Hi! I am back :D
Thank you all for your patience, I am so sorry about the sudden hiatus, but I really needed it.
Please enjoy this crazy ride of a chapter :)
Palpatine gritted his teeth, somehow his carefully crafted plan was tearing apart.
He needed to regain the sheer intoxicating power that came from fear and pleadings.
The Dark side coursed with agreement, begging him to reign the calamity of disaster on them all.
Anakin Skywalker would become his apprentice, even if he didn't want to..
He switched his comm on, his raspy voice reaching the clone.
"Execute Order 66."
All of a sudden, the clone stiffened as the grating command crackled with static.
His body was automatically moving on it's own.
Despite his resistance, despite his inner struggles to defy the order; he couldn't.
Stop!
The Padawan didn't notice, back turned to the clone he considered his friend.
The weapon aimed at the unsuspecting Padawan, finger curling tighter around the trigger.
And in one sudden movement, the Force manifested; violently slamming the clone across the room.
He crumpled to the floor with a thud.
The Jedi Master glanced briefly at his shocked Padawan for a fleeting second.
Reassured that he was safe, Jaro Tapal strode to the dazed trooper, yanking his helmet off and forcefully plunging the device into his neck.
A small chip sat innocently in his palm, crumbling to dust onto the floor.
Jaro Tapal instantly activated his comm, the grim face of Cal flickered to life.
"It's begun."
"I know." Cal sighed, running a hand through his hair. Fretting.
"It wasn't supposed to be this early. I just hope that we have done enough."
"It will be. We won't fall, not today."
A beat passed and Cal inclined his head stiffly. Hoping beyond anything that the Jedi-Master was right.
"I hope so."
"May the Force be with you, Cal."
"And with you, Master."
The sharp chiming sound tore Jaro Tapal from his conversation. A holographic, blaring alert popping up on his comm.
The scarlet-red Aurebesh writing served as a warning to all Jedi of the dangers that were yet to come.
The distribution of the chip removers was increased ten-fold and yet, despite their best efforts, they failed to manufacture enough.
Cal had proposed of a warning that spanned across the galaxy, ensuring that those without the chip remover would not be caught off-guard by the sudden betrayal.
This was the second message that was sent, projecting through to every Jedi across the galaxy.
The message stayed the same, yet now it was more insistent.
"Do not trust the clones, be prepared for war."
.
"Master? What's wrong?" The apprentice asked, confused at the startling change in her Master's demeanour; the carefree smile vanishing into a thin-lipped serious look as her eyes glossed over the warning.
"Be on your guard, Trilla." Cere, advised.
"The war has begun."
Trilla's eyebrows scrunched together, trying to understand the hard edge of her Master's words.
"Already?"
Cere nodded, setting off in a sprint at the unmistakable distorted echo of blaster bolts rippled within the air.
"I have the device, we need to get to the younglings." She called over her shoulder.
Trilla nodded, following after her Master, hoping they wouldn't be too late.
.
"Cal!"
The Force alerted him at Anakin's call, the apparatus was thrown arcing towards him. Spinning on his heel, Cal caught the bulk object just as it threatened to shatter on the floor.
Ducking and rolling away as the clone swung at him again. Mustering up his strength, in one motion, he called out to the Force, tearing off the clone's helmet and exposing his face.
Cal lunged forwards, trapping the struggling, flaying man beneath him and strenuously managed to tear out the chip using the remover.
Standing on protesting limbs, Cal turned towards Anakin.
"Did you manage to contact the council?"
"No." Anakin shook his head.
"The Force is hazy, unclear. I cannot seem to sense anyone."
It was hazy, fogged over, akin to frost creeping across a clear lake.
And yet, the Light was not rippling with ground-shaking grief and mourning.
Cal had to hold out hope that meant…
"So what's our plan?" Anakin asked, cutting through the silence.
"You should stay with Obi-Wan, I'll find Palpatine and confront him." Cal said.
Anakin was shaking his head before Cal had finished, vehemently refusing the plan.
"Absolutely not."
"Ana-"
"Cal, he is a Sith Lord! You will not be able to beat him." The blonde hissed, a furious spark of stubbornness alighting at the sheer mention of it.
"I didn't realise you had such little faith in me." Cal quipped, the humor falling short at his somber tone.
"I am not letting you go in alone, it's suicide. I'm coming with you."
The ginger grimaced at the frenzied panic shooting within their bond.
"And what about Padmé? What about your child?" Cal shot back, noting the shock on the younger man's face.
Encompassing silence thickened, to the point where it could've been shredded by a knife.
Anakin stood completely still as if trying to conjure up any explanation for Cal's words; other than the glaring obvious.
"You knew?" Anakin asked quietly, unable to comprehend how Cal found out.
"I did." Cal deflated.
"And that is why I can't let you do this. They need you."
"And I need you." Anakin protested.
"You promised Cal, that you will not die."
"I want my child to meet all of my family." He said, quieter.
"I need to make this a safe place for them, a place where they can grow up."
"Fine." Cal grumbled, knowing that even if he locked the other in a room and knocked him out, he would somehow find a way out.
His mind suddenly cast back on Leia, the stubborn, inquisitive girl that mirrored her father.
"But what about Obi-Wan? We can't leave him alone?"
"Leave that to me."
An unknown voice answered the question for them, both Jedi twisting to glance at the clone.
"To you?" The suspicion weighed heavy on Anakin's tone.
"You have no reason to trust me, but I do not wish for my mind to be played. I want to be my own person."
Wordlessly, Cal and Anakin shared a glance.
It was risky and there was no way that they were able to detect the man's intentions.
And yet…they didn't seem to have a choice.
"If you hurt him, we will destroy you." Cal advised, narrowing his eyes to make himself seem more threatening.
"Of course." The clone nodded.
Satisfied by the answer, Anakin smiled at Cal as if they weren't going to confront a terrifying, powerful Sith Lord.
"Ready?"
"I have a bad feeling about this." Cal confessed, a nervous grin widening at Anakin's scoff.
That was an understatement. He seemed to say.
"But we cannot keep the Senator waiting."
.
Rushing down the corridors, the two Jedi halted as a swarm of clones clamouring forwards; almost as if in waiting for their arrival.
Blasters aimed, blocking any form of escape as Anakin and Cal stood back to back.
Cal froze, eyes wide as they flitted to each of the clones, heart thudding in his chest.
It wasn't the same as before. He tried to reassure himself, trembling at the sheer number that were present.
And yet, he suddenly felt fourteen again, terrified and confused.
The memories dwindled in his consciousness and he was finding it increasingly difficult to hold them back.
All of a sudden, his mind plunged him deep into the remnants of memories.
Clones.
Stark white burning into his eyes as the blaster pointed at Jaro Tapal's back.
"Master!"
"Cal!" Anakin clutched at his shirt, yanking him from the crossfire as his lightsaber ignited, the azure blue blurring as they reflected the shot.
"Cal, snap out of it."
Blinking, Cal glanced around confused.
He wasn't aboard the ship?
Stumbling with a curse, Anakin focused completely on deflecting the encompassing violent assault alone.
Focus. The Light yelled, startling him from the twisting memories of the past.
Focus on the present.
As if water had suddenly doused him from a deep, chilling slumber, Cal activated the lightsaber calling out to the Force to help guide his disorientated self.
"You alright?" Anakin grunted as Cal positioned himself, facing the opposite side to Anakin.
"Yeah. Sorry." He apologized.
"Are we on the same page about this?"
"Of course." The blonde answered cheerfully, seemingly unfazed by the danger raging around them.
That was all the encouragement Cal needed as he let the Force flow through him as he slammed his hand onto the floor. The pulse of the Force rippled through the air, instantly throwing the clones off guard and in one movement, Cal slowed his breathing; willing the world to slow to a crawl.
Anakin reacted instantly, sprinting forwards to slice the weapons into worthless shells of metal. Spinning to grab the chip remover from Cal and plunging it into the clones; uncaring about the amount of force he was using.
Breathless, Anakin chuckled as the effects of Cal's slow ebbed away and leaving the bleary, alarmed clones startled, desperate to gain their bearings.
It was only when he turned around that he rushed to Cal's side, the smile vanishing into concern.
Harsh breaths, Cal held his feverish head as cold chills coursed through his body, sliding to the ground as he battled for control of his memories.
"Cal?" Anakin dropped to a kneel, noting with alarm at Cal's haunted gaze.
"Padawan, your lightsaber!" The exasperated shout tumbled from the high platform towards the young child as the weapon slipped from his grasp.
"I'm sorry, Master."
"Keep moving, I'll meet you up ahead."
A shaky nod and the young Padawan scrambled up, unable to focus on the task at hand as his mind clouded with questions.
Stinging betrayal.
The Light was in pain, crying out as another Jedi was snuffed out. The severe agony it felt was so pronounced that even a Padawan could feel the gripping despair.
Distracting him.
"-Al!"
"Cal!"
Cal jolted, wrenched from his memories and he found himself back in the expansive hallway of the Jedi council, in Coruscant.
Not Bracca.
The ginger felt the way his body quivered, his cheeks drenched as Anakin's concerned stare, blurred beneath his eyes.
"Sorry." Cal fumbled, roughly scrubbing his eyes with his sleeve, mustering a shaky smile which didn't serve to reassure either of them.
"Your emotions, Cal. Let go of your fear" Anakin said softly, the concern on his face deepening with alarm as he sensed the heightened, hysteric terror and agitation as it radiated through their bond.
His mind was the epiphany of chaos, the fragmented pieces of his past wanting to completely devour him.
"The clones have betrayed us, there are no answers to your questions-not yet."
"I can't." Cal admitted hoarsely as it swarmed around him, despite his futile attempt to restrain them to the back of his mind.
Anakin let the comforting warmth stream through their bond, hoping to reassure Cal.
"We can end this war, Cal." A warm hand rested on Cal's quivering shoulder.
"But I can't do it alone."
"I know, just…give me a minute." Cal stumbled out, wrenching himself from the deafening blaster bolts.
"Master!"
"Remember, trust only in the Force."
The escape pod tumbled, plunging to the surface of Bracca and Cal could only sob, curling in on himself; his Master's lightsaber clutched in a vice-like grip.
"Cal, focus on our bond." Anakin urged, tapping Cal's cheek as he motionlessly glanced at nothing.
His bond…
It took several attempts for Cal to locate his bond with Anakin and even longer to wrench himself from the creeping memories.
And yet, he found it.
The warmth eased his doubts instantly.
"I'm scared." Cal admitted wordlessly.
"I've lost everything once, I…can't go through it again."
"You won't." Anakin answered aloud without missing a beat.
"How can you be so sure?" The poorly hidden doubt reflected in Cal's face, emerald eyes hesitant.
"Because…I refuse to die."
Cal blinked as the words sunk in, scoffing at the weak reply, a smile twisting on his face at the same pathetic reply he had offered to Anakin.
"We can do this, Cal. I believe that we will succeed."
Cal could not afford to loose to himself, everything was riding on them succeeding.
Everything.
"Yeah." He nodded, a shaky breath and the memories slowly untangled, clearing his muddled thoughts as they retracted to the back of his mind.
Anakin let out a breath of relief as Cal's emotions stabilised into a strong, unwavering determination.
"Now, don't we have an appointment with a Chancellor?"
"We do."
.
"Chancellor Palpatine. You are under arrest."
Danger. The Force screeched, setting the two Jedi on edge.
Danger.
The Sith Lord stayed motionless, concealed within the dark, facing away.
"Anakin, you are making a mistake." The Chancellor's tone was thickened with fury.
"Your Jedi friend has been lying to you this entire time."
Cal failed to stop the unease from being displayed on his face, holding his breath and averting his gaze at Anakin's confusion.
"I don't want to hear anything from you." He declared, hand tightening around his lightsaber.
"Do you hear that, he trusts you." Palpatine rose from his chair, every deliberate step sending more wariness into the both of them; only halting as his eyes bored into Cal.
"How do you think he will react? That everything you went through together was fake, that you don't care about him. You only care about surviving."
"You're wrong." Cal emphasized, an unwavering resolve at the poisonous lies.
"I care about Anakin like he's my brother, I care about everyone. I did this for everyone."
"Cal? What are you talking about?"
An inkling of reluctance nagged at Cal to lie, to reassure Anakin.
But he was far past that now, he was done with lying.
"Anakin, I'm from the future, I was sent back in time by the Force to stop the war." The ginger said softly, avoiding the prickling gaze, brimming with demanding questions.
"What?" Anakin strangled out.
"I wanted to tell you sooner, but I couldn't. I'm sorry." He admitted, finally gaining the courage to glance at stormy blue eyes.
The jarring news brought Anakin's thoughts to a standstill, unable to comprehend and yet, he knew Cal was telling the truth.
It was shocking, but it didn't change how he viewed Cal as a brother.
Cal's eyes widened, emerald eyes lighting with joy at the proclamation within their bond.
"I promise you Anakin, our friendship is not fake. I care about you and Obi-Wan as family."
Anakin hummed in agreement.
"That was a puny attempt at trying to turn us against each other, Chancellor." Anakin mocked, igniting his lightsaber.
"Have you heard from Senator Amidala recently?"
Palpatine didn't even blink, satisfaction growing at the predictable reaction. The lightsaber pointed underneath his neck, hovering dangerously.
"What have you done?" Anakin growled, jaw clenched as an icy terror raced underneath his skin.
"Nothing currently, but one word and she and your child will die."
Pure vulnerability was etched into Anakin's face, stumbling at the thought of loosing her, of loosing his child.
"What do you want?" He asked, defeated.
Cal's head swung to face him and yet, as soon as he was about to protest, to beg Anakin not too, his body slammed into the wall.
The Dark side cackling with glee and despite his struggles, the darkness consumed him.
Palpatine grinned, the manic thrush of power overwhelming any other sensation at Anakin's recoiling horror as he glanced at the crumpled figure of his friend.
"Pledge your loyalty to me, become my fist and destroy the Jedi Order and I will spare the three of them."
The blonde felt sick to his stomach, silent tears dripped down his cheeks.
Padmé was the love of his life, even if he was destroyed, reconstructed to become a ghost of himself.
She would be alive.
His child would be alive.
And when Obi-Wan woke up, he could stop him.
Bowing his head, the Jedi dropped his hand, letting the lightsaber slip from his grip and drop to the ground with a resounding thud.
The Force was pleading with him to stop.
His lungs threatened to give out, it was as if his heart had been ripped from his chest, to the point where he was plagued with agony.
Anakin kneeled, his blonde hair masking his gut-wrenching expression and every muscle in his body becoming taut.
.
.
Wake up.
Wake up!
An insistent sensation grated at him, trying desperately to rouse him from his sleep.
He ignored it, groaning to himself. Hoping that the irritating voice would fade and leave him to his peaceful rest.
Wake up!
The voice was screaming at him.
Anakin is in danger.
Anakin…
For some reason, the name sounded familiar…and yet, he couldn't seem to remember who that was.
Anakin.
Anakin...
Your apprentice!
He's in danger.
The sheer effort it took for Obi-Wan to fight against his instinct to remain within the empty, comforting darkness was exhausting.
Anakin was in danger.
And Obi-Wan Kenobi awakened from his coma.
.
Blinding artificial light bored down on Obi-Wan and he instantly shut his eyes, trying to keep his nausea at bay with sheer will.
When the sensation subsided, the Jedi-Master remained motionless for a second; trying to gain his bearings.
His head was feverish to the touch, burning his cool palm.
Anakin.
He scolded himself.
He could worry about his injuries later, but the Force had to have woken him for a reason.
"Anakin?"
And all of a sudden, Obi-Wan was bombarded with an avalanche of emotions. Flooding their bond to the point that it became difficult to concentrate.
Shock, relief, joy, fear.
"Master, you're alright." Anakin replied, thick with tears, croaking as the empty hollow sensation that destroyed him through each agonising day was finally subsided.
And yet, Obi-Wan noticed the gripping fear to the point where it alarmed him.
"Anakin, are you alright?"
A beat passed and the Jedi-Master didn't realise he was holding his breath until he answered.
"No." Anakin confessed.
"The clones turned on us and although we were prepared, there is still substantial loss. We found out that Palpatine is a traitor, he is a Sith Lord."
"What?" Struggling to prop himself out, swallowing the bursting cry, Obi-Wan tried to comprehend the chaotic words.
And all of a sudden, their bond silenced.
And he couldn't ignore the pooling sensation that something was terribly wrong.
Struggling to remove himself from the tangling of bedsheets and wires, Obi-Wan cursed as he lifted himself out of bed, gripping onto the wall as if his life depended on it.
Just as his legs shook, threatening to send him collapsing to the floor; strong hands wrapped around him, stabilising him.
Eyebrows pinched together, Obi-Wan stared at the clone. Anakin's words repeating in his mind.
The clones had betrayed them…
"I suppose you are hear to kill me?" Obi-Wan asked dryly.
"No. Your Jedi friends have sent me to protect you."
"Right, of course they did." Disbelief and sarcasm thickening as his eyes rolled.
"They did, the majority of the clones in the temple have been broken from their programming."
"I don-"
Obi-Wan froze.
"Obi-Wan?"
"Cal? What is happening? Anakin said that Palpatine is a Sith Lord?!"
"There's no time to explain, are you able to fight?"
Obi-Wan's eyes drifted to the medicine cabinet and wordlessly, the clone guided his trembling body towards the bench. Shaky hands clattering, strewing a mess of bottles and spilled chemicals, he finally found what he was looking for.
A disgusted grimace, Obi-Wan plunged the syringe into his shoulder, the stim pack thrumming through his veins, with a hiss.
The effect was instant, his pain ebbing away, numbing all sensations.
"For now." Obi-Wan answered.
"Thank Kriff. Find the senator! The Chancellor has captured her."
"Cal-"
"Find her." The insistence in his tone revealed a coursing fear.
And it was then that Obi-Wan stopped asking questions.
Because the revelation was that Cal was terrified.
Anakin was terrified.
He could feel the rising calamity of their emotions mingling together.
And the questions could wait till later.
"Alright, is this clone trustworthy?"
"Yes. Hurry Obi-Wan, we're running out of time."
"Are you ready to go?" He asked the clone, shrugging on his shirt.
"Where to?"
"The senate, we need to find Senator Amidala."
.
"Cal, she's safe. I cannot get through to Anakin."
"Thank you."
Cal tried to swallow the lump in throat, watching Anakin's heart-broken, torn expression through lidded eyes, trying to maintain the impression that he was still unconscious.
Inch by inch, Cal reached out his hand, Anakin's lightsaber gradually moving towards him.
Thankfully, Palpatine was too absorbed within his own manic glee to notice the ginger.
The split second Anakin's saber was in his hand, he lunged at Palpatine; knowing with certainty that he would die.
Cal dodged, his instincts screaming at him to doge as he rolled away as the sudden electricity crackled.
"Cal. Stop."
"Obi-Wan found her Anakin, she's safe."
Digesting his words, his face hardened as he slowly turned to the Sith Lord.
"Do you really think you can beat me? You are nothing without your anger, Anakin."
The high-pitched laugh grated, wheezy and Cal had to force the passive mask upon his face as to ensure he didn't react to the uncomfortable noise.
There was no way they could win this…
He just needed to keep Anakin alive.
That's all that mattered.
"I am afraid you have failed, Chancellor. I will never be a Sith."
Palpatine face morphed into a snarl as he called the pure unbridled hatred of the Dark.
"Then you will die a Jedi."
The blood-red lightsaber ignited and the Sith charged towards Cal, who was scarcely able to deflect the wild swing. Gritting his teeth at the speed of his attacks, it took every bit of concentration to evade the attacks.
Swipe, duck, block.
"Cal."
Cal couldn't risk glancing at the Anakin, in fear that he would make a grave mistake, the Force flowing through him was the only reason why he wasn't dead.
Cal was struggling. Anakin realised, watching the ginger as he parried the vicious stab.
With that thought, Anakin called to the Force, attempting to catch the Chancellor off-guard; to no avail.
Beady eyes trained on Anakin, he stalked towards the blonde and instantly; Anakin dove to the floor, gripping onto Obi-Wan's discarded lightsaber and igniting it just as the blood-red saber hovered precariously.
The blistering heat from the saber sparked dangerously as they were locked in a gridlock. Anakin gritted his teeth, trying to hold his position.
The man was toying with them…
It was obvious by the entertained smile that had yet to fall at all.
Anakin faltered, stumbling back at the sheer power behind the flurry of attacks, crushing his defence in dust.
With a chuckle, the Sith Lord simply twisted his wrist, sending Anakin flying across the room, crashing into the wall from the sheer weight of the attack.
Gasping.
"Anakin!" Cal called with alarm, gritting his teeth as a bolt of lightning sent him dropping to his knees, minimal trembles jolting at the burning electricity.
Breaths struggling, it was obvious that to the both of them that this was the end.
"It is such a shame, I expected better. From both of you."
Grunting with effort, Cal threw his lightsaber at the Sith. The cyan blue twisting through the air, instantly being deflected with a lazy flick of a wrist.
And yet, it provided the ginger enough of a distraction for the Force to flow through him, leaping from his position to plant himself between the pained, disorientated figure of Anakin and the terrifying, looming presence of the Sith Lord.
The attacks continued, relentlessness.
And he couldn't keep up, unable to maintain his speed; Each step backwards, solidifying his failings.
Cal tripped, a harsh cry as the lightsaber scorched deep within his shoulder, the raw wound hissing as it made contact with the air; twisting to avoid another injury.
Heart in his throat, he couldn't seem to get enough air in his lungs as the scuffling sound of shoes echoed behind him.
Stay down. He yearned to scream at Anakin, but there was no way he was able too.
And everything suddenly slowed to a crawl, except this time, it wasn't from Force slow; this time, Palpatine unpredictably left Cal on the floor and with the Force aiding him faster, he suddenly appeared in front of Anakin.
Who was not prepared to defend himself.
No!
Lightsaber poised, Palpatine's lightsaber blurred, ready to strike him down.
No!
And then, the Force whipped violently around Palpatine, staggering him off balance.
Whipping his head towards the entrance, Palpatine's eyes narrowed at the intruders, his smile vanishing into a disgusted scowl.
Cal could've wept with relief;
Master Yoda, Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi stood tall, surveying the scene with an analysing calm.
"Chancellor Palpatine, under arrest, you are." Master Yoda spoke, the authority in his voice holding a dangerous edge.
"I am the senate, you cannot arrest me."
"Not yet." Obi-Wan interrupted, worry swarming in his gaze as Cal limped to Anakin.
Bright Purple and green lightsabers ignited, Obi-Wan called to his fallen lightsaber, cast aside on the ground; igniting it with a steady hum.
.
Cal couldn't follow the battle with his eyes, the fast-paced haze of the battles flashed with colours as it continued.
It was difficult to tell what was happening, with Master Yoda opted to distract Palpatine, to the point where large hunks of metal was torn from the room and hurled towards the Sith.
The Chancellor sliced through the obstacles with ease, but it gave Mace Windu the chance to unpredictably adapt his stances between offensive and defensive; never allowing Palpatine enough time to become used to the attacks.
.
"Are you two alright?"
"I'm fine." Anakin nodded, ignoring the stark blood matting his hair.
"But Cal's hurt."
"You say as if you didn't get slammed into a metal wall." Cal snipped back, a wry grin on his face.
Obi-Wan glanced at Cal's shoulder with a sharp intake of breath. His skin was sweaty and it shocked Obi-Wan how hot it felt.
"Cal, did you get electrocuted?"
"Perhaps." Cal said sheepishly, avoiding the pointed glares from both of them as if he was being teamed up against.
"Kriff, we need to get you to the medical bay." Obi-Wan cursed, it was alarming as Cal's teeth began chattering, already descending into shock.
"What about…?"
"They'll be fine. You however are going into shock and Anakin might have a concussion."
"Where's Padmé?"
"In the medical bay."
Anakin's face paled, face falling.
"Just for a check-up." Obi-Wan reassured.
"I promise you, she is alright."
Their conversation waned at the crackling sparks of electricity shooting through the air, aiming directly at Master Yoda.
And yet, with a calm, resolve; Master Yoda absorbed the lightning with every inch of concentration, eyes clenched shut, while the Force sung with power, shoving all his will into reflecting the lighting back upon Palpatine.
His attention solely on Master Yoda, Mace Windu raised his hand, catching the Sith off guard as he landed on the glass pane. Deafening sounds of the city below reached their ears as the glass splintered, shattering completely.
Unable to notice, the Chancellor couldn't prevent Mace Windu from plunging his purple lightsaber into his stomach; his wheezing breath hanging within the air as he tipped backwards, shoved into bustling, roaring city, below.
And then, silence.
A moment where everybody held their breath, waiting. It was only after that brief second passed that they realised it was over.
They knew, before the thud of the lifeless body toppled through the roaring winds of Coruscant.
Palpatine was dead.
The foggy darkness that haunted the Light subsided, everyone in the room held their breath, unsure as if it was truly over.
The Force hummed in joy, in unbridled light shining down after a dreary day.
The weight of hatred, of violent disaster sunk beneath the shadows; defeated.
It was over.
Cal shut his eyes, leaning against the cool marble of the wall, which served to soothe his budding headache; savouring the feeling that they had succeeded.
There was loss, he could feel the twinge of grief within the Light and yet, it was not substantial, it was not a massacre that would end in the shattering of the Order.
The Jedi were alive.
"We did it." Anakin breathed, laughing unbelievingly.
Cal smiled.
It was all worth it, all the sacrifices, all the pain, all the memories he had to persevere through.
It had all been for this moment.
"Come on, we need to get you two some help." Obi-Wan tugged Anakin upright, cautiously glancing at Cal to keep an eye on his declining mental state.
.
The three Jedi stumbled half-way when a nurse scampered towards them.
"Knight Anakin, the Senator wishes to see you; she is going through contractions."
"Oh Force." The unsure look crossed Anakin's face.
How was he going to explain what occurred to Padmé?
Would she still look at him the same aster he told her that he was close to becoming Palpatine's slave?
"Go to her, Anakin." Obi-Wan urged, sensing his conflict thoughts.
"She needs you."
Anakin nodded, running a stressed hand through his hair.
he set off at a run.
It didn't matter if she hated him, he needed to be there for her; especially now.
Before Cal could say a single word, the world spun on it's axis. Obi-Wan steadied him, lowering him to the ground as he realised with a startle that the ginger's lips were morphing into a startling shade of blue.
"Cal…"
Thank you Cal Kestis.
The strength in the Force echoed around the pair.
You have done enough, now you can rest.
"Cal…What's…"
"It's time." The twinge of reluctance sunk deep within Cal's voice.
He didn't want to leave and yet, he knew it was coming, after all he was already on borrowed time.
He was selfish for wanting to stay with them, for disregarding the Light's wishes.
"Look after Ani and his child. Not to mention, look after yourself."
"What are you talking about?" Obi-Wan asked, trying to ignore the clear as day words that hummed through the Force.
"I knew this would happen and yet, I don't want to go." Cal confessed, his tone wavering with emotions.
"Goodbye Obi-Wan."
He embraced the man tighter.
And Cal let his emerald eyes slump closed, reaching out to the gentle warmth of the Force.
Obi-Wan was suddenly alone in the hallway, his adrenaline fading; the Jedi-Master bowed his head, unsure as to what had just occurred; albeit understanding that Cal was gone.
Obi-Wan's eyes welled with tears.
Cliffhanger? Who me...neverrr :D
Trilla and Cere apperance?! Bet you weren't expecting that! Haha
Thank you so much for every single one of you! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I will see you soon for the final!