Avenger of the Sith (Revenge of the Sith movie rewrite)
Posted: 2013-01-03 03:31am
Avenger of the Sith, A rewrite of 'Revenge of the Sith'. All characters, names and locations copyrights remain property of Lucasfilm Ltd. everything else copyright remains with the author.
This is my rewrite of the movie ROTS. rather than sit here and complain that George didn't get it right, i decided i should have a go at writing edit. Hey got to start somewhere. My aim was fix up areas that i thought let the movie down, rather than completely bin the story. I admit I'm not very good at dialog (worse than anything Mr Lucas did anyway), but i ramped up the change of Anakin and took out the "Clark Kent effect" of Palpatine/Sidious. I'm particularly interested in suggestions to fix up or change areas which i have altered, and general tips on writing in general. Most of this follows the same as the movie, so i haven't covered it in great detail, since you've most likely all seen it. With that in mind, i also skipped some sections i considered unnecessary, like Grievous' fight on the Bridge of 'the hand'. I also left out providing any back story to any of the characters.
Part One
Opening Crawl: War! The Republic is crumbling under attacks by the ruthless Sith Lord, Count Dooku. There are heroes on both sides. Evil is everywhere.
In a stunning move, the fiendish droid leader, General Grievous, has swept into the Republic capital and kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine, leader of the Galactic Senate.
As the Separatist Droid Army attempts to flee the besieged capital with their valuable hostage, two Jedi Knights lead a desperate mission to rescue the captive Chancellor...
1.
The huge Separatist capital ship 'Invisible Hand' of the Confederate of Independent Systems (CIS) known as the Separatists, cruised slowly through the near orbit space around Corusant. An explosion ripped from the hull as a missile detonated on impact. The ship continued lumbering on, unaffected from the first of a barrage of missiles and Turbolaser blasts that came flying in from the opposing Republic ships. Dozens of capital ships and hundreds of smaller craft all fighting over the skies of the planet Corusant, the capital of the Galactic Republic.
Nearby, a small group of Republic fighters zipped in and out of the chaos of the battle. The group was lead by Anakin Skywalker, Champion of the Republic. Along side him, Obi-Wan Kenobi, General of the Republic and Jedi Master. They flew with deft skill between ships, flak and explosions as they hunted for their prey.
"Sky1 to Wan1", he called over the radio. "There's an open hanger door on the 'Hand', i'm going in."
"I'm on your six", Obi-Wan replied.
"This is where the fun beings" Anakin smiled.
While many of the Republic ships were shot down on their way through the battle, the two Jedi appeared invincible, avoiding everything that could have killed them.
"Have you noticed? Their shields are still up!" Obi-Wan exclaimed.
"Sorry, Master", Anakin replied. He fired his ships weapons at a box near the shielded hanger door. With skilled accuracy, the box exploded, turning the shield off, letting air to escape from the big ship. To prevent loss of all the atmosphere, the ships hanger door started to rapidly close. Anakin hit the thrusters to full speed with Obi-Wan right behind him.
The two piloted their craft into the belly of the huge capital ship, entering through the shrinking gap as the hanger door closed. Upon landing they were greeted with armed robots called Droids and a menagerie of aliens affiliated with the CIS. They all drew weapons and stared firing blasters at the two intruders, but not a single shot landed on it's target, as the two men were Jedi Knights of the Republic. They used a mystical energy of the galaxy called the 'Force' to augment their actions and speed and were able to avoid all the incoming fire. When they could not avoid an incoming blast, they used their Jedi weapon to deflect the bolt away, often back at the creature or machine that had fired it. Anakin wielded his light saber with fluidity and speed, cutting down the attackers in a flurry of sparks and blocked blaster bolts.
With the last of the Seps dealt with, Anakin's ship, containing a Droid by the name of R2D2, or Artoo, as he was mostly called, came to life and hovered just above the smooth metal floor.
"Artoo, blast out those doors" Anakin ordered. The ship took aim and fired several blasts of red energy at the doors, vaporizing them. R2D2 then landed the ship and ejected himself. He rolled his stout body across the smooth, silver floor to the waiting Jedi. Artoo was a technician and computer hacker, a job suited to the robot.
"Artoo, track the Chancellor's signal" Anakin ordered the Droid to a nearby computer socket to access the onboard computer. Artoo displayed a hologram of the ship and a flashing dot where the Chancellor's signal was coming from.
"At the top of that spire, on that observation platform" Obi-Wan analyzed the readout.
"I sense Count Dooku" Anakin revealed.
"I sense a trap" Obi-Wan replied.
"Next move?"
"Spring the trap!" Obi-Wan smiled.
Artoo whistled as the two began to walk away.
"Artoo, stay here with the ship" Anakin ordered
"Yes", commented Obi-Wan. "He can contact us on channel 351" he said as he pulled out his communicator.
Meanwhile, on the bridge of 'The Hand', the Separatist General Grievous arrived and asked for an update from his captain.
"What is the situation, Captain?"
"Two Jedi have landed in the main hanger bay, we are tracking them now", the Neimodian Captain replied.
"Just as Count Dooku predicted" Grievous noted, pacing around the bridge, coughing quietly.
The two Jedi moved through the bowels of the ship, avoiding patrols of droids and crew that were no doubt looking for them. With Artoo's ability to control machinery, he was able to call an elevator for them that would take them to the top of the communications tower. At the top of the tower, they found the large suite empty of expected guards. A large chair on the far side of the room turned around to reveal a thin old man sitting there in handcuffs. He was Palpatine, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. He had been kidnapped earlier in the day, and this was his rescue.
"No welcoming committee" Obi-Wan announced.
They crossed the floor to the Chancellor but before they could release him, a voice boomed out from behind them.
"Welcome, Jedi" Dooku stood at the door with two Super Battle Droids that were dark metal and stood as tall as Dooku.
"This time, we do it together" Obi-Wan whispered to Anakin, referring to an earlier fight with Dooku, where Anakin had rushed in alone, in which Dooku cut off Anakins' hand and Anakin now had an artificial replacement.
"I was going to suggest the same thing" Anakin retorted.
"You don't want to take him on." Palpatine warned Obi-Wan. "He's a Sith Lord!"
"Chancellor Palpatine, Sith Lords are our specialty" Obi-Wan winked.
"Surrender now, Jedi. We don't want to make a mess in front of the Chancellor", Dooku taunted. Dooku jumped across the room with a move that would have been impossible for a young, fit man, but he defied his look of an elderly gentleman. Upon landing he ignited his red Light Saber, the weapon of a Jedi, now colored red, the traditional color that only a Sith would use. Obi-Wan and Anakin responded with their blue Light Sabers.
As they clashed weapons like swordsmen of old, Dooku taunted them.
"I can easily take you both on at the same time".
"My power has double since the last time we met" Anakin retorted.
"Good" Dooku replied. "Twice the Pride, Double the Fall"
They resumed parry with their sabers and the Jedi tried to push the Count into a corner. While the Count had to fall back to keep the two Jedi on the one side, he had little difficulty matching their moves and with a flurry to keep them off balance, he used the Force to push Obi-Wan back across the room. Anakin pressed the moment to push the Count up the stairs while he waited for Obi-Wan to regain his footing and rejoin the fight.
On his way back to the fight, Obi-Wan destroyed the Count's two droid bodyguards with ease, and rejoined the battle with Dooku.
Dooku was ready for him though. As he pushed Anakin across the room, he used the Force to grip Obi-Wan by the neck like an invisible hand. He then thrust Obi-Wan across the room, where he landed awkwardly on a railing and fell to the floor unconscious. Wanting to finish him off, Dooku reached out with the Force and pulled the railing down on top of Obi-Wan, crushing him with it's weight and pinning him in place.
The sight of his Master being thrown about like a ragdoll, Anakin felt the rage within him. It allowed him to tap into the Force deeper than he had before, and with renewed vigor, he launched a devastating attack on Dooku. With a trick move, Anakin outmaneuvered Dooku and slipped his Saber through Dooku's defensive moves and cut both his hands off. Dooku looked with horror at his burning stumps and collapsed to his knees in pain. Anakin grabbed Dooku's dropped Saber and ignited it next to Dooku's neck.
"Good, Good!" exclaimed the Chancellor, who had watched this battle with great interest and excitement. "Kill him, Anakin. Kill him now"
Dooku looked at the Chancellor with disbelief that the Chancellor would suggest such a thing. He wanted to beg for his life, but couldn't bring any words from his mouth. Anakin struggled with this. Dooku was a dangerous man, but it was not the Jedi way to arbitrarily execute a prisoner.
"I shouldn't" Anakin said to himself
"Do it!" ordered Palpatine.
With a breath, Anakin flashed the two Sabers together, severing the head of Count Dooku. His lifeless body dropped to the ground.
"You did well, Anakin" Palpatine reassured the young Jedi. "He was too dangerous to be kept alive".
"Yes, but he was an unarmed prisoner" Anakin said as he released Palpatine from his bindings. "I shouldn't have done it, it's not the Jedi way".
"It is only natural. He cut off your arm, you wanted revenge. Now we must leave, before more security droids arrive"
Anakin rushed to Obi-Wan's body. He was still alive, but unconscious.
"We must hurry, before it's too late" Palpatine insisted. He hated Obi-Wan, though he'd never admit it to Anakin. He knew because Anakin loved the Jedi Knight like a brother and would not leave his Master. Obi-Wan stood in the way of Palpatine's plans for Anakin.
"I think he'll be alright" Anakin pointed out as he lifted the unconscious body over his shoulder and carried him to the elevator.
Meanwhile, a Republic battle-cruiser had closed in on the escaping Hand CIS ship and opened fire on it.
"All batteries, return fire, Fire!" exclaimed the Captain of the Hand. The two ships now slugged each other like wooden sailing ships of old, firing weapons at point-blank range into each other's hull.
In the observation platform, Anakin pressed the call button on the elevator, but the control panel remain black. "Elevator is not working" he pointed out. He pulled his communicator and called Artoo to activate the elevator. The Droid responded with a few unintelligible beeps. The room then rocked violently as the ships weapons caused massive damage to each other and the Hand swerved hard as the engines misfired, send it spiraling out of control. As the ship's bridge crew tried to right its course to stop it hitting the atmosphere of Corusant, Anakin, Palpatine and the unconscious Obi-Wan made their way back to the hanger. Back in the hanger, they found their craft had been flipped over by the out of control ship and were now too damaged to fly.
"Maybe we can find another way off this ship" Anakin suggested.
They headed to the bridge, where they found it... deserted. Outside the viewport, the planet loomed large. They were on a crash course into the planet. Anakin jumped into the pilot's seat.
"They've locked out the controls" He informed the others, "and all the escape pods have been jettisoned.
"So you can't pilot the ship" Obi-Wan pointed out
"I think at this point, the ability to pilot the ship is irrelevant. Prepare for crash landing! Artoo, see if you can unlock the controls. "
They all strapped themselves in and Anakin did his best to level their descent, however their speed and trajectory soon had the ship glowing white hot and the ship started to break apart as the atmosphere and gravity started to affect the ship. As it tore through the atmosphere, it left a trail of smoke and debris and eventually the ship crashed down in an industrial sector of Corusant. On the bridge, they were protected from the worst of the crash by the shields and the sheer size of the ship meant they were able to avoid being crushed as it slammed into the ground in a ball of fire. They were thrown about the bridge as the massive ship came to a grinding halt.
"Another happy landing!" Obi-Wan joked. Anakin wasn't in a laughing mood. He'd been impaled on a piece of broken metal. He pulled it out of his abdomen and winced in pain. Obi-Wan found Palpatine under some debris and Anakin recovered Artoo from his upside-down landing position.
...
2. Meanwhile, on Naboo, a picturesque and peaceful planet, Anakin's wife, Padme was being helped into an ambulance. She was having pains from the impending pregnancy and the doctor had convinced her that she should go into care. Medics pulled her out of the ambulance on the stretcher and was wheeled into the hospital. She was helped into a bed and her attendants ensured she was comfortable. The doctors had given her sedatives and told her it was too soon to give birth.
"Is there anything else you need, milady?" asked Yane, one of her personal aides.
"I only wish Anakin was here"
"He's fighting the Separatists. The Republic needs him"
"I know. It's just this war... every time he comes back, a little more of him has died and he's even more paranoid. Some days i don't even know who he is".
The Doctor came in.
"I have news about your pregnancy." He said. "You are carrying twins",
"Twins?" both Padme and her aide said together.
"Yes. Perhaps if you were having regular exams instead of gallivanting around the galaxy, you would have found out about the twins sooner. I'm also concerned about these pains you've been experiencing. I'm ordering you to stay here under care until you give birth and a moratorium on any unnecessary travel."
"Unnecessary travel? I have to go to Corusant. Not only to attend the Senate, but I also have to tell Anakin that he's having two children, not just one".
"You shouldn't travel in your condition". The Doctor advised. "Please, remain here where you can get 24 hour care."
The doctor left, expecting Padme to ignore his advise. He knew all too well that she was strong willed and stubborn. He stopped near Yane on his way past. "Keep her safe" was his only words.
As Yane returned to Padme's bedside, she knew what Padme intended to do.
"I presume you will be travelling to Corusant."
"No" Padme said. She saw the surprise on Yane's face. "I'm not going to risk my babies' lives. But you can contact Anakin through the Jedi Order. He must travel to Naboo immediately. Don't tell him about the twins. I want it to be a surprise."
...
3.
On the planet Utapau, General Grievous clambered out of his escape ship. Having not only abandoned his command starship, he had also lost his leader, Count Dooku. Dooku was not in charge, however, he report to a shadowy figure known as Darth Sidious. When ever he contacted Grievous, he hid his face under a cloak. Grievous didn't know what he actually looked like. He only knew he was a Sith Lord, and being Force aware, Grievous knew he was far more dangerous than himself or Dooku. He knew he had to contact this Sith Lord, and it was something he wasn't looking forward to. At the communications center, he pressed a few buttons on the Holoprojector.
"Lord Sidious, you commanded me to make contact with you" Grievous spoke with a strong robotic voice. Sidious' image appeared above the machine.
"General Grievous, I suggest you move the Separatist Leaders to Mustafar."
"It will be done, My Lord"
"The end of the war is near, General"
"but, the loss of Count Dooku..."
"His death was a necessary loss. Soon I will have a new apprentice. One far younger and more powerful."
Grievous was relieved that he wasn't blamed for the loss of 'The Hand' ship or Dooku. It was surprising, as he was usually Dooku's whipping boy when something didn't go to plan. He didn't know what to make of this claimed 'new apprentice'. If he was more powerful that Dooku, they certainly wanted him on board. Then again, Sidious claimed that his previous apprentice was unbeatable, but Darth Maul died on his first assignment.
...
4.
At the Chancellor's Office in the Senate Building, Anakin walked with Palpatine. After their usual greetings, Palpatine asked Anakin to walk with him while they discussed something.
"I hope you trust me, Anakin."
"Of course."
"I need your help, Son." Palpatine tried to look as friendly as possible.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm depending on you"
"For what? I don't understand"
"To be the eyes, ears and voice of the Republic. Anakin, I'm appointing you to be my personal representative on the Jedi Council"
"Me? A Master?" Anakin ran the idea through his mind. "I'm overwhelmed, Sir". Anakin moved in closer to Palpatine. "The Council elects it's own members. They'll never accept this".
"I think they will. They need you, more than you know".
...
Anakin traveled to the Jedi Temple to deliver this news to the Council. They all gathered in the Council Room where each sat in a chair arranged in a circle. Some of the Masters present were Yoda, Obi-Wan and Mace Windu. Those who were not present were represented by a holographic image of that person. When Anakin announced that the Chancellor wanted him on the Council there was a measured silence.
"Allow this appointment lightly, the Council does not" said Yoda, the Grand Master of the Jedi. "Disturbing, this move from Chancellor Palpatine".
"I understand", Anakin said, reservedly.
"You are on this Council", Windu announced. "But we do not grant you the rank of Master".
"What?" Anakin was shocked. "How can you do this? It is outrageous. It's not fair. How can you be on the Council and not be a Master?"
"Take a seat, young Skywalker", Windu motioned for Anakin to sit to his right. Anakin buried his anger, bowed and took his seat on the Council.
"Forgive me, Master Windu".
Obi-Wan shook his head at his pupil's outburst. He knew the others would disapprove of such emotions.
Ki-Adi-Mundi broke the silence by continuing his report. His holographic representation flickered. "We have surveyed all systems in the Republic without a sign of General Grievous."
"Hiding in the Outer Rim, Grievous is." Yoda surmised. "The outlying systems, you must sweep".
"We do not have many ships to spare." Obi-Wan pointed out.
"What about the Droid attack on the Wookies?" Ki-Adi-Mundi pointed out was also an issue.
"It's critical we send an attack group there now." Windu insisted.
"He's right." Obi-Wan agreed. "It's a system we cannot afford to lose".
"Go, I will." Yoda decided. "Good relations with the Wookies, I have."
"It's settled then", Windu decided. "Yoda will take a battalion of Clones to reinforce the Wookies on Kashykk. May the Force be with us all".
After the meeting had concluded, Obi-Wan and Anakin walked together down one of the connecting hallways of the Jedi Temple. Anakin was still fuming over his appointment to the Council, but not also receiving the expected Master rank and title.
"This is ridiculous! To put me on the Council, but not make me a Master. It's never been done in the history of the Jedi. It's insulting!"
"Oh, calm down, Anakin. You're acting infantile. You've been given a great honor. Stop talking rubbish!"
Anakin was incensed at Obi-Wan's comments, but he knew it was true.
"To be on the Council at your age, it's never happened before. That fact of the matter is you're too close to the Chancellor. The Council doesn't like it when he interferes with Jedi affairs."
"I swear to you, i didn't ask to be put on the Council"
"But it's what you wanted. Your friendship with Palpatine certainly has paid off."
"That had nothing to do with it"
"The only reason the Council approved your appointment is because the Chancellor trusts you."
"And?" Anakin stopped
"Anakin, i'm on your side. I didn't want to put you in this situation."
"What situation?"
Obi-Wan took the time to word this delicately, looking away from Anakin's gaze. "The Council wants you to report on all the Chancellor's dealings. They want to know what he's up to."
"They want me to spy on the Chancellor? That's treason!"
"We are at war, Anakin." Obi-Wan pointed out.
"Why didn't the Council give me this assignment while we were in session". Anakin knew the answer, but he wanted to ask it anyway, as if to confirm his own suspicions.
"This assignment is not to be on record."
"The Chancellor is not a bad man, Obi-Wan. He befriended me, watched out for me, ever since I arrived here."
"That is why you must help us. Anakin, our allegiance is to the Senate, not a leader who has stayed in office long after his term has expired.
"The Senate demanded that he stay longer"
"Search you feelings, Anakin. You know something is out of place".
"Your asking me to do something against the Jedi Code, against the Republic, against a mentor and a friend, that's what's out of place here. Why are you asking this of me?"
"The Council is asking you."
...
Later, Obi-Wan filled out the leaders of the Jedi Council, Mace Windu and Yoda, while they travelled to the Spaceport in a military craft. They were delivering Yoda to his transport to travel to the Wookie homeplanet of Kashykk.
"Anakin did not take his new assignment with much enthusiasm."
"It's very dangerous, putting them together", Windu warned. "I don't think the boy can handle it. I don't trust him."
"With all due respect, Master Windu. Is he not the Chosen One? Is he not to destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force?"
"So the prophecy says," Windu pointed out.
Yoda pushed back his thin hair on the forehead. "A prophecy that misread, could have been".
"He will not let me down" Obi-Wan said assuredly. "He never has".
"I hope right, you are" Yoda stared Obi-Wan straight in the eye, as though he were searching for something.
Yoda's transmitter beeped and he turned it on. A hologram of Ki-Adi-Mundi appeared.
"I've just received a communiqué from one of our contacts in the Outer Rim. They say the General Grievous was spotted in the Utipah System."
"Act immediately on this, we must", Yoda replied. "The capture of General Grievous could end this war. Quickly and decisively, we should proceed."
"We need a Master with lots of experience to deal with this", added Windu. He looked at Obi-Wan.
"Agree, do I" injected Yoda.
"I would be honored." Obi-Wan answered. "However it may turn out to be just a wild Bantha chase.
...
Padme was in great discomfort. Her birthing was near and she still hadn't heard back from Anakin. Yane rushed in to assist Padme to get ready.
"Any word from Anakin?" she asked desperately, but Yane's shaking head dashed her hope that he would be on his way. She couldn't put off giving birth to her twins any longer. "Keep trying. He must be here for the birth of his children".
...
5.
Obi-Wan arrived at Utipau in his Starfighter. He pressed a few buttons and the Hyperdrive ring that had brought his craft here at unimaginable speed disconnected from the hull of his ship, and he sped away from it towards the surface. He flew towards an enormous hole in the ground, where inside the hole he found the spaceport, hidden away from view. He landed his craft with grace on the platform and hopped out to meet the Congressman of the facility. He was a tall alien, with a huge forehead and strange striped skin.
"Greetings, young Jedi. What brings you to our remote sanctuary?"
"Unfortunately, the War" Obi-Wan spoke with his most diplomatic tone.
"There's no war here, unless you brought it with you"
"With your kind permission i would like some fuel and to use your city as a base as I search nearby systems for General Grievous."
The Congressman turned to some nearby technicians and in his native tongue, ordered them to attend Obi-Wan's ship. He stepped close to Obi-Wan
"He's here" he whispered. "We are being held hostage. They are watching us".
"I understand" replied Obi-Wan.
"Tenth level" the alien hissed. "Thousands of Battle Droids".
Obi-Wan knew what had to be done. "Tell your people to take shelter. If you have warriors, now is the time."
The alien bowed and left. Obi-Wan returned to his ship and sat in the cockpit. He spoke to his Droid, a copper colored R2 unit, still nestled in the wing of his fighter.
"Take the fighter back to the ship. Tell Cody that I've made contact".
The Droid beeped in reply and Obi-Wan snuck out of his ship and watched it climb and disappear from view.
Several hours later, Obi-Wan had acquired some local transport, a giant lizard that he hoped would be fast enough to catch Grievous. The creature was a bit ungainly as it was unfamiliar to him, but he felt more at ease with this beak faced creature than with some cold uncomfortable speeder. He made his way towards the secret command structure, where he was sure he'd find Grievous.
Grievous was indeed in the Command Room. He was pacing back and forth while he address the gathering of Separatist Leaders. They were a strange group of aliens, ambassadors from their respective planet or League. Seated at the table among the dignitaries was Viceroy of the Trade Federation, whom Obi-Wan had run up against many years ago when the Trade Federation attacked Naboo. He'd obviously managed to escape any real justice.
"It won't be long before the armies of the Republic track us here. I am sending you to the Mustafar system in the outer rim." Grievous announced to the gathering. "It is a volcanic planet. You will be safe there".
The CIS leaders looked at each other, they were obviously distressed. Little did they know that Obi-Wan had already found them and was listening from above.
"Safe?" the Nemoidean jumped to his feet. "Chancellor Palpatine managed to escape your grip, General. Without Count Dooku, i have doubts about your ability to keep us safe."
Grievous was as usual quite quick to temper at this comment. "Be thankful, Viceroy, that you have not found yourself within my grip!" Grievous headed off. "Your ship is waiting", he announced dismissively as he ran out of the room followed by two Magna-Guards. Magna Guards were versatile Droids, able to match a Jedi with their preferred weapon, a Shock Staff with a glowing cap at each end that buzzed with energy, that would damage or injure any biological or mechanical attacker.
Obi-Wan mused at what he should do next and stroked his beard. He decided that a direct confrontation would be the simplest approach. He took off his cloak and jumped from his hiding spot directly behind the Droid General.
"Hello there", Obi-Wan announced.
Grievous wheeled around, as did his two body guards, and several battle droids.
"General Kenobi," Grievous greeted Obi-Wan. "You are a bold one." He chuckled. "Kill him!"
As several Battle Droids approached, and the two Magna-Guards, Obi-Wan prepared himself, by igniting his Light Saber and took a defensive posture. He knew the Magna-Guards were difficult to destroy, so he looked around for an advantage. He spotted a large structure hanging from the ceiling, which he reached out to with the Force and pulled it down, it fell, crushing the two Magna-Guards and one Battle Droid as well.
As the Droids prepared to attack, Grievous called them off. "Back away, i will deal with this Jedi slime, myself". Grievous raised himself to full height, standing almost a meter taller than Obi-Wan.
"Your move!" Obi-Wan was confident and cocky.
"You fool. I have been trained in your Jedi arts by Count Dooku". Grievous boasted as he removed his cloak, retrieved four Light Sabers from his holster and split his arms in two, giving him FOUR arms! "Attack, Kenobi"
Obi-Wan smiled. This would be a challenge, one he had been looking forward to for some time. Grievous, being mechanical, was able to spin the Light Sabers with speed that any Jedi could never hope to match. The General cackled like a villain as he moved menacingly toward Obi-Wan. Still, Obi-Wan had trained against four opponents and soon had cut off one of Grievous' metal hands. With deft skill he watched his mechanical opponent slash at him, which he parried and deflected the many Light Sabers being swung at him. He noticed that Grievous was always on the attack, and used a few moves he'd learned to account for overly aggressive opponents. He cut off another of Grievous' hands. This made the Droid Commander even more enraged. Grievous made a furious attack, moving in hard, he knocked Obi-Wan's Light Saber from his hand. Obi-Wan watched it bounce down through the levels below.
Then they heard Blasters firing, and saw Clone Troopers dropping from the rafters and pouring out of every entrance. The Republic Army had arrived. The droids turned to meet the new threat, but Grievous kept moving towards Obi-Wan.
"Army or not, you must realize you are DOOMED!" Grievous spoke with as much menace in his voice as he could manage with an artificial voice box.
"Oh, I don't think so". Obi-Wan replied as he used the force to hit Grievous in his chest, sending him toppling down to a lower level of the city. Grievous landed without damage and Obi-Wan jumped down after him, as the mechanical creature scuttled along to a nearby speeder which he used to drive out of the complex. Obi-Wan whistled for his Lizard creature and he jumped on it's back and chased after the fleeing Grievous.
...
6.
At the Jedi Council War Room, the Masters gathered for an update. A Hologram of Captain Cody appeared in his white Clone Trooper uniform. Anakin was outside the room, eavesdropping. He was hoping to overhear the whereabouts of Obi-Wan Kenobi. What he heard chilled him to the bone.
"Master Windu, General Kenobi has made contact with Grievous and we have begun our attack."
"Thank you, Commander", Windu replied as Cody's image vibrated and disappeared.
After a moment's silence, Windu started another topic.
"I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi", Windu confided in the other Masters. "The dark side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor."
"If he does not give up his emergency powers with the destruction of Grievous, then he should be removed from office" the hologram of Master Ki-Adi-Mundi said.
"The Jedi Council will have to take control of the Senate in order to ensure a peaceful transition." Windu added.
"To a dark place, this line of thought could carry us" warned Yoda, also represented by a hologram. "Great care, we must take".
Could it be true? Thought Anakin. Is the Jedi Council bent on taking over the Senate? Remove the Chancellor? Were they considering eliminating him? What was the dark Force around the Chancellor? It was something that needed to be investigated further.
...
Meanwhile, Padme having given birth to Luke and Leia, was now packing to go find Anakin. She still hadn't been able to contact him and tell him that he had a daughter. He already knew she was having a boy and he wanted to name him Luke, but he still didn't know about Leia. It was a hard time for Padme. She didn't want to leave her newborns, or travel so soon after giving birth, but the communications blackout forced her hand. Her aide, Yane was obviously concerned, but hadn't been able to change her mind. Her nanny would have to care for the babies for a few days while Padme traveled to Corusant.
...
7.
Anakin headed to see Palpatine. He of all people had a knack of putting things in perspective and perhaps he could figure out if the Council was right about the darkness surrounding him.
He found Palpatine in his office, sitting behind his desk as he usually did. He was viewing some data on a screen, which he turned off when Anakin walked in.
"Chancellor, We've received a report that Obi-Wan Kenobi has found Grievous, but they wouldn't tell me where he was."
"Then we can only hope that Master Kenobi is up the to challenge"
"The Council accepted my application to join the Council, but they refused to give me the rank of Master Jedi".
"It's upsetting to me that the Council doesn't seem to fully appreciate your talents. Don't you wonder why they won't make you a Jedi Master?"
"I wish i knew" Anakin pouted. "More and more i get the feeling I'm being excluded from the Jedi". Anakin paused. "I know there are things about the Force that they are not teaching me."
"They don't trust you, Anakin. They see your future. They know your power will be too strong to control. You must break though the fog of lies the Jedi have created around you. I think your path lies along one that does not include the Jedi Order."
"Leave the Jedi?"
"Why not?" Palpatine twisted the conversation to make his opinion seem plausible. "You'd finally be able to be with Padme, you'd be able to do the things you know need to be done and you'd be able to learn the full gamut that the Force has to offer you."
"But how would i learn about the Force without the Jedi Masters?"
"Let me help you know the subtleties of the Force".
"What do you know of the Force?" It was an pertinent question. What should a politician know about secret Jedi stuff?
"The truth is when i was young i was a talented natural Force user. I was able to convince others of my point of view not actually knowing I was tapping into the Force and I had other 'skills'. I soon caught the attention of a Jedi Knight, who wanted to take me to the Jedi Academy. I found their rules stifling and their minds closed. Something i'm sure you can identify with."
Anakin shifted at the uneasy truth. It was almost the same as his life experience and it was one that he could identify with. He'd confided in Palpatine his feelings that the Jedi were holding him back.
Palpatine continued, "Instead of joining the Jedi, I promised them I would not use my force skills and went to University on Naboo instead. Of course, I continued my training on my own and eventually found an old man, Plagueis, who helped me complete my training. After that, I went into politics back on Naboo."
Palpatine paused while he considered how to phrase the next topic. "I can help you. I can teach you all I have learned. You can still become the greatest Jedi of all time, but not with the Old Order holding you back. You've known this for a long time."
Anakin was deep in thought. He new what Palpatine was saying was true, but it was a huge step and he couldn't foresee how they would react if he told them he was leaving the Order. Perhaps this was the darkness the Jedi was referring to, but Anakin couldn't tell if it was because of Palpatine or the Jedi. Finally he made his decision. He would leave the Jedi!
...
8.
Padme arrived back in Corusant. Despite leaving notice with the Jedi that she was landing, hoping they'd send Anakin to meet her at the Space Port, however the only one to greet her was the mechanic Protocol Droid, C3PO, or Threepio, as she called him. He was certainly happy to see her, ending his last few weeks of standing around doing nothing while Padme had been away. He helped her with her bags to the waiting private taxi that took them home.
Back in her apartment, it was cold, not having been lived in while she was away. She sighed as she knew Anakin wasn't waiting for her here either. At some point she would catch up with Anakin to tell him the good news.
...
Grievous flew his speeder at full throttle through a crowd of fighting Republic and CIS forces, knocking them out of the way with little regard. Obi-Wan behind him, dodging the flying debris from the back of his giant lizard creature.
Obi-Wan pulled along side Grievous, who snatched a Electrostaff from a Magna-Guard that he past. He flung it wildly at Obi-Wan, who dodged the staff as best he could. Then Obi-Wan was able to grab the staff, and fought Grievous for the weapon. Obi-Wan wrenched it from Grievous' grip and used it to hit the speeder, hoping to disable it. One swing went too close to Grievous and the cyborg was able to grab it. He pulled Obi-Wan from his ride and Obi-Wan had to mount the speeder behind Grievous. While they struggled for control of the staff, Grievous remembered there was a blaster mounted in a hatch hidden on the speeder. He pulled it out and aimed at Obi-Wan. Before he could get a shot off, they hit a sharp bump and the both were thrown from the speeder, which crashed into a deep crevasse. The two warriors jumped to a defensive posture and Obi-Wan secured the staff, while Grievous grabbed the Blaster. Grievous tried to fire, but Obi-Wan had covered the distance between them and used the staff to knock the Blaster from his hand. With Grievous unarmed, Obi-Wan took the advantage and bashed the staff into him, zapping him with the electrodes in the ends of the staff. Grievous was able to kick Obi-Wan to the ground and now they were both unarmed. Grievous' powerful swings eventually connected with Obi-Wan, knocking him across the room into the side of a waiting fighter. Grievous picked him up with one hand and tried to punch Obi-Wan, but he missed and punched a hole in the side of the fighter. In the ruckus, Obi-Wan pulled Grievous' chest panels open, revealing his biological heart. Grievous was able to land a punch and Obi-Wan was knocked flying again. Before he could get back on his feet, Grievous was over him, trying to stomp him with his huge mechanical feet. Obi-Wan evaded the crashing feet and swung his foot to try and kick Grievous' leg from under him, but this was a mistake. Obi-Wan felt a rush of pain shoot up his leg and he let out a scream. The leg was too hard to kick with a fleshy leg. Grievous picked up Obi-Wan and threw him as hard as he could. Obi-Wan was lucky enough to grab the edge of the crevasse to stop himself from falling. He watched Grievous pick up the Electrostaff and walk towards him. Then he saw the Blaster was close. Using the Force to pull the Blaster to him, he raised it and fired, directly into Grievous' chest, the cyborg's chest panels were still open and his heart took the full blast of energy from Obi-Wan's shot. However, he did not fall, and Obi-Wan fired several more shots to finish off General Grievous. He threw away the Blaster.
"How uncivilized" He complained about the Blaster. He much preferred his Light Saber, but the monster was dead.
...
9.
Anakin sat on the couch in Padme's apartment while he waited for her to get out of the shower. He'd arrived without her knowledge and would surprise her. He recalled a dream he had last night, about Padme and Obi-Wan. He still couldn't decipher what it meant, but he was sure Obi-Wan would be involved in Padme's death. He could feel it. Padme came back into the room.
"Oh, my god, Anakin!" She exclaimed as she ran into his arms. "When did you get back?"
"I have some important news" Anakin said
"I have some important news, too" Padme replied.
"I'm leaving the Jedi Order!"
"What? But being a Jedi is your destiny. You said so yourself"
"It's been too hard being away from you, and with the baby, staying with the Jedi will be impossible"
"I see". Padme was worried how the Order would react. "Have you discussed this with Obi-Wan?"
"Obi-Wan was here, wasn't he."
"I haven't seen him since I got back. He called a couple of hours ago." Padme replied
"What did he want?"
"He's worried about you. He says you've been under a lot of stress". She said as she folded her clothes.
"I feel.. lost"
"Lost?" Padme looked back at Anakin, who stood leaning against the doorway. "What do you mean?"
"Obi-Wan and the Council don't trust me".
"They trust you with their lives."
"Something is happening. I don't know what they're up to."
"You don't trust the Jedi Council?"
"The Jedi Council wants me to spy on the Chancellor. It's pathetic. They know it's wrong. It's illegal and it's treason. They don't seem to care about the laws of the Republic anymore." Anakin took a breath. "Sometimes I wonder what's happened to the Jedi Order. I think this war is destroying the principles of the Republic".
Padme shifted uneasily. She wanted to ask something of Anakin that she'd been considering for some time, but she was unsure how he'd react.
"Have you ever considered we might be on the wrong side?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if the democracy we thought we were serving no longer exists? And the Republic has become the very evil we seek to destroy?
"I don't believe that" Anakin replied with conviction. "and you're sounding like a Separatist!"
"This war represents a failure to listen." Padme argued. "You're closer to the Chancellor than anyone, please ask him to stop the fighting and let diplomacy resume".
"You're asking me to do the same thing that the Council is. You're just as bad. How dare you ask me to do that!"
"I'm asking you to save the Republic!"
"What do you think I've been doing out there all this time?" Anakin could feel the hate swelling within him.
"Making war!" Padme retorted. She regretted the words immediately.
"You don't know what it's like. Sitting here in your safe, comfortable house while I'm out there watching people dying!"
"That's not what I meant"
"Doesn't it matter? How can you say that?" Anakin was agitated.
"Anakin, I didn't mean it."
"Nothing I do matters to you!" He ranted.
"That's not true. I just don't believe war is the answer"
"You don't know what it's like! The Jedi turned against me, don't you turn against me too"
"I don't know you anymore", Padme cried "and it's breaking my heart".
"I've done all of this for you"
"You only think of YOURSELF!"
Anakin slapped Padme for her insult. Her eyes quivered and she ran off, crying. Anakin needed to get out of here, so he left to go for a walk to clear his head.
...
10.
A while later Anakin needed to see someone he knew he could confide in, so he headed to the Chancellor's residence.
Anakin sat beside Palpatine. The room was somewhat darker than normal. It seemed to match the somber mood of the afternoon. He explained his fight with Padme and how he was feeling pressured on all sides.
Palpatine spoke in a soft voice. "Anakin, you know I'm not able to rely on the Jedi Council. If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will."
"I'm not sure I understand"
"You must sense what I have come to suspect. The Jedi Council want control of the Republic. They are planning to betray me."
"I don't think.."
"Anakin", Palpatine interrupted. "Search your feelings. You know, don't you."
"I know they don't trust you."
"Hmm... or the Senate, or the Republic, or democracy for that matter."
"I have to admit, my trust in them has been shaken" Anakin admitted.
"Why?" Palpatine looked at Anakin, who did not return his gaze. "They asked you to do something you think is dishonest, didn't they? They asked you to spy on me, didn't they?"
"I don't, ah," Anakin shifted in his seat. "I overheard them scheming..."
"Remember back to your early teachings. 'All who gain power are afraid to loose it'. Even the Jedi".
"The Jedi use their power for good" Anakin recited the words.
" 'Good' is a point of view, Anakin. What do you think would happen to someone who could use the Force, but did not want to join the Jedi?"
"I'm not certain". Anakin mused why Palpatine should broach this subject again.
"Have you ever met anyone who was powerful with the Force, but not a Jedi?"
"Only Sith, like Dooku and his dark minions"
"And who trained Dooku to be a Sith Lord?"
"It was Yoda who taught him to be a Jedi Knight"
"... and when he turned his back on the Jedi, he became a Sith?"
"Yes"
"anyone who turns their back on the Jedi are so labeled". Palpatine thought he had made his point.
...
Anakin traveled to the Jedi Temple. He ran his speech around in his head as he tried to formulate the best way to convey his resignation. He waited for the Council to gather and made his announcement.
"Masters, I've come to a decision regarding my place in the Jedi Order." He took a deep breath. "I've come to realize that my position in this organization is holding me back and that I have no future within it's walls. I therefore tender my resignation effective immediately".
The final part of his speech was drown out by gasps and objections from the Masters. Only Yoda remained quiet.
"You can't quit the Jedi Order!" insisted Windu.
"Why not?"
"You made a commitment to the Jedi Order", answered Ki-Adi-Mundi. Some of the others voiced their agreement.
"Never the less. I have made my decision."
The Councilors weren't about to let this rest, with many raising their voices to be heard. All Anakin could here was a bunch of old men, desperate to hold onto their power that he brought to the Order.
"We can't allow you to leave, Skywalker. Not like this." Windu announced. "Master Yoda, what is to happen here?"
The din quieted down, and eventually Yoda spoke.
"If leave you must, but everything you believe in, all will be lost."
Windu was surprised at Yoda's attitude. Surely he wasn't going to let Skywalker leave the order.
"and what of your commitment to the Jedi?" he asked Anakin.
"I've learned all I can from the Order. I must seek my own path". Anakin left the Council chamber and felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders. He knew this was the right decision. As he made his way towards the exit, Windu pulled him up.
"This won't end like this, Skywalker. You owe far to much to the Jedi to walk away."
"What do you intend to do about it, Master Windu?"
"I can only sense, you will come to regret this day." Windu left with one last menacing look.
...
11.
Padme rested on the sofa in her apartment. She was trying to take it easy, as her doctor had instructed, but it was hard to remain still when she had so much on her mind. On top of that, with their fight, and Anakin striking her, she struggled to remain quiet. The door chime rang out. Padme had sent off all her aides and hangers-on, so she had to answer the door herself. She wasn't surprised that it was Palpatine, no doubt here to offer Anakin's apologies and his own kind words. Palpatine had been a friend for a long time, before he was Chancellor, he was a Representative of Naboo, her home planet.
"Come in". Padme guided the Chancellor in to the sofa. "I presume you heard about what happened with Anakin?"
"Yes, he came to see me. He was very upset at what you said. I'm certain once he calms down, he will apologize."
"It's so frustrating. Did he tell you his plans for the Jedi Order?"
"It was I who suggested he leave the Order"
"You? But I thought you were a supporter of the Jedi?"
"Things have changed, my dear. Anakin needs to find his own path".
"Things are falling apart. I feel like I don't know Anakin anymore."
"I'm sure things will come out as I have foreseen." Palpatine said, letting it slip that he could see future events. He turned his back on her, preparing to take the next step in his plans. "I want Anakin to become my new apprentice, but people are holding him back. He needs to let go if he is to become truly powerful".
"What people?" Padme was unsure what he was talking about.
Palpatine pulled up his cloak over his head. He was now Sidious. He drew his Light Saber and turned back to Padme.
"People like you" he told her as he ignited his red Light Saber. He felt the fear shoot through Padme and he struck her down with his weapon. One slash and she dropped to the floor, dead. Sidious looked over her for a moment, before moving over to the security console. He deleted the footage of him killing Padme and inserted some new faked footage that he had prepared earlier. With that, he slipped out, no one knowing he had been there.
...
12.
Anakin returned to the apartment with his apology ready to go. He'd also picked up some flowers that he hoped would help smooth over their argument. When he arrived, the place was abuzz with activity, with emergency vehicles and troops running about. He instinctively knew there was something wrong with Padme and rushed up the stairs at a blinding speed.
He found several people gathered in the middle of the room, as he parted them he saw her lying on the floor.
"Padme, No!" he tried to scream it loudly, but it barely made it out of his mouth. He knelt beside her and pulled her body close to his. She was cold, lifeless. The only sound was the flash from the crime scene investigators' camera, making a record of the scene.
"What happened here?" Anakin wanted to know.
Captain Gregar Typho stood next to Anakin as he let Padme lay back down on the floor.
"I was first on the scene. She was just laying there. Her wounds..." He swallowed at the thought, "...were caused by a Light Saber".
"Who could do such a thing?" interjected Yana.
"Only one way to find out. Check the security logs". Said Typho.
Typho opened the security panel and found the footage of the event had been deleted. He announced the problem and started looking for one of the many data backups that most systems created. Most had been corrupted, but he finally found a remote backup to play.
They watched in horror as they watched Obi-Wan cut down Padme with his Light Saber and leaving her dead. Anakin held his skull, thinking it was going to explode. 'This can't be happening', he thought. He let out an almighty scream and pulled at the Force, smashing much of the glass around the apartment. He made for the door, and Typho tried to stop him, but the others told him to let him go.
Anakin stormed out into the street and punched a recycling box with his fist and the Force and the damage buckled the little metal box. He sat down in the gutter and wept into his hands.
13.
Anakin walked away from Padme's apartment. He wandered for hours, running what had happened through his mind. Eventually he decided to go see Palpatine, but he wasn't sure where he actually was. He drifted through the crowds of people milling about in the dazzling strip lights. He came across a pair of Troopers dutifully guarding a doorway. He asked them to arrange transport for him back to the Chancellor's building. He felt he could always rely on the Troopers.
Back at Palpatine's private suite, he found the old man was expecting him.
"I was shocked at the news, Anakin. Padme was like a daughter to me. Oh, it's so horrible, I can scarcely believe it's possible." Palpatine guided Anakin to sit down and handed him a glass of water. "Was there any hint of who is responsible for this?"
"Oh.." Anakin stuttered. "Obi-Wan"
"Master Kenobi? What is his involvement?"
"I think he's responsible. I think he killed Padme!"
"Oh, I never thought they'd go this far."
"What do you mean?"
"I knew the Jedi would do everything in their power to stop you leaving, but I never considered they'd hurt your family."
"You think the Jedi ordered Padme's death, as a hit?"
"I certainly do. The Jedi won't let you go without a fight. Your alliance with the Force may be the only thing that enables them to survive." Palpatine's argument seemed to be plausible to Anakin, but one question needed answering.
"But Obi-Wan?"
"Kenobi is a soldier. He may not have liked it, but he follows the mantra of the Jedi, where ever his destiny may take him." Palpatine moved close. "That... is his undoing".
"Obi-Wan will die for this, but I will need your help."
"I could teach you that which the Jedi have not. I can teach you the Dark Side of the Force".
...
This is my rewrite of the movie ROTS. rather than sit here and complain that George didn't get it right, i decided i should have a go at writing edit. Hey got to start somewhere. My aim was fix up areas that i thought let the movie down, rather than completely bin the story. I admit I'm not very good at dialog (worse than anything Mr Lucas did anyway), but i ramped up the change of Anakin and took out the "Clark Kent effect" of Palpatine/Sidious. I'm particularly interested in suggestions to fix up or change areas which i have altered, and general tips on writing in general. Most of this follows the same as the movie, so i haven't covered it in great detail, since you've most likely all seen it. With that in mind, i also skipped some sections i considered unnecessary, like Grievous' fight on the Bridge of 'the hand'. I also left out providing any back story to any of the characters.
Part One
Opening Crawl: War! The Republic is crumbling under attacks by the ruthless Sith Lord, Count Dooku. There are heroes on both sides. Evil is everywhere.
In a stunning move, the fiendish droid leader, General Grievous, has swept into the Republic capital and kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine, leader of the Galactic Senate.
As the Separatist Droid Army attempts to flee the besieged capital with their valuable hostage, two Jedi Knights lead a desperate mission to rescue the captive Chancellor...
1.
The huge Separatist capital ship 'Invisible Hand' of the Confederate of Independent Systems (CIS) known as the Separatists, cruised slowly through the near orbit space around Corusant. An explosion ripped from the hull as a missile detonated on impact. The ship continued lumbering on, unaffected from the first of a barrage of missiles and Turbolaser blasts that came flying in from the opposing Republic ships. Dozens of capital ships and hundreds of smaller craft all fighting over the skies of the planet Corusant, the capital of the Galactic Republic.
Nearby, a small group of Republic fighters zipped in and out of the chaos of the battle. The group was lead by Anakin Skywalker, Champion of the Republic. Along side him, Obi-Wan Kenobi, General of the Republic and Jedi Master. They flew with deft skill between ships, flak and explosions as they hunted for their prey.
"Sky1 to Wan1", he called over the radio. "There's an open hanger door on the 'Hand', i'm going in."
"I'm on your six", Obi-Wan replied.
"This is where the fun beings" Anakin smiled.
While many of the Republic ships were shot down on their way through the battle, the two Jedi appeared invincible, avoiding everything that could have killed them.
"Have you noticed? Their shields are still up!" Obi-Wan exclaimed.
"Sorry, Master", Anakin replied. He fired his ships weapons at a box near the shielded hanger door. With skilled accuracy, the box exploded, turning the shield off, letting air to escape from the big ship. To prevent loss of all the atmosphere, the ships hanger door started to rapidly close. Anakin hit the thrusters to full speed with Obi-Wan right behind him.
The two piloted their craft into the belly of the huge capital ship, entering through the shrinking gap as the hanger door closed. Upon landing they were greeted with armed robots called Droids and a menagerie of aliens affiliated with the CIS. They all drew weapons and stared firing blasters at the two intruders, but not a single shot landed on it's target, as the two men were Jedi Knights of the Republic. They used a mystical energy of the galaxy called the 'Force' to augment their actions and speed and were able to avoid all the incoming fire. When they could not avoid an incoming blast, they used their Jedi weapon to deflect the bolt away, often back at the creature or machine that had fired it. Anakin wielded his light saber with fluidity and speed, cutting down the attackers in a flurry of sparks and blocked blaster bolts.
With the last of the Seps dealt with, Anakin's ship, containing a Droid by the name of R2D2, or Artoo, as he was mostly called, came to life and hovered just above the smooth metal floor.
"Artoo, blast out those doors" Anakin ordered. The ship took aim and fired several blasts of red energy at the doors, vaporizing them. R2D2 then landed the ship and ejected himself. He rolled his stout body across the smooth, silver floor to the waiting Jedi. Artoo was a technician and computer hacker, a job suited to the robot.
"Artoo, track the Chancellor's signal" Anakin ordered the Droid to a nearby computer socket to access the onboard computer. Artoo displayed a hologram of the ship and a flashing dot where the Chancellor's signal was coming from.
"At the top of that spire, on that observation platform" Obi-Wan analyzed the readout.
"I sense Count Dooku" Anakin revealed.
"I sense a trap" Obi-Wan replied.
"Next move?"
"Spring the trap!" Obi-Wan smiled.
Artoo whistled as the two began to walk away.
"Artoo, stay here with the ship" Anakin ordered
"Yes", commented Obi-Wan. "He can contact us on channel 351" he said as he pulled out his communicator.
Meanwhile, on the bridge of 'The Hand', the Separatist General Grievous arrived and asked for an update from his captain.
"What is the situation, Captain?"
"Two Jedi have landed in the main hanger bay, we are tracking them now", the Neimodian Captain replied.
"Just as Count Dooku predicted" Grievous noted, pacing around the bridge, coughing quietly.
The two Jedi moved through the bowels of the ship, avoiding patrols of droids and crew that were no doubt looking for them. With Artoo's ability to control machinery, he was able to call an elevator for them that would take them to the top of the communications tower. At the top of the tower, they found the large suite empty of expected guards. A large chair on the far side of the room turned around to reveal a thin old man sitting there in handcuffs. He was Palpatine, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. He had been kidnapped earlier in the day, and this was his rescue.
"No welcoming committee" Obi-Wan announced.
They crossed the floor to the Chancellor but before they could release him, a voice boomed out from behind them.
"Welcome, Jedi" Dooku stood at the door with two Super Battle Droids that were dark metal and stood as tall as Dooku.
"This time, we do it together" Obi-Wan whispered to Anakin, referring to an earlier fight with Dooku, where Anakin had rushed in alone, in which Dooku cut off Anakins' hand and Anakin now had an artificial replacement.
"I was going to suggest the same thing" Anakin retorted.
"You don't want to take him on." Palpatine warned Obi-Wan. "He's a Sith Lord!"
"Chancellor Palpatine, Sith Lords are our specialty" Obi-Wan winked.
"Surrender now, Jedi. We don't want to make a mess in front of the Chancellor", Dooku taunted. Dooku jumped across the room with a move that would have been impossible for a young, fit man, but he defied his look of an elderly gentleman. Upon landing he ignited his red Light Saber, the weapon of a Jedi, now colored red, the traditional color that only a Sith would use. Obi-Wan and Anakin responded with their blue Light Sabers.
As they clashed weapons like swordsmen of old, Dooku taunted them.
"I can easily take you both on at the same time".
"My power has double since the last time we met" Anakin retorted.
"Good" Dooku replied. "Twice the Pride, Double the Fall"
They resumed parry with their sabers and the Jedi tried to push the Count into a corner. While the Count had to fall back to keep the two Jedi on the one side, he had little difficulty matching their moves and with a flurry to keep them off balance, he used the Force to push Obi-Wan back across the room. Anakin pressed the moment to push the Count up the stairs while he waited for Obi-Wan to regain his footing and rejoin the fight.
On his way back to the fight, Obi-Wan destroyed the Count's two droid bodyguards with ease, and rejoined the battle with Dooku.
Dooku was ready for him though. As he pushed Anakin across the room, he used the Force to grip Obi-Wan by the neck like an invisible hand. He then thrust Obi-Wan across the room, where he landed awkwardly on a railing and fell to the floor unconscious. Wanting to finish him off, Dooku reached out with the Force and pulled the railing down on top of Obi-Wan, crushing him with it's weight and pinning him in place.
The sight of his Master being thrown about like a ragdoll, Anakin felt the rage within him. It allowed him to tap into the Force deeper than he had before, and with renewed vigor, he launched a devastating attack on Dooku. With a trick move, Anakin outmaneuvered Dooku and slipped his Saber through Dooku's defensive moves and cut both his hands off. Dooku looked with horror at his burning stumps and collapsed to his knees in pain. Anakin grabbed Dooku's dropped Saber and ignited it next to Dooku's neck.
"Good, Good!" exclaimed the Chancellor, who had watched this battle with great interest and excitement. "Kill him, Anakin. Kill him now"
Dooku looked at the Chancellor with disbelief that the Chancellor would suggest such a thing. He wanted to beg for his life, but couldn't bring any words from his mouth. Anakin struggled with this. Dooku was a dangerous man, but it was not the Jedi way to arbitrarily execute a prisoner.
"I shouldn't" Anakin said to himself
"Do it!" ordered Palpatine.
With a breath, Anakin flashed the two Sabers together, severing the head of Count Dooku. His lifeless body dropped to the ground.
"You did well, Anakin" Palpatine reassured the young Jedi. "He was too dangerous to be kept alive".
"Yes, but he was an unarmed prisoner" Anakin said as he released Palpatine from his bindings. "I shouldn't have done it, it's not the Jedi way".
"It is only natural. He cut off your arm, you wanted revenge. Now we must leave, before more security droids arrive"
Anakin rushed to Obi-Wan's body. He was still alive, but unconscious.
"We must hurry, before it's too late" Palpatine insisted. He hated Obi-Wan, though he'd never admit it to Anakin. He knew because Anakin loved the Jedi Knight like a brother and would not leave his Master. Obi-Wan stood in the way of Palpatine's plans for Anakin.
"I think he'll be alright" Anakin pointed out as he lifted the unconscious body over his shoulder and carried him to the elevator.
Meanwhile, a Republic battle-cruiser had closed in on the escaping Hand CIS ship and opened fire on it.
"All batteries, return fire, Fire!" exclaimed the Captain of the Hand. The two ships now slugged each other like wooden sailing ships of old, firing weapons at point-blank range into each other's hull.
In the observation platform, Anakin pressed the call button on the elevator, but the control panel remain black. "Elevator is not working" he pointed out. He pulled his communicator and called Artoo to activate the elevator. The Droid responded with a few unintelligible beeps. The room then rocked violently as the ships weapons caused massive damage to each other and the Hand swerved hard as the engines misfired, send it spiraling out of control. As the ship's bridge crew tried to right its course to stop it hitting the atmosphere of Corusant, Anakin, Palpatine and the unconscious Obi-Wan made their way back to the hanger. Back in the hanger, they found their craft had been flipped over by the out of control ship and were now too damaged to fly.
"Maybe we can find another way off this ship" Anakin suggested.
They headed to the bridge, where they found it... deserted. Outside the viewport, the planet loomed large. They were on a crash course into the planet. Anakin jumped into the pilot's seat.
"They've locked out the controls" He informed the others, "and all the escape pods have been jettisoned.
"So you can't pilot the ship" Obi-Wan pointed out
"I think at this point, the ability to pilot the ship is irrelevant. Prepare for crash landing! Artoo, see if you can unlock the controls. "
They all strapped themselves in and Anakin did his best to level their descent, however their speed and trajectory soon had the ship glowing white hot and the ship started to break apart as the atmosphere and gravity started to affect the ship. As it tore through the atmosphere, it left a trail of smoke and debris and eventually the ship crashed down in an industrial sector of Corusant. On the bridge, they were protected from the worst of the crash by the shields and the sheer size of the ship meant they were able to avoid being crushed as it slammed into the ground in a ball of fire. They were thrown about the bridge as the massive ship came to a grinding halt.
"Another happy landing!" Obi-Wan joked. Anakin wasn't in a laughing mood. He'd been impaled on a piece of broken metal. He pulled it out of his abdomen and winced in pain. Obi-Wan found Palpatine under some debris and Anakin recovered Artoo from his upside-down landing position.
...
2. Meanwhile, on Naboo, a picturesque and peaceful planet, Anakin's wife, Padme was being helped into an ambulance. She was having pains from the impending pregnancy and the doctor had convinced her that she should go into care. Medics pulled her out of the ambulance on the stretcher and was wheeled into the hospital. She was helped into a bed and her attendants ensured she was comfortable. The doctors had given her sedatives and told her it was too soon to give birth.
"Is there anything else you need, milady?" asked Yane, one of her personal aides.
"I only wish Anakin was here"
"He's fighting the Separatists. The Republic needs him"
"I know. It's just this war... every time he comes back, a little more of him has died and he's even more paranoid. Some days i don't even know who he is".
The Doctor came in.
"I have news about your pregnancy." He said. "You are carrying twins",
"Twins?" both Padme and her aide said together.
"Yes. Perhaps if you were having regular exams instead of gallivanting around the galaxy, you would have found out about the twins sooner. I'm also concerned about these pains you've been experiencing. I'm ordering you to stay here under care until you give birth and a moratorium on any unnecessary travel."
"Unnecessary travel? I have to go to Corusant. Not only to attend the Senate, but I also have to tell Anakin that he's having two children, not just one".
"You shouldn't travel in your condition". The Doctor advised. "Please, remain here where you can get 24 hour care."
The doctor left, expecting Padme to ignore his advise. He knew all too well that she was strong willed and stubborn. He stopped near Yane on his way past. "Keep her safe" was his only words.
As Yane returned to Padme's bedside, she knew what Padme intended to do.
"I presume you will be travelling to Corusant."
"No" Padme said. She saw the surprise on Yane's face. "I'm not going to risk my babies' lives. But you can contact Anakin through the Jedi Order. He must travel to Naboo immediately. Don't tell him about the twins. I want it to be a surprise."
...
3.
On the planet Utapau, General Grievous clambered out of his escape ship. Having not only abandoned his command starship, he had also lost his leader, Count Dooku. Dooku was not in charge, however, he report to a shadowy figure known as Darth Sidious. When ever he contacted Grievous, he hid his face under a cloak. Grievous didn't know what he actually looked like. He only knew he was a Sith Lord, and being Force aware, Grievous knew he was far more dangerous than himself or Dooku. He knew he had to contact this Sith Lord, and it was something he wasn't looking forward to. At the communications center, he pressed a few buttons on the Holoprojector.
"Lord Sidious, you commanded me to make contact with you" Grievous spoke with a strong robotic voice. Sidious' image appeared above the machine.
"General Grievous, I suggest you move the Separatist Leaders to Mustafar."
"It will be done, My Lord"
"The end of the war is near, General"
"but, the loss of Count Dooku..."
"His death was a necessary loss. Soon I will have a new apprentice. One far younger and more powerful."
Grievous was relieved that he wasn't blamed for the loss of 'The Hand' ship or Dooku. It was surprising, as he was usually Dooku's whipping boy when something didn't go to plan. He didn't know what to make of this claimed 'new apprentice'. If he was more powerful that Dooku, they certainly wanted him on board. Then again, Sidious claimed that his previous apprentice was unbeatable, but Darth Maul died on his first assignment.
...
4.
At the Chancellor's Office in the Senate Building, Anakin walked with Palpatine. After their usual greetings, Palpatine asked Anakin to walk with him while they discussed something.
"I hope you trust me, Anakin."
"Of course."
"I need your help, Son." Palpatine tried to look as friendly as possible.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm depending on you"
"For what? I don't understand"
"To be the eyes, ears and voice of the Republic. Anakin, I'm appointing you to be my personal representative on the Jedi Council"
"Me? A Master?" Anakin ran the idea through his mind. "I'm overwhelmed, Sir". Anakin moved in closer to Palpatine. "The Council elects it's own members. They'll never accept this".
"I think they will. They need you, more than you know".
...
Anakin traveled to the Jedi Temple to deliver this news to the Council. They all gathered in the Council Room where each sat in a chair arranged in a circle. Some of the Masters present were Yoda, Obi-Wan and Mace Windu. Those who were not present were represented by a holographic image of that person. When Anakin announced that the Chancellor wanted him on the Council there was a measured silence.
"Allow this appointment lightly, the Council does not" said Yoda, the Grand Master of the Jedi. "Disturbing, this move from Chancellor Palpatine".
"I understand", Anakin said, reservedly.
"You are on this Council", Windu announced. "But we do not grant you the rank of Master".
"What?" Anakin was shocked. "How can you do this? It is outrageous. It's not fair. How can you be on the Council and not be a Master?"
"Take a seat, young Skywalker", Windu motioned for Anakin to sit to his right. Anakin buried his anger, bowed and took his seat on the Council.
"Forgive me, Master Windu".
Obi-Wan shook his head at his pupil's outburst. He knew the others would disapprove of such emotions.
Ki-Adi-Mundi broke the silence by continuing his report. His holographic representation flickered. "We have surveyed all systems in the Republic without a sign of General Grievous."
"Hiding in the Outer Rim, Grievous is." Yoda surmised. "The outlying systems, you must sweep".
"We do not have many ships to spare." Obi-Wan pointed out.
"What about the Droid attack on the Wookies?" Ki-Adi-Mundi pointed out was also an issue.
"It's critical we send an attack group there now." Windu insisted.
"He's right." Obi-Wan agreed. "It's a system we cannot afford to lose".
"Go, I will." Yoda decided. "Good relations with the Wookies, I have."
"It's settled then", Windu decided. "Yoda will take a battalion of Clones to reinforce the Wookies on Kashykk. May the Force be with us all".
After the meeting had concluded, Obi-Wan and Anakin walked together down one of the connecting hallways of the Jedi Temple. Anakin was still fuming over his appointment to the Council, but not also receiving the expected Master rank and title.
"This is ridiculous! To put me on the Council, but not make me a Master. It's never been done in the history of the Jedi. It's insulting!"
"Oh, calm down, Anakin. You're acting infantile. You've been given a great honor. Stop talking rubbish!"
Anakin was incensed at Obi-Wan's comments, but he knew it was true.
"To be on the Council at your age, it's never happened before. That fact of the matter is you're too close to the Chancellor. The Council doesn't like it when he interferes with Jedi affairs."
"I swear to you, i didn't ask to be put on the Council"
"But it's what you wanted. Your friendship with Palpatine certainly has paid off."
"That had nothing to do with it"
"The only reason the Council approved your appointment is because the Chancellor trusts you."
"And?" Anakin stopped
"Anakin, i'm on your side. I didn't want to put you in this situation."
"What situation?"
Obi-Wan took the time to word this delicately, looking away from Anakin's gaze. "The Council wants you to report on all the Chancellor's dealings. They want to know what he's up to."
"They want me to spy on the Chancellor? That's treason!"
"We are at war, Anakin." Obi-Wan pointed out.
"Why didn't the Council give me this assignment while we were in session". Anakin knew the answer, but he wanted to ask it anyway, as if to confirm his own suspicions.
"This assignment is not to be on record."
"The Chancellor is not a bad man, Obi-Wan. He befriended me, watched out for me, ever since I arrived here."
"That is why you must help us. Anakin, our allegiance is to the Senate, not a leader who has stayed in office long after his term has expired.
"The Senate demanded that he stay longer"
"Search you feelings, Anakin. You know something is out of place".
"Your asking me to do something against the Jedi Code, against the Republic, against a mentor and a friend, that's what's out of place here. Why are you asking this of me?"
"The Council is asking you."
...
Later, Obi-Wan filled out the leaders of the Jedi Council, Mace Windu and Yoda, while they travelled to the Spaceport in a military craft. They were delivering Yoda to his transport to travel to the Wookie homeplanet of Kashykk.
"Anakin did not take his new assignment with much enthusiasm."
"It's very dangerous, putting them together", Windu warned. "I don't think the boy can handle it. I don't trust him."
"With all due respect, Master Windu. Is he not the Chosen One? Is he not to destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force?"
"So the prophecy says," Windu pointed out.
Yoda pushed back his thin hair on the forehead. "A prophecy that misread, could have been".
"He will not let me down" Obi-Wan said assuredly. "He never has".
"I hope right, you are" Yoda stared Obi-Wan straight in the eye, as though he were searching for something.
Yoda's transmitter beeped and he turned it on. A hologram of Ki-Adi-Mundi appeared.
"I've just received a communiqué from one of our contacts in the Outer Rim. They say the General Grievous was spotted in the Utipah System."
"Act immediately on this, we must", Yoda replied. "The capture of General Grievous could end this war. Quickly and decisively, we should proceed."
"We need a Master with lots of experience to deal with this", added Windu. He looked at Obi-Wan.
"Agree, do I" injected Yoda.
"I would be honored." Obi-Wan answered. "However it may turn out to be just a wild Bantha chase.
...
Padme was in great discomfort. Her birthing was near and she still hadn't heard back from Anakin. Yane rushed in to assist Padme to get ready.
"Any word from Anakin?" she asked desperately, but Yane's shaking head dashed her hope that he would be on his way. She couldn't put off giving birth to her twins any longer. "Keep trying. He must be here for the birth of his children".
...
5.
Obi-Wan arrived at Utipau in his Starfighter. He pressed a few buttons and the Hyperdrive ring that had brought his craft here at unimaginable speed disconnected from the hull of his ship, and he sped away from it towards the surface. He flew towards an enormous hole in the ground, where inside the hole he found the spaceport, hidden away from view. He landed his craft with grace on the platform and hopped out to meet the Congressman of the facility. He was a tall alien, with a huge forehead and strange striped skin.
"Greetings, young Jedi. What brings you to our remote sanctuary?"
"Unfortunately, the War" Obi-Wan spoke with his most diplomatic tone.
"There's no war here, unless you brought it with you"
"With your kind permission i would like some fuel and to use your city as a base as I search nearby systems for General Grievous."
The Congressman turned to some nearby technicians and in his native tongue, ordered them to attend Obi-Wan's ship. He stepped close to Obi-Wan
"He's here" he whispered. "We are being held hostage. They are watching us".
"I understand" replied Obi-Wan.
"Tenth level" the alien hissed. "Thousands of Battle Droids".
Obi-Wan knew what had to be done. "Tell your people to take shelter. If you have warriors, now is the time."
The alien bowed and left. Obi-Wan returned to his ship and sat in the cockpit. He spoke to his Droid, a copper colored R2 unit, still nestled in the wing of his fighter.
"Take the fighter back to the ship. Tell Cody that I've made contact".
The Droid beeped in reply and Obi-Wan snuck out of his ship and watched it climb and disappear from view.
Several hours later, Obi-Wan had acquired some local transport, a giant lizard that he hoped would be fast enough to catch Grievous. The creature was a bit ungainly as it was unfamiliar to him, but he felt more at ease with this beak faced creature than with some cold uncomfortable speeder. He made his way towards the secret command structure, where he was sure he'd find Grievous.
Grievous was indeed in the Command Room. He was pacing back and forth while he address the gathering of Separatist Leaders. They were a strange group of aliens, ambassadors from their respective planet or League. Seated at the table among the dignitaries was Viceroy of the Trade Federation, whom Obi-Wan had run up against many years ago when the Trade Federation attacked Naboo. He'd obviously managed to escape any real justice.
"It won't be long before the armies of the Republic track us here. I am sending you to the Mustafar system in the outer rim." Grievous announced to the gathering. "It is a volcanic planet. You will be safe there".
The CIS leaders looked at each other, they were obviously distressed. Little did they know that Obi-Wan had already found them and was listening from above.
"Safe?" the Nemoidean jumped to his feet. "Chancellor Palpatine managed to escape your grip, General. Without Count Dooku, i have doubts about your ability to keep us safe."
Grievous was as usual quite quick to temper at this comment. "Be thankful, Viceroy, that you have not found yourself within my grip!" Grievous headed off. "Your ship is waiting", he announced dismissively as he ran out of the room followed by two Magna-Guards. Magna Guards were versatile Droids, able to match a Jedi with their preferred weapon, a Shock Staff with a glowing cap at each end that buzzed with energy, that would damage or injure any biological or mechanical attacker.
Obi-Wan mused at what he should do next and stroked his beard. He decided that a direct confrontation would be the simplest approach. He took off his cloak and jumped from his hiding spot directly behind the Droid General.
"Hello there", Obi-Wan announced.
Grievous wheeled around, as did his two body guards, and several battle droids.
"General Kenobi," Grievous greeted Obi-Wan. "You are a bold one." He chuckled. "Kill him!"
As several Battle Droids approached, and the two Magna-Guards, Obi-Wan prepared himself, by igniting his Light Saber and took a defensive posture. He knew the Magna-Guards were difficult to destroy, so he looked around for an advantage. He spotted a large structure hanging from the ceiling, which he reached out to with the Force and pulled it down, it fell, crushing the two Magna-Guards and one Battle Droid as well.
As the Droids prepared to attack, Grievous called them off. "Back away, i will deal with this Jedi slime, myself". Grievous raised himself to full height, standing almost a meter taller than Obi-Wan.
"Your move!" Obi-Wan was confident and cocky.
"You fool. I have been trained in your Jedi arts by Count Dooku". Grievous boasted as he removed his cloak, retrieved four Light Sabers from his holster and split his arms in two, giving him FOUR arms! "Attack, Kenobi"
Obi-Wan smiled. This would be a challenge, one he had been looking forward to for some time. Grievous, being mechanical, was able to spin the Light Sabers with speed that any Jedi could never hope to match. The General cackled like a villain as he moved menacingly toward Obi-Wan. Still, Obi-Wan had trained against four opponents and soon had cut off one of Grievous' metal hands. With deft skill he watched his mechanical opponent slash at him, which he parried and deflected the many Light Sabers being swung at him. He noticed that Grievous was always on the attack, and used a few moves he'd learned to account for overly aggressive opponents. He cut off another of Grievous' hands. This made the Droid Commander even more enraged. Grievous made a furious attack, moving in hard, he knocked Obi-Wan's Light Saber from his hand. Obi-Wan watched it bounce down through the levels below.
Then they heard Blasters firing, and saw Clone Troopers dropping from the rafters and pouring out of every entrance. The Republic Army had arrived. The droids turned to meet the new threat, but Grievous kept moving towards Obi-Wan.
"Army or not, you must realize you are DOOMED!" Grievous spoke with as much menace in his voice as he could manage with an artificial voice box.
"Oh, I don't think so". Obi-Wan replied as he used the force to hit Grievous in his chest, sending him toppling down to a lower level of the city. Grievous landed without damage and Obi-Wan jumped down after him, as the mechanical creature scuttled along to a nearby speeder which he used to drive out of the complex. Obi-Wan whistled for his Lizard creature and he jumped on it's back and chased after the fleeing Grievous.
...
6.
At the Jedi Council War Room, the Masters gathered for an update. A Hologram of Captain Cody appeared in his white Clone Trooper uniform. Anakin was outside the room, eavesdropping. He was hoping to overhear the whereabouts of Obi-Wan Kenobi. What he heard chilled him to the bone.
"Master Windu, General Kenobi has made contact with Grievous and we have begun our attack."
"Thank you, Commander", Windu replied as Cody's image vibrated and disappeared.
After a moment's silence, Windu started another topic.
"I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi", Windu confided in the other Masters. "The dark side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor."
"If he does not give up his emergency powers with the destruction of Grievous, then he should be removed from office" the hologram of Master Ki-Adi-Mundi said.
"The Jedi Council will have to take control of the Senate in order to ensure a peaceful transition." Windu added.
"To a dark place, this line of thought could carry us" warned Yoda, also represented by a hologram. "Great care, we must take".
Could it be true? Thought Anakin. Is the Jedi Council bent on taking over the Senate? Remove the Chancellor? Were they considering eliminating him? What was the dark Force around the Chancellor? It was something that needed to be investigated further.
...
Meanwhile, Padme having given birth to Luke and Leia, was now packing to go find Anakin. She still hadn't been able to contact him and tell him that he had a daughter. He already knew she was having a boy and he wanted to name him Luke, but he still didn't know about Leia. It was a hard time for Padme. She didn't want to leave her newborns, or travel so soon after giving birth, but the communications blackout forced her hand. Her aide, Yane was obviously concerned, but hadn't been able to change her mind. Her nanny would have to care for the babies for a few days while Padme traveled to Corusant.
...
7.
Anakin headed to see Palpatine. He of all people had a knack of putting things in perspective and perhaps he could figure out if the Council was right about the darkness surrounding him.
He found Palpatine in his office, sitting behind his desk as he usually did. He was viewing some data on a screen, which he turned off when Anakin walked in.
"Chancellor, We've received a report that Obi-Wan Kenobi has found Grievous, but they wouldn't tell me where he was."
"Then we can only hope that Master Kenobi is up the to challenge"
"The Council accepted my application to join the Council, but they refused to give me the rank of Master Jedi".
"It's upsetting to me that the Council doesn't seem to fully appreciate your talents. Don't you wonder why they won't make you a Jedi Master?"
"I wish i knew" Anakin pouted. "More and more i get the feeling I'm being excluded from the Jedi". Anakin paused. "I know there are things about the Force that they are not teaching me."
"They don't trust you, Anakin. They see your future. They know your power will be too strong to control. You must break though the fog of lies the Jedi have created around you. I think your path lies along one that does not include the Jedi Order."
"Leave the Jedi?"
"Why not?" Palpatine twisted the conversation to make his opinion seem plausible. "You'd finally be able to be with Padme, you'd be able to do the things you know need to be done and you'd be able to learn the full gamut that the Force has to offer you."
"But how would i learn about the Force without the Jedi Masters?"
"Let me help you know the subtleties of the Force".
"What do you know of the Force?" It was an pertinent question. What should a politician know about secret Jedi stuff?
"The truth is when i was young i was a talented natural Force user. I was able to convince others of my point of view not actually knowing I was tapping into the Force and I had other 'skills'. I soon caught the attention of a Jedi Knight, who wanted to take me to the Jedi Academy. I found their rules stifling and their minds closed. Something i'm sure you can identify with."
Anakin shifted at the uneasy truth. It was almost the same as his life experience and it was one that he could identify with. He'd confided in Palpatine his feelings that the Jedi were holding him back.
Palpatine continued, "Instead of joining the Jedi, I promised them I would not use my force skills and went to University on Naboo instead. Of course, I continued my training on my own and eventually found an old man, Plagueis, who helped me complete my training. After that, I went into politics back on Naboo."
Palpatine paused while he considered how to phrase the next topic. "I can help you. I can teach you all I have learned. You can still become the greatest Jedi of all time, but not with the Old Order holding you back. You've known this for a long time."
Anakin was deep in thought. He new what Palpatine was saying was true, but it was a huge step and he couldn't foresee how they would react if he told them he was leaving the Order. Perhaps this was the darkness the Jedi was referring to, but Anakin couldn't tell if it was because of Palpatine or the Jedi. Finally he made his decision. He would leave the Jedi!
...
8.
Padme arrived back in Corusant. Despite leaving notice with the Jedi that she was landing, hoping they'd send Anakin to meet her at the Space Port, however the only one to greet her was the mechanic Protocol Droid, C3PO, or Threepio, as she called him. He was certainly happy to see her, ending his last few weeks of standing around doing nothing while Padme had been away. He helped her with her bags to the waiting private taxi that took them home.
Back in her apartment, it was cold, not having been lived in while she was away. She sighed as she knew Anakin wasn't waiting for her here either. At some point she would catch up with Anakin to tell him the good news.
...
Grievous flew his speeder at full throttle through a crowd of fighting Republic and CIS forces, knocking them out of the way with little regard. Obi-Wan behind him, dodging the flying debris from the back of his giant lizard creature.
Obi-Wan pulled along side Grievous, who snatched a Electrostaff from a Magna-Guard that he past. He flung it wildly at Obi-Wan, who dodged the staff as best he could. Then Obi-Wan was able to grab the staff, and fought Grievous for the weapon. Obi-Wan wrenched it from Grievous' grip and used it to hit the speeder, hoping to disable it. One swing went too close to Grievous and the cyborg was able to grab it. He pulled Obi-Wan from his ride and Obi-Wan had to mount the speeder behind Grievous. While they struggled for control of the staff, Grievous remembered there was a blaster mounted in a hatch hidden on the speeder. He pulled it out and aimed at Obi-Wan. Before he could get a shot off, they hit a sharp bump and the both were thrown from the speeder, which crashed into a deep crevasse. The two warriors jumped to a defensive posture and Obi-Wan secured the staff, while Grievous grabbed the Blaster. Grievous tried to fire, but Obi-Wan had covered the distance between them and used the staff to knock the Blaster from his hand. With Grievous unarmed, Obi-Wan took the advantage and bashed the staff into him, zapping him with the electrodes in the ends of the staff. Grievous was able to kick Obi-Wan to the ground and now they were both unarmed. Grievous' powerful swings eventually connected with Obi-Wan, knocking him across the room into the side of a waiting fighter. Grievous picked him up with one hand and tried to punch Obi-Wan, but he missed and punched a hole in the side of the fighter. In the ruckus, Obi-Wan pulled Grievous' chest panels open, revealing his biological heart. Grievous was able to land a punch and Obi-Wan was knocked flying again. Before he could get back on his feet, Grievous was over him, trying to stomp him with his huge mechanical feet. Obi-Wan evaded the crashing feet and swung his foot to try and kick Grievous' leg from under him, but this was a mistake. Obi-Wan felt a rush of pain shoot up his leg and he let out a scream. The leg was too hard to kick with a fleshy leg. Grievous picked up Obi-Wan and threw him as hard as he could. Obi-Wan was lucky enough to grab the edge of the crevasse to stop himself from falling. He watched Grievous pick up the Electrostaff and walk towards him. Then he saw the Blaster was close. Using the Force to pull the Blaster to him, he raised it and fired, directly into Grievous' chest, the cyborg's chest panels were still open and his heart took the full blast of energy from Obi-Wan's shot. However, he did not fall, and Obi-Wan fired several more shots to finish off General Grievous. He threw away the Blaster.
"How uncivilized" He complained about the Blaster. He much preferred his Light Saber, but the monster was dead.
...
9.
Anakin sat on the couch in Padme's apartment while he waited for her to get out of the shower. He'd arrived without her knowledge and would surprise her. He recalled a dream he had last night, about Padme and Obi-Wan. He still couldn't decipher what it meant, but he was sure Obi-Wan would be involved in Padme's death. He could feel it. Padme came back into the room.
"Oh, my god, Anakin!" She exclaimed as she ran into his arms. "When did you get back?"
"I have some important news" Anakin said
"I have some important news, too" Padme replied.
"I'm leaving the Jedi Order!"
"What? But being a Jedi is your destiny. You said so yourself"
"It's been too hard being away from you, and with the baby, staying with the Jedi will be impossible"
"I see". Padme was worried how the Order would react. "Have you discussed this with Obi-Wan?"
"Obi-Wan was here, wasn't he."
"I haven't seen him since I got back. He called a couple of hours ago." Padme replied
"What did he want?"
"He's worried about you. He says you've been under a lot of stress". She said as she folded her clothes.
"I feel.. lost"
"Lost?" Padme looked back at Anakin, who stood leaning against the doorway. "What do you mean?"
"Obi-Wan and the Council don't trust me".
"They trust you with their lives."
"Something is happening. I don't know what they're up to."
"You don't trust the Jedi Council?"
"The Jedi Council wants me to spy on the Chancellor. It's pathetic. They know it's wrong. It's illegal and it's treason. They don't seem to care about the laws of the Republic anymore." Anakin took a breath. "Sometimes I wonder what's happened to the Jedi Order. I think this war is destroying the principles of the Republic".
Padme shifted uneasily. She wanted to ask something of Anakin that she'd been considering for some time, but she was unsure how he'd react.
"Have you ever considered we might be on the wrong side?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if the democracy we thought we were serving no longer exists? And the Republic has become the very evil we seek to destroy?
"I don't believe that" Anakin replied with conviction. "and you're sounding like a Separatist!"
"This war represents a failure to listen." Padme argued. "You're closer to the Chancellor than anyone, please ask him to stop the fighting and let diplomacy resume".
"You're asking me to do the same thing that the Council is. You're just as bad. How dare you ask me to do that!"
"I'm asking you to save the Republic!"
"What do you think I've been doing out there all this time?" Anakin could feel the hate swelling within him.
"Making war!" Padme retorted. She regretted the words immediately.
"You don't know what it's like. Sitting here in your safe, comfortable house while I'm out there watching people dying!"
"That's not what I meant"
"Doesn't it matter? How can you say that?" Anakin was agitated.
"Anakin, I didn't mean it."
"Nothing I do matters to you!" He ranted.
"That's not true. I just don't believe war is the answer"
"You don't know what it's like! The Jedi turned against me, don't you turn against me too"
"I don't know you anymore", Padme cried "and it's breaking my heart".
"I've done all of this for you"
"You only think of YOURSELF!"
Anakin slapped Padme for her insult. Her eyes quivered and she ran off, crying. Anakin needed to get out of here, so he left to go for a walk to clear his head.
...
10.
A while later Anakin needed to see someone he knew he could confide in, so he headed to the Chancellor's residence.
Anakin sat beside Palpatine. The room was somewhat darker than normal. It seemed to match the somber mood of the afternoon. He explained his fight with Padme and how he was feeling pressured on all sides.
Palpatine spoke in a soft voice. "Anakin, you know I'm not able to rely on the Jedi Council. If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will."
"I'm not sure I understand"
"You must sense what I have come to suspect. The Jedi Council want control of the Republic. They are planning to betray me."
"I don't think.."
"Anakin", Palpatine interrupted. "Search your feelings. You know, don't you."
"I know they don't trust you."
"Hmm... or the Senate, or the Republic, or democracy for that matter."
"I have to admit, my trust in them has been shaken" Anakin admitted.
"Why?" Palpatine looked at Anakin, who did not return his gaze. "They asked you to do something you think is dishonest, didn't they? They asked you to spy on me, didn't they?"
"I don't, ah," Anakin shifted in his seat. "I overheard them scheming..."
"Remember back to your early teachings. 'All who gain power are afraid to loose it'. Even the Jedi".
"The Jedi use their power for good" Anakin recited the words.
" 'Good' is a point of view, Anakin. What do you think would happen to someone who could use the Force, but did not want to join the Jedi?"
"I'm not certain". Anakin mused why Palpatine should broach this subject again.
"Have you ever met anyone who was powerful with the Force, but not a Jedi?"
"Only Sith, like Dooku and his dark minions"
"And who trained Dooku to be a Sith Lord?"
"It was Yoda who taught him to be a Jedi Knight"
"... and when he turned his back on the Jedi, he became a Sith?"
"Yes"
"anyone who turns their back on the Jedi are so labeled". Palpatine thought he had made his point.
...
Anakin traveled to the Jedi Temple. He ran his speech around in his head as he tried to formulate the best way to convey his resignation. He waited for the Council to gather and made his announcement.
"Masters, I've come to a decision regarding my place in the Jedi Order." He took a deep breath. "I've come to realize that my position in this organization is holding me back and that I have no future within it's walls. I therefore tender my resignation effective immediately".
The final part of his speech was drown out by gasps and objections from the Masters. Only Yoda remained quiet.
"You can't quit the Jedi Order!" insisted Windu.
"Why not?"
"You made a commitment to the Jedi Order", answered Ki-Adi-Mundi. Some of the others voiced their agreement.
"Never the less. I have made my decision."
The Councilors weren't about to let this rest, with many raising their voices to be heard. All Anakin could here was a bunch of old men, desperate to hold onto their power that he brought to the Order.
"We can't allow you to leave, Skywalker. Not like this." Windu announced. "Master Yoda, what is to happen here?"
The din quieted down, and eventually Yoda spoke.
"If leave you must, but everything you believe in, all will be lost."
Windu was surprised at Yoda's attitude. Surely he wasn't going to let Skywalker leave the order.
"and what of your commitment to the Jedi?" he asked Anakin.
"I've learned all I can from the Order. I must seek my own path". Anakin left the Council chamber and felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders. He knew this was the right decision. As he made his way towards the exit, Windu pulled him up.
"This won't end like this, Skywalker. You owe far to much to the Jedi to walk away."
"What do you intend to do about it, Master Windu?"
"I can only sense, you will come to regret this day." Windu left with one last menacing look.
...
11.
Padme rested on the sofa in her apartment. She was trying to take it easy, as her doctor had instructed, but it was hard to remain still when she had so much on her mind. On top of that, with their fight, and Anakin striking her, she struggled to remain quiet. The door chime rang out. Padme had sent off all her aides and hangers-on, so she had to answer the door herself. She wasn't surprised that it was Palpatine, no doubt here to offer Anakin's apologies and his own kind words. Palpatine had been a friend for a long time, before he was Chancellor, he was a Representative of Naboo, her home planet.
"Come in". Padme guided the Chancellor in to the sofa. "I presume you heard about what happened with Anakin?"
"Yes, he came to see me. He was very upset at what you said. I'm certain once he calms down, he will apologize."
"It's so frustrating. Did he tell you his plans for the Jedi Order?"
"It was I who suggested he leave the Order"
"You? But I thought you were a supporter of the Jedi?"
"Things have changed, my dear. Anakin needs to find his own path".
"Things are falling apart. I feel like I don't know Anakin anymore."
"I'm sure things will come out as I have foreseen." Palpatine said, letting it slip that he could see future events. He turned his back on her, preparing to take the next step in his plans. "I want Anakin to become my new apprentice, but people are holding him back. He needs to let go if he is to become truly powerful".
"What people?" Padme was unsure what he was talking about.
Palpatine pulled up his cloak over his head. He was now Sidious. He drew his Light Saber and turned back to Padme.
"People like you" he told her as he ignited his red Light Saber. He felt the fear shoot through Padme and he struck her down with his weapon. One slash and she dropped to the floor, dead. Sidious looked over her for a moment, before moving over to the security console. He deleted the footage of him killing Padme and inserted some new faked footage that he had prepared earlier. With that, he slipped out, no one knowing he had been there.
...
12.
Anakin returned to the apartment with his apology ready to go. He'd also picked up some flowers that he hoped would help smooth over their argument. When he arrived, the place was abuzz with activity, with emergency vehicles and troops running about. He instinctively knew there was something wrong with Padme and rushed up the stairs at a blinding speed.
He found several people gathered in the middle of the room, as he parted them he saw her lying on the floor.
"Padme, No!" he tried to scream it loudly, but it barely made it out of his mouth. He knelt beside her and pulled her body close to his. She was cold, lifeless. The only sound was the flash from the crime scene investigators' camera, making a record of the scene.
"What happened here?" Anakin wanted to know.
Captain Gregar Typho stood next to Anakin as he let Padme lay back down on the floor.
"I was first on the scene. She was just laying there. Her wounds..." He swallowed at the thought, "...were caused by a Light Saber".
"Who could do such a thing?" interjected Yana.
"Only one way to find out. Check the security logs". Said Typho.
Typho opened the security panel and found the footage of the event had been deleted. He announced the problem and started looking for one of the many data backups that most systems created. Most had been corrupted, but he finally found a remote backup to play.
They watched in horror as they watched Obi-Wan cut down Padme with his Light Saber and leaving her dead. Anakin held his skull, thinking it was going to explode. 'This can't be happening', he thought. He let out an almighty scream and pulled at the Force, smashing much of the glass around the apartment. He made for the door, and Typho tried to stop him, but the others told him to let him go.
Anakin stormed out into the street and punched a recycling box with his fist and the Force and the damage buckled the little metal box. He sat down in the gutter and wept into his hands.
13.
Anakin walked away from Padme's apartment. He wandered for hours, running what had happened through his mind. Eventually he decided to go see Palpatine, but he wasn't sure where he actually was. He drifted through the crowds of people milling about in the dazzling strip lights. He came across a pair of Troopers dutifully guarding a doorway. He asked them to arrange transport for him back to the Chancellor's building. He felt he could always rely on the Troopers.
Back at Palpatine's private suite, he found the old man was expecting him.
"I was shocked at the news, Anakin. Padme was like a daughter to me. Oh, it's so horrible, I can scarcely believe it's possible." Palpatine guided Anakin to sit down and handed him a glass of water. "Was there any hint of who is responsible for this?"
"Oh.." Anakin stuttered. "Obi-Wan"
"Master Kenobi? What is his involvement?"
"I think he's responsible. I think he killed Padme!"
"Oh, I never thought they'd go this far."
"What do you mean?"
"I knew the Jedi would do everything in their power to stop you leaving, but I never considered they'd hurt your family."
"You think the Jedi ordered Padme's death, as a hit?"
"I certainly do. The Jedi won't let you go without a fight. Your alliance with the Force may be the only thing that enables them to survive." Palpatine's argument seemed to be plausible to Anakin, but one question needed answering.
"But Obi-Wan?"
"Kenobi is a soldier. He may not have liked it, but he follows the mantra of the Jedi, where ever his destiny may take him." Palpatine moved close. "That... is his undoing".
"Obi-Wan will die for this, but I will need your help."
"I could teach you that which the Jedi have not. I can teach you the Dark Side of the Force".
...