Chapter 2
For thousands of years the Jedi have been guardians of the galaxy, protecting those who cannot protect themselves.
Peacekeeping on such a grand scale requires a central base of operations and for those in the Order, there could only be one such place.
The Jedi Temple on Coruscant has a geometric design, consisting of a rhombus with five great pillars on top, the beauty comes from it's simplicity and for those who have trained in the ways of the force, it shines brightly with so many Jedi in close proximity.
As Anakin comes upon the sight of his home for the past decade, he cannot bring himself to give more than glance knowing that this place of peace and tranquility that has housed himself and his brothers and sisters, is now in flames with columns of black smoke rising above the clouds the likes of which he has only seen on battlefields during the war; once created by separatists now by the very men with whom he once led; loyal soldiers who he would die for at one time now destroy his home and there is nothing he can do about it.
As he sees the guards at the entrance, Anakin, knows he must find another way into the temple, unfortunately for him this means using tunnels that were not made for those above the size of a child.
"Ow!" (I can't believe all the exploring to find ways of sneaking out of the temple I did as a youngling would pay off now, but man I remember these tunnels being so much bigger.)
"Finally the end of this force forsaken tunnel, now it's time to save the youn..."
Jaw clenching fists tightening and eyes narrowing in both rage and sorrow. The sight which greets our Jedi hero is more deafening than the temple in flames could ever be. Bodies littering the floor like rag dolls that have been haphazardly thrown down, some cut to pieces from a lightsaber, no doubt at Barriss hand. To murder those who you once called friends is something that Anakin believes to be unthinkable, even for a Sith. Kneeling down to close the eyes of a young padawan; in all but a whisper a question is posed he will remember forever.
"Would this have been my fate had I turned to the Dark Side? Would I have done this just as Barriss has?"
A sudden sound gains Anakins attention, raising his saber in it's direction.
"Who's there?"
"General?"
"Rex! How could you be apart of this? You are a good person."
"General I'm sorry but orders are orders, clones like me have no opportunities outside of the army. We were born and raised as soldiers, I and all my brothers know nothing but battle and even if we weren't, order 66 was ingrained into us, it is and will always be the one order we cannot physically ignore."
"Yes you can Rex! I have never met a man with a more righteous code than you, clone or no clone you are a person and every living soul can make his or her own choices. Please Rex look at the horror that has been caused, the chancellor is nothing but a scheming Sith who destroys anyone in his way."
"I'm sorry sir!" Raising his rifle to fire Captain Rex is stalled by one last plea from Anakin.
"Think about Ahsoka, Rex, Snips has already lost one close friend in Barriss, don't make me tell her that you have turned on us as well!"
Hesitating in thought Rex finally comes to a decision.
"Your right general, I will have to live with what I have done here so far, but the choice to continue on this path or follow my heart is an easy one. Now whats our mission sir?"
Smiling at his friends decision, Anakin, replies.
"We need to get to the younglings in the council chambers and save them from this destruction.'
"Sir, Darth Barriss, was heading to the chambers when I last received orders from her!"
"Then we need to hurry, lets go! And Rex."
"Yes?"
"I'm not a general anymore and you aren't a soldier so don't call me general or sir!"
"Yes sir ahhh I mean Anakin."
Running through the halls of the Temple Anakin and Rex find little trouble dealing with teams of clone troopers in front of their goal, however the Council chambers are at the base of the High Council Tower, located on the southwest of the Jedi Temple which is at the opposite end of where Anakin made his entrance. Suddenly Anakin feels a disturbance in the force stopping him in his tracks.
"Whats wrong sir?"
Shaking his head, Anakin, replies.
"I don't know Rex, something doesn't feel right."
"Whatever it is, we need to keep moving, those children need us sir."
"You're right lets keep moving and Rex you did it again."
"Sorry sir I mean Anakin!"
"Don't worry Rex it will take time to get used to."
Jedi Temple
Outside of Council Chambers
Finally making it to their destination, Anakin, puases before entering.
"Anakin are you alright?"
"I can't feel anything on the inside of the room Rex."
"Are you sure? It might just be the nerves because of everything else that you have seen today."
"No I'm sure I feel nothing, and that can only mean one thing."
Opening the door and falling to his knees, what Anakin sees will haunt him more than anything he has ever witnessed in his entire life, even his time as a slave. In a whisper he utters one sentence that sums up his feeling throughout this whole ordeal, ever since failing to save Mace in the Chancellors office.
"We were to late, I was to late!"
Along the circular room, where once the greatest masters of the Jedi order gathered to discuss matters pertaining to the force, bodies of younglings lay strewn over chairs and on the floor some piled above each other like rag dolls, no blood was to be seen however, because as generations of lightsaber use has shown, wounds are cauterized for clean kills.
Feeling a hand squeezing his shoulder who he could only assume belongs to Rex. For the first time in his life Anakin did not feel anger over a horrid act, only sorrow deep gut wrenching sorrow the likes of which he has only felt once before, when his mother died in his arms, however he has learned from his mistakes and will not give in so easy to hatred.
"It will be alright sir."
As he was standing, Anakin, felt something in the force, he also hears something coming from the vents. "Sniff Sniff Sniff" Walking over and kneeling down to investigate, Ankakin, can only hope he was not delusional and that the crying was real, no matter how mean that sounds.
"Who's there? Don't worry you can come out now no one will hurt you. I'm Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker."
Crawling out of the vent from where she was hiding the child looks up at Anakin with a frightened face he can only assume comes from watching Barriss Offee murder her fellow Jedi younglings. Continuing to sniffle from crying the child now fully in the light can be seen to have; long flame-red hair reaching her mid back near the shoulder blades, emerald green eyes, and a cute freckled face unfortunately riddled with tears. Picking her up and putting a gentle smile on his face, Anakin asks the only question he can, for fear of upsetting her more than she already is.
"What is your name little one."
"Mara Jade."
"What a beautiful name."
With a small smile on her face; for the first time in hours Mara giggles. "Thank you."
"Well little one how old are you?"
"I'm four master Skywalker."
"Four huh? Well Mara I don't know if you understand what is going on, but we need to leave the temple now."
"Ok Master, but what's going to happen to them?"
Pointing to the younglings strewn about the room, Mara's innocence shows through even knowing in her heart that her little friends and companions are dead.
"Please call me, Anakin. I'm sorry little one but your clan mates are one with the force now." Sad eyes are all that he sees when looking into her face, bringing a lone tear to his own eyes from this truth."
"I know mast...Ani; Master Yoda always told us not to be sad for those who die, but it is hard." 'Sniff Sniff'
Hugging her tight to him, Anakin, tries his best to comfort her in this time of need.
"Ani huh? I guess you can call me that. lets go little one, get on Rex's back."
"I don't know if that will work sir, my armor might be to slippery."
"Then take the chest piece off Rex, don't worry if we come across any troops I'll do the fighting, just keep Mara safe."
Taking off his helmet and his chest piece Rex gets down on one knee to allow Mara to climb on which she does.
"Alright so which way do we go sir?"
"Let me think for a second; there's no way we can take the same tunnel out that I came in from, it was hard enough by myself and I'm pretty sure the entrance collapsed behind me."
Closing his eyes in thought Anakin feels the force guiding him to a specific place.
"Anakin, what is it?"
"This way, lets go Rex."
"Are you sure?"
"The Force is guiding me Rex, and it tells me we need to go this way."
Jedi Temple Coruscant
Landing platform
Bail Prestor Organa is many things; Prince Consort, head of the royal House and ruler of Alderaan, Senator in the Galactic Republic, and a founding member of the Delegation of 2000. However one thing he will never be, is a traitor to those he trusts with his life and so seeing the Jedi Temple in flames ,he has rushed in his speeder to find out whats wrong.
Coming upon the landing pad, Bail, is confused as to why there is a team of about twenty five clone troopers standing there weapons ready for combat. Getting out of his speeder to ask what is going on he is rudely told off.
"What is going on trooper?"
"I'm sorry sir, but the temple is off limits at the moment, return to your speeder and go about your day."
Walking away Bail is interrupted by the sound of a troopers voice. "He's heading for the speeder don't let him get away!" Blast Blast Blast. Turning around Bail is surprised by what he sees; a Jedi Padawan is battling the clones trying to make his way over.
Seconds Earlier
Padawan Zett Jukassa POV
(I can't die here I won't die here, Master Drallig was my second teacher and he has been killed by that traitor, Barriss. I won't let his sacrifice for me be in vain, if I can just reach the landing platform I should be able to... Who is that and what is he doing here at a time like this? Oh no the clones are going to hurt him if I don't do something.)
Normal POV
Seeing someone in need of protection our Padawan does the only thing he can think of, he jumps into the middle of the clones cutting a few down with swift precise slashes that no doubt come from training under the Orders Battle master.
Despite his age of ten he was a very good lightsaber duelist, helping him in his endeavor no doubt is the fact that he has the rare ability known as Farsight.
Jumping in front of Senator Organa, Zett uses his blade to redirect blaster bolts fired from many clones, however he is still young and even the most skilled Jedi can be caught off guard with so many enemies at once.
Jukassa is hit in his saber arm and his left leg sending him to the ground. As he lays there eyes closed expecting pain from being shot in the back, his only comfort is in the knowledge that he protected someone and that he would soon be one with force.
Blast Blast Blast.
Feeling no pain Zett looks up and is in awe about what he sees, not to mention relief that he is safe. Anakin Skywalker is just getting done killing the last of the clones on the platform with such ease it is amazing to watch.
"Well that was close, I almost didn't make it in time. Are you okay Padawan?"
Hissing from the pain in his arm and leg he answers with a grin that Anakin can tell is slightly forced.
"Yes I'm fine Master Skywalker."
"Well I can tell you are in pain, lets get you on to the speeder. Senator Organa I would ask what you are doing here but your timing is impeccable, could you help Padawan Jukassa to your speeder? and get him some bacta patches for those wounds, I need to get Rex and Mara."
"Alright, but Anakin, you must tell me what has happened here."
Rushing over to the doors Anakin within moments brings his companions back to Bail and their only chance to get away from the temple.
"Get in the back with Mara, Rex. Senator we need to go get Padme and Ashoka before doing anything else."
Rushing away at impressive speeds but not so fast that Mara would be scared and so Zett does not get injured even more than he already is, Bail and Anakin start a conversation.
"Padme? What is she doing with your Padawan? And where are they?"
"I sent them both to Dex's Dinner they will be safe there."
"Anakin what is going on? Why were the clones attacking the temple?"
Sighing and running his human hand through his hair, Anakin answers Bail question with a heavy heart.
"Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith Lord we have been searching for, he killed the Masters that went to ask him to relinquish his emergency power including Master Windu. He ordered the clones to kill the Jedi, you would have to ask Rex about the details of how that worked but it matters not for now."
"But how could the Jedi not have noticed the Chancellor being force sensitive, they were around him enough."
Although he is not as perceptive as some, Anakin, was able to pick up on the subtle jab at his own person.
"Master Yoda has always said the Dark Side clouds our judgement, I guess he was correct. Even I could not sense the Chancellors treachery until it was too late, despite being so close to him."
Hearing the sorrow in Anakins voice Bail feels like a complete fool trying to place blame on him in a subtle fashion, knowing that Anakin has just lost what amounts to his family and on such a large scale too.
"I'm sorry Anakin that was rude of me, if even Mater Yoda could not sense something like that how could anyone expect you to do so, especially with how close you were with Palpatine from a young age."
"It's fine Bail lets just get to Dex's"
Ten minuets was what it took to get from the Temple to Dex's Diner and as they park in the back Anakin gets out feeling exhausted and worried about what he feels, or rather what he doesn't feel. Rushing into the diner he sees Dex behind the counter.
"Oh Ani your here good, those younlings have quite the appetite, any longer and they would have eaten me out of my business, especially that young wookie there, never seen one so small that's for sure."
"That's good; Dex, where is Snips?"
"Oh shes in the back last time I checked on them."
"Is Padme with her."
"The Senator friend of yours?"
"Yes is she here?"
"Well I don't know I haven't seen her since you and Obi Wan came to celebrate your knighthood years ago."
Before Dex was even finished speaking Anakin was rushing to the back room unsure of what he would find.
"Ashoka! Ashoka! Where the force are you?" hearing the sound of shuffeling feet Anakin puts a smile on his face only to from immediately after upon seeing it was only the young Initiates.
"Master Skywalker?"
"Yes that's me young one, where is Ashoka?"
"Beeep Booo Ree Bop Booo!"
"R2! Where is Padme and Ashoka buddy?"
"Roooo Booo Bop Booo."
"Stop messing with me R2!"
"Beeeeep Booo Boop Beee Reeet!"
"Kidnapped! R2 what happened? Who took Padme and where the force is Snips?"
"Beeep Boo Breee Bop!"
"A message? Play it buddy."
As R2 gets ready to play the message Bail shows up behind Anakin only to look in horror at what he hears from the holographic form of Barriss Offree.
"Skywalker I have your precious wife in my possession, if you ever what to see her again come to these coordinates, you have ten hours before I kill her. And don't bring anyone else you Jedi scum or she will die as soon as you arrive."
"No!"