Chapter 64 - Operation Knightfall

Author's Note: I am so, so sorry. *sobs*

~ Amina Gila

Ahsoka can feel something's wrong. She doesn't fully understand what it is or means, but it's there, burning in the back of her mind. The Force is humming with warning and danger, braced for action and a shift somehow greater than what she sensed before the outbreak of the Clone Wars.

She's in the Chancellor's office when it happens.

It seems so normal at first. Mundi, Shaak Ti, and a handful of other Jedi Masters enter, the way they always to do to report, though for some reason, something about the way they're moving is too... deliberate. They look tense, braced for action, with some other... purpose.

"Master Mundi," Palpatine greets, "I take it General Grievous has been destroyed."

"You are under arrest in the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, Chancellor," Mundi replies, igniting his lightsaber. The other Jedi immediately follow suit.

Ahsoka instantly steps forwards, hands on her lightsabers. They're threatening the Chancellor, just as he warned her they might.

"Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?" Palpatine asks smoothly.

"Your fate will be for the Senate to decide," Mundi replies, sharply.

"I am the Senate," he hisses.

"You don't have the right to do this," Ahsoka warns, taking a step forward.

"Stand down, Knight Tano," Mundi snaps.

"You're about to attack the Chancellor, and you're telling me to stand down?" she demands, incredulously.

None of the Jedi back down. They're going to attack. She can see it in their eyes.

"It's treason, then," Palpatine retorts, standing sharply.

Ahsoka draws her lightsabers, eyes narrowed on the Jedi. There's not even a question of what her choice is. She has always chosen what was right, no matter how hard it was.

The Jedi have their own lightsabers ignited, so Ahsoka ignites hers, standing in a defensive position in front of Palpatine. She's not afraid to fight them if she has to, not after everything they're doing.

It's Mundi who makes the first move, and Ahsoka jumps at him, blocking his blade with her own. Palpatine jumps at the Jedi, a red lightsaber in hand – she didn't realize he had one, or knew how to fight with it, but she has other concerns right now. Namely, trying to stop these maniacs from taking over the Republic. And then they talk about democracy and fighting for the people. They fight for themselves.

The entire Council was in on this. Force, was Obi-Wan? Did he know? Was he going along with this all? Of course, he was – that's the kind of thing he would do. It's not as though he hasn't done worse.

"I should've known the Jedi were plotting to overthrow the Republic a long time ago," Ahsoka snarls as her and Mundi's blades clash.

"If you have sided with the Sith, you will be treated the same," he informs her calmly, and Ahsoka kicks him for the comment. He skids backwards, and she scans the fight, jumping at Shaak Ti, who is currently fighting Palpatine, in the hopes of ending this.

The Jedi Master whirls aside a step too fast, parrying her blow, and Ahsoka snarls at her furiously. After everything they fought for, everything she did for them, they use it all to do this? For their own gain?

Their fight is fast, and admittedly, brutal. Shaak Ti is skilled, very much so, and getting through her defenses is hard. Ahsoka Force-throws a few objects at her, which finally slow her down enough for Ahsoka to stab her.

Killing Jedi feels – it feels wrong somehow, but this was their choice. Not Ahsoka's. There was nothing else she could do. They were committing treason.

Ahsoka whirls around to where Palpatine and Mundi are still fighting – he's the last standing Jedi, and currently, Palpatine is shooting nearly blinding bolts of electricity at him. It's a distraction, and a good one – long enough for Ahsoka to bolt forwards and stab him through the heart.

It's done. The Jedi who came after Palpatine are dead, but Ahsoka has no doubt more are on their way. If the Council was involved, many Jedi Masters or... others will come once their leaders don't return.

They said Palpatine was a Sith. Of course, they did – they wouldn't differentiate. As if the Dark Side somehow makes someone evil? Please. Even Master Windu used the Dark Side on a regular basis when he was still alive.

"What will we do now?" Ahsoka asks, turning to him.

Palpatine extinguishes his lightsaber, turning to face her. "It is apparent my fears were correct," Palpatine says. Something in his voice is... different now. He's talking sharper, more distinctively, and he sounds... mildly unnerving. This is the first time she's seen his eyes yellow, too.

"Evidently," Ahsoka agrees bitterly, "I have no idea how far this goes. I suspect most know, or at least many."

"We must move quickly. The Jedi are relentless. If they are not all destroyed, it will be civil war without end," he replies, "We must assume all the Jedi were aware of this treachery. If even one survives, they will seek to overthrow us and the Senate, which will be their next target."

Force, she hadn't even thought that far ahead yet. The Senate would never willingly accept Jedi rule. Not even pro-Jedi supporters, like Padme, would be willing to go along with it. There are so many people who would fight against it. Kitster would. Ahsoka can't let them get that far. "Then we have to act first," Ahsoka answers, "If we attack, the Jedi will be caught off-guard."

"Indeed," the Chancellor agrees. She's never sensed him clearly in the Force before. He feels so... dark. She didn't realize he was so powerful, and it's almost unnerving.

"I will take my men to the Temple immediately," Ahsoka says determinedly, "We have to catch them off-guard, before they realize what happened."

"Yes," Palpatine agrees, "But first..."

Ahsoka pauses, looking at him questioningly.

"Pledge yourself to my teachings," he requests. It sounds more like an order, but it's something she already agreed to, so it doesn't matter. "To the ways of the Sith."

Her heart skips a beat. That's what the Jedi were saying. Is it true? "You're a Sith Lord?"

There's a difference between that, and him being just a Dark Sider. It's – Dooku mentioned there was a Sith controlling the Senate, didn't he? Ahsoka just didn't realize he meant Palpatine. Is he Sidious? That seems so unthinkable, and yet... "Are you Sidious?"

Palpatine studies her appraisingly. "That is my Sith name."

... He's Sidious? Sidious is real, then? The very person who's been behind the entire war from the start? "You started the war?" Ahsoka demands, incredulous. If that's true it would mean...

No, she can't believe the Jedi's actions might actually have been justified. He is still the Chancellor, but if he committed treason just as much, then –

"I manipulated an inevitable situation to our advantage," Palpatine – no, Sidious – replies, smoothly, "It is no different than what you were intending to do with Dooku, manipulating the war for a favorable outcome."

Well, when he puts it like that... It doesn't sound as awful as she was afraid of. But still, Sidious is the one person she always thought they would have to kill to bring peace, and to know that all this time that she knew him is... jarring. The betrayal cuts sharply, even if she can understand why he hid it.

"We do not have time to discuss this right now," Sidious goes on, studying her.

He's right about that, and her mind is whirling too furiously to say anything coherent about it right now, anyway.

Ahsoka doesn't really know how this is done, but she can guess. She steps forwards, lowering herself to one knee in front of him – even if she doesn't much like the position. It reminds her way too much of things on Tatooine. "I pledge myself to your teachings, to the ways of the Sith," she recites.

"Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth Osira," Sidious says.

Osira? Ahsoka turns the name over consideringly in her mind. It... fits somehow.

"Rise," Sidious tells her, and she stands immediately.

"What about the Jedi spread across the galaxy?"

"Their betrayal will be dealt with," he assures, "After you have killed all the Jedi in the Temple, go to the Mustafar system. Wipe out Viceroy Gunray and the other Separatist leaders. Once more, the Sith will rule the galaxy, and we shall have peace."

Peace.

Finally. The one thing Ahsoka – Osira – has been working towards this entire time. And finally, finally it's in reach. But it means she'll have to... kill everyone at the Temple. They'll be destroying the entire Order.

It... she doesn't know how to feel about that, but it wasn't her choice. It was theirs. That doesn't mean she... wants to. But there's nothing she can do.

"What about the younglings?" Osira asks, "They could be of use to us." They weren't the ones who committed treason, anyway.

"They are still deadly and far too set in the Jedi way," Sidious replies.

It's a risk, but still one worth taking. "Even if we can get them to stand down? Arrest them?" she objects.

"If they are actually willing," he agrees, though she can see his reluctance. He's probably right that not many will be stoppable, but it's a chance they'll have to take. It's time to get the boys ready to go to the Temple.

**w**

Something's wrong. Anakin's standing on the bridge of the cruiser, on the way back to Coruscant, unable to shake the steadily growing feeling of darkness in the Force. He doesn't know what's happening, but it –

The Force suddenly ripples violently, as though people are dying all across the galaxy all at once. He's felt massive deaths at once before, but this is stronger somehow, more overwhelming. It feels like all the light in the galaxy is being ripped out all at once, plunging it entirely into darkness.

What – what's happening?

He stumbles, pressing a hand to his head, heart pounding. Something is terribly wrong, and he has no idea what.

The other padawans look just as overwhelmed and afraid.

"What's that?" O'mer asks, voice strangled.

"I don't know," Anakin breathes, sprinting for the door. If something's wrong, he needs to make sure his mother and the boys are okay. He needs to figure out what's going on.

The Force hums in warning, telling him to stay back the moment he approaches the doors, but they're already opening before he can second guess his decision.

Jinx and O'mer step through in front.

Something about the way the clones are standing when they enter is too... He doesn't know, but something is wrong with them.

Rex spins around, drawing his blasters, aiming them at... them?

"... Rex?" Anakin asks, gaze jumping wildly between him and the rest of the boys. All the others are raising their blasters, too, except Clone Force 99. What's happening? What are they doing?

There's a heartbeat of absolute silence before they all start shooting.

Anakin whips out his lightsabers purely on instinct, deflecting the shots away. The other three barely manage to get out theirs, trying to deflect the blasts.

The clones are shooting at them, trying to kill them, and Anakin has no idea why.

"What are you doing?" demands Hunter in the background, but no one's listening to him.

There's a distant "following orders" in the background that sounds like Crosshair, but he couldn't be sure, and Anakin doesn't have time to think about it.

And his visions. Force –

Anakin's fighting alongside Barriss, and he throws a frantic look to Jinx and O'mer, fighting back-to-back the exact same way as his vision. Trying not to kill the clones is nigh impossible, but he's trying, and he somehow needs to get to O'mer –

Except, he doesn't make it more than a few steps, before a blaster shot catches him the shoulder. He stumbles, and goes down, Jinx frantically crying his name.

Anakin just feels cold, freezing, with the horror that crashes through him in that moment. It just –

O'mer is –

They need to get out of here, and figure out what in the name of the Force is going on and why it's happening, and –

Hunter, Wrecker, Omega, and Boba join them, stunning the clones. Anakin twists around, deflecting a stray shot to a control panel for a blast door to the bridge and it slams closed, sealing any of the approaching clones out. For now.

Anakin pauses then, struggling to catch his breath. O'mer is gone. He felt it when their bond shattered, but he didn't have a moment to think about it until right now. It still doesn't feel fully real, but it's – he, Jinx, O'mer, and Kalifa had a connection that he never could with anyone else because of what they faced together, and he's gone. He's –

"What was that?" Anakin asks, breathlessly. The clones killed him, and he has no idea why, but the betrayal cuts sharply. It doesn't make sense. The boys wouldn't do that, but they did,and they don't seem themselves at all, and he has no idea what's happening.

Only now that he has a moment to look at the Batch, he can see how shaken up they are, too. They aren't acting the same as the others, though there's something about the way Crosshair is looking at them... He doesn't really know what to make of it.

"The comm channels are repeating one directive," Tech supplies, "Execute Order 66."

"What does that mean?" Anakin asks, confused.

"The Jedi are traitors," Crosshair supplies, eyes narrowed. Even his tone is almost unusually cold, but it's the words that freeze Anakin's brain entirely. What is he even talking about?!

"What?" Anakin demands, even more confused than before.

"We have to follow orders," he replies, which answers nothing. But he's looking at Hunter, not at Anakin anymore.

"We don't even know what the order is," Hunter throws back.

"Tech, can you figure out what's happening? I don't understand what made the boys... turn on us," Anakin asks, desperately. O'mer is dead. He doesn't want to keep looking at the body lifeless on the floor, but he can't stop. It's only the sheer rush of adrenaline that's keeping him from collapsing entirely, that's holding the overwhelming wave of grief back from smothering him completely. He can't be dead. He can't be, but he is, and Anakin doesn't even –

Force.

He just wants to scream. And cry. And he can't do either right now if everyone on the ship, except who's in this room, is trying to kill them for no reason at all. Even Rex.

"The inhibitor chips," Omega pipes up, and all eyes turn to her.

"What?"

"The Kaminoans put chips in all the clones," Omega replies, "They can't help it."

... What?!

"And these are meant to actually control them?" Anakin asks, faintly.

She nods.

That – what.

The clones are being mind-controlled, or... something. He can't even begin to imagine the implications of that. The clones were being forced to attack them, because that shouldn't even be there is making them... think they have to? He doesn't really understand how that works, but Omega would know. She was on Kamino, after all.

At least, he desperately hopes what she's saying is true. He doesn't want to believe that all the boys he fought by turned on him for no reason. Just because of orders, as if – all the time they've spent together meant nothing. He doesn't want to believe they would ever do that, even if that is technically what they've been trained to do. Even if –

"Why aren't these chips affecting us?" Hunter objects.

"Our deviant nature is likely influencing their programming," Tech replies, studying something on his datapad.

Unwittingly, Anakin's gaze flickers to Crosshair. Do the chips have anything to do with why he's acting so strange suddenly? Is he going to turn on them? He already called them traitors, and that – this is not good. He's with them and he's going to know whatever they do, but there's nothing they can do about that.

Anakin's not leaving any of them behind if he can say anything about it. But – but if his chip is active, they need to do something. Somehow. But he has no idea what.

For a moment, he desperately wishes Obi-Wan or Ahsoka were here, to tell him what to do. Shmi is here, but she's not a Jedi. She wouldn't really know, not in things like this.

Force.

Obi-Wan and Ahsoka.

Are they alright?! How widespread are these attacks?!

No, he has to stay focused on surviving right now, or they're never going to get out of this alive, but that doesn't stop his surge of blinding panic, because he has no idea what to do now.

"Can't we take them out?" Barriss asks, "Would that restore their loyalty?"

"I don't know if it's safe," Omega replies, worry obvious in her eyes.

Anakin doesn't know what to do. He can't just... start cutting people's heads open to make sure they are themselves and risk killing them, but he can't do nothing either. He can't leave them being controlled. And if he and the others don't do something fast, they're all going to end up dead. They have to get out of here, but he doesn't want to leave all the boys behind.

"Unless we try to escape quietly, it doesn't sound like there's a choice," Jinx points out.

"No," Anakin objects, firmly, "I'm not leaving anyone behind if I can help. Let's get Rex to a medbay and see what we can determine."

And see if there's even a way to get these things out. That's a far more concerning issue though, because he doesn't even know if these things are safely removable, and if they aren't, then what? He'll just... deal with it then if it comes to that. He can't let himself think that it might. Not right now.

Crosshair looks far from happy, and Anakin's half certain he's about to try something, but he doesn't. Yet.

Wrecker steps forwards, picking up Rex, and Anakin cuts a hole in the floor for them all to jump down and take off. If they have any chance of getting out of here before all the clones end up on their tails, they'll have to move. Fast.

**w**

Kitster is with Padme when they see the blaze from afar. The Temple is burning. It's being attacked, and all he can feel is a sense of numb horror when he sees it. Just days ago, the Separatists attacked. Did they have some kind of failsafe plan in place? There's really no other option, but why isn't the fighting more widespread?

His first thought is of Ahsoka. She's a Jedi, and if her people are in danger, if they're at risk and being hurt, he has to help. He needs to get her out of there, and anyone else he can.

"We have to help," Kitster says, turning to his adopted sister.

"I'll tell my security to evacuate anyone they can find," Padme agrees, "Then we'll go out there."

"Wait," Kit interjects, a flicker of fear lighting up inside him. He's already so worried about Ahsoka. He does not need the distraction of Padme in the line of fire, too. "No, you have to stay. You're a Senator. You can be our voice and eyes in the Senate. See if you can figure out what's going on."

"It'll be dangerous," Padme argues, "What if something happens?"

"Nothing about this is safe for anyone," Kitster replies firmly, "This is what I do. I fight to protect people, and if I can't help the Jedi, who help all of us, our movement will be pointless." He believes that wholeheartedly. Kitster has to do something about this. He's capable of it, and at least, he needs to check it out. "I have to find out what's happening. Don't worry about me, Padme. I'll be fine."

Padme looks uncertain, but she nods. "Be safe," she requests, stepping up to hug him. He returns it, hugging her tightly.

He'll be fine.

Kitster takes the speeder and flies off, heading for the Temple. It's clones who are attacking, which doesn't make sense. He can see it far clearer on approach.

He lands the speeder by an outside platform where a group of clones – Ahsoka's clones – are gathered. They look like they're guarding the entrance, and it makes him sick to see.

"What's going on here?" Kitster queries, swinging himself out of the speeder.

"There has been a Jedi rebellion, sir," one of the clones answers, though they tense up at seeing him.

"A what?!" he echoes, stunned. "What does that mean?" This makes no sense.

"It's time for you to leave, sir," the clone replies, raising his blaster in an obvious threat.

Kitster backs away because he knows when he needs to back down. He's good at reading situations in that regard, and now is the time to leave, or at least pretend to.

That's when a Jedi padawan comes into view, and the clones instantly whirl, shooting at him. He's not that old – around eleven, maybe? – but the clones are shooting at him, anyway. He's cutting his way through them, making for the exit.

Kitster swings himself into the speeder for cover, firing at the clones from behind. He wishes he could use stun bolts, but he doesn't have that luxury. He hates himself for it a little – they don't deserve this, but there's nothing else he can do.

The padawan is injured, but alive, and all the clones on the platform are down.

"What's happening?" Kitster asks him, standing.

"I don't know," the padawan answers breathlessly, "The clones just came after us. Who are you?"

"I'll get you out," he says, because that's what he does. This is a padawan, someone too young to be guilty of 'rebelling', whatever that even means. "Are there any others?"

"I – I don't know," he admits, "The others were lost. I'm the only one who made it here."

Kitster looks down at the clones, considering. "Wait with the speeder," he requests, "I'll see who I can get out."

Kitster hardly knows what he's going to do, what he even can do, but he knows that he'll never stand by idly and watch as the Jedi are destroyed in their own home. He makes his skin crawl to steal clone armor from one of the dead clones, but he doesn't have a choice. It's the only way in, and once inside, he makes his way through the halls towards the Council chambers. Though he doesn't know much about the Temple and layout, he's fairly certain that's the first place he should look.

It's no hiding spot, but it's where the Council stays, and if any of them are alive, he needs to find them.

Instead, he finds children. Younglings. They can't be older than ten, and with a jolt, he realizes that the clones will kill them, too. Kitster can't let that happen. "Don't worry," he murmurs to them soothingly, dropping down on a knee in the center of the room and pulling off his helmet. "I can get you to safety." Or he'll die trying, at least. "Do you know any secret tunnels out of here?"

The children look at each other, and finally, one of them – a young boy with blond hair who somehow reminds him a little of Anakin – steps forward and nods. "Yes," he replies slowly, "We might be able to go through the ventilation system. Or some of the back halls."

"Then go," Kitster tells them. "The clones have turned against you. Do not trust them. I'll hold them off as long as I can. If you can, try to get the younglings from the creche to safety as well."

He lifts his blaster and positions himself around the corner, peering out to look down the main hall as the children run for safety. They're still too far away for the clones to see, much less chase, which means that they should be able to escape. Hopefully. He can hear the blaster fire echoing off the walls of this hallowed place, and it makes his heart ache to see what has happened to it. He refuses to let himself think about all of his Jedi friends and what their fates may be. There will be plenty of time for that later.

As the clones get closer, fighting through the dozens of Jedi, Kitster prepares himself. He knows he's going to die here, but it's a sacrifice which he's willing to make. All his friends, they're probably dead anyways, and Padme doesn't need him to protect her. She has her handmaidens and her guards who are loyal. She'll be fine. But... A wave of pain washes through him as he pictures Ahsoka's face. More likely than not, she's dead at the hands of her own men. Kitster isn't strong enough to avenge her, but he can save as many of her people as possible.

He doesn't understand why the clones are doing this, or why this is happening, but he can't let this be carried through to the end.

He opens fire, picking off the clones one by one as they get closer. He regrets every life taken, but now is not the time for mercy. The children, the younglings, they need his help, and he won't fail them. He trades fire with the clones who soon realize that he's either not one of them or a "traitor."

"Lay down your weapons!" orders one of the clones, the commander. Kitster thinks it might be Appo of the 501st.

Instead of answering or obeying, he continues shooting. That's when the blasters begin turning towards him. The first clips him in the shoulder, while the second rips through his left arm. Kitster bites back a cry of pain, but he refuses to stop. He's dead either way now that he's been marked a target. When the third blaster bolt hits him in the chest, he slumps to the floor, fingers twitching as he tries to keep fighting. He can't give up, not now. He can't...

His energy slowly drains away as he bleeds out on the floor. The clones seem to have marked him unimportant and have moved on to other targets, sweeping into the Council chambers. Slowly, he manages to wrap his hands around the handle of the blaster, lifting it towards the commander – Appo. Yes, he recognizes the blue markings of the armor – and fires. The bolt hits true, hitting the clone in the back. He falls to the floor and doesn't move. Dead. Like all the others.

His left lung must have been punctured because he can barely breathe now, and he reaches up to rip off the helmet, ignoring the excruciating pain it causes. It's ironic really, that he and Appo will both die in the end, together and here. Kitster never thought he would die like this. His eyes slip closed as he loses the fight to stay conscious and alive. The last thing he hears is a cry of anguish before he spirals into darkness.

Into nothing.

This is what it means to truly... be free.

Final Notes: Reviews are always appreciated! ^-^

Come hang out on Discord (delete spaces), discord . gg / nqSxuz2 or find us on tumblr at fanfictasia (our more serious blog which does have controversial posts on it; I won't be offended if you choose to block it, promise), and disastertriowriting (which is our fun blog with crack posts or incorrect SW quotes)

We've got a YT channel for tributes! (delete the spaces) youtube channel / UC_g1M5rSCxJUzQCRS29B6pA

ALSO: We have SW gift request forms for General, Anakin-Clones-centric, and Bad Batch fics. :D (delete spaces) bit . ly / CourtesyTrefflinFicRequests