I lunged towards Maya, who stood just a few feet away from me. I swung my lightsaber towards her. Maya quickly dodged, missing the blade by a few centimeters. She then turned around, raising her lightsaber. At once, our lightsabers clashed against each other. I used all my strength, giving into my anger, pushing Maya back, causing her to stumbled back.
"Jinx please stop this. You're going down the wrong path." She begged.
"No, I'm doing this for our own good. Once we return to Coruscant, you'll see." I protested.
I swung my lightsaber again, but Maya ducked before spinning around, swinging her lightsaber towards me, colliding our blades with one another. As we pushed with all our might, I placed a hand in front of Maya's face. I reached out to the Force, making Maya fall unconscious at once. I grabbed her before she could hit the ground. A grin slowly grew on my face. Once I return to Coruscant, Palpatine will fix everything. I'll no longer be in Storm's shadow. Things will quickly change...for the better.
~Storm's P.O.V.~
I still couldn't believe everything that happened. How could my own troops turned on me. All of the sudden, I remembered what Maya said about Fives telling Anakin, Rex, and her that the clone troopers had organic chips in their heads to make them do whatever the person who planted in them wants, even to kill Jedi. I could still remember my sister's words. "Fives even went as far as to say that the Chancellor was in on the chips in the troopers' heads."
It was then when I began to connect all the navpoints together. It was Palpatine...Dooku must've given the order to begin the creation of the clone army, while Palpatine must have ordered the chip to be placed in everyone of the clone troopers. He forced our own troops against us. But Echo was immune, which meant when Echo was with the Techno Union, something must've happened to his chip. At that moment, I received a message coming from Coruscant. I opened it up, revealing a hologram of Obi-Wan.
"This is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. I regret to report that both our Jedi Order and the Republic have fallen, with the dark shadow of the Empire rising to take their place. This message is a warning and a reminder for any surviving Jedi: trust in the Force. Do not return to the Temple. That time has passed, and our future is uncertain." Obi-Wan warned. "Avoid Coruscant, avoid detection. Be secret, but be strong. We will each be challenged: our trust, our faith, our friendships. But we must persevere. And, in time, I believe a new hope will emerge. May the Force be with you always."
My heart dropped at his words. I can't believe his words. The Jedi Order and the Republic were gone...But where do I go? What do I do now? With this in mind, I contacted Obi-Wan through our secret channel that I created along with Anakin's help in case any of us got in trouble. In a matter of seconds, Obi-Wan's hologram emerged.
"Obi-Wan, I'm so glad to see you! Are you all right?" I inquired.
"Yes, I'm all right. Are you?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yeah, my own clone troopers turned on me, but I managed to escape the planet." I informed him. "Where are you?"
"I'm back at the Jedi Temple with Master Yoda." He informed me. "We had to take care of the beacon, it was calling all Jedi to return to the Temple...it was a trap."
"I don't know where to go...I'm heading there right now." I said, giving an authoritative tone.
Obi-Wan looked as though he wanted to protest, but upon hearing my tone, he closed his mouth. He must know there's nothing he can do to argue against me. I'll still ignore his order and head to the Jedi Temple anyways.
"Be careful." He warned. "We'll be waiting for you at the Temple."
With that, I made my way back to Coruscant. As soon as I reached the Jedi Temple, I noticed smoke rising from the Temple. My heart dropped upon seeing the horrible sight. Who would damage such a sacred place? As I walked through the temple, I was horrified. I saw dead bodies of Jedi Knights, padawans, Jedi Masters, and even younglings. My heart shattered into millions of pieces. Amongst the bodies, I noticed several of the bodies of the Jedi such as Jinx, my sister's padawan, having lightsaber wounds. I furrowed my brows. Did Palpatine do this? My heart clenched as I remembered the dream Master Yoda and I had on the Wellspring of Life.
Before searching for Master Yoda and Obi-Wan, I made my way to my room, grabbing my old Jedi Shadow black robes and armor along with my old Jedi Shadow lightsaber. I was relieved to find it still here. I then made my way out of my room, finding both Obi-Wan and Master Yoda in the central security station of the temple. Obi-Wan's eyes lit up when he saw me. "Storm, you made it."
"I'm careful, like always. There was nothing for you to worry about." I mentioned.
As soon as Master Yoda approached me, I gave him a bow. "Master Yoda, it's good to see you."
"Good to see you too it is, Storm. Where is Padawan Skikea? See her with you I do not." Master Yoda commented.
I hesitated before mustering the courage to speak. "...Areria was taken by my clone troopers. I don't know where, but they didn't kill her."
Master Yoda's face fell at my words. "Most troubling this is."
Obi-Wan gave me a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry about your padawan."
"Thanks...where's Anakin?" I questioned.
Before Obi-Wan could say anything, Master Yoda intervened. "Go we must. Send more troops, they will."
I furrowed my brows. Why did he change the subject? As we were about to leave the station, Obi-Wan spoke up. "Wait. There is something I must know."
"If into the security recordings you go, only pain will you find." Master Yoda warned.
"I must know the truth, Master." Obi-Wan insisted.
"Obi-Wan's right. We need to know who's the one who killed the others here at the temple." I pointed out.
With that, Obi-Wan and I walked towards where the security recordings were held. We stopped at the panel, turning it on. A hologram then appeared of Anakin fighting and slaughtering all the Jedi in the temple. Obi-Wan and I were baffled.
"It can't be..." Obi-Wan trailed off.
We then saw Anakin kneel on the ground. Palpatine then emerged, wearing a black hood over his face. "You have done well, my new apprentice. Now Lord Vader, go and bring peace to the Empire."
Tears threatened to fall from my eyes. Anakin glanced up at Palpatine, looking like he had something on his mind. He then spoke up. "Lord Sidious, please give Storm a chance. I know she will join us."
My stomach churned at his words. I looked over at Palpatine, who looked conflicted. "Interesting...Lady Ucra may not approve, but I know Storm will make a useful asset."
Obi-Wan turned off the panel, causing the hologram to vanish. I can't believe it...Anakin, our own friend, turned to the dark side. Obi-Wan walked away from the panel. "I can't watch anymore."
"Destroy the Sith we must." Master Yoda urged.
"Send me to kill the Emperor." Obi-Wan pleaded.
"Me too. We will not kill Anakin." I protested.
"To fight this Lord Sidious, strong enough you are not." Master Yoda informed us.
"He's like my brother. I cannot do it." Obi-Wan explained.
"Anakin's family to me too." I argued.
"Twisted by the dark side young Skywalker has become. The boy you trained, gone he is. Is no more, the friend you both know. Consumed by Darth Vader." Master Yoda mentioned.
"But Storm and I do not know where the Emperor has sent him." Obi-Wan pointed out.
"We don't know where to look, Master Yoda." I added.
"Use your feelings, the both of you should. And find him you will." Master Yoda advised.
At his words, Obi-Wan and I looked at each other. An idea hatched into our minds. We knew exactly who would know where Anakin was.
•••
As soon as we reached Padmé's apartment, Padmé rushed over towards me, giving me a hug. "Oh Storm, I'm so happy you're all right. I was worried for you."
"Padmé, I'm glad to see you too." I said, returning her hug.
As soon as we pulled away from the hug, Padmé noticed Obi-Wan. She was baffled upon seeing him. I hesitated before speaking again. "I wish we were just here for a chat. We're looking for Anakin."
"When was the last time you saw him?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yesterday." Padmé replied, being quite vague.
"And do you know where he is now?" He inquired.
Padmé turned away from us, walking towards the couches. "No..."
"Padmé, Obi-Wan and I need your help. You're one of my best friends, please help us." I begged.
"He is in grave danger." Obi-Wan added.
Padmé immediately whipped around, facing us. "From the Sith?"
"From himself. Anakin has turned to the dark side." Obi-Wan corrected.
Padmé violently shook her head. "You're wrong. How could you even say that?"
I lowering my head. I didn't want to tell her what Obi-Wan and I saw in the Jedi Temple. If Padmé saw the security hologram, her heart would break into a million pieces.
"We have seen a security hologram..." I trailed off, refusing to say the rest.
"He killed younglings." Obi-Wan said, finishing my sentence.
Padmé's face fell at our words. "Not Anakin. He couldn't."
"He was deceived by a lie." Obi-Wan mentioned.
"We were all deceived..." I corrected.
"It appears that the Chancellor is behind everything, including the war." Obi-Wan pointed out.
"Palpatine is the Sith Lord we were looking for." I added.
"After the death of Count Dooku, Anakin became his new apprentice." Obi-Wan informed her.
Padmé looked at us, completely taken back. Tears filled her brown eyes. She then walked away from us before sitting on one of the couches. "I don't believe you. I can't."
Obi-Wan and I shared a grim look before making our way towards Padmé, sitting beside her. I can't imagine how she must be feeling. I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Padmé, it's crucial that we find him."
Padmé glanced over at me, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "You're going to kill him, aren't you?"
I lowered my gaze, refusing to look her in the eyes. Fortunately, Obi-Wan spoke up. "He has become a very great threat."
Padmé shook her head. "...I can't."
Obi-Wan stood up from the couches, and I followed him, standing up as well. Once we were nearly out of the apartment, we stopped. Obi-Wan then turned to look back at Padmé. "Anakin is the father, isn't he?"
Padmé immediately looked over at me. I raised my hands. "I didn't tell him anything, I swear."
"I'm so sorry, Padmé." Obi-Wan said.
Reluctantly, Obi-Wan and I left, climbing into the airspeeder we took from the hangar of the Jedi Temple. I gave Padmé before we left Padmé's apartment. My stomach churned. I felt terrible for delivering the news to Padmé like this. I wish there was another way, but there wasn't...
Not too long after we left, we saw Padmé on a landing platform. She walked into her ship along with C-3PO. Once they entered inside the ship, Obi-Wan and I cautiously snuck inside her ship, hiding in an empty compartment. Obi-Wan and I looked at one another with grim looks. I certainly didn't want to kill Anakin, he was like a brother to me. But if he had truly turned to the dark side, we didn't have a choice. I took out the Force-sensitive river stone Anakin gave me. Obi-Wan's eyes fell on the stone. "Where did you get that stone?"
"From Anakin. He gave it to me after I told Padmé and him that Koltav had perished." I explained. "He said the stone was a gift, to remind me that I'm never alone."
A smile appeared on his face. "I gave Anakin that stone for his thirteenth birthday. Master Jinn gave it to me, when I was thirteen. The river stone belonged from his home planet."
I nodded. "Anakin told me, which is why I was reluctant on taking it at first."
"Anakin must care for you, Storm." He pointed out.
"He's like a brother to me as you are, Obi-Wan." I stated.
Obi-Wan's smile widened. "You know Anakin's right about one thing."
I furrowed my brows. "What's that?"
"That you're not alone, Storm. Even when you think you are, you aren't." He informed me.
I smiled. "Thanks Obi-Wan. I can always count on you to cheer me up, even when dark times are upon us."
"Be the light, give people a reason to have hope, to believe." Obi-Wan advised. "That's what this galaxy needs, especially now."
Once the ship landed, Obi-Wan and I walked out of the ship, finding ourselves on Mustafar. My stomach churned. Why out of all planets did we have to land here? We walked out to find Anakin standing just feet away from Padmé.
"Because of what you've done, what you plan to do. Stop, stop now. Come back! I love you." Padmé pleaded.
At that moment, Anakin saw us standing on the boarding ramp of the ship. He then turned back around towards Padmé, glaring at her. "Liar!"
Padmé immediately turned around to see both Obi-Wan and me standing at boarding ramp. Padmé violently shook her head as she turned back to face Anakin. "No!"
"You're with them. You've betrayed me! You brought them here to kill me!" Anakin snapped.
"No! Anakin. I swear, I..." Padmé trailed off.
Anakin then extended out a hand towards Padmé. In a matter of seconds, Padmé was lifted up in the air. Padmé let out a gasp as she placed her hands around her neck. I watched in horror. Tears filled Padmé's eyes as she croaked out. "Anakin..."
"Let her go, Anakin." Obi-Wan ordered.
"What have you three been up to?" Anakin questioned.
"Let her go!" I cried out.
Anakin then released his grip on Padmé, dropping her to the ground. Anakin then turned to face us, anger was written all over his face. "You turned her against me."
"You have done that yourself." I retorted.
"You will not take her from me." Anakin shot back as he threw his cloak off.
I could feel his anger growing. My stomach churned. Looks like we have no choice...we will have to fight Anakin.
"Your anger and your lust for power have already done that." Obi-Wan argued as we threw our cloaks off and walked away from Padmé's ship. "You have allowed this Dark Lord to twist your mind until now."
"Until now you have become the very thing you swore to destroy." I added.
Once we were close to Padmé, I rushed towards her, placing a hand on her neck. I was relieved, when I felt a pulse. Anakin scoffed. "Don't lecture me, Obi-Wan, Storm. I see through the lies of the Jedi. I do not fear the dark side as you do. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire."
"Your new Empire?" I repeated, rather baffled.
"Don't make me kill you both." Anakin warned.
"Anakin, our allegiance is to the Republic...to democracy." Obi-Wan explained.
"If you're not with me, you're my enemy." Anakin shot back.
"Only a Sith Lord deals in absolutes." Obi-Wan pointed out as his face fell. "We will do what we must."
"You will try." Anakin retorted.