Welp, comin here for a new chapter! And Revenge of the Sith's most infamous scene (And one of the most memeable), has come to play. My explanation is at the ed of the chapter if you noticed snomething is quite different about it.
You might be asking: Where the hell am I?! Well long story short, college and got enamored with Classic Games such as the OG 2005 Battlefront II, Age of Empires and Command and Conquer Generals.
But the one thing I'm surprised is the current fic stats which are 925k views, 1k Reviews and 1.6k Favs and 1.7k Follows. I was like holy heckin balls! Thanks for all your support!
Chapter 36; Order 66, Part 2
The atmosphere within the Council Chamber was dark to say the least, as the weight of the unwitting betrayal of the Clones came crashing upon them. For three years, the had fought alongside with them as the defenders of the Republic.
For three years, the Clones have proved that they are not just soldiers simply made to fight nor they were property, but are human in their own unique individualities as well.
For three years, the Jedi who had fought alongside with them had always regarded them with both passion and friendship. Many became their friends, many became their brothers-in-arms, and some even regard them as the closest thing they ever had to a family outside their lives as soldiers.
And everything that has happened between them for past few years...were snuffed away in seconds by one single order engineered by the Sith.
"All the times that we have fought alongside with them, are all just a sideshow for an even grander scheme behind the shadows?", Ki-Adi Mundi lowly professed, the image of Commander Bacara and the Galactic Marines executing him on the spot continued to scar his mind. "We have been deceived by the very men we have trusted for their loyalty to the Chancellor?"
Plo Koon shook his head, persistent at denying that the Clones would simply turn their back on them. "We cannot simply jump to that conclusion, Master Mundi", he firmly stated. "Whatever that is happening to them is beyond of what they could control"
The Jedi were taken back at the Kel'Dor's firm proclamation. Rather than viewing them as traitors in league with Palpatine, Plo Koon thought otherwise for them, same could be said to other Jedi who were close with their respective battalions.
Anakin meanwhile, silently seethed to himself as both guilt and shame were consuming him. He watched as as his dark future managed to defeat and kill Battlemaster Cin Drallig, not before witnessing himself easily kill countless Padawans and Knights who held him in high regard. Every second felt like a blaster bolt striking his moral compass, as he performed the deed emotionlessly and without remorse, all because of a kriffing dream. And he wondered if Palpatine was the one who planted those dreams in order strike in fear in him that is considered to be the first step towards the dark side.
Rex on the other hand, barely held on to himself as he watched his brothers of the 501st Legion storm the Jedi Temple and gunning down the Jedi they had served for so long. He was equally miffed when they raided the Jedi Archives in order to scan them and gunning down anyone who opposed them.
Inside of a Venator-class Star Destroyer, a frightened ginger-haired Jedi Padawan ran for his life towards a console, evading countless Clone Troopers of the 13th Regiment as he tried to link up with his master, Jaro Tapal.
"Is that Padawan Cal Kestis?", Master Fisto pointed out. The Jedi took notice of this and surely enough it was him, and they knew him as an aspiring Jedi with great potential according to many. And they assigned him to the no-nonsense and disciplinarian, Jaro Tapal.
"By the Force, please tell me we are not made to watch another one perish under the comrades they had trusted", Luminara uttered, having enough of the horrifying future that lies before them.
In front of the open screen in front of him, Cal watched as Master Tapal fight his way through several Clones in the corridor almost effortlessly, before Tapal turned his attention towards Cal. "Come Padawan!", the Jedi Master called out. "We have to leave now!"
"Hopefully they would be able to escape at this instance...", Shaak Ti spoke, trying to maintain her calm demeanor. "If Masters Kenobi and Yoda have, I could not see others having the same luck as they have"
Cal obliged, and he made his way through a couple doors, but the third one was a different story. In front of him, were two Clone troopers waiting for him and they drew their weapons immediately, only to be cut down by Master Tapal at the last second. However, one of them managed to get a shot behind Jaro Tapal. "The door controls!"
The audience's thoughts then focused on the Jedi who were aboard their respective Star Destroyers, trying to avoid the thought of it being a death trap for anyone unfortunate enough with their Clones being on the proximity.
Immediately, Cal rushed over and worked onto the doors, with one being sealed as a result. However, the door in front of them opened and revealed a dozen clone troopers ready to shoot them down. "Cal, hurry!", urged Tapal, as the Padawan continued to work onto one of the escape pods. However, the blasters eventually overwhelmed the Jedi Master, several shots spraying all over his body as he tried to stand his ground and his lightsaber fell from his grasp.
"MASTER!", Cal cried out, as Tapal went to one knee. Unfazed, Tapal reached through the Force to levitate three Clones above the ceiling just as the escape pod doors opened. More blaster bolts struck the Jedi Master as he finally went inside the escape pod.
Caleb was struck internally at the scenario before him, his Master's sacrifice for mirroring Tapal's. Others could not help but look away at the brutal spectacle in front of them and some looked away.
A stray shot managed to graze the Padawan's cheek, and Cal reached out to the Force, outstretching both hands to forcefully slow the Clone Trooper's advance. Not before quickly getting inside the escape pod as it launched from the Venator.
Ahsoka dodged the poorly aimed shots and leapt forwards, evading the incoming fire from the clone guards and tackling Rex at the same time.
Rex's head collided with the holotable, stunning him and causing him to drop his weapons. Ahsoka let him collapse to the floor as she ignited her lightsabers, deflecting the Clones' blaster bolts back at them, burning smoking holes through them.
Anakin and Padme looked away, not withstanding the pain of both betrayal and sorrow of the scenario of the Clone Commander and the Togruta had came into. The Jedi braced themselves as they continued to watch.
Shock, panic and sheer disbelief ran through her at the sudden betrayal of her friend and comrades. But there were more pressing concerns than her feelings now, Ahsoka waved her hand and forced the blast doors to seal shut with the Force.
"Rex!" Before she could question the stirring clone commander, another set of doors opened up behind her, unleashing a squadron of Clones now led by ARC Trooper Jesse, all gunning for her head.
"Even Jesse too?", Anakin uttered out, trying to deny the fact that one of the most independent troopers of the 501st would become an unquestioning pawn of the Sith. Rex, on the other hand, felt his gut being punched severely on having the same thought as Anakin.
Her twin lightsabers flashed as she deflected the incoming fire, returning the blaster bolts to the clones with deadly precision. As Rex got back up and started shooting at her too, Ahsoka switched tactics, deflecting the lasers upwards instead, her performance a graceful and deadly dance.
Even if she managed to down all the clones in the room with her, something she didn't want to do, more were definitely on the way and there was no way she'd be able to fight off a whole ship worth of soldiers on her own.
The more bolts deflected into the ceiling, the poorer visibility got as smoke poured from the damage and several lights were hit as well. Until eventually, her impromptu smoke screen concealed her completely and her lightsabers deactivated.
"Hold fire, we got her!" One of the clones shouted and hesitantly approached, waiting for the smoke to clear.
The audience couldn't really express their fear or shock as they had already saw that she had survived the initial purge. If anything, they were relieved that she had managed to escape her ordeal. Rex, however, was thankful that she had managed to escape.
Rex's eyes narrowed as there was a distinct lack of a dead body when they could see into the smog again. His eyes flicked from side to side, searching for any trace of his target before a shower of sparks drew his attention upwards.
There in the ceiling lay a circular hole, cut clean through by Ahsoka's lightsabers and leading into the maintenance ducts. Rex lowered his pistol and glared furiously at Ahsoka's escape route.
"Sir, are you alright?" One of the clones asked.
Rex winced slightly and closed his eyes, as though warding off a headache. "Fine, just uh… tired is all."
Shaking it off, he donned his helmet again, ensuring it wouldn't be so easy to take him down the next time they met.
"Rex was fighting to whatever came in his head for him to do this", Obi-Wan observed the Clone Commander. "But it is safe to say that his own hesitation saved Ahsoka in the long run"
Rex breathed slightly easier once his helmet was back on and firmly sealed. "I want you to go to the detention level, execute Maul."
"Yes sir! Alright men!" The clone nodded and led a section of his squad off to deal with the Sith Lord in custody.
The Council widened their eyes. "It would make sense as Sidious saw Maul as a liability to his plans", Mace said in a neutral tone, not feeling any empathy for the Zabrak.
"He is. Obsolete now, he is." Yoda said.
"Alright, we know Ahsoka Tano is on board. She's been marked for termination by Order 66. Under this directive, any and all Jedi leadership must be executed for treason against the Republic." Rex addressed the remaining Clones with him.
"Order 66...", Depa repeated, cupping her chin in deep thought before turning to the Togruta Jedi Master. "Master Ti, do you know anything about this?"
Shaak Ti was in the process of recounting what she had known from the Kaminoans before she replied. "There are 150 Contingency Orders that every Clone must obey at every turn once the directive is given. And unfortunately, from what I recall, Order 66 is one of them where any Jedi who went rogue against the Republic are to be eliminated if necessary"
"But don't they require the approval of the Senate if they are to perform of them?", Mundi queried.
"Any soldier who does not comply with the order will also be executed for treason. Understood?"
"YES SIR!" The loud acknowledgement from the other clones filled the air and Rex nodded.
"There are only so many places to hide on this ship, gather up search parties, fan out and move section by section. Come on, let's get moving." Rex waited for his soldiers to rush off to comply with his orders before following behind them, his full-face helmet obscuring his expression from the world.
"They have discipline, structure and order of the good soldier, as the Kaminoans made them to be", Saesee Tiin muttered, his tone laced with distaste.
"Commander Rex continued to say something about ARC Trooper Fives...", Kit Fisto uttered, pondering to whatever conclusion he could think of to connect the pieces together, before he turned to the leader of the 501st. "Anakin, as one of the witnesses of his final moments, could you recall anything of his claims?"
Anakin looked up to the Nautolan Master's inquiry and then to the rest, unsure as whether or not they believe him after they witnessed at the Chancellor's office. But only a nod from both Obi-Wan and Master Yoda then he relented. "I am not sure myself, Master Fisto", the Jedi Knight bitterly admitted. "Fives...wasn't himself when he tried to speak with me and Rex, but he kept saying of a plot, a sinister one at that..."
"Can you clarify on your claim that Fives was not himself when he was killed?", Luminara asked him.
"It was as if...he was under the influence of whatever substance he had taken", Rex then spoke up. "For all the times that I knew Fives, he never acted this way ever since he came from Kamino..."
"Substance? Like drugs to be exact?", Caleb repeated.
"Going back, according to Master Ti, Order 66 is one of the Contingency Orders that made the Clones to carry them out without question", Plo Koon continued for them. "However, no Senate approval was made for this to be implemented."
"Unless Palpatine requested the Kaminoans that he and he alone will have the right to give the Order without Senate approval", Mace theorized further.
"But that does not make any sense", Obi-Wan interjected, confused as the rest. "Why would the Clones perform the Order without any hesitation? If we are going to speak of Rex's case, something was trying to force him to do this. As if something in his mind made him do it"
The rest only fell silent, with multiple scenarios and theories clouding their minds before they mentally agreed that they continued watching for more answers to come.
Caleb Dume continued to run for his life in the snowy plains of Kaller, away from his former comrades right after they executed Depa Billaba. But unfortunately, he gasped as he encountered five figures approaching him.
"Is that...", Anakin recognized the figures on the screen.
"The Bad Batch?", Rex finished for him, completely caught off guard of their sudden appearance. "What are they doing at Kaller?"
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!", Caleb shouted to the defective Clones in front of him as he turned back towards another direction.
Depa only gripped her Padawan's shoulder, fearing of what is to come for him. Said Padawan only braced himself as he was going to witness getting shot at like his own Master.
"Kid, wait!", Hunter cried out trying to reach out to him, but he was already too far away when he did.
"...they didn't follow the order?", Kit Fisto queried, surprised as the rest of the Jedi who thought that Clone Force 99 would follow the rest of their brothers at fulfilling Order 66. "But how?"
"Whatever it may be...at least it had saved my Padawan", Depa breathed out in relief, but Caleb wasn't so certain.
"What...what just happened?", Echo was the first to ask.
Tech looked up to his datapad. "The com-channel reveal one directive: Execute Order 66"
"Yeah I heard that too!", Wrecker chimed in. "What's Order 66?"
"It appears they do not have any knowledge as to what Palpatine had given them", Plo Koon spoke out, seeing this as a welcome relief that not all Clones have followed the directive.
"I..am not so certain", Tech admitted before Hunter stepped in. "Echo. Tech. Talk to the Reg Captain, find out what you can. Crosshair and I will go after the kid and make sure nothing happens to him. Wrecker stall anyone who tries to follow us"
In a midst of the screams of Jedi and Clones alike as well as lightsabers and blaster fire, Vader walked silently towards the upper levels of the Jedi Temple. His hood made it difficult to show what he truly felt in his own decision. Until an illuminating ray of light that came from the open windows, show hesitance, uncertainty and a tint of regret as he walked through the hallway towards his desired location.
Anakin could see the horror that he had inflicted, but at the same time hated himself of his dark deeds. Yoda observe the knight more clearly, giving him the theory that was tipping between light and dark.
"Where are the Younglings?", Kit Fisto asked in a slightly frightened tone. "Surely we have evacuated them, did we?"
Everyone was silent, the thought of any of the Clones near them was appalling enough. But for now, they have not yet seen what has happened to them. Until one of them spoke. "I am not used to saying this, but I am desperate to hope that they are spared...", Depa spoke in an equally concerned tone. "They are just children..."
Ahsoka and Obi-Wan however, felt their systems to be violated as the two watched Anakin silently walking towards the Council chambers.
Lord Vader continued to walk towards the Chamber, the words of Lord Sidious still echoed within his mind. The Jedi must be destroyed for their treason.
A Youngling, filled with both relief and happiness upon seeing their savior, emerged from his hiding spot as he approached Anakin, with more than a few of his fellow Classmates also emerging from their hiding spots.
"Master Skywalker, there are too many of them! What are we going to do?"
Can I do it?, Anakin thought to himself, his heart rapidly accelerating of the choice he was about to make. They're just children but...I needed the Dark Side to save Padme...but this isn't right...
"It's never right to begin with!", urged Master Fisto. "Turn your course, Anakin!".
Obi-Wan covered the lower part of his face with a free hand. "Master Qui-Gon...where have I gone wrong?", he uttered to himself, trying to know why he had failed Anakin.
Kill them..., a shadowy voice within Anakin spoke, which added to his already appalled mental state. They are only Orphans and nothing more...
Every Jedi's eyes widened upon hearing who this was. "Is this..."
"The Dark Side within Skywalker...", Yoda answered them. "Speaking through the Force...it has"
No...they didn't have to die..., Anakin's thoughts answered back. Master could spare them, would he?
They are without any friends or family..., the voice in his head continued. Nor any other fate that awaited before them....
You're wrong!, Anakin's mind spat back. They've done nothing wrong-
As if the Jedi were better?, the voice challenged him. As it is said, they have nothing. They were stolen by them. Took their futures. Their emotions. Their very purpose. What could you do for them if the others beside you think otherwise? What would be better than to spare them from whatever fate that lies before them?
"It's twisting Anakin's moral compass", Plo Koon observed his mental state. "As if it was comforting him in the decisions he had taken"
"No, Anakin can change his mind!", Ahsoka vehemently denied that possibility. "He wouldn't do this!"
Remaining silent, yet determined, Anakin only ignited his lightsaber, to the shock of the children inside the Council Chamber.
"No..no...no. NO! ...DON'T DO IT!", shouted Anakin, desperate that at least a part of his conscience would spare the Younglings from whatever horrors that lies ahead and let them go.
Everyone's jaws were wide open in complete horror and shock, trembling as they realized the chamber they were in, will be the site beyond the horrors that they could ever imagine.
Raising his lightsaber, Anakin swung his blade. And the screen went to black right after.
Everyone was silent, they were frightened, outraged, and aghast at the morbid act that Skywalker had performed. Anakin buried his face on both of his hands, weeping profusely in anger and regret to himself. They were children. Innocent children who believed that he was there to save them. It didn't matter whether or not what he did was mercy, he would never do this to them, not when they looked up to him the most.
And he could feel harsh blows delivered to his arm as he saw his own wife hitting him angrily, tears drenching her eyes on what she just saw. "Anakin...WHY?!", Padme shouted at him, desperate for any explanation as she struck her hands towards her husband's arm.
"The Younglings...weren't spared either...", Shaak Ti spoke out, feeling as if she was going to faint at the horrific deed. Where was she when this was happening? She didn't saw herself dueling Skywalker either where she may or may not have stopped him when she had the chance.
"I...I can't watch anymore...", Obi-Wan uttered to himself, the betrayal of both Cody and Anakin was weighing heavily on him
"I...I cannot believe what we just saw back there...", Master Mundi spoke in a low tone, as if he was already demoralized of the recent footage that they were made to see. Most of the Jedi could not apprehend the panic that was building up inside them, and they were replaced by shock and finally grief, on what happened to the children.
Rex and Ahsoka were trying to convince themselves that man wasn't Anakin who entered the very chamber they were in right now.
However, one of them could not help but express his anger more thoroughly. "Destroying everything that we live and stood for is one thing!", Windu furiously shouted, pointing his finger at Anakin accusingly. "But I never thought he would stoop so low as to murder innocent children because his attachment to the Senator!"
Gathering his courage to speak up, Anakin snapped. "I never wanted any of that to happen! I wouldn't want to hear anything that came out of Palpatine's mouth after realizing who he was! AND I WOULD NEVER HARM INNOCENT CHILDREN!"
Before they could continue, they heard a cane thumping towards the ground, and they saw Master Yoda's authoritative image, trying to restore order inside the chamber. "Enough!", Yoda ordered them. "To a future not set in stone, fight over you will? Stop Sidious with your bickering between yourselves, will it?"
"Master Yoda, you saw what I did back there", Anakin pointed out, almost pleadingly. "Why aren't you trying to change your stance?"
"Guarantee their safety, could you have?", Yoda questioned him, now in a calm tone. "With Clones and Sidious in the way, make a difference for them you could?
Everyone within the Council became silent, deciding to hold their opinions at the matter further as they recalled the dire circumstances surrounding the Temple. If Anakin didn't come after them, they would be gunned down mercilessly by Clone troopers. And if he did, the Clones would still have done it themselves because of Order 66. And then if they were spared...what would happen to them next?
"Anakin...", Obi-Wan first spoke up, completely shaken at the darkest deed he had ever seen. "Couldn't do anything, not when Coruscant is essentially a trap for every Jedi residing there..."
"And what if they were spared?", Shaak Ti added this time. "If they were not shot down by the Clones then...the Force please forbid it, Sidious would mold them into whatever Dark Side experiments that his twisted mind could think off..."
Everyone remained silent...trying to find peace at this dark hour knowing what lies before them. The Holovid's screen shows an interface saying whether or not they want to continue to view the screenings.
For the moment, uncertainty struck everybody. Unsure of the choice they would follow right after...
Man, that took a lot. Anyway for some of you have been requesting Fallen Order and Bad Batch, this is the best I can do for now, but the real challenging part is the slaughter of the Younglings. Because for me, it made Anakin look like a heartless monster who no longer give a damn as long as it could help save Padme. So I decided to make a research about it and found that the Dark Side comforted him, to make it look like that it twisted his morals and gave him an impression of what he was doing was wrong. But take note that I will revamp this chapter soon, as I feel like I haven't added enough to begin with.