Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars at all! Any characters belong to Lucas, the authors, and any company, or corporation who made any addition to the Star Wars universe.
Ever since the signing of the Galactic Constitution over ten thousand year prior, the planet of Corusant had always been the capital of the Republic. It had been the political center of the galaxy, often called the Queen of the Core. It attracted many from the Mid and Outer Rims of the galaxy, bringing business to the Republic's capital.
Unfortunately, things had changed quite significantly since the start of the Clone Wars. Many of the Republic's denizens began losing faith in their delegates as well as the Jedi they thought were meant to protect them.
A group of four Venator-class Republic warships approached the Republic capital, passing by the multiple satellites and other warships meant to guard the Republic's capital. The four warships were once a part of a fleet of ten ships sent out to engage the clone armies of the secessionists within the Outer Rim. Thing did not go as planned as constant battles brought heavy losses to the fleet, reducing the numbers and the morale of the Republic's troops.
From a distance, one could see a shuttle leaving the hangar bay of the flagship. Inside the shuttle was Viceroy Bail Organa of Alderaan, who had been leading the fleet during the campaigns in the Outer Rim. Of course, the viceroy would not leave without being escorted with a few Republic starfighter.
However, the viceroy's shuttle was not the only thing that left the fleet as one Republic Attack LAAT gunship exited one of the other Republic cruisers. Instead of following Viceroy Organa's shuttle, its path differed, heading towards a different part of the planet.
Controlling the gunship were two pilots, each one wearing the typical uniform of the Army of the Galactic Republic. The uniform was white plastoid body armor placed over a black body glove. The pilots' helmets were round, only covering the top portion of their head and were fastened by a black strap.
Within the main body of the gunship, Anakin Skywalker awaited for the atmosphere entry, tightly holding onto a rail with his left hand. His Jedi robes had been worn out and were full of holes from blaster shots. He was exhausted from six months of military campaigns in the Outer Rim, which was evident of the bags under his eyes from the lack of sleep he had.
The young Jedi momentarily turned his head to the three Republic troopers with him. Their armor was identical to that of the pilots' in the cockpit, and they all carried typical blaster rifles.
All of them had been drafted into the military to the Republic's battles in the Outer Rim, and Anakin could tell they were more than disgruntled by the experience. Anakin himself did not enjoy the six months of dirt and blood he went through to ensure the Republic maintained its control on the Outer Rim worlds.
Anakin could feel a hand grasping his left shoulder, making his turn his head to see the familiar face of his old mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi. "Anakin are you alright?"
At first, Anakin wanted to scoff. He wanted to scream, shout, anything to let out whatever was boiling inside of him. But he knew that would do no good, so he just gave a simple nod to the older Jedi. "I'm fine," he spoke softly, his voice a little hoarse.
Obi-Wan said nothing more, removing his hand and turning away to allow Anakin some room. With Obi-Wan gone, Anakin allowed himself to the feel the gunship shake as it entered Corusant's atmosphere, which only lasted for a few minutes. Then, the shaking stopped and the young Jedi could see the view of Corusant's landscape.
The metropolitan planet was filled with large buildings that reached Corusant's skies as well as industrial complexes and factories were placed all over the planet. The city scape of the planet was so vast that it eliminated any sign of flourishing flora or fauna. This included the Senate Chamber, where Senators from all over the galaxy discussed and debated over issues that scoured the galaxy. In the center of all of this industrial life was a large dome-shaped structure named the Senate Building, where senators and ambassadors of many worlds from all over the galaxy came to join in session at the Senate Chamber and discuss about the state of the Republic.
Anakin's eyes traveled away from the political life of the Senate and the industrial life, and toward a large monastery-like building that housed hundreds of the Republic's guardians: the Jedi Temple.
The Jedi Temple had been built on Corusant to protect the Senate from any harm, and to establish itself as the protectors of the Galactic Republic. Beings from all over the galaxy arrive at the Temple to train as warriors of the Force, to protect and serve those of the Republic. The exterior of Jedi Temple was a gigantic ziggurat that sat upon a large empty plain with four spires on the corners of the the ziggurat structure and a center spire that held a chamber where the Jedi Council, the leaders of the Order, would meet.
The Jedi Temple was where Anakin he was recruited into the Jedi Order, where he was trained by Obi-Wan Kenobi, and where he first met the woman who would become wife. Like the other recruits he trained with, Anakin became aware of the state of the galaxy and was anxious to go fight on the front lines, believing his training would prepare him for what was to come.
He was wrong. They say that war changes people, and Anakin was no exception. His years of training never prepared the young Jedi for what he saw before him.
Upon becoming involved in the war effort, Anakin saw many people suffer. Men, women, and children lost their lives and their homes in that war in large massacres by the clone army. Soldiers, who were once simple people trying to make a living, found themselves drafted into the army and forced to give up their lives for a cause that some thought was not worth it. Even fellow Jedi had to endure the horror of the Clone Wars as they succumbed to the war and died on the field on battle.
Anakin felt the gunship drift towards the Jedi Temple, slowly descending to the landing platform that led into the hangar bay. Once it landed, Anakin was the first to step off, with Obi-Wan behind him. They did not need to turn around to see the gunship leave and return to its post.
Once they were inside the Temple, Obi-Wan turned towards his student. "I will go talk with the Council," he informed Anakin. "You should go get some rest. You deserve it."
Nodding, the young Jedi was quick on his feet, wanting to find his quarters fast and get away from any eyes that could be watching him.
Within Anakin's quarters, Padme waited patiently in for her husband to arrive. She heard news of Anakin and Obi-Wan to return to Coruscant after being the Outer Rim for so long, fighting the clone armies of the secessionists.
While Anakin was fighting the Clone Wars, Padme had remained in the Jedi Temple, as Yoda had instructed before he left Coruscant. This often made her come into conflict with the Jedi Council as they continued to make Padme join the war effort. While the Jedi Council was the head of the Order, Padme had support from other Jedi, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, because Yoda was a well-respect master within the Jedi Order.
Such support ended many arguments in a stalemate, and the Jedi Council knew they could no longer afford to focus on one Jedi, when they had to worry about dozens within the Order. In the end, the debates ended with a compromise; Padme would remain on Coruscant to protect Bail Organa and his wife, but she did not need to become directly involved in the war.
Padme accepted the compromise, agreeing guard the Alderaanian Viceroy. Not only did her job keep her out of the war effort, but it allowed her keep close contact with her husband, who served under Bail's command.
Speaking of Anakin, the door sliding open caught Padme's attention as she turned around to see him standing in the door way. The young Jedi took a step in and the door slid shut behind him, his face without any emotion on it.
Joy spread across every part of her body to see her husband again as she took a step forward toward him. "Anakin,"
Padme expected herself to be sweeping in Anakin's arms, but that did not happen as she saw him fall on his knees. Tears came out of his eyes like streams of water as he gripped his hair with his hands.
At this point, Padme's joy had been replaced with horror, for Anakin's youthful spirit she fallen in love with, had been broken by the terror of the Clone Wars and it showed. Never had she seen her husband like this before, nor did she sense such anguish crying out from his mind. The proud Jedi Knight was nothing more than a broken doll.
She rushed to her husband's side and embraced him in her arms around him, resting his head on her shoulder. Anakin placed his own arm around his wife and brought her close, like he would with a pillow as his tears soaked Padme's robes.
When Anakin had embraced her, Padme felt something was off with Anakins' right hand, making glance at it. She was shocked to see flesh and bone to be replaced with robotic prosthetic, silver platting covering the wires and the skeletal structure. However, Padme did not ask about the arm, for she knew that Anakin would not answer.
Instead, Padme kept her husband close to her, willing to stay with him until he was calm. "It's alright," Padme told him, trying to use her voice to sooth him. "It's alright." Yet, Padme doubted her own words, wondering if Anakin will ever be alright.
AN: Alright, this here is just a preview for the first chapter my SW Prequel AU called The Dark Times. I hope you guys liked it.
Alright, that's it for now. If you have any comment, please leave them in the reviews and please leave constructive criticism. Also, this is NOT up for adoption.
Raika out!