Revenge of the Sith

What if… Anakin was right to fight the Jedi?

-I'm going to end this, once and for all!

-You can't. He must stand trial.

-He has control of the Senate and the court. He's too dangerous to be left alive!

-I'm too weak. Oh, please, don't kill me.

-It's not the Jedi way. He must live.

Palpatine turned towards Anakin, his swollen and battered face expressing helplessness and suffering. Master Windu hesitated, sword held high above his head, torn between the dictates of his own order and the desire to take down Palpatine once and for all. And Anakin, who in turn was torn between his love for Padme and the dictates of the Order, continued to let his gaze pass from the Master to the Chancellor. Then Palpatine spoke: -Order 66! Remember Anakin, Order 66!…

At that point Windu's blade fell on the sith and the Dark Lord was silenced forever.

-What did he mean?- Anakin stammered, shocked.

-It doesn't matter now- Mace Windu took a deep breath, but his gaze was dark, remorseful -We must inform the Council and the Senate of what happened.

Anakin looked at Palpatine's lifeless body once more, feeling the anguish grip him.

-Yes- he murmured -We have to inform the Senate.

-Are you sure of your accusations, Jedi Master?

-The Supreme Chancellor confessed it directly to me- Anakin explained, stepping forward -He was the Dark Lord of the sith, and he led this war by playing as the leader of both sides in the conflict.

Cries of dismay and outrage rose from the various senatorial seats. It was shocking news, especially because it put the integrity of the Republic and the Senate in a bad light.

-Three Jedi Masters gave their lives to defeat him. Now we are in a crisis: the Republic is without a leader - Master Windu intervened at that point.

-We must organize an emergency election immediately- exclaimed Senator Organa.

-As soon as possible, senator, but first we must end this war. The Jedi will temporarily take over the leadership of the Republic.

Several voices were raised in protest, but there was no discussion. Anakin was okay with master Windu: someone had to take control and end the war.

He looked towards Padme, and saw a dark shadow over them. He felt something twist his guts.

-Obi-Wan has informed us that Greivous is already dead and that the Separatist Corporation Council is on Mustafar. It will be over soon.

-It will never be over- Padme replied, walking hastily back and forth in the apartment -Our democracy is in danger: one blow will be enough to bring it down.

-The Council knows what it's doing…- he raised a hand, wanting to reassure her with his touch, but his wife interrupted him.

-No Ani, they have no idea! The Council is replacing Palpatine, they're not trying to change things - she grabbed him by the arms, her eyes filled with tears - They won't stop with the fall of the Separatists. It's time to make peace, not war.

Anakin bowed his head and held her close. He listened in silence to her sobs and pained moans, and felt his heart twist. What if the Jedi weren't going to stop? Or worse, what if they hurt Padme?

-I have to go- he finally said, moving away from her -I will be part of the group sent to arrest the separatist leaders. I'll be back soon, and this time it will be over for real.

-Arrest them all!- ordered Windu -No one must escape!

-This is an outrage. We have already surrendered, what else do you want? - exclaimed Viceroy Gunrey, while the clones crushed him to the ground under their weight.

-You are guilty of sedition and treason against the Republic and the Galactic Senate. You are under arrest, viceroy- Master Windu replied, his face a mask ironed will. Anakin approached him, uncertain.

-Master, don't you think it is more convenient to negotiate peace? We have the leaders of the pro-separatist corporations in our hands: we can end this war.

-And we will, Skywalker, but without taking risks. The Dark Lord had planned all this, and I am not willing to risk it a second time- Anakin caught the anger and suffering in the master's eyes, who tried to hide them behind his stoic expression.

-But it's not the Jedi way. We cannot make ourselves judge and jury. It's the Senate's job to resolve these matters- he protested, raising his voice enough for the other jedi around to hear him.

-It may be true, Skywalker, but the Senate is leaderless and Sidious' agents are everywhere- Windu pushed him aside -Take them away.

-General Skywalker!- Rex exclaimed, bursting into his room.

-Rex. What's happening?- Anakin got up from his cot, his heart starting to flutter.

-The Council gave orders to arrest Senator Amidala and other members of the pacifist faction.

-What!?

Anakin pushed the clone aside and ran out of the room and through the streets of the temple, knocking over everything that got in his way.

He found Padme still inside the Senate, as she and other senators tried to free themselves from the grip of the handcuffs. Luckily there were only clones escorting them.

-Let her go!- he exclaimed, using the Force to throw the clones aside.

-Anakin!- Padme exclaimed as soon as she saw him.

-Skywalker!- Windu appeared from another corridor together with the masters Mundi and Fisto.

-What does this mean!?- Anakin stood between the jedi and the senators -First the Separatists, now the senators?

-We must protect the Republic and the Order. We can't take risks - replied the jedi master, stopping face to face with Anakin, while the clones around got up - Step aside Skywalker.

-No.

-Step aside, or I'll have you arrested for treason.

-You can't do this!- Padme exclaimed, before Rex stood protectively in front of her

-General Windu, please reconsider your choice- the clone intervened, reaching for his guns.

-That's enough. Skywalker, you are expelled from the Jedi Order and under arrest for treason.

-Palpatine was right. Padme was right. You Jedi are no better than the Sith!- Anakin exclaimed, activating his lightsaber. The next moment Windu's weapon came to life and the two blades met, crackling. All the bystanders stood back, fearful, while the two warriors began a furious confrontation.

-You betrayed the Order, Skywalker. I always knew you would.

-You betrayed the Republic! You have succumbed to the dark side! The entire Order was the real enemy from the beginning!

Skywalker began to inflict pressure on the older master, relying on physical strength. Windu seemed about to give in, but he quickly turned the tables hitting Skywalker's ankle. This broke his grip and Windu managed to trap him on the ground.

-Anakin!- Padme shouted, but Rex held her back. The other senators also started to intervene but the clones held them back as well.

-It's over Skywalker. Surrender - Windu ordered, pointing the sword at Anakin's throat.

-Let the general go- ordered Jessie, arriving at that moment with a squadron of the 501st regiment -Jedi Masters, stand back!

-Jessie, no!- Rex tried to reason, but at that point the clones on both sides were pointing their weapons at each other, and the masters Mundi and Fisto also activated their lightsabers.

-Clones, lower your weapons!- ordered Windu.

-Order 66…- Anakin murmured at that moment.

-What?

-Order 66. Rex, execute Order 66!

-... At your orders sir- Rex and all the other clones pointed their weapons towards the jedi.

-Clone, what are you doing? Lower your weapons, I said! - Windu ordered, but got no reaction.

-Clones, stay back! What…!?

-Blast them!- Rex shouted.

It was all over in a few seconds. Kit Fisto and Ki-Adi-Mundi were overwhelmed by the shots while Windu managed to escape after making his way through the block of clones. A squad of the aforementioned immediately launched in pursuit of him.

-So that's what Fives meant- Anakin gasped, standing up in pain -Palpatine had set a trap for the jedi.

-Are you okay sir?

-Yes Rex, I'm fine- Anakin replied, moving him away, before reaching Padme and freeing her from the handcuffs -Are you ok?

-Yes Anakin, I'm fine. But, the others… what happened?

-Palpatine programmed the clones to exterminate the jedi at his command.

-What? Ani, no. You can't let this happen!- Padme exclaimed, taking his hands in hers -Please stop. Don't make things worse. Waging war on the Jedi will not help the Republic.

-Yes it will- Anakin interrupted her -The Jedi are now the threat, and we must get rid of them before it's too late.

-Anakin...- but the jedi interrupted her with an intense and passionate kiss. Finally the woman fell silent, feeling the bitterness of her failure.

-I do it for us my love. I'll keep you safe, I promise- he said, clasping her hands in his, close to his heart.

-Ani...- she tried to speak to him one last time, but he was no longer listening. He released her arms abruptly, absorbed in his new mission.

-Rex, notify all units. Order 66 must be executed now.