The swirling blue vortex of hyperspace offered little comfort to Ahsoka. In years past, she had found the sight to be oddly peaceful. Despite the chaos and danger that hyperspace offered, the blue vortex couldn't have been further from the reality of what they were experiencing.
It was calm and controlled. It never felt like they were one tiny malfunction away from disaster.
If only the real world felt like that right now.
Visions of the Temple, of Clones and Jedi, fighting each other, killing each other. None of them would leave her mind.
And then there was Windu, and the other Council Members, trying to kill her for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. There had been no time for judgement. No debate. They had simply decided that she had to die.
And then Palpatine, and Anakin. One a Sith, and one her closest friend, both of them had fought the Councillors. Both of them had killed Jedi.
"This is wrong."
"What is wrong?"
Ahsoka hadn't realised she had vocalised her thoughts aloud. She had been trying not to. They had too much to focus on as it was.
But now she had, willingly or not, and Anakin had heard.
She knew she needed to speak to him, and what better time than now when they were alone.
"Everything. All of this. How can you be comfortable with what we just did?"
Anakin seemed to contemplate her question for a few moments before he replied. It didn't escape her notice that he didn't look at her when he spoke.
"I'm not, but it doesn't matter now. We did what we had to do. What's done is done."
"Doesn't matter now? Are you kidding me? We practically committed genocide Anakin! How can you be fine with that?!"
"We gave them an opportunity to surrender Ahsoka. It's not our fault they were too stubborn to accept. Besides, they betrayed us."
Ahsoka didn't want to admit that Anakin was right regarding any of this, but he had a point. They had given the Jedi in the Temple an opportunity to surrender. Some, like Masana and Bil had taken such an opportunity and had survived, whereas the rest…
But now, even those that had survived were at risk, all because Palpatine…
No, all because Sidious had deemed her a liability. If she failed in this mission, then all those she had managed to spare thus far would suffer. She couldn't let that happen.
If Sidious was willing to go after those she had saved for what he perceived to be her failure, what would he do to Anakin, or Padmé if she failed again.
She didn't care what he did to her. She just wouldn't let him harm anyone she cared about.
"Maybe, but they didn't betray us. They weren't responsible for Master Windu's actions." Ahsoka finally replied.
"Perhaps not, but they were willing to sit complacent whilst their Jedi Council attempted to overthrow and seize power in the Republic. They might not have been personally guilty, but they were guilty through their apathy."
"Just as we are guilty of war crimes through complacency! Anakin… we destroyed the Jedi Order last night!"
"It'll rebuild once all this is over. It always does."
"Once what is all over?!" Ahsoka couldn't help but raise her voice. Anakin was talking in circles, and she could feel through the Force that he was hiding something from her. "What aren't you telling me? What did Sidious say to you?"
She wouldn't call him by his title or false name, not anymore. He wasn't worthy of that.
"It's nothing you need to worry about Snips. Just focus on the mission at hand."
"No! Don't you 'Snips' me! What the hell do you mean?!"
"Enough Ahsoka!" Anakin raised his voice, but still didn't turn his head.
"I'm not your Padawan anymore, Anakin! You can't command me to be quiet! This isn't a briefing or anything. Tell. Me. What. Happened!"
"I SAID ENOUGH!"
There was no other way to describe Anakin's response. He roared in anger, snapping his head towards Ahsoka's, a dark expression on his face.
She knew she had pushed him too far, but she didn't care. Not anymore.
"Or what? You gonna zap me with lightning like Sidious did? Use the Force to choke me? That's what that 'Lord Vader' nonsense was about, wasn't it? You've joined the Sith!"
"I would never harm you."
"Prove it." Ahsoka snarled, standing from her copilot seat and marching across to Anakin. Her former Master reacted too slowly to stop her from grasping hold of his cybernetic arm with one hand whilst her other free hand grasped hold of Anakin's lightsaber.
"Ahsoka! What are you doing!"
Ahsoka didn't respond. Instead, she moved Anakin's saber hilt to his cybernetic hand, forcing him to hold it tightly before moving the entire arm so that the emitter of the blade was pointed at her neck.
"Go on then 'Vader'! Do it! Because you can be damn sure I won't ever serve you or your pathetic master!"
"Ahsoka! Stop this madness at once!"
Ahsoka didn't stop. Instead, she pushed the emitter of Anakin's saber closer to her neck, forcing it to dig in. It hurt, but she refused to show it.
"Don't you get it Anakin! We murdered everyone in that Temple! Knights. Padawans. Younglings. Even the Clones' deaths are on our heads! That was us. And we did so on the orders of a monster!"
"Ahsoka, please!" Anakin's tone had shifted from anger to pleading. Gone was the fury in his eyes, instead replaced by watery despair. He was on the verge of breaking down into tears.
And still she didn't care.
"No! You joined him, Anakin! You joined the Sith, even after everything! And when he attacked me in the Archives, you stood there and did nothing. You just let him shock me!"
"You don't understand Ahsoka! I was…"
"You were what? Trying to seize your own power like a good little Sith? Can't show weakness in front of your new Master, is that it? Well… why don't you show him how strong you are now huh and do away with me! You never wanted me in the first place after all! Might as well just dispose of the pathetic little Padawan now!"
"You were never… "
"Go on Vader. Do it! Ignite the lightsaber. Kill me! Just like you did Ridge!"
"No!"
"DO IT!"
"DAMN IT AHSOKA! I JOINED HIM TO PROTECT YOU!"
Anakin's words stunned Ahsoka, long enough for Anakin to wrestle back control of his hand and arm, flinging the lightsaber out of harm's way where it came to rest at Artoo's legs, who had rolled over, shock prods ready just in case he had to immobilise someone.
Ahsoka let go of Anakin's arms, stepping back, tears brimming in her own eyes as her throat ached from shouting.
"I… what do you mean?"
"He wanted you dead Ahsoka. He wanted them all dead. You, Obi-Wan, Rex, Padmé. Even those that were willing to join us. He wanted them all gone. But, he promised to help me save you all. He promised to spare you if I just…"
"If you became his apprentice?"
Anakin nodded solemnly before he turned away, masking his expression as best as he could.
"I'd… I didn't want him to hurt you. To hurt any of you. I never meant to hurt Ridge, or Rex, but, it was the only way. I'd never let anyone hurt you Ahsoka, not ever. I'd do whatever it takes to protect you."
A memory came flooding back to Ahsoka, of when she had been on the run after being framed by Barriss. Anakin had said those exact words to her back then, and he had proved just how far he had been willing to go to help her when no one else would.
She didn't agree with how far he had gone this time, but she understood.
Letting go of her anger, she moved back towards where Anakin was sitting, crouching down next to him so that she was at his eye level.
"Oh Anakin, you know I'd do the same for you, always." She spoke softly as she leant forward to gently embrace him, hoping it offered some form of comfort.
Anakin didn't outright return the hug, but he did lean into it gently. Had she not been the other participant of the embrace, Ahsoka wasn't sure she would have noticed.
"It's okay though. Once we get rid of the Separatist leadership, he'll trust us completely, and then we can get rid of him."
Anakin's words caused Ahsoka's eyes to widen.
"Wait, are you saying that this is all part of the plan to lure him into a false sense of security?"
"It's what I'm aiming for, yes." Anakin replied as Ahsoka pulled out of the hug. Her former Master glanced up at her once again, a small smirk present on his face.
Ahsoka didn't point out the irony of Anakin joining the Sith only to start immediately plotting against his new Master. Now was not the time for such things.
Instead, she opted for a different reply.
"That's surprisingly cunning for you. Are you sure it'll work?"
"As sure as I ever am, but even if I wasn't, we have to try."
Despite the dangers it posed, and despite how much she disagreed with everything that had happened, Ahsoka agreed.
"Yeah, I guess we do."
"Heard from no one else, we have. The last of the Jedi, we may be."
Caleb never thought he would be so happy to hear the backwards speech of Master Yoda, but for once in his life he was more than happy to put up with the confusing way the Jedi Grandmaster spoke.
It meant that he was alive, and that was good news for all of them. With Master Yoda on side, they had a chance.
"I refuse to believe that Master Yoda. Surely others have made it! Anakin? Vos? Plo Koon? Jaro Tapal?"
"Heard from none of them we have, Master Kenobi, but lose hope you should not. Skilled Jedi they all are. Survive if anyone could, they would."
"Yes, Master Yoda." Obi-Wan replied as he bowed his head. They sat at a conference table within Bail Organa's ship. Caleb didn't know if the crew knew what was going on, but judging by the way some of them had eyeballed Commander Boil as he had come aboard, they had clearly heard something.
"What about anything from Rex? Wolffe? Bly?" The Clone in question inquired from where he was seated beside Caleb, directly opposite Senator Organa.
"As far as we were aware, the Clones were the ones leading this extermination. Do you mean to tell us that isn't the case?" Bail asked, glancing over at Master Yoda, who scratched his chin lightly with his claws.
"Not of their free will, Senator. My brothers have got mind controlling inhibitor chips implanted in their brains. It forces them to comply with Order 66, the termination of all Jedi leadership."
"Then resist, how did you?" Yoda asked.
"I had my chip surgically removed, General. It activated prematurely, just like Tup's did on Ringo Vinda. Rex and Kix found out about the chips and got some of ours taken out. That's why I asked about them. Rex, Wolffe and Bly all had theirs removed, so they should be free from the effects. They wouldn't have tried to kill the Jedi. They wanted to save them."
Both Caleb and Obi-Wan had already heard this explanation, but now they had time to actually contemplate it.
The Clones were nothing more than victims of this disaster, just as the Jedi were. Caleb wished he could have done more to help those that were under the chips' effects.
Maybe, just maybe he would have been able to save Grey and Styles.
"So, the Clones aren't the guilty party here? Whoever ordered this is." Bail said, his eyes drifting off to the side, as if he was in deep thought.
"Killed Commander Gree without a second thought, I did. If knew about the chips I had…"
"There was nothing you could have done, General. Gree still had his chip in. You did him a favour." Boil said, offering what support he could. Caleb knew he was speaking from first hand experience. It couldn't have been easy killing his brothers to protect his Jedi. Caleb would make everything that Boil had sacrificed worth it.
"I went to the Temple in the chaos to try and save anyone I could. I watched the Clones gun down a youngling. I couldn't believe my eyes when it happened." Bail spoke up again, his face buried in his hands in the process.
"Thank you for trying at least Bail. You've proven yourself a true friend of the Jedi today."
"We all owe you a great deal of gratitude Obi-Wan. I just hope the rest of my colleagues see it that way." Bail replied to Obi-Wan, a reluctant smile on his face as he brought it out of the palms of his hands.
"What do you mean?" Caleb found himself asking, unable to catch himself in time. As a Padawan it was his job to watch, listen and learn, not interrupt and demand answers.
But then he had always had a reputation as the Padawan who liked to ask questions. After all, how was one supposed to learn if they didn't ask questions?
"Well, not long before my crew picked you and your Master up we received a communication from Mas Amedda on Coruscant. Apparently the Chancellor has scheduled an emergency meeting of the Senate to discuss the ongoing 'Jedi Rebellion'. Attendance is mandatory, and I fear that many of my fellow Senators will buy whatever rhetoric the Chancellor produces regarding the Jedi." Bail replied, rolling his eyes at the mention of the 'Jedi Rebellion'.
"An opportunity, that presents us." Yoda spoke up, drawing the attention of Jedi, Clone and Senator alike.
"What do you mean General?" Boil inquired.
"Distracted at the Senate, the vast majority of the Clone forces will be. Providing security no doubt. Use this distraction to sneak into the Temple, we must."
"That's suicide! Why would we go there?" Caleb had to agree with Boil's shock. The Jedi Temple, if there was anything left of it, would be a hot-spot for Clone activity. There was a good chance they would be walking into a trap.
It was Obi-Wan who replied to Boil's question, and confirmed Caleb's thoughts in the process.
"Because the Jedi Temple is broadcasting an emergency signal for all Jedi to return to the Temple. They are trying to lure us into a trap. We need to sneak in and disable the signal."
"I can drop you near the Temple on my way to the Senate, but I strongly advise against this, Master Jedi." Bail said, a grim look on his face. "It wasn't a pretty sight for sure."
"Appreciate the concern, we do, Senator. But do this, Master Kenobi and I must, if to save more Jedi we are."
"I want to come too!" Caleb interrupted again, no longer caring if he was appearing rude or not. He knew it would be dangerous, but he had to try.
"Are you sure, Caleb?" Obi-Wan asked, concern on his face. "It likely won't be safe."
"No offence Master Kenobi, but I've been a soldier longer than I've been a Jedi Padawan. I can do this. I want to do this."
"Then come, you can. But follow our orders, you must. If tell you to run, we do, then run you must."
"Yes Master Yoda. I understand." Caleb replied, bowing his head with respect for Master Yoda. This was one of those times that any rebellious nature had to be quelled. This was serious.
He would accompany his Masters to the Temple and help however he could. And if he could find evidence of survivors… of what had happened to Master Billaba, or Ahsoka or even Anakin, then he would.
"Are you sure about this Obi-Wan?" Senator Organa's voice was flooded with worry, and it was easy to hear.
It was odd to see a member of the Galactic Senate showing such concern for a Jedi Master. From what Caleb had heard, the Order and the Senate didn't particularly get along very well, even before the Clone Wars had begun.
"I am certain, old friend. We have to try at the very least." Came Obi-Wan's reply as he vaulted out of Bail's speeder. The Senator had dropped them in a dark alleyway at the base of the steps up to the Jedi Temple. It was the closest they could get without being seen by any scouts.
"I know you do. Just be careful, all of you." Bail replied as he nodded at the group of three Jedi and one Clone. Despite being wounded, Boil had demanded to come along and provide fire support, and the Jedi had been happy to let him come. Caleb just prayed they didn't have to kill any more Clones. He didn't think Boil could cope with doing that again.
"And you Senator. I have a very bad feeling about this emergency Senate meeting." Obi-Wan said, earning a small chuckle from Bail.
"I can handle myself, Master Jedi. You know that." The Senator replied before he turned his attention to Caleb. "May the Force be with you, young Padawan."
"And you, Senator. Thank you for helping us."
Bail nodded as the last member of the group, Master Yoda, climbed out of his speeder. Moments later, the Senator powered up the speeder and directed it out of the dark alley and into the sky, bound for the Senate building.
"Right then, let's get to it." Obi-Wan spoke as he pulled his robes up over his head. Caleb took that as a sign to do the same, and Boil, who now wore a poncho over his armour, did the same.
Only Master Yoda did not possess a hood to raise. Instead, the diminutive green Jedi chuckled at the sight of his companions before he took point out of the alleyway, heading towards the Temple steps.
Taking a deep breath and gripping his lightsaber underneath his long flowing robes just in case, Caleb moved to follow the Jedi Grandmaster.
Ascending the steps proved to be less difficult than Caleb had been expecting. They hadn't met any resistance, but Caleb knew that wouldn't last. The inside of the Temple would no doubt be a much more dangerous place.
Still, for now, he was happy to enjoy the calm before the storm.
"Next time you Jedi build a Temple, maybe don't include a million steps just to get to it. How's an old person supposed to climb all of this?" Boil quipped suddenly adding some humour to an otherwise dark situation. Caleb appreciated his attempts to lighten the mood.
"Over eight hundred years old I am. Find myself agreeing with your assessment I do, Commander Boil." Yoda responded, chuckling lightly as he finished speaking, climbing another step in the process.
"Could be worse. We could be under fire."
"Please don't jinx us, Boil!"
"Sorry General Kenobi."
Ignoring the minor respite, Caleb continued to climb the steps, reaching out with his senses, just in case.
All it took was one Clone hiding somewhere and their element of surprise was gone. Hopefully that wouldn't be the case.
"Near the top, we are. Remember, the Archives are our goal. Cancel the message, we must." Yoda spoke to the group as they ascended the last few steps, emerging onto the flat plateau that led to the entrance of the Temple.
"I've been thinking about that Master. What if we reprogrammed the message to warn any surviving Jedi to stay away?" Obi-Wan offered as they caught their breath whilst surveying the area.
"Hmm… a sound plan that is, Master Kenobi. Record the message personally, you will?"
"It would be my honour, Master Yoda. Assuming we can get to the Archives that is."
Caleb was about to offer some optimism when Boil spoke in an alert tone.
"Contacts. Seven of them coming this way. They look like Jedi though? Survivors maybe?"
Caleb surveyed the figures ahead. All seven were dressed in heavy Jedi robes, obscuring most of their bodies and leaving their faces in shadow. They looked like Jedi, but Caleb couldn't shake the feeling that something was very very wrong.
"Master?"
"I know Caleb. I know." Was all Obi-Wan said as he grasped hold of his lightsaber hilt in preparation.
That was all Caleb needed to both see and hear to prepare himself.
"Master Jedi." The sound of an oddly familiar voice hit Caleb's senses as the robed figures suddenly approached the team of four.
"Yes?" Obi-Wan replied cautiously.
"We've managed to retake the Temple and have prepared the Council Chamber for your arrival. If you would please follow us."
"No… I don't think we will."
Caleb resisted the urge to laugh at the deadpan tone of Obi-Wan's voice, even as the Force began to gently warn him of danger.
He knew those weren't Jedi beneath the hooded robes. Jedi didn't sound like Boil.
"I'm sorry?" The lead 'Jedi' said, putting on a confused voice.
Caleb could imagine Obi-Wan rolling his eyes as he spoke.
"You Clones do not make for very convincing Jedi."
At those words, chaos broke out. The lead Clone reached for a concealed blaster beneath his robe, but was barely able to draw the weapon before Obi-Wan ignited his saber, catching the weapon with a single swing and rendering it useless.
The gasp of surprise from the Clone was followed by a groan as an arc of blue stun energy crashed into him courtesy of Boil.
The Clone dropped to the floor without resistance as his compatriots began to engage.
Two of the robed Clones drew blasters and opened fire on Caleb, who ignited his own saber in time to deflect the blaster bolts with ease, buying time for Boil to stun both of them.
The remaining four Clones found themselves under assault by Master Yoda, who ignited his own green saber and sprang into action, vaulting above the Clones in an impressive display of acrobatics and forcing them to turn their backs to Boil, who seized his own opportunity.
Within moments of the conflict starting, it was over.
Seven Clones were down and out, and no one had died.
"I still think it would have been safer to kill them." Boil said as he began to glance around for any other threats. "That stun won't last forever."
"We don't intend to be long, Commander. Besides, they are just as much victims as the Jedi are. I cannot in good conscience kill anymore."
"Understood General. Now let's get moving." Boil replied to his Jedi General as he gestured towards the Temple.
"Agreed. Let's move people!" Obi-Wan commanded as he led the way, breaking into a sprint towards the entrance.
Reaching into the Force, Caleb moved to follow.
To say the Temple was a mess was an understatement. Corpses littered the destroyed hallways, both Jedi and Clone. The stench of death was as prominent as the carbon scoring created from the blaster fire and the lightsaber burns.
Seeing his home like this filled Caleb with deep depression.
This was horrible. Everyone was dead, all because the Clones had been controlled into massacring the Jedi.
At least, that was what they had entered the Temple knowing. Upon searching the wreckage however, they had discovered something far more menacing.
Before them was the body of a youngling, and present on the body as clear as day was the burn mark of a lightsaber wound.
"Killed not by Clones, this youngling was. But by lightsaber."
Yoda's word confirmed Caleb's fear. Someone with a lightsaber had helped the Clones.
"Who? Who could have done this?" Obi-Wan exclaimed in a shocked voice, his eyes moving from one dead youngling to another.
"Fear we will find out, I do. Need to go to the Council Chamber, I do. Proceed to the Archives, you must."
"But Master Yoda! Surely we are safer if we all stick together?" Caleb blurted out as the Jedi Grandmaster began to hobble away on his walking stick.
"Faster and stealthier I am by myself, Padawan. Be fine, I will. Reprogram the signal, your jobs are. Meet with you later, I will."
Caleb didn't understand why the Grandmaster needed to go to the Council Chambers, not to mention why he wanted to go alone, but Caleb knew better to argue with him.
"May the Force be with you Master."
"And you, Padawan Dume."
With that, the green Jedi moved on, leaving Caleb behind with Obi-Wan and Boil.
"Come on kid, we can't stay out in the open like this."
At Boil's words, Caleb moved to follow.
The path to the Archives was oddly clear. Only one squad of Coruscant Guard Clones were in the Archives themselves, clearly securing it against any survivors.
The battle lasted less than a minute before all twelve of the Clones had been stunned by either Boil's blasters, or Force pushes from Obi-Wan and Caleb.
"Area secure. Now where do we change the signal?" Boil inquired, moving to cover both Jedi.
"There's a side room with several intel databases nearby. That's where the signal is coming from." Obi-Wan replied as he gestured over the ruins of the Archives to a nearby doorway.
"Sounds good, General. I'll cover our exit. You two get in there and alter that signal."
Obi-Wan nodded in affirmation as he gestured for Caleb to follow, climbing over the remains of a collapsed bookshelf to get to the doorway.
Several moments later, Caleb found himself beside Obi-Wan in a tight hallway, surrounded by holographic interfaces on all sides.
Evidently these were the storage units for the vast majority of the Archive data, judging by the holographic text running across them. Caleb wouldn't even pretend to understand how any of it worked, so instead he followed Obi-Wan, who seemed to know where he was going.
Caleb watched as Obi-Wan approached one of the interfaces before his fingers began to press various holograms in rapid succession.
Several taps later, and something seemed to eject from the storage unit. Without waiting, Obi-Wan began to work.
"Is that where the signal is coming from?"
"Yes. Someone encrypted it to send the recall message. I can't cancel said message due to the encryption used, but I can alter the message with a simple voice recording."
"Okay? So what are you going to say?" Caleb inquired.
Obi-Wan seemed to halt his progress for a few moments as he debated Caleb's words before he resumed his work.
A couple more taps later, and Obi-Wan took a single step back as he was bathed in a light blue light from the console he had been working on.
Standing straight and staring directly into what Caleb assumed was a holoprojector, Obi-Wan began to speak.
"This is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. I regret to report that both our Jedi Order and the Republic have fallen, with the dark shadow of the Sith rising to take their place. This message is a warning and a reminder for any surviving Jedi. Trust in the Force. Do not return to the Temple. That time has passed. And our future is uncertain. We will each be challenged. Our trust. Our faith. Our friendships. But we must persevere, and in time, a new hope will emerge. May the Force be with you. Always."
With those words, Obi-Wan stepped back towards the interface and finished up. The holoprojector stopped, and the ejected slot moved back inside the database, but not before another slot opened up, depositing a glowing Jedi holocron in Obi-Wan's waiting hand.
The Jedi Master turned the cube around in his palms for a few moments before he turned to Caleb and offered it to him.
"Padawan Dume, I gift this holocron to you for safekeeping. Let it be a reminder of better times, and use its knowledge to advance both the skills of yourself and any Padawan you teach in the Force."
"I…" Caleb exclaimed in shock as his eyes were drawn to the holocron. Part of him believed he didn't deserve this. He was nothing special after all.
But if Obi-Wan thought he deserved it…
Reaching forward, Caleb grasped the holocron.
"I'm honoured, Master Kenobi. I will take care of and conceal this holocron from any who would seek to take advantage of it, until the time is right to use it."
"I know you will, Padawan Dume."
Caleb strode into the holosecurity room of the Jedi Temple alongside both Obi-Wan and Boil with a new found kick in his step, and a new holocron safely stored in a pocket in his robe.
They had done it. They had succeeded in rewriting the message being sent out. No longer was it a trap to lure unsuspecting Jedi to their deaths, but instead a warning for them to run, to survive.
And more than that, it was a beacon of hope. Any who heard it would know that others had survived. The message would be transferred to any and all active Jedi holocrons, just as the one he had in his pocket. Caleb didn't understand how it worked, but he thanked the Force it did.
As long as it saved someone, then it was all worth it. Perhaps, after everything, things were finally on the mend.
"Master Yoda, we've altered the message and sent out the warning to all holocrons as a safeguard as well." Obi-Wan spoke as he spotted the Jedi Grandmaster. He had contacted them shortly after they had reprogrammed the message to establish a meeting spot.
The holosecurity room had been the closest and hopefully safest place to meet. Thankfully, there had been no Clones either in the room or on route to it.
"Then a successful mission we have had. Proud of yourselves, you should be, Master Kenobi, Padawan Dume." The Grandmaster replied as he hobbled forward, a sad smile on his face.
He was hiding his grief, that much was certain, but Caleb couldn't help but admire Yoda's bravery.
Obi-Wan nodded his head before his attention was drawn to a holoprojector nearby.
Caleb watched as the Jedi Master moved towards it, his hands running across a console nearby, powering up the holoprojector.
"If into the security recordings you go, only pain will you find, Obi-Wan."
"I must know who did this Master." Obi-Wan replied with determination as he began to cycle through what looked like recorded footage of the Temple from the various holo security cameras that had been installed.
Beside him, Caleb heard Boil move up to watch the footage alongside the Jedi, blaster still gripped tightly in his hands just in case of an ambush.
The first clip began to play, showing a youngling training room. Caleb watched as a hologram of Tera Sinube taught a class of younglings saber forms with training sabers. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Obi-Wan fast-forwarded the clip, the image changing to one of the Temple hangars. In it, Master Windu appeared to be in an animated discussion with Anakin Skywalker. But again, there was no sign of the violence that had occurred, and no sign of whatever lightsaber wielder had murdered the younglings.
Obi-Wan changed the scene again, and this time Caleb couldn't believe his eyes.
Jedi were under fire from Clones from all sides, but there in the background was a figure draped in a cloak, blue lightsaber clashing against the blade of another Jedi for a brief moment before they pulled it around, breaking through the defence and impaling the Jedi as a pair of younglings watched in horror.
The monster then turned to the younglings, and cut them down too without hesitation.
Anger flooded Caleb. Whoever this was deserved to die.
The scene changed again, this time to the same figure, lightsaber clashed against that of a Jar Kai wielder. For a brief horrifying moment, Caleb thought that maybe said figure being attacked was Ahsoka. She was a well known and respected Jar Kai user, after all.
Instead, on closer inspection, Caleb noticed the figure was a human female, and he felt the panic recede, if only a little.
The panic returned seconds later however when the Jar Kai wielder briefly broke through the monster's defences, elbowing them in the nose and knocking the hood they had been using to conceal their face off, revealing…
"No…it can't be."
Caleb couldn't help but agree with Obi-Wan.
Anakin Skywalker. That was who had done this. He had led the Clones. He had cut down Jedi, and younglings!
He had betrayed them all!
'Ahsoka! Oh kriff… please be alright!' Caleb thought once again. If Anakin had so much as hurt a metaphorical hair on his friend's body, he would kill him!
Scratch that. He might just kill him anyway for what he had done!
The harrowing scenes changed again, this time to a holo security camera in the Council Chamber where a small group of younglings appeared to be hiding.
Hiding, until Skywalker walked into the room and ignited his saber.
Obi-Wan fast forwarded again. They didn't need to see this.
Instead, the image was replaced with that of Anakin on his knee, bowing before a figure that looked a lot like the Supreme Chancellor.
"You have chosen well, my new apprentice. Now rise, Darth Vader."
Obi-Wan's hands moved again, this time to power down the holoprojector.
As he did, he spoke only four words.
"I can't watch anymore."
Author's thoughts
Welp, here we go. Entering the final hours of ROTS now, and you all know how that goes down in canon. Time to see how different things will be.
I'm not going to say much regarding this chapter as I'm running out of things to say. Anakin and Ahsoka are trying to play 4D chess against Sidious, and I traumatised Obi-Wan and Caleb. That's about the extent of it.
Thanks once again to my beta reader 'Arrin Snyders' for his invaluable help.
Next time round, Obi-Wan deals with what he's seen... and the Separatist Council get paid a visit by a pair of 'friends' of theirs.
As usual, comment and speculate at will. Speaking of which:
1saaa: I'm glad you enjoyed it and that it's keeping you guessing. Hopefully that means I'm doing something right. :)
And you are welcome. Reader responses are the only reason I've kept going as long as I have with this thing.
kittenloveschristmas: Here you go.
Alfredo12StarLegionaire: Ahsoka is a guilty party simply by being involved, but yeah, you aren't wrong about the internal dilemma. Only time will tell which side she ends up on fully.
Vandal55: You might be right there. Escaping the trap she's been lured into is easier said than done.
Maktair1990: Haha... I didn't like doing it, believe me. Lana and Theron are both awesome. The things everyone could of learnt from them!
princesselsaamidala22: At this point she pretty much is, whether she likes it or not.
tf330129: Thanks again. I'll do my best. :)
Ryan1017: I was actually a bit worried by my Sidious in the previous chapter. He felt too hostile and aggressive to me, but I justified it by saying he's dropped the 'Palpatine persona' around Ahsoka now. No need to hide anymore.
If only Boil knew the truth, huh? :)