Chapter 18 - Escape

Author's Note: Two chapters left! ;) And an epilogue, of course. Then, we'll be on to the sixth and final book in the series. :D

~ Amina Gila


Padme Amidala

I didn't think the galaxy could fall apart any further, but apparently, I was wrong. The Republic is now an Empire; everyone was cheering about it. None of this makes sense, and – everything I've ever worked for is gone overnight. Right when we were finally starting to fight for the Chancellor to return his power. I thought it was about to get better.

In truth, I really don't know what to think of how Anakin and Aniya are staying loyal to the Chancellor. Or – or what Obi-Wan was saying. I don't want to believe it. I can't. They wouldn't –

Jaufre looks as mind-blown as me, as we sit side-by-side on the couch, right after Obi-Wan leaves. All I can remember on repeat is how Jaufre had said last night that something seemed wrong about the twins. I noticed it too. But that they would do this, join the Sith, that's – it doesn't seem possible. I know what that means to them.

Neither of us speak. I don't know what to say. We can go to Mustafar and talk to them, or we can wait until they get back, or –

"Senator!" Captain Typho appears in the doorway, looking almost breathless.

Jaufre is on his feet instantly. "What is it?"

"Clones were just seen entering the main entrance of the building," he replies, "One of our officers was right nearby, and they say they saw a Jedi entering and leaving the building, and they're here to arrest all Jedi conspirators among the Senators."

No. They saw – did they see Obi-Wan? Or was it Alema and Ahsoka? I know no Jedi would have come to Bail's apartment and that means they're after me.

Jaufre spins to face me. "We need to get you out of here now."

Normally, I would say we should stay to defend it normally through legal means, because running will only be worse, but there's no such thing as law anymore. It's not a chance I'll take, especially not with the baby. (I can't believe the Republic has come to this. Why is all this happening? How? Why is no one doing anything?)

"Then we have to go immediately," I reply, heart hammering.

Jaufre nods, spinning and giving out orders, and everyone flies into motion. Captain Typho, Jaufre, Dorme, Corde, and I race for the speeder, scrambling in with the few things we can carry, and Captain Typho fires up the engine. Clone ships are already circling around, a distance away from the building as we take off. The speeder is somewhat closed in, but I know they're going to realize who's it is quickly enough – too quickly.

I can't even believe this is happening, that I'm running from the Republic – Empire – now. Only yesterday, everything was hardly normal, but it was... at least somewhat recognizable.

The clones notice us almost instantly, yelling an order from their ship for us to stand down immediately.

Jaufre pulls out his blaster, eyes narrowing angrily. I'd be more upset too, if I wasn't feeling so... destroyed. It's becoming worse and worse recently, and for a moment, I remember what Anakin said about his vision, but I banish it just as quickly. (I know I'm not well,though.)

"Stand down, this is your last warning," the clone troopers calls.

We only increase speed, zooming in between the buildings. I don't like this. I don't want to get other people hurt, but we can't just surrender. Especially not for the baby... I can't let him – or her – be put in danger like this.

The first blaster fires, and our speeder jolts down, barely missing it. Jaufre spins around, firing on the speeders chasing after us. I duck down as shots whiz over our heads. Blasters shots streak back and forth, narrowing missing the buildings, as Captain Typho joins Jaufre in shooting back.

A few shots strike one of their engines, and it starts to spiral out of control. I wince, knowing just how likely it is that people are going to die, but –

We curve wildly between lanes, moving quickly between buildings, finally managing to shake off a few of the clone speeders.

But the others are still closing too quickly, and – our speeder suddenly jolts violently, tipping sharply as it starts going down. I grip the handhold on the side, wishing more than anything that the twins could be here to pilot this right now.

Within seconds, we could be nothing but flaming history, along with who knows how many other people. It finally crashes to the ground in the middle of the street, narrowly missing the wall of a building.

We scramble out instantly, taking off as fast as we can through the streets, not stopping until we can find a more secluded corner to quickly change out of current clothes into something a little less noteworthy.

"We must find a way off-planet," I say breathlessly, as we keep walking. We're too obvious and known out here. My mind feels muddled, hardly able to process everything that just happened. Now, I just lost my seat in the Senate, too, and we're all going to be declared traitors. How is this happening so quickly? Why is it happening?!

Jaufre nods sharply. "We'll need a secret transport. Bail may be able to help us."

"I don't want to put him in more danger."

"If he's involved in this, he already is. We don't have much choice."

"Given the circumstances, he's right, Senator," Captain Typho interjects, "I propose we find another speeder, that one of us can take to contact Senator Organa."

It's a risk we have to take, I know, even if I don't like it. It may be our only hope out of this mess, and then, we'll have to go into hiding. Just like that. What has the galaxy come to?

**w**

Alema Syndulla

We stop to see Rafa, Trace, and Poe briefly before we find a way to contact Bail. By the time we get to his ship, Padme and Jaufre are already there. "Why are you here?" I ask, confused.

"Someone saw something," Jaufre replies, grimly. "The clones came to arrest Padme, and we fled."

I blink. What – so quickly? How...? "Sorry," I apologize, as if that's enough to fix this mistake. I didn't mean to, and I wasn't thinking, but we should have known. Of course, the Sith are going to be on the lookout for any other survivors. Sidious knows we escaped. "We didn't mean to put you in danger."

"I don't know if it was you," Padme objects, "Obi-Wan was there, too. And it's alright. You had nowhere else to go."

"Master Obi-Wan?" Ahsoka demands, perking up. He's alive. Force, he's alive. That's – at least someone else is.

She nods, exchanging a tense glance with Jaufre. "He was there, briefly."

"Where is he now?" I ask.

The siblings look at each other again. "I think he went to find Anakin and Aniya," Jaufre answers finally.

"Where are they? Have you heard from then?" Ahsoka inquires.

"Not since they left," Padme responds, "I don't know if it's safe for us to go find them either, now. They may... be with clones."

I shake my head, drawing in a deep breath as I remember what they were saying about that earlier. I don't want to believe it. I don't – whatever it is, I'm sure Obi-Wan can talk to them. Maybe we're wrong. Maybe they really didn't Fall. (I know the Force couldn't lie like that, but I just don't want to accept it right now.) "How will you contact them now?"

"I don't know," Jaufre replies, "Right now, I don't want to risk them. We need to let things settle down a little first." I don't like the idea of not being able to see them right now, even if a part of me is still scared to.

"What will you do now?" Ahsoka queries.

"We'll find somewhere to lay low," Padme responds, sighing. She looks so worn out. I never remember seeing her like this before.

"Are there are any other survivors?" I ask.

"Other than Master Yoda and Kenobi, there are two," Bail replies, approaching, "Two other padawans."

"Who?" I ask, daring to hope that maybe... maybe they'll be someone I know. We can't seriously be the only Jedi left, though. Can we? I can't imagine it, and... I have no idea what we're going to do now, but I want to keep fighting Sidious, even if we just failed our direct attack. We can try something different. Suddenly, I remember what Anakin and Aniya were teaching us on Onderon, and I have to wonder. But... if we started rebelling, we wouldn't be fighting droids. It's something I'll have to think about more later.

One of the doors slides open, an unfamiliar younger boy, and a very familiar Twi'lek stepping in. "Jinx?" I choke out, eyes going wide.

"Alema," he breathes, in equal shock.

He's – he's here, alive. I hadn't even thought of him much, as ashamed as I am to admit it. It's not that I wasn't scared for his fate, it's just... it was easier not to.

I walk towards him slowly, stopping only a couple feet away. There's so much I want to say to him, but right now... "I missed you," I blurt finally.

"Me too," he murmurs, "I thought you would be safe, but I didn't know. I'm glad that you're here."

"I'm glad you're here," I reply, opting out of giving him any details of the rest. "We just got back from Mandalore, and... we can talk about it... sometime."

Jinx nods, still looking mostly dazed.

"What... happened to Master Plo?" Ahsoka asks, hesitantly. Right.

And the instantly ashen look on Jinx's face makes my blood run cold. He looks away, expression momentarily pained, but his voice is surprisingly level when he answers. "He was flying. The clones shot him down."

He's gone then, just like everyone else. I can feel Ahsoka's flare of pain, and I reach over, taking her hand, offering the only comfort I even can.

"You must determine what you will do now," Bail interjects, breaking the heavy silence over us, "You can stay here for now, but you will want somewhere to... hide, long-term."

**w**

Ahsoka Tano

Master Plo is dead. And – all I can remember is when is when I saw him before walking out of the Council room that day so long ago. I never saw him again, and now, I never will. The last thing I'll ever remember of him is his apology. That's not fair after everything I thought we shared.

"We can go back to Ryloth," Alema speaks for me. "Jinx could come too."

"I don't know if you've ever paid attention to those holofilms I showed you, but I don't think it's a good idea to tell each other where we're going," Jaufre cuts in. How I've missed him.

"It's not," Padme agrees, "But... I don't know if Ahsoka should go to Ryloth. She will stand out there."

Good point. I don't even know most places. I know how to live on my own now, but the harder part is finding somewhere realistic. "Onderon," I suggest, after a long pause. It's one place I know some probably trustworthy people, and where I know the place a little. "There are many species there. But I don't know if we should... all stay together." I know what I'm saying, and I don't want to think about it, but –

"It may be alright there," Jaufre agrees.

I exchange a silent glance with Alema. I know how much she wants to go home to her family, and I don't want to keep her away from them, if there's a choice. I motion for her, and we step aside, so we can talk about it privately.

For a moment, neither of us speak. "I want us to stay together," Alema blurts finally.

"Me too," I reply, looking down, "But I think Padme's right. I shouldn't go back to Ryloth."

"I don't know what will happen there, or anywhere, with the Empire," Alema confesses, "I might get them in trouble if I go back, but – what if they need my help?"

"Then go," I sigh, even if I really don't want to say that, "If I were there, I think it would be too obvious."

"But we'll... be separated," Alema protests.

"I know," I murmur, "I don't want this either." But something is telling me that Aleman needs to be on Ryloth for whatever reason, and I don't think me staying there is a good idea.

The silence drags on for far too long. "If this is the only way," she says, finally.

"For now," I agree, looking up to meet her eyes. And that means... is this a goodbye?

"You're crazy if you think this'll keep us apart for that long," Alema insists, abruptly stepping forwards and wrapping her arms tightly around me. I return the embrace just as fiercely, shifting so our lekku aren't being squished too hard as we cling to each other.

"Yeah, let's hope so," I mutter. "I can't imagine spending an extended time out of contact, because this is... risky, and I don't know how safe communications will be." We've fought in a war together, but somehow, this is the hardest thing I've ever done.

"It won't be," Alema agrees, looking away, "But I can't imagine things will stay like for... long."

I know it's only wishful thinking, but I don't mention it. I can sense that it's going to be some time, but I don't think it'll be that long. It's just a temporary thing, after which I am certain everything will get... better. "Just stay out of danger."

"Excuse me," Alema huffs, "But you're usually the one who gets us into danger."

"That is not true," I shoot back stubbornly. At least the argument momentarily distracts me from what's about to happen, "Your track record is at least as bad."

"I must agree with Alema here," Jinx interjects, smirking.

"Hey, have you been listening all this time?" Alema yelps.

"Your argument was getting loud," he insists. I can only be grateful that this, at least, still feels somewhat normal.

I roll my eyes. "Whatever. But you only knew us for a year. That's not a good way to compare."

"You mentioned I could go to Ryloth with you," Jinx begins, instantly drawing us back to that: the topic I was hoping we could avoid for a few moments longer.

Alema nods. "Yeah, if you want."

"I don't have anywhere else to go," he points out bluntly. And nor does he even know how to survive, unlike us. He needs someone's help, and three of us should definitely not be in the same place. I know I still need help with surviving day-to-day life, even if the time we helped on Ryloth had made it easier.

"We should make preparations to go," I say finally, in spite myself. I don't want to, but I know we need to hurry. The longer we stay together, we're endangering everyone here.

"Yes," Alema agrees, eyes downcast, "May the Force be with you."

"And you," I echo. This is... so much worse than when I left the Order. Now, I'm leaving everyone, and everything is destroyed, and I don't know when I'll see any of them again.

**w**

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Truthfully, the route out is hardly more nerve-wracking than most of what I've handled on the battlefield. My anger is still boiling, though. I expected it, but it still hurts that they were willing to do something like that. I don't know why – it's not as though I hadn't come there to kill them too.

I pulled my lightsaber on them, but they're still the ones who attacked. I don't know what else I was expecting, but it still angers me. And it hurts.

I don't understand how things could have come to this. How they could have done any of that. The fight might have taken the fiercest edge off my anger, but I don't feel any better than I did before.

There's no use staying here anymore, though. It's a fight I can't win. (And way inside, I don't know that I actually could even if I had the chance. It's my duty, but – Perhaps that's always been the problem. I let my attachment blind me too much, and this is what it led to.) I just need to get off-planet without either of them spotting me. Hopefully, Qui-Gon and Yoda did better than this against Sidious.

Somehow, I don't think they did, though I don't know why. I can feel it. And I should have sensed the shift in the Force if one of the Sith died, assuming the Force hasn't been so darkened that the loss of even one would affect it little, and considering the number of Sith there are now...

We have to find a way to stop the others, I know that much.

And I'd probably be thinking about it clearer, already working on a way to find them, except every time I try, it all runs back to the same thing – that we could do it, if Anakin was here. But they're not – neither of them are. They're gone.

Like I so often feared would happen on the battlefield, but now it happened. And this time, it's permanent. Except it's even worse than death, because they didn't just die. Now I don't know how I'll be able to even think of them, without remembering how this all went down.

I take as round-about a route as I can back to the landing platform. The twins aren't there yet, but I can sense their storming emotions. I pointedly keep myself as I shielded from it as I can, though, as I scramble for Krell's fighter and take off.

I have never truly lost anyone before, and it hurts far more than it ought to. I don't want to go. I should have finished the mission, but I... couldn't. And now the Sith won, because I couldn't finish it.

But all I can think of is how I lost them. It's far harder than I ever could have imagined. The pain is sharp and cutting, worse than anything I've ever felt before, because they're gone, and I don't know if I'll ever see them again. And even if I did, it wouldn't matter because they're Sith now. They're not the children I helped raise.

(I try to force away the memory of Anakin's apology, and of how close to tears he looked, moments before I fell.)

I don't know what to do from here, what to even turn my focus to now. The Order is gone. And if we failed, we'll have to stay in hiding, and do... what? Everything I ever knew is gone, and I try to force away the memories of what I saw in the holos at the Temple.

Anakin (my brother, my child) is gone, and so is Aniya, and... I just want them back. I don't see how things could have come to this, but it's too late to do anything to change it.

**w**

Anakin Skywalker

All I can do is stare at the river of lava burning furiously beneath us, distantly wondering if being burned by it would hurt less than this. Obi-Wan is... We fought him. I hurt him. And now he's...

I know he's alive, but I don't even know how. I don't know how long that'll last either, but I can't see him anywhere from here, so there's nothing I can do. I never wanted this, any of this. I knew things would go downhill with Obi-Wan the moment we had to make that choice in the Chancellor's office, but else could we have done?! The Jedi were committing treason. And we had to stop our visions. We...

But somehow, it all feels like excuses in the face of what just happened. I didn't know anything could hurt this much. It's worse knowing that even if we see each other again, it's going to be as enemies. He meant far more to me than I could ever say. I can't even put words to it.

Even more than Qui-Gon, because at the end of the day, it was Obi-Wan who raised me; he raised Aniya too, because Qui-Gon was often busy, and we needed so much training.

And now – it feels like a piece of me was ripped out, a piece that I know we'll never get back. He won't... accept us back.

I don't know that it's even fair to want him to, after what he did. He chose to stand with traitors, but it's still... it hurts.

It's hardly even a conscious decision on my part, but the Force is humming with warning, so Aniya and I finally drag ourselves away from the collapsed structure. I still see Obi-Wan nowhere, and it almost feels like he is lost, even if I know he's still alive because I can feel it. It feels like a hole ripped right through me, and all I want to do is cry.

We drag ourselves across the mounds of blackened sand as we head for the landing platform. Most of the walk registers as nothing but a blur of lava, in the midst of a pain and self-loathing just as fierce. But by the time we finally get back there, I instantly notice that Obi-Wan's ship is gone.

He... left.

I don't know why that hurts so much. Perhaps because he could have stayed, have said more to us, but he didn't. I don't know if I can really blame him, though, after what just happened. I wish none of this had happened, that things could have been what we were foolishly hoping, but wishing for it isn't going to undo time.

It's then I suddenly sense his presence fade out entirely – I didn't realize I was still sensing it, desperately reaching for it. He was obviously shielding heavily.

Aniya looks as out of it as I feel, as I sink onto the wing of my fighter. She settles next to me, our hands intertwining. "I'm sorry," she mutters, staring vacantly at the ground.

"For what?" I barely recognize the broken sound of my own voice.

"I thought – I was so afraid he'd hurt you. I think he would have. But..."

She wishes there was more she could have done, just like I do, but I don't know what.

I don't know how long we've been sitting there when I suddenly sense Sidious. He's here. He's coming. Looking up, I can just make out the ship flying down through the atmosphere. Sidious is coming, and I am not ready to deal with him. I don't even know why he's here. He shouldn't be. He doesn't have a reason to come.

Beside us, the droids are hovering uselessly, as if their mere presences were enough to help. I can appreciate the sentiment, but it doesn't change what happened.

"I don't want to do this," Aniya says softly, "I don't want to have to serve him. That was supposed to be over."

We both know it never truly was though. "I know. But we have little choice, do we? Not until we ensure Padme's safety. After that, we can end this." I can only hope it's the truth. I do believe the Force will help us. The Force is the one thing that has never once failed us, and I trust it. It will never lead us somewhere we weren't meant to go, simply because that's impossible. I know it will protect us. It always has.

It still feels like I failed it and everything, though. And I hate myself for that, too.

We stand when the ship lands, the Sith striding down the ramp towards us. Unease immediately prickles down my spine. He scares me, if I'm being honest, and I doubt that will ever change. I know what he's capable of.

"Lord Vader, Lady Viola," Sidious greets, "I see you have completed your mission."

"Yes, Master," I answer cautiously, uncertainly. He already knows that. Something else is wrong.

"And yet, I sense another presence was here."

No. Nononono. I do not want to have to explain this. I never thought about the implications of it until now, but Obi-Wan left us here, and he's going to end up getting many more people killed in his pursuit for vengeance, because truthfully, there is no other term for it. "He... escaped."

"And you failed to stop him," Sidious states neutrally – There's an undertone there I can't quite read, and it sends shivers through me. And I hate this, because – I don't want to keep living like this, or especially for Aniya, too. He's trying to control her, and it makes me furious to see someone doing this to my sister.

"He caught us... off-guard," Aniya replies, ducking her head, with a visible effort to attempt looking submissive, even if I can feel her boiling rage. "It will not happen again, Master."

"And yet, it has happened already," he says, moving to stand in front of us.

My anger is burning now. I want to get us out of this. I should never have gotten us into it in the first place.

"It appears... he has convinced Senators Amidala to betray you. She has disappeared without a trace."

My blood runs cold. "We told her not to leave!" Why would she not have listened? And she – she wouldn't. Unless Obi-Wan did somehow convince her that... something. That we were lost or... I don't know, but somehow, that cuts me to the core. I never would have thought she would believe it, or that Jaufre would let her when her life is on the line, or that Obi-Wan would be willing to do something like that. He knows she could die, so why...?

"She has betrayed you, as the rest of your family did," Sidious replies.

And just like he did. But if Padme's not there, I don't know if we'll be able to find her in time. Sidious won't be able to help us save her. Force, did we do all this for nothing?! No, it can't have been, but somehow, I can't shake the feeling that we won't see her or Jaufre again for a long time. I thought – I don't know, but again, my pain and fear are burning to rage. "You promised we could save her," I find myself saying, darkly, instinctively reaching for my lightsaber. My every instinct is screaming at me to hurt him, to end him, to finish it.

I should have let Windu do it.

Sidious himself obviously senses my intentions, because he pulls his lightsaber to his hand – was it seriously up his sleeve? "So be it."

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