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Star Wars AU The Triumph of Darth Plagueis: Episode Nineteen– Revenge of the Sith Part 4 The Great Jedi Purge
By
Celgress
"These are my people, the Dharma Initiative. They came here seeking harmony. But they couldn't even co-exist with the island's inhabitants. When it became clear that one side had to go, one side had to be purged, I did what I had to do."
Benjamin Linus – Lost, The Man Behind the Curtain (2007)
"Execute Order 66" rang out the voice of Darth Plagueis in the communicators of millions of clone troops. Throughout the galaxy thousands of Jedi were cut down by their once loyal companions. In most cases the Jedi were caught off guard between droids and clones. Within a matter of minutes the Jedi Order, the guardians of galactic peace for more than a millennium, were all but extinguished.
On Mandalore the clone troops under Commander Cody encircled Yoda. Their plan being to catch the Grandmaster off guard, they failed. Using a powerful force wave Yoda threw the clone troops, including Cody, back nearly a thousand feet shattering their bones and killing them instantly.
Surveying his situation Yoda realized there was only one group on Mandalore which could now help him. Yoda only hoped he caught their leadership in a cooperative mood. The fate of the Jedi Order and the entire Galaxy depended upon it.
Crousant
Jedi masters Obi-wan Kenobi, Siri Tachi, and Padawan Katooni along with a small group of clones were fighting off an entire squadron of super battle droids near an upper level landing platform. Unexpectedly a tantalizingly familiar voice called out to Obi-wan through the Force. "You are in danger. Flee my child. Take those you love. Flee while you still can."
In spite of not immediately recognizing the phantom voice Obi-wan felt the need to do as it requested. Turning towards Siri and Katooni Obi-wan pleaded. "We must leave this place now."
"What, but why we are winning" Siri replied confused. Katooni looked equally confused by her Master's order.
Noting they were near the edge of the landing platform Obi-wan said. "Do you trust me Siri?"
"With our lives" Siri answered without hesitation their eyes locking. Katooni merely nodded.
"Good, both of you follow my lead" Obi-wan said intertwining his right arm with Siri's left his left arm with Katooni's right. Obi-wan then took several steps backwards pulling Katooni & Siri with him into the abyss. The three Jedi were not a moment too soon the instant the three fell off the platform the clone troops turned their fire in the direction of the Jedi.
A few hours later an abandoned warehouse in the Works hosted the first official post Clone Wars meeting of the New Sith Order. The hooded Grandmaster Darth Plagueis sat upon an ornate throne in one end of the cavernous room the intimidating General Grievous by his left side. In front of the pair stood Lord Tyranus & Lady Avengia to their right while Lord Vader and Lady Cyrin occupied the position to their left all await the next set of commands.
"You have all done well my cohorts" Plagueis said. "Still only four full-fledged Sith can exist at any one time."
"What" exclaimed Avengia in shock. "Why did you not mention this 'rule' until now?"
"Watch your tongue Avengia or I'll cut it from your head" Plagueis said darkly. "It was a, surprise. While the war ranged it was necessary our numbers remain him. Now that peace has been restored as it has always been amongst us Sith only the strongest will survive. Tyranus you will face Vader. Avengia you will face Cyrin. Vader, Cyrin make me proud." Plagueis said leaving no doubt who he was pulling for in the unfolding contest.
Cyrin and Vader tossed aside their hooded robes and activated their lightsabers with snap-hisses. Tyranus and Avengia activated their own lightsabers. Vader circled Tyranus while Cyrin stalked Avengia. Grievous and Plagueis looked on with glee. The duels were face paced and intense. At first Cyrin could not penetrate Avengia's defense. The two duel blade duelists appeared evenly matched. Until Avengia began taunting the younger Sith.
"You'll never defeat me Skywalker's pet. I'm a seasoned Sith Lady, you're just a wane be former Jedi Padawan. You're training is incomplete" Avengia laughed. "You don't stand a chance, sweetie."
"I embraced the Dark Side out of lust for acceptance you embraced it out of a desire for vengeance. Your path has ended the Jedi are no more. My path has only begun" Cyrin said with deadly clam. "It is your understanding of the Dark Side which is incomplete, weak, tenuous."
Avengia roared the Night Sister threw herself against the Togruta usurper. The two Sith Ladies clashed in a swirling maelstrom of neon-green and bright crimson, a maelstrom which continued unabated for nearly five minutes. However when it was over Cyrin, though sweating profusely and panting heavily, emerged victorious. During the last few seconds Avengia had tired, becoming sloppy she had dropped her guard which proved a fatal mistake against her relentless opponent. Cyrin's left blade had smoothly punctured Avengia's mid-section. Droping her lightsabers and doubling over in excruciating pain Avengia looked up only to see Cyrin's right blade swinging towards her. The emerald lightsaber effortlessly separated Avengia's head from her shoulders. Ending the life of the poor tormented one time Dark Jedi, Plagueis and Grievous both clapped their approval as Cyrin performed a quick curtsey.
Tyranus had been defending himself well against the powerful, ceaseless onslaught of Vader when he saw his apprentice fall to Skywalker's own. The loss of Avengia in such a fashion seemed to weaken the Count's resolve. Dooku still couldn't believe have flippantly Plagueis had turned on them both. After everything the pair had done for the hidden Sith leader. They had dutifully kept his secret for years in the case of Dooku himself for well over a decade, and this was the thanks they received! Dooku wouldn't stand for it! Once he dispatched the pub Skywalker he'd take Plagueis' place as the rightful Grandmaster of the Sith Order.
"Careful Lord Tyranus your thoughts betray you" Vader taunted. "I can see right through you as easily as if you were glass."
Startled Tyranus reared back slightly. How was it possible? Could the new Sith Lord truly already be this powerful? Could be really breakdown the mental shields Tyranus had painstakingly crafted over decades with so little apparent effort? While Tyranus couldn't scan Vader's own mind no matter how head he tried.
"Answering your question yes, it is true" Vader said with a sinister grin. "I am your superior in nearly every way Lord Tyranus. In face you are only better at one thing."
"Oh, which is?" Tyranus asked vainly trying to conceal his dread at Vader's admission.
"You are better at dying" Vader said. In a flurry of motion the younger Sith bypassed Tyranus' guard and amputated Tryanus' right dueling hand just below the elbow. Losing his balance and falling backwards in disbelief Tyranus' head was served from his shoulders by Vader's boomeranging sapphire blade, before Tyranu's body impacted the floor. Vader then took a bow before his adoring audience. No one clapped louder or longer than Cyrin.
"General see to it that the loser bodies are, properly disposed of" Plagueis ordered. "Then assume personal control of all clone and droid forces throughout the Galaxy. Due to embedded instructions in the programing of both groups they should now recognize us all as their sole ultimate commanders, with you being their primary field commander. Once these tasks have been completed join me in the Senate immediately. We will soon make history together General." Plagueis concluded with a predatory smile.
"Thy will be done my master" Grievous said with a quick bow before scurrying off.
"What of us master?" Vader asked Cyrin by his side. "What is your bidding?"
"Go to the secret Confederate munitions dump on the former pleasure planet of Zeltros exterminate the Separatist Leaders and Council Members which are taking refuge there" Plagueis ordered. "Once you have done this return here immediately. Once more the Sith will rule the Galaxy, and eternal peace will reign. I will inform the Separatist Leadership to expect your, company. Go now my children do what must be done."
Mandalore
In the secret headquarters of the Mandalorian Terrorist group, a few hardliners would term them restoration movement, Death Watch an unlikely supplicant stood before Pre Vizsla. The Mandalorian warrior couldn't have been more surprised if his guest had been Republican Supreme Chancellor Hego Damask himself. Of all beings Jedi Grandmaster Yoda was amongst the last Pre Vizsla ever thought would pay him a visit.
"Tell me Master Yoda to what do I owe this honor?" Pre Vizsla said sarcastically. By his side his second in command, and lover, Bo-Katan Kryze snickered.
"Need the help of Death Watch I do" Yoda said ignoring the mocking of the Mandalorians.
"Why should we assist you? One of our most hated enemies, a Jedi" Pre Vizsla asked scornfully.
"Because a dark power now rises on Crousant, a power which desires to subjugate all including Mandalore. If help you do not then suffer the fate of servitude to this dark power you will" Yoda explained. "If believe me you do not then only check holonet news you must."
"Don't listen to him it is trick" Bo-Katan said. Her features contoured by hate. "He is Jedi they lie as easily as they breath."
"I'll humor him" Pre Vizsla said. "Be warned Jedi if this is an attempt at deception you will not leave here alive."
Pre Vizsla activated the holographic interface in the middle of the room. It didn't take long before Yoda's story was corroborated. The news networks were filled with a confusing array of reports which detailed the surprise Invasion of the Crousant System by a massive Confederate Fleet, the assassination of both Confederate Head of State Count Dooku & his personal bodyguard Asajj Ventress by General Grievous who had switched his allegiance to the Republic, and the discovery of a coup plot by the Jedi Order and the Senate against the office of the Supreme Chancellor which resulted in the subsequent extermination of nearly all members of the two bodies. In light of the events Supreme Chancellor Damask was expected to assume full doctorial powers and place all Republican and Confederate Worlds under martial law until the crisis passed.
"This is a nightmare" Bo-Katan said in disbelief.
"Head of the Sith Order the Chancellor be" Yoda explained. "Stop him I must, all depends on it does. Now help me return to Crousant will you or will you not, hmmm?"
"Anything you want we'll give." Pre Vizsla said grimly. "This new Sith Empire is a threat to us all."
Crousant
Obi-wan, Siri & Katooni picked their way through the smoking wreckage of the Jedi Temple. The mutilated bodies of their fallen comrades were strewn everywhere. Other than a few MagnaGuards, which they destroyed with little effort, the vast building was empty.
"Some of them were killed by lightsabers, not blasters or electrostaffs" Siri announced after kneeling to examine several bodies.
Making their way to the Council Room the three were shocked by what they saw. The bodies of twenty younglings lay slain. Each of the children bore at least one saber wound.
"Katooni wait outside" Obi-wan said not wanting his ward to see any more carnage than she already had.
"But master" Katooni protested.
"Katooni outside now, that is an order!" without further protest Katooni did as she was told shutting the door behind her.
Steadying himself Obi-wan activated the hologram generator via controls built into the wall of the chamber. The Temple had an extensive surveillance system. Playing back the last few hours Obi-wan and Siri beheld the horrible truth. Anakin had fallen to the Dark Side and became a Sith Lord named Darth Vader. Vader had led the march on the Temple and slain the twenty younglings hiding in the Council Chamber. Obi-wan thought he was going to be sick.
"Its' alright" Siri said soothingly. "We'll get through this, somehow."
"By the Force I hope you're right Siri" Obi-wan said holding onto Siri's arm for support. "We've got to find Padme she's in grave danger. I can sense it!"
Primary Military Medical Facility
"Senator Amidala you have visitors" a droid said. Looking up from where she sat on the bed in her makeshift cell Padme's eyes narrowed when Anakin and Ahsoka entered the room. Both were wearing their new Sith robes with the hoods up. They were followed by a detail of blue armored clones. "I have nothing to say to either of you." Padme said defiantly.
"You brought this upon yourself" Vader said. "Your own selfness destroyed our love. You cared more about your thrice cursed Republic than you did about us or our family Padme. Plagueis offered you salvation you rejected it, and me."
"That isn't entirely true" Padme said her expression one of deep sorrow. "I still love you Anakin."
"Liar" Vader said.
"Believe what you want, but I still do" Padme said. "I know there is good left in you, in you both. Stop this madness, please don't do this."
"It is too late" Vader whispered. "The die has been cast."
"It is never too late" Padme said her eyes wet with tears. "Anakin, Ahsoka please help me make things right."
"Never" Cyrin said. "You betrayed Vader you don't deserve him. I love him as you never could. If we go back I'll be left with less than nothing. You have no idea the things we've done. Padme, I'm sorry we can't go back."
"There is always hope Ahsoka" Padme said the tears falling freely now.
"Not for us" Cyrin said leaning into Vader, "not anymore."
"We are going to kill the Separatist Leadership and Council on Zeltros. Once we return you will cooperate with our master, or suffer" Vader promised before leaving with Cyrin and the clones.
"I'm already suffering" Padme whispered closing her eyes.
The Apartment of Senator Amidala
"Where is Padme?" Obi-wan asked See-Threepio and Artoo-Detoo as he, Siri and Katooni entered Padme's all but deserted apartment.
"Masters Kenobi, Siri and Padawan Katooni how wonderful to see you again" See-Threepio chattered. "This entire ordeal has been most dreadful, most dreadful indeed." Artoo-Detoo beeped in agreement.
"See-Threepio please" Siri pleaded. "We don't have much time. More guards could arrive any moment. Where is Padme?"
"Master Anakin and a group of clones arrested Mistress Padme on charges of high treason against the Republic last night. They said they were taking her to a medical facility until she gives birth." See-Threepio answered.
"Do you have any idea which one?" Obi-wan asked hoping against hope one of the two droids would know. Artoo-Detoo beeped several times indicating he thought it could be the main military hospital. Having no other leads the five beings left the apartment without hesitation.
It wasn;t long before Obi-wan and Siri rescued Padme, leaving the two droids and Katooni in their 'procured' vehicle. It turned out Artoo-Detoo's intuition had been correct. Padme was being held at the main military hospital.
"Siri, Obi-wan thank the Force" Padme exclaimed. "I never thought I'd see either of you again!"
"Padme we know what has happened to Anakin. Where is he now?" Obi-wan asked his expression unreadable.
"He and Ahsoka are headed to Zeltros" Padme answered.
"Wait Ahsoka is with him?" Siri said.
"Yes, I thought you knew. She has also turned to the Dark Side her Sith name is Cyrin. They are headed to Zeltros because the Separatist Leadership and Council are there. Darth Plagueis wants the Separatists dead."
"Wait 'Darth Plagueis?" Obi-wan said in confusion.
"You know him as Supreme Chancellor Hego Damask. He's really the Grandmaster of the Sith Order. He's been manipulating galactic events behind the scenes for decades now. He is the secret Sith Master we've all be searching for since the invasion of my home world by the Trade Federation" Padme explained.
"That would explain the clones turning on us" Siri said aloud.
"The clones turned on you?" Padme said in shock.
"On all Jedi" Obi-wan corrected, "we had best be leaving before long this place will be crawling with clones and droids."
Escaping the facility and piling into their waiting vessel the group took off into the evening sky. In large part because of the absence of other commercial traffic they didn't get far before being spotted by a military patrol. More unfortunately Grievous was with the patrol. Leaping from the patrol vessel, discarding his grey cape in the process, the cyborg Sith landed heavily on the back of the air taxi. Igniting two of his red lightsabers Grievous faced off with Obi-wan who had climbed out of the passenger compartment to confront the interloper.
"Kenobi I see you survived Order 66" Grievous laughed. "I am please. By the time I am done you'll wish the clones had finished you." Igniting his own blue lightsaber Obi-wan parried two near simultaneous blows.
"You wouldn't be recycling any of our lightsabers today General" Obi-wan declared. Grievous roared like an animal reigning down blow after blow, slash after stab on the Jedi Master. All the while the military patrol ship shot lasers at the civilian craft.
"We have to do something" Padme said inside the cabin. "We have to help Obi-wan somehow."
"I'm open to suggestions" Siri replied from the driver seat as she dodged enemy fire.
"Let me go" Katooni suggested. "I'm a Jedi Padawan, a warrior in training, a…."
"No way" Siri said shaking her head. "Obi-wan would kill me if I let anything happen to you Katooni."
"Well we have to do something" Padme said frantically looking back. "I think Obi-wan might be losing."
Considering Padme's words Siri scanned their surroundings. "I think I might see just the thing. Hold on everyone."
Outside Obi-wan was barely defending himself against Grievous' onslaught. The monstrosity truly was a master of saber combat Obi-wan would grant that. He must have some weakness, right? A sudden lurch under his feet nearly knocked Obi-wan over. Clearly the vehicle had changed directions, but why.
"Looks like I will be recycling your and your colleagues' lightsabers after all" Grievous laughed, not noticing they had evaded his patrol vessel. "A pity it must end, I was enjoying myself." Grievous redoubled his efforts to overwhelm Kenobi.
"Obi-wan drop down and hold onto the roof of the ship, now!" the voice of Siri spoke through their force bond, Obi-wan did exactly as he was told. Grievous however never saw it coming. The upper body of the cyborg Sith impacted, hard, with several closely bundle power conduits which ran across a narrow sky alley. Grievous not only was thrown clear of the sky taxi he was treated to several thousand amps of power that came with a hair's-breadth of permanently shorting out his motivator. Down, down into the lower levels of the massive city planet the sizzling, scorched form of Grievous fell until it was out of sight.
To Be Continued