Anakin was marched into the courtroom, his hands in force suppressing cuffs to prevent him from having any chance of escaping.

The courtroom was huge, and he could see judges in the galleries on both sides.

He could see a gallery where the Jedi Council members sat.

And close to them, seated, was Obi Wan.

He felt a ray of hope when he set his eyes on Obi Wan.

And then, he looked ahead, standing in his position on his platform meant for the accused.

He saw a highly raised platform, on which there was a chair obviously meant for the one who would be presiding over the trial.

And his hopes flared up when he saw just who it was.

It was Chancellor Palpatine.

The Chancellor had always been a good friend. He had often comforted him in times of need and had looked after him at times when Obi Wan had had to go on missions without him.

Surely, he would see his innocence and help him out.

Or so he hoped.

The Chancellor spoke, "The court recognises the accused, Anakin Skywalker, charged of sedition against the Republic and the Jedi Order, the prosecutor, Senator Orn Free Taa of Ryloth," after which, a door on the left side opened and in strode Orn Free Taa, looking as bulbous as ever with arrogance, to a platform on Anakin's left, "and the defense, Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo," after which, a door opened on the right side and in walked Senator Padmé Amidala, looking so beautiful with her smile and her hair and grace that Anakin nearly forgot that he was being tried.

Orn Free Taa spoke accusingly, "Boy, I will prove, here and now, that you are the guilty one and that you receive the highest form of punishment, the death penalty."

Padmé Amidala spoke, "I will prove, here and now, that my client, Anakin Skywalker, is not guilty of the charges brought against him."

Palpatine spoke, "You are accused of murder of senators and Jedi, as well as several police guards, and working with the terrorist Aurra Sing. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty, your excellency," Anakin cried out.

Orn Free Taa scoffed, "Of course you would say that boy, what about your force choke on the terrorist Zam Wessel, obviously killing your accomplice to hide yourself!"

Padmé intervened, "Skywalker did not commit that crime. Yes, Zam Wessel was saying that it was a Jedi Padawan, but Anakin suspected that she was lying. But before he could press on further, she was suddenly lifted up by a force user and choked. Anakin had no idea what was happening, and he was desperate. He tried to save her, but he could not and she died. Before he was even given a chance to explain what had happened, he was put in prison. A Jedi may have been involved, but it was not Anakin Skywalker."

Orn Free Taa scoffed, "It was a force choke. Anyone can tell that."

Anakin hissed, "It may have looked like one, but it was not one. I will show you exactly what I was doing."

He lifted his bound wrists and with his fingers, he mimicked prying open another person's fingers.

Orn Free Taa said, "Well, pretty good display, but even if you really did not kill her, what about the guards, and working with Aurra Sing, a well known terrorist who has killed several civilians?!"

Padmé intervened, "Aurra Sing was once a member of the Jedi Order, it is possible that she was the one to kill Wessel, and plus, she deceived Skywalker, claiming to be an innocent woman seeking help. And the Jedi that he is, of course he would jump to help someone in need, just like he, along with Master Kenobi and Master Jinn, saved my homeworld from the Trade Federation eight years ago. He went there, and he was deceived. Aurra Sing claimed to be helping him, but when the police intervened, she killed the guards while Skywalker meant to only defend himself, and then left him to fend for himself. How does that count as working together, when clearly, the events showed clear deceit?! How does that make a young helpful man like him, be fit only for punishment like this?"

Orn Free Taa pointed out, "But they fought together, did they not? And wouldn't members of a gang expect the others to follow when one breaks a way out? And Skywalker did attempt to escape from the warehouse full of bombs through the very same escape route that Sing created when he knew there was no way he could kill all those guards. That clearly shows he was working with her."

Anakin said, "My master will not stand for this!"

Orn Free Taa scoffed, "Then where is he?"

"Over here," a voice suddenly called out.

And the next moment, Anakin saw Obi Wan standing near Padmé, being followed by some other Jedi including Mace Windu, Kit Fisto and Plo Koon.

Obi Wan spoke up, "I may not be authorized as a Jedi Knight to speak here, especially since I do not have the evidence. I attempted to arrest Aurra Sing, but she managed to get offworld before I could catch her. I, however, am quite sure that Anakin had no part in any of these murders. While I may not have the permission of the Council, I believe in my apprentice and am quite sure of his innocence. Chancellor, I humbly beg you to help him."

Obi Wan stopped after this, hoping that the Court would consider Anakin's case and declare him cleared.

And then, one of the officials stood up, holding a datapad and said, "The members of the court have reached a decision."

Anakin looked up at Palpatine pleadingly. He was the Supreme Chancellor. His words would surely have an effect.

Whatever it was, all his hopes were on Palpatine now.

Palpatine could save him. He would, wouldn't he?

Mas Amedda handed a datapad to Palpatine, who looked at it, and then stood up.

With a regretful expression on his face, he declared, "Anakin Skywalker, as much as I would love to believe what has been said in your defense, I cannot ignore the fact that the evidence all points to you. And as such, unfortunately, there is no proof to point out your innocence. As of such, I have no choice here in this matter. We cannot ignore what has happened, nor can we ignore the need for justice to be served. Therefore, I am forced to sentence you to the highest form of punishment, the death penalty."

Anakin's heart fell in shock, and his mouth opened and he gasped, "No!"

Palpatine continued, "The time of your punishment shall be decided shortly. Guards, take him away."

At once, security guards grabbed Anakin roughly by the arms and dragged him away even as he screamed, "NO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! PLEASE NOOOOO!"

"ANAKIN," Obi Wan cried out and attempted to go after them, but suddenly found himself being held back.

He turned his head around and realized that it was Mace Windu who was holding him.

Mace shouted, "OBI WAN KENOBI, GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF! YOU ARE BEING BLINDED BY YOUR ATTACHMENT TO THAT BOY! HE COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIMES AND NOW HE HAS GOTTEN WHAT WAS COMING TO HIM!"

Obi Wan yelled, "HOW DARE YOU! ALL THANKS TO YOU, MY INNOCENT PADAWAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH!"

With that, he punched the Korun Master in the face and attempted to pursue the guards but suddenly, he found himself being held back by two Jedi masters.

"LET ME GO!" he shouted.

He turned to see who was holding him and this time, it was Kit Fisto and Plo Koon.

Fisto cried out, "Calm down, getting agitated is not going to help! You're not helping anyone by being angry and losing control like this!"

Plo Koon said, "Obi Wan, calm down. Otherwise, you'll end up doing more harm than good. Calm down."

Obi Wan didn't want to not run after Anakin, but he knew that the masters were right.

He stopped struggling.

By that time, Anakin had already been dragged out of the courtroom.

The members were all exiting the courtroom even as Koon and Fisto took Obi Wan up to one of the galleries and had him sit down on a seat.

Obi Wan placed his head in his hands and did not stop the tears that were falling.

He felt Koon place a comforting hand on his shoulder and heard him say, "Obi Wan, I'm so sorry I couldn't get the council to keep him in the order. It's my fault he didn't have enough support."

Fisto added, "Master Koon and some others argued that Anakin should not be expelled, but our words fell on deaf ears."

Obi Wan moaned, "I've failed Anakin; I've failed Qui Gon."

Koon said, "No you haven't."

Obi Wan looked up at him.

And then Koon said, "I have an idea. I know it seems wild, but I think it's the right thing to do."

Obi Wan asked, "What?"

Koon declared, "We'll break him out of here, now, tonight."

Fisto said, "It's quite risky, but it could work. We'll get him out of there, and then we can send him to some safe place. Maybe Naboo or something."

Determination flared up in Obi Wan's eyes as he heard those words.

Long ago, when Qui Gon had died, he had expressed his last wish that Obi Wan train the boy, and furthermore, Obi Wan himself had decided that if he had to leave to Order to train Anakin, then so be it.

And in that moment, he knew what he wanted to do.

He would break Anakin out tonight, and then they would flee the Republic.

And then, he would help Anakin do what should have been done long ago, something about someone that he constantly worried about, and had missed for years.

Together, they would free Anakin's mother from slavery, and then they would go somewhere safe. Maybe Naboo. Perhaps Padmé would be willing to help them out.


Meanwhile, in the Supreme Chancellor's office…

Anakin could not understand what was going on.

Barely moments ago, he had been sentenced to death, and now, instead of being in a prison cell, he was standing in the Chancellor's office, without any restraints.

The police guards had simply handed him over to Palpatine's personal guards, dressed in crimson red, who had promptly uncuffed him and escorted him here.

What could be going on here?

Perhaps the sentence had just been reversed, or maybe his time would soon be up anyway and he had been brought here so that the Chancellor could speak to him one last time before the execution.

Just then, he heard the familiar voice of Palpatine calling out, "Ah, Anakin my dear boy, I am pleased to see you have been brought here."

Even as Anakin turned around, Palpatine continued, spreading his arms out as if he were going to give a fatherly hug, "I cannot tell you how sorry I am at the way things have come to this."

"Sorry?!" Anakin suddenly cried out in anger, "What do you mean sorry?! You've just sentenced me to bloody execution for something I never did!"

"Please Anakin," Palpatine pleaded, "Just listen to me, please, I had no choice, I had to declare you to be guilty and sentenced for execution, otherwise, you would have been at the mercy of the Jedi."

Anakin snapped, "What difference does it make anyway?! I'm going to die either way! I trusted you, and you betrayed me! How could you?!"

"ANAKIN," Palpatine suddenly shouted, "JUST LISTEN TO ME! I AM NOT TRYING TO HARM YOU!"

Anakin, taken aback by this unexpected outburst, fell silent.

Frustration could be seen on Palpatine's face, but it was only for a moment.

The next moment, he had his affectionate, regretful expression on his face, and then he said, "This sentence is only a farce to protect you. I am so sorry, but making it seem that you were sentenced to death was the only way I could save you. If I had not done what I did, the Jedi would have put you to death."

Anakin said, "Obi Wan would not have let that happen."

Palpatine said, "I admire your faith, but I am afraid, he is just one voice among several, and when the majority wins, the majority decision prevails, surely, do you not understand that?"

Anakin nodded and replied, "I do."

He then continued, "But there were some masters who stood up for me."

Palpatine asked, "But were they not the ones outvoted in the end? And, was the Grandmaster one of those?"

Anakin sadly replied, "Master Yoda and Windu kicked me out of the Order. They wouldn't even let me explain properly."

Palpatine placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and said, "I am afraid that is the nature of things. The bad outnumber the good people in this galaxy."

Anakin sighed and asked, "What will happen to me now?"

Palpatine said, "Everything will be alright Anakin, you were the most gifted Jedi that ever existed in the Order, and it is a real shame that you were treated this way."

Anakin asked, "What about Obi Wan? When will I next meet him? Can I see him tomorrow if not now? Surely, something could be done, right?"

Palpatine's expression was grave when he replied, "I am afraid I cannot allow that to happen. For, should he know the secret of you having been saved, and your death having been faked, as will be the case, then the other Jedi will know, and even he will not be able to help you. They will see to it that you die."

Anakin couldn't help feeling a little strange at this. Mace Windu, okay, but the other Jedi? All of them?

He said, "Chancellor, I don't believe it's possible. Surely, some will support me. The Jedi are not barbaric. At least, not all of them."

Palpatine said, "I admire your faith in those who support you, but I am afraid that faith has been misplaced. Look at what has happened to you. You trusted the Jedi, and yet, look where you ended up. I cannot, in good faith, take any risk that would threaten your life."

Anakin cried out, "But what about my training? I am still a Padawan. Obi Wan is my master, my teacher, my mentor, my brother, almost like a father to me. How can I complete my training without him?! My training will all be wasted!"

Palpatine placed his hands on Anakin's shoulders and said, "Listen, you were always, and are even now, destined for great things. You are the Chosen One, but if the Chosen One is to accomplish great feats, then you must know all aspects of the force. I cannot bring Obi Wan to let him finish your training, but that does not mean that I cannot help you. I can assure you, I will not allow your training to go to waste."

Anakin asked, "What do you mean?"

Palpatine took his hands off, and the two began to walk across the room.

The Chancellor said, "I am no Jedi, but I know the force."

Anakin asked, "You know the force? Then why weren't you in the Jedi Order? It would have been so wonderful to have you as a Jedi Master and a Chancellor!"

Palpatine smiled and replied, "Let's just say, my mentor did not feel it fit for the Jedi to train me. I would have grown up with their dogmatic views, and needless to say, I would not know everything that needs to be known."

"Everything?" Anakin asked, curious, but with a feeling of suspicion creeping in.

"Yes," Palpatine replied, "Everything about the force, even the dark side."

"The dark side?" Anakin asked, even more suspicious than ever.

And then, it hit him.

He suddenly backed away and cried out, "You're a Sith Lord!"

Palpatine, unfazed by this, turned around and said calmly, "And so I am, yet, I continue to serve the Republic, out of interest for the galaxy's well being."

Anakin cried out, "You want me on your side! That's why you sentenced me to death! So that I'd have no one but the Sith!"

Palpatine said calmly, "Look Anakin, that is irrelevant to the fact that you were framed. The Jedi would have marked you for death anyways. I was simply doing what I needed to do in order to save you, and now, I want to help you. Can you not understand that? Yes, I am a Sith, but I do care about you and want you to be strong, I mean, look at how much potential you have. Don't let it go to waste, I beg you."

Anakin shouted, "Not only did you deceive us for years, you made me believe you were always looking out for me!"

Palpatine pleaded, "But I have, how can you think otherwise? Please, listen to me, don't throw away your life like this, let me help you, I beg you."

Anakin declared, "You know what, forget it! I have no reason to have anything to do with the Sith. And I'm not going to join the dark side simply because it seems to be the only way, as you claim. I'm going to go find Obi Wan, and we'll sort out everything. And don't worry about me, because I can handle it myself without getting caught. I'll find him, somehow, and I'll get away. I'm going to go find him right now."

With that, he turned around and started for the doors.

He was just about to reach the doorway and step outside when he suddenly heard a strangely different, sinister loud voice shout out, "You're not going anywhere, boy!"

He turned around in panic to see who had spoken, and saw that it was none other than Palpatine.

His face was no longer looking kind and fatherly, but sinister and foreboding, and his eyes, normally full of warmth and affection, were now glowing yellow with evil.

Palpatine hissed, "I wanted to offer the power of the dark side to you as a gift, but since you will not accept it, I will have to force you to understand the nature of the dark side. Guards, take him away."

Anakin turned around to see Palpatine's red robed guards surrounding him.

He tried to turn around and flee but one of the guards struck him with a pike and he fell, clutching his stomach in pain.

Two of the guards swiftly grabbed him and just as he screamed out, "NO", they quickly gagged him before hitting him on the head and knocking him out.

Palpatine watched them drag him away and said, "And prepare my shuttle. Take the boy to it."


Meanwhile, in a prison block, at the high security level…

Obi Wan, Plo Koon and Kit Fisto were walking as quickly as they could.

Koon said, "The guard said he was supposed to be on this level, but something's not right."

Fisto said, "I cannot feel his force signature. Must be Ysalamiri."

Obi Wan muttered, "Of course they would use Ysalamiri."

Koon whispered, "Remember, once we get him out, we say we are bringing him along for his execution, but actually get him to the ship."

Fisto added, "Lucky the Senator of Naboo agreed to help."

Just then, there was an explosion that rocked the facility. The three Jedi nearly lost their balance and fell against the wall, but managed to push themselves up and stabilize themselves.

Obi Wan broke into a run gasping, "They said there's only one prisoner in the high security section right now! Something's not right!"

He ran and ran and finally reached a cell which he had been told was the cell of Anakin Skywalker.

Only to find the door blown away.

The cell and some other cells in that corridor, pretty much the corridor itself were on fire.

And in that cell, there were some charred remains.

"NO!" Obi Wan cried out.

Just then, the Jedi Masters reached and Fisto cried out, "Goodness, it can't be!"

Obi Wan cried out, "Let's check the other cells! It can't be this way!"

They proceeded to check all the other cells, but all they could find were either debris or a few charred remains, but there was no sign of Anakin Skywalker in any of the high security level cells.

In horror, Obi Wan ran back to the one where Anakin was said to have been harbored, and along with the charred remains, were some remains of what seemed to be a Jedi's cloak.

"NO!" Obi Wan screamed out, "YOU CAN'T BE DEAD!"

"Obi Wan," he heard Koon say, "I don't know what's happened, but whatever it was, it looks like he was blown to bits. Must have been some mercenary or something. I don't want to accept it but…"

"No" Obi Wan cried out, "Master Koon, something has to be wrong! Anakin was the Chosen One. It was said he would destroy the Sith, not die in this pathetic condition! Something is wrong! I feel it! He must be alive somewhere! I think we're being tricked!"

Fisto came over and frowned. He closed his eyes for a few moments and said, "You may be right. If we have been tricked, then we must find Anakin and save him before it is too late, but the process will be very difficult, not to mention the Council will…"

"Forget the Council!" Obi Wan cried out, "I cannot fail him now! I'll search the whole galaxy if I have to find him, but I will find him, and I will help him even if I have to leave the Order to do so! Oh Anakin, where are you?!"

Little did they know that Anakin was being taken away right from under their noses.

And somewhere, right outside the Senatorial Plaza, Chancellor Palpatine's shuttle lifted off into the night sky of Coruscant, heading straight towards outer space.