber for the kill. He's not listening to us now any more than he ever does, and he's about to break everything we were taught to believe in. And if the head of the Order is willing to do that, what does that say about the others?!

"It's not the Jedi way," Anakin argues, desperately, "He must live."

"Please don't," Palpatine protests.

Windu just looks... satisfied, more than anything, as the lightsaber cuts downwards, for Palpatine's head.

All sense of reasoning abandons me, and I act without thinking, lashing out the only way I can think of fast enough, throwing the Force at him. Windu stumbles a step back from the suddenness, but his lightsaber is still swinging downwards from the momentum of the moment. Anakin whips out his lightsaber, his blade clashing against Windu's. I draw my own instantly as well, and the three lightsabers spark together, two blue crossed on purple. And I know without a doubt that I'll do whatever I have to, to stop this.

This isn't only about my family anymore.

It's about everything I believed in and everything I thought was right.

Windu pulls back, slashing at us again, trying to get past, but we refuse to be deterred. We have no choice but to have an all-out duel with him now, and that's what we're going to do. We have to disarm him to make him stop, and with that, I swing back when Anakin moves at him from the other side. He's an unquestionably good duelist, but he's taken by surprise right now and seemingly worn from his fight with Palpatine. I slash forwards the instant I find an opening, cutting a slash across Windu's arm.

Guilt is drowning me instantly, but he gave me no choice.

Windu stumbles, dropping his lightsaber, and Palpatine reacts instantly, hitting him with a blast of lightning.

All I can do is stare in wide-eyed shock, because what –

We had to do something. We had to. But this, this – I can't form a single coherent thought right now, and everything is moving too fast.

"Unlimited power," Palpatine – no, Sidious – cackles as Windu is thrown from the window, falling out of sight. I can feel his overwhelming darkness now, very much unshielded. I've never felt anything this strong before, except maybe Plagueis back on Mustafar all those years ago.

And – and – now we're trapped here alone with him, with the Sith Lord behind all of this, who is also the Chancellor and our once friend, and – Windu was committing treason, and now he's probably dead because of us, and – What did we just do –

"What have I done?" Anakin chokes out, staggering back, lightsaber falling from his hand as he all but collapses onto the seat behind him.

Sidious stands, walking towards us, and the sheer power he's radiating is – it's terrifying. Especially when he's the Chancellor,and we just turned our backs on the Jedi and everything, even though they're the ones who betrayed the Republic first. But now we're trapped here with him, and I don't know what to do. What can we even do?

What happens next is entirely in his hands. It's not something we have any control of anymore, and I don't remember the last time I was this terrified. I already know he wants to turn us, and I almost don't think that would be so bad anymore.

It's not as if the Jedi aren't wrong or that – if their leader was willing to go to such points, Palpatine is right. The very thing that sets Jedi and Sith apart has been destroyed and now... how much of our lives have we been living a lie, and not one of our own making? I have no doubt Sidious is evil, because I can feel it and see it, but...

We just turned on the Jedi. I don't even...

It's real. It's real this time, but none of our life as a Jedi was real, and Master Windu is a traitor to the Republic, but I just let him die. I should have tried to stop it, but I didn't. Horror and self-loathing are strangling me now. It's worse feeling how Anakin is thinking the exact same way right now, if not worse.

Sidious stands, and a shiver runs down my spine as he approaches us. "You're fulfilling your destiny. Becomes my apprentices. Learn to use the Dark Side of the Force."

I don't have the state of mind to ask how we can be his apprentices if there can only be two Sith. (Not that there have been only two in a long time anyway.) All I can do is keep my eyes rooted on the floor, breathing in shakily. Trying to hide, much like Anakin is doing, which is impossible when all Sidious' attention is on us right now.

And really what choice do we have now? We can't go back to the Jedi. We can't... do anything but what he asks, can we? And we have to. We have to help our family, and that is first and foremost, especially when the Order we served is gone at its very core. I can't help questioning if it was ever truly there.

And seeing him standing there, with this much power over me and my brother – it's enough to feel like I'm back in the past, like we're children again. Like the only way out is through absolute obedience. It's usually true, anyway.

"We will do whatever you want," I say shakily. I know I might as well be selling us back into slavery, but we never really were free, were we? Certainly not when we were Jedi.

"Good," Sidious says gloatingly, and I can sense his smugness. He sounds so satisfied. This is always what he was going for, wasn't it?

"Just help us save our family," Anakin requests desperately, looking up for the briefest moment before returning his gaze to the floor. He's as scared as I am, and I wish there was something I could do, but there isn't. Other than exactly what we are.

"To cheat death is a power only one has achieved," Sidious replies, "But if we work together..."

I can only hope that will be enough, because – this is all we can do. We can't back out now. Especially not if it's our last chance to stop our visions, and I'd do anything to prevent them from happening.

I don't know what's expected in officially becoming a Sith apprentice, but I can guess well enough from how Sidious is standing over us, expectantly. Anakin starts to move first, lowering himself to his knees, and I kneel next to him.

We've been in this position countless times before, from Tatooine and even before. A position of total submission, and the only way out is total compliance. Sometimes, I wonder if I've ever known anything else.

"We pledge ourselves to your teachings, to the ways of the Sith," Anakin states shakily.

"Good. Good," Sidious says, in a way that sounds very much like he's talking to his favorite pet. It's probably a true comparison anyway. All I can do is stare at the floor and the shoes in front of me, wishing for this all to be over. But it won't be. It never can be again, because we're Sith now. He is our master. Master as in... how we once always used that word.

"Powerful Sith you will become. Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth... Vader and Viola."

The names fit somehow. "Thank you, Master," I offer uselessly, unsure if a response is expected or not. I don't know anything about what's expected anymore.

Sidious turns away, heading for his desk, pulling his hood over his head. I can't help noticing that he looks far more intimidating like this. "Rise," he instructs, and I stand immediately. It hardly makes me feel any less vulnerable, though. We're Sith now, apprenticed to the man I once thought cared for us, and... I don't know what to expect, what he'll want.

"Because the Jedi did not trust you, my young apprentices, I believe you are the only Jedi with no knowledge of this plot." I don't want to believe it, but what can I say to that? I don't think Qui-Gon knew, but I can't say for anyone else. I can't trust anyone anymore, not after what the Master of the Order himself was willing to do. "When the Jedi learn was has transpired here, they will kill us, along with all the Senators."

"I agree. The Jedi's next moves will be against the Senate," Anakin replies quietly. They were trying to take over the Republic, and if they were that determined, that's where they'll go next.

"Every single Jedi, including your friends, are now enemies of the Republic."

I know what this means. I know what happens to traitors of the Republic. And that's what the Jedi are, legally. Desperation is already choking me, because how could things have come to this, and yet – it was the Jedi's choice. Not ours. But – "Qui-Gon didn't know," I dare to say, swallowing past my fear when Sidious' now-yellow eyes settle on me, "I don't think. He has been very disillusioned with the Council for a long time."

"Perhaps," Sidious replies, "You may give him the chance to surrender if you encounter him, along with any other Jedi who are actually... genuine. We must move quickly. The Jedi are relentless. If they are not all destroyed, it will be civil war without end. First, I want you to go to the Jedi Temple. We will catch them off-balance. Do what must be done. Do not hesitate. Show no mercy. Only then will you be strong enough in the Dark Side to save your family."

My fear and desperation are settling into something increasingly numb now. He wants us to lead a march on the Temple. To kill everyone. They're traitors, and they brought it on themselves, but... we have to, though. It's the law, and we can't just say no, can we? I don't even know that we should. He's right that if the Jedi are not all destroyed, they will never stop fighting. Ripping apart the last chances the galaxy has to ever find peace.

"What of the Jedi spread across the galaxy?" Anakin asks.

"Their betrayal will be dealt with." Whatever that means. Actually. Maybe I do know. The clones. The chips... they'll be mind-controlled against them, won't they? I want to say something about it, but it's not my place. It's not – we can't make Sidious angry. Not now. I'm too scared to risk it. We don't have a say in this anyway, and I don't know with certainty that he's planning to activate them. By duty, the clones are required to carry out this order in any case.

But... there's one last question I need to ask, even if I already know what the law says. "What of the younglings?"

"They are Jedi," he replies simply, "But the youngest who have not been indoctrinated with the Jedi dogma remain alive. We may have... other uses for them."

'Other uses.' What does that mean? That's not what the law says. It's not... I don't like it at all. He's the Chancellor, yes, and he has the authority to do this, but he's also a Sith, and I don't want to know what he means 'other uses.' We can't disobey, though, so all we can do is murmur a quiet, "yes, my master".

"After you have killed all the Jedi at the Temple, go to the Mustafar system. Wipe out Viceroy Gunray and the other Separatist leaders. Once more the Sith will rule the galaxy, and we shall have... peace."

Peace.

That's all I want, all I've yearned for since the moment the war broke out, and maybe it's finally in reach. Maybe. (And maybe our family will live and be together.)

It means sacrificing the entire Order. But they chose this, not me. They chose to commit treason. That doesn't mean I loathe myself any less for it.

**w**

Ahsoka Tano

Being in closed quarters with Maul and Savage and several enemy Mandalorians is far from comfortable.

The Mandalorians are waiting in the back of the ship, but the rest of us are in the cockpit.

This is, by far, the most extreme decision I've made since leaving the Order, and this time, I really don't know if it was the right choice. I don't know what else we could have done, but was teaming up with Sith the best option? And what if Maul betrays us? What then? I can't even talk to Alema privately right now, either.

It doesn't help that something is wrong; I can feel it, and at first, I thought it might be my own paranoia, but no. The feeling is growing stronger and stronger. Something is happening to the twins. I know it. I throw a desperate glance at Alema. It's –

"I sense it too," she breathes.

"What..." I trail off. I already know, if Maul is really right. Something is very, very wrong. And Force, are we already too late? No, we can't be. We're doing this for them. We can't already be too late.

Maul stands abruptly, turning to face us. Something about the look on his face... "We are too late," he says, stiffly.

My stomach drops to my boots, maybe lower, an overwhelming sense of dread sweeping me. "No. They wouldn't have – they wouldn't." I know it sounds more like a prayer than a reassurance.

"You sensed it," Maul replies shortly.

"Then what can we do?" Alema demands.

"We will continue as planned," Maul replies, "We will ensure the twins are not with Sidious, and then we will make our move. Once he is gone, he will have no control of them."

I can only hope that he's right. But – our masters Fell. They... they Fell. I can't believe they would do that. Why would they ever do that?! I want to believe otherwise, but...

When I reach towards our bonds with them, they're strangely closed off now. Intentionally. I can't pick up on anything.

That's when I feel something else. Something is shifting across the galaxy, voices crying out, people dying. Destruction, death everywhere. I hardly register stumbling forwards, catching myself on the back of one of the seats.

"What's that?" I don't even want to know, but the Force is screaming,and it's not stopping. It's screaming as all the light in it is ripped out.

Maul's head inclines slightly as though sensing, before he actually looks amused.

"What?" Alema snarls, "How is any of this funny?"

"I can see it all now. Sidious' grand plan," the Sith muses, "Not even I was made aware before. To turn the Jedi's own army against them."

"What do you mean?" I demand warily, but then I already know the answer. The chips in the clones. Did he activate them? Oh Force, no.

Time seems meaningless for the rest of the ride. All I can feel is death in the air, and my own sickening horror. We come out of hyperspace above Coruscant, flying down for the surface in a lane where we won't have to register, but even from here, I can see the Jedi Temple on the skyline.

And it's on fire.

"No," Alema chokes, eyes wide.

Maul looks so unbothered I'd punch him if I could even move. "We have to do something," I exclaim.

"And we are," Maul replies, "We are heading to the location of Sidious' hideout. If he senses us here, he will come immediately."

We have to stop this. We have to – We must. All I can do is stare at the burning Temple, wondering where in the name of the Force the twins are now, and – we have to kill Sidious now. It's the only way.

**w**

Qui-Gon Jinn

The Force has been humming with a sense of wrongness, of darkness, for days now. I wanted to talk to the twins, but seeing how unstable they already were... I just didn't know how to bring up the Dark Side right now. But suddenly, I wish I had tried anyway, because somehow, I know in this moment as I'm walking through the Temple halls that it's too late.

There's a sudden surge of darkness, violently raging emotions from both the twins, before they just as sharply close off their bond, and when I reach for it, there's too much shielding to feel anything.

Force, no. They just – did they just join Sidious?

Why didn't I do something earlier?! It's what Dooku was warning me about. And now it's too late.

I can still talk to them, though. If I can find them. There's no way their loyalty will be to Sidious over their family. Whoever Sidious even is.

But I need to do something and fast, and – they don't answer their comms when I call.

Why would they have Fallen? Not because of their visions, right? That wouldn't... make them Fall, because how would that help? The reasons won't help me figure out what to do, though. First, I need to find them.

I haven't even made it to the Temple hangar yet – still not fully sure where I'm going – when I suddenly sense the shift in the Force. A massive surge of darkness, of death, all at once. And – what's happening?

It's – the Sith's plan to destroy the Jedi, isn't it? I knew I'd never be able to stop that, but now the very Order I was raised in may be collapsing... Suddenly, I wish I'd done more, even if there really wasn't anything I could have done. But –

Within minutes – or maybe it was longer; with all the chaos in the Force, I hardly feel aware of the passage of time – I catch sight of clone forces flying down for the Temple. They're here to attack, aren't they. It's not even a question anymore, especially not as they start bombarding the hangar from space, to make sure no one can escape.

I need to find Dooku. I must talk to him. Maybe he'll know what to do because I don't. And he needs to tell me who Sidious is.

Illegal or no, there's no time to worry about it right now. I make a beeline for the lower levels of the Temple, watching as everyone else scrambles around in a panic, trying to figure out what to do. I can see outside a few of the windows I pass that the clones are surrounding the Temple. They're here to kill everyone. Everyone that's defined my entire life. I don't believe in the Jedi anymore, but that doesn't mean it's easy.

The sound of clashing lightsabers catches my attention as I reach right near the level, to see a bunch of the Temple guards fighting... each other? What?

The Dark Side is radiating off one of them, and – He's a traitor, probably an infiltrator from Sidious.

I could stop and help them, or I could use their distraction to my advantage. With the clones already assaulting the Temple, it's only a matter of time before... before... No, I need to get Dooku out, and take it from there.

I sprint past them, into the prison level of the Temple. The guards are too distracted to pay attention as I break in, entering the hall where Dooku's confined.

I don't miss the faintest hint of relief on his face when I deactivate it.

"Qui-Gon, I should have expected you would find a way down here," he remarks.

"We're too late," I reply in a rush, "The clones are attacking the Temple. And I believe the twins Fell."

"I thought you were dealing with that?" Dooku asks as we step into the hall and take off for other end.

"There was so much happening. I didn't have time to talk to them. But I need to know who Sidious is. Now."

Dooku sighs. "It's Palpatine."

My blood runs cold. What –

It all makes so much sense. I never would have guessed, but somehow, I'm not even surprised. "They trust him! I could have kept them away from him if I'd known!"

"What did I tell you about that?" Dooku reminds, "It would have made him suspicious, and the twins upset. We can only proceed with our contingencies now."

The distant sound of blaster shots reaches our ears as we reach the upper levels, where the guards are still fighting. "Meaning?" I demand.

"We can warn them to evacuate. You will never be able to defend this position," Dooku replies.

That much I know is true. Drawing my lightsaber, I run to join the fight. It doesn't take long to take the traitorous Temple guard down once I'm here. Maybe it's just that the other Jedi were so caught off-guard while on some level, I already knew this was coming.

"We need to begin evacuation immediately," I order, grateful that Dooku is staying in the shadows right now where they won't notice and waste their time questioning my intentions. "We don't have long."

They're all still in shock, but they take off instantly, spreading the word around the Temple and send out alarms.

"We must go," Dooku asserts.

I pause, giving him a severe look. "I'm not leaving without Anakin and Aniya."

"They have already joined Sidious. We cannot get to them right now."

"Do you know where they are?"

"Likely, they are here."

I guessed as much, but I didn't... want to believe it. Maybe the Jedi were destined to fall, but I can't believe the twins were willing to do it. I don't want it on their hands either. "Then I have to stay. I must find them," I retort firmly. Dooku doesn't look very happy, but he knows arguing with me in this state is pointless. Now, time to figure out where to start looking. They'll be wherever the fighting is heaviest, which means that's where I'd have to go.

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