Author's note: Spoiler warnings for the Clone Wars season 7 starting in this chapter.

Bail Organa pinched the bridge of his nose. He was currently sitting in one of the many chairs of his personal office aboard the Tantive IV. Before, he would have thought that his office had seen it all. Meetings with Planetary rulers, private sessions with fellow Senators, War-councils with Jedi and Clones. There was so much history in the room, and yet he knew that what was happening at that moment topped everything else, and he didn't even know the full extent of what was going on.

After boarding the Royal Naboo Starship, Bail had ordered their pilot to take them to his ship, so that they could disembark. Because while the Nubian craft was top-of-the-line, it was also very distinct. Whereas his was far more plain. And, more importantly, not on every wanted list from Coruscant to Ryloth.

He looked towards the door. Across the hall was the medical bay, where Padmé, as well as several other wounded, where receiving treatment for their wounds. The Doctor, as well as the medical droids, assured him that everything was treatable except for Padmé's unconscious state. That completely baffled them, because they couldn't find anything wrong with her. They'd scanned every single database for possible toxins or diseases, and come up completely dry. And although no one had said anything to him, he knew full well that she was very pregnant, and that worried him even more. If she couldn't be saved soon, then the life of her unborn child would also be at risk.

And of course, Padmé was the only one aboard his ship who had the faintest idea why he was now a fugitive. Something which he hoped would change soon. He'd had his Captain begin scanning Republic Military Emergency frequencies, and signalling out homing beacons. Because he guessed that this betrayal had happened everywhere, and that the only Jedi left alive would be ones who where out on solo missions at the moment, or extremely skilled and lucky ones who'd been able to get to a ship quickly.

Currently the ship was headed for the Kashyyyk system. It was far enough away from the Republic's Core worlds that they would be safe, and it was the last known location of Jedi Master Yoda. Perhaps the only one who could make any sense of the current situation.

"Senator Organa," Captain Antillies said over the ship's intercom. "We're coming out of Hyperspace now, sir."

"Good, are our shields still up?" he asked. They had to be extra cautious.

"Yes, and we're ready to jump to Hyperspace at any moment," Antillies replied quickly. "We'll be coming out at the fringes of any Republic scanners, sir. We will have time to escape if things go awry." As if they haven't already, Bail thought to himself as he rose out of his chair. He strode into the hallway and glanced towards the medical bay. He trusted the Medical staff on-board to do whatever they could, but he was still troubled. Their resources where limited, and there was an odd, cold, aura around the Senator. The last time he had felt anything remotely similar was when Dooku had come to Alderaan before the war to encourage Bail to join his cause.

Putting thoughts about Padmé aside, Bail strode towards the bridge. Since his ship was not very large, he did not have very far to go. Inside he found the crew hard at work manning their various stations.

"Coming out of hyperspace now, senator." Antillies said as the blue-white backdrop of Hyperspace was soon replaced by the black void of space, with the lush green world of Kashyyyk in the very centre.

A halo of debris surrounded the planet, remnants of the space battle that had taken place several rotations ago. Most of the ships where Separatist, with a few Republic scattered throughout the mix. What remained of the Separatist fleet was huddled in the northern hemisphere of the planet, being bombarded on all sides by Republic forces.

"Captain, anything?" he asked with a hopeful tone in his voice.

"No sir," Antillies replied. "There isn't anything showing up on our scanners." Bail's heart sunk a little. If Master Yoda hadn't been able to survive this purge, what hope did any other Jedi have?

"Take us out of here," Bail ordered as he turned away.

"Jumping to...wait," Antillies exclaimed with a raised hand. "Senator, there's a small escape pod exiting the upper atmosphere. Looks like one of Wookiee design."

"A pod that size won't last long out here," Bail said aloud. "So they must be very desperate. Bring us around to pick them up at once!"

"Yes sir," Antillies replied as he signalled to engine control. As they accelerated Bail noticed two Republic Acclamator-class warships turning in their direction. "Deflector shields at maximum. Warm up the guns, just in case."

"Yes sir," the gunnery commander replied. "Weapons at the ready."

"Good," Antillies said as the Corvette accelerated through space. Only now could Bail see the tiny escape pod with his own eyes. He wondered just why the Wookiees had designed it so small, given their larger stature. "preparing to dock now, Senator. Airlock 21-87"

"Get us out of here as fast as possible," Bail said as he turned around. There was nothing more that he could do on the bridge. "And have security meet me at the airlock. Hopefully we didn't just rescue a Separatist General fleeing the battle. And continue scanning emergency frequencies."

"Let's hope not," Antillies replied, "or we'll be in even more trouble than before." Bail didn't reply to his Captain's candid words. Instead he reached to his belt and checked that his blaster was in operable condition. Now was not the time for half-measures and naivety. He walked briskly along the long, white corridors of his ship. All around him crew members bustled about. A part of him wondered if they had actual work to do, or if they where merely trying to keep themselves busy to keep their minds off of their current situation.

He was quickly joined by four security officers who boxed him in. Each carried a standard-issue blaster and wore light cloth armour. More than enough to ward off any rogue pirates and other brigands who might threaten his ship. The ship shook momentarily, causing a stir of unease in Bail, who quickly commed the Bridge. "what was that?" Bail asked.

"We've been made, senator," Antillies's voice replied calmly. "Shields are holding at the moment, and we're preparing to jump into Hyperspace. Just need to get the right calculations. And our guest is aboard," he said as Bail felt a slight swell of relief fill him up. The fact that Antillies, a seasoned veteran of several vicious space battles, was able to keep a calm demeanour was very reassuring.

"Keep moving," Bail said to the security personnel, "and weapons ready."

"Yes sir," they replied in unison as the group rounded the corner, bringing them into the corridor which contained airlock 21-87. Immediately the four men raised their blasters, obviously expecting some threat. But instead they where greeted by a very reassuring sight.

"Away put your weapons," said the voice of the diminutive Jedi Master Yoda as he hobbled into view. "I mean you no harm," the green Jedi continued as he leaned heavily on his cane. Bail sucked in a deep breath. Master Yoda looked as though he had aged a hundred years since the last time he had seen him, which was saying something given the Jedi's advanced age. Even Bail wasn't exactly sure just how old Yoda was. But to see him in such a state was unprecedented. The only time he could recall seeing the Jedi Master in such a state was just after the outbreak of the Clone wars.

"Master Yoda," Bail said with a respectful bow. "I'm so glad we found you."

"Glad you have found me, I am as well," Yoda said with a saddened chuckle. "Though in danger you are Senator, while in my presence."

"I'm afraid your being here won't change things much," Bail said as he ran his hand over his head. He wasn't exactly sure how to break it to the Jedi Master that the Temple had been ransacked. And that he might very well be the last surviving Jedi Master in the Galaxy. "Things have...happened," he said, unable to find any other words.

"Happening, things are," Yoda said in an uncharacteristically grave tone. One which hit Bail straight in the gut. "Betrayed, I was."

"Not just you, Master Jedi," Bail replied with a huff. "Not just you. Something's happened in the Republic. Clone Troopers where ordered to capture or kill Senator Amidala, and..." he said as he stroked his chin. "And every Jedi has been declared to be a traitor to the Republic." Yoda took a deep breath, which was entirely understandable, given their current situation and the information Bail had just relayed to him. "The Temple was attacked, Master Yoda. It was on fire." He watched as Yoda placed his small hand over his heart and breathed heavily. Obviously he mourned for all the lives that had been lost in the last few hours.

"Others, we must find," Yoda said sternly as he began to hobble forward. "Survivors, there must be. Feel them, through the Force, I can. To senator Amidala, take me. Speak with her, I must" he said.

"I'm afraid that will have to wait, Master Yoda," Bail replied as he slowed his pace for the Jedi Master. "Once we left Coruscant, Padmé fell unconscious. We haven't been able to revive her. Or even properly diagnose what's wrong with her." The Jedi Master's eyes went wide for a brief second before he turned his head.

"The Dark Side, I sense," Yoda whispered with gravity. "See to her, we must. Take me, now." he said in a tone that was not so much a request as it was a direct order. One which Bail knew he had no choice but to follow.

"Senator," Antilles's voice cackled over his comm unit. "We've picked up another distress signal, not too far from here. It's coming from the Utapau system. Shall we change course?"

"Yes," Bail replied quickly. "Hail them immediately, and patch them through to my comm unit." He didn't want to believe his luck. Not only had they rescued Master Yoda, but another Jedi from the catastrophe. Already he could sense things becoming just a little bit brighter.

"Master Kenobi, it is," Yoda huffed as he hobbled along. "sense him, I can. Defeated General Grievous, he has."

"Well that's one less fiend in the Galaxy," one of the Security Officers mused.

"Yes," Yoda replied, "Gone he is. Traded for something far worse, I fear." The man simply cast his eyes downward in shame. "So strong, the Dark Side has become," he said as they neared the Medical chamber. It was still very crowded inside. His Medical staff where hard at work treating the many blaster wounds that had been sustained during their escape. Those with minor injuries had been moved out into the hallway, giving more room to those with more serious ones.

"Everyone out," Bail snapped as he addressed the room. He didn't like the tone he used, but it was necessary. Whatever was going to be said and done between them needed to remain private. Two of the Nurses bowed their heads immediately and ushered themselves out. As did every able-bodied patient. The rest where quickly escorted out by the Medical droids. Only the Doctor, a Naboo royal Guard who had lost his leg, and the unconscious Padmé remained. The Doctor gave Bail a scathing look, but obviously knew better than to argue with him. He simply went about bandaging the wounded man's leg as quickly as possible.

Yoda, meanwhile, made a beeline for Padmé faster than Bail would have thought possible. In an instant his gimer stick clattered to the floor as he climbed up on a chair to reach her forehead. Bail was about to ask the Jedi Master what he was doing when his comm unit began to beep loudly. With a huff he decided it was best to leave the elder Jedi to do what he needed to do while Bail did everything he could to save the Republic as he knew it.

"Organa here," Bail said solemnly, as a miniature version of Obi-wan Kenobi appeared on his com-link.

"Senator Organa?" Obi-wan replied, completely bewildered. "...my Clone Troops turned on me. I need help."

"I understand," Bail replied as he considered his next words. "We've just picked up Master Yoda. It appears as though this catastrophe has happened everywhere. We'll send you our coordinates."

"Has there been any word from the Temple?" Obi-wan asked.

"None," Bail replied. It was the truth, they hadn't heard anything from the Jedi Temple. Most likely because everyone inside was already dead. But he didn't want to tell Kenobi that just yet. That kind of personal information was something that needed to be said in person. "But you need to hurry, Master Jedi," he said as he keyed in the coordinates they where destined for. He clicked the com-link off and turned around to see into the Medical Chambers.

There, he could see Master Yoda suspended in midair in deep meditation. His eyes where closed and his lips where trembling ever so slightly. Bail wanted to ask what was going on, but he knew better than to interrupt the Jedi's task.

...xxXxx...

A brilliant, white light filled Padmé's vision. The light was all that there was to the world. It was the floor, the ceiling and the walls. There was nothing but pure light everywhere she looked. She couldn't even be quite sure of exactly where she was at the moment. She wasn't even sure if the ground beneath her feet was entirely solid. It felt like she was walking on air.

And then, suddenly, there was something other than the light.

"I was NOT elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee!" said a faint apparition of her younger self, still dressed in the full garb of the Queen of Naboo. She remembered with chuckle just how difficult that wig had been to get on. It was one of the things she had been more than glad to relinquish once her terms where up. Beside her younger self stood a younger Chancellor Palpatine. He looked so innocent there, it had to be a trick of her mind. The Chancellor was not an innocent man. The thought that she had once considered him a friend of hers sickened her, so she turned away from the visage.

She began to walk away from the horrible memory, at least as much as she could actually 'walk'. It donned on Padmé that she wasn't really anywhere at the moment, and that she was obviously dreaming. It was the only logical choice. As she walked, other memories began to manifest themselves left and right. Her coronation as Queen, her first day of schooling, becoming a Senator, seeing the Trade Federation warships above Theed.

"Enjoying yourself, are you, Senator?" a voice said from behind her. She spun on her heel. This was not the voice of some apparition. Jedi Master Yoda stood before her.

But it was not the Yoda she remembered. For starters, he had no cane on his person. And his usual tan robes and dark brown tunic had been replaced by bone-white robes and a red tunic. He also appeared to be much younger than she had ever seen him. Which of course raised several questions in her mind.

"Wh-?" she began to say.

"See me as I see myself, you do," Yoda replied with a warm smile. "Many years ago, wore this I did," he said as he gestured to his new robes.

"Where am I?" Padmé asked him.

"Hmm," Yoda replied. "An interesting question, that is. Where is it that you think we are?"

"Am I dead?" Padmé asked. "This can't be real."

"No," Yoda replied simply as he approached. "And real it is, Senator. Very real, like you and I. Your mind, we are in. A place between life and death, it is."

"between life and death?" Padmé blurted, subconsciously grabbing her stomach. If she was dead, then that meant-.

"Dead you are not, senator," Yoda said reassuringly. "Safe, your children will be."

"But-" Padmé asked. "how did...what makes you think that-?"

"Old I am," Yoda chuckled mischievously, "but not blind. Others you may have fooled, Senator Amidala. But sense them I can. Strong in the Force, your children will be." Padmé cast her eyes down for a second, knowing she couldn't exactly lie to him about this. A moment of silence passed between them, as Padmé let the other surrounding memories play out around her.

"What happened?" Padmé asked slowly.

"Know everything, I do not," Yoda replied softly. "Betrayed I was. Betrayed we all where. The Dark Side, grown strong it has. So strong..." he said as his voice trailed off slightly. "So many lost to it's power. To the Sith Lord."

"The Chancellor!" Padmé snapped suddenly. "He...he is the Sith Lord. An...someone warned me, before the Clones came to arrest me."

"Then in grave danger, Skywalker is," Yoda sighed. She didn't even bother to ask him how he knew she was referring to Anakin. "To Coruscant, we must return, then."

"No," Padmé replied with a shake of her head. "No. Not Coruscant. Anakin and I...we made a pact. If the Republic was ever to fall we would meet at a secret location. Somewhere no one would ever think to look for us, outside of the Separatist's grasp."

"Where?" Yoda said as his eyes flashed with brilliance.

"Tatooine." She said. It was the best option, Anakin had told her. Tatooine was a stronghold for the Hutt Cartel, which rivalled the strongest of Governments with it's vast resources. And it was far enough out of the way that Dooku would have had little interest in the planet, and there would be very few spies to worry about. "Now-" Padmé started to ask.

"Know what ails you, I do not, Senator." The wise Jedi master said simply. "Only that of the Dark Side, it is." Padmé thought for a second, remembering how Anakin had been plagued for weeks about her dying in Childbirth. Perhaps those visions would come true, after all, thanks to some dark manipulation by the Chancellor.

But Padmé hardened her resolve. She wasn't going to die like that. She wasn't just going to die while the Galaxy burned in the hands of a madman. She knew she had to put her faith in those closest to her, that the Jedi would find a cure for her eventually. And then she could lead the way to right the wrong that she had once helped usher in all those years ago.

...xxXxx...

Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber illuminated the dark, cramped sewage tunnel he was in. The wastewater reached his waist, completely soaking his entire bottom half. Beside him Mace Windu waded through the water, against anakin's objections. The elder Jedi Master's wounds from his battle with the Chancellor where severe. So severe that most beings in the galaxy would have been hesitant to even stand, let alone run straight towards another battle.

"The access point is just up ahead," Anakin said, trying to break the silence. "From there we can enter the lower living quarters."

"This access point isn't on any of the schematics. I would know, I've studied them front to back," Mace replied grumpily. "How can you be sure it's even there?"

"Because about ten years ago," Anakin smirked back, "there may or may not have been a troublemaking Padawan who liked to sneak out under the cover of darkness and watch the speeder races. And he needed his own personal exit that his Master couldn't find." He glanced over tot he side of the tunnel, where there was a small ledge that he used to shimmy along. However it was far too narrow for him to use now, without the risk of falling.

"Watch the races?" Mace quipped back, "or participate in them?"

"A little bit of both, maybe," Anakin smirked as he caught sight of the makeshift doorway he'd fashioned all those years ago. "Right here," he said as he used the Force to pull the flimsy door off of it's hinges and toss it into the water. The tunnel that he'd carved with his lightsaber was far smaller than he remembered. He could only barely fit through, and even then the rough edges of the metal dug into his robes and tunic.

Eventually he managed to pull himself all the way through the tunnel and found himself in one of the air vents. A quick push with the Force knocked the vent free from it's spot, and it clattered to the floor. They where now in what had once been the quarters he had shared with Obi-Wan, who now lived there alone.

"Alright," Mace said as he pulled himself through the vent. "I can still hear blasterfire, which means survivors. Our main objectives should be Padawans, the Holocron Vault and the Hangar."

"I'll go to the Council Chamber," Anakin said. "That's where the Padawans are always told to go in times like this, then make my way to the Hangar to secure some transport."

"And I will go to the Vault to secure whatever information I can. We can't let those Holocrons fall into Palpatine's hands," Mace replied grimly as he reached for his lightsaber. "Gather whoever you can but we can't linger here forever. we'll rally together at the hangar," he said as he made his way to the door. "But not for long. If I'm not there, or you're not there..."

"Leave," Anakin said with a nod. This was not a fight that they could win through a mere show of force. Mace nodded back and sprinted out of the room with his lightsaber drawn. Anakin was about to run out after him, but paused for a moment and looked back across the room. There was a single cupboard made of Wroshyr tree wood from Kashyyyk with two metal handles. Anakin opened it and sighed.

Inside, on a small pedestal was the Lightsaber of Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-wan had kept it there ever since returning from Naboo all those years ago. Officially the Lightsaber still in the memorial hall with all the lightsabers from Jedi past. But Obi-Wan had taken it in secret, with only himself, Anakin and Master Yoda ever knowing of it. He didn't feel right about just leaving it there to potentially be pilfered by a Clone Trooper and sold on the black market. So he clipped it to his belt and hoped that one day he'd be able to give it back to his master.

Without a second thought Anakin rushed out of the room with his lightsaber drawn.

He knew the hallways like the back of his hand, and cut his way through them in no time. He, like most Jedi, knew all of the fastest routes to take, which would seem confusing to the uninitiated. And that was the main reason that the Clones stationed around him where not prepared for a sudden ambush from the side. A quick Force-Push threw three men straight into the wall while he impaled another with his Lightsaber. The remaining two turned their blasters on him but he managed to deflect their bolts back at them.

It was only then that he realized that these Clones where from the 501st Battalion. They where his men, and he had just killed them without mercy. He took in a single breath with a pang of regret. These men where among the newest recruits to the 501st. Rex would probably have still considered them to be 'shiny'. But they hadn't given him a choice. And they certainly hadn't given a choice to the Padawan that lay dead at their feet, with his face rendered unrecognizable by blaster-fire.

He shook his head and continued onward through the living quarters. He ducked and wove his way past patrols of Clones wherever he could. And when he couldn't he dispatched of them quickly and effortlessly.

"Skywalker!" a voice shouted from the side. It was Master K'Kruhk, a tall Whiphid Jedi with yellow-white fur. He had been one of the Jedi Masters charged with protecting Palpatine during the Separatist invasion of Coruscant, and had been wounded by General Grievous himself.

But yet the Jedi Master stood tall, two heads over Anakin and bearing a ferocious snarl.

"The outer defences are falling! Master Ti is gathering those who can still fight to the Hall of Tranquility." K'kruhk said as he raised his green Lightsaber. "You've never been one to shy away from a fight, boy. Why don't we give these Clones a little something else to think of?"

"Master Ti is no longer the Ranking Jedi Master here," Anakin replied steadily. "Master Windu returned. We need to get as many Jedi out of here as we can. I'm heading to the Council Chamber now, to get the Younglings."

"Aye," K'Kruhk replied with a nod. "As sound a plan as we could ask for! This way!" he said as he indicated left with a nudge of his head. "There where three squads in the direction you where going. Something's not right here, I can feel it."

"Oh, you noticed the Clones, did you?" Anakin quipped.

"Not them," K'Kruhk replied nervously. "Something's wrong. Someone disabled the-" he was cut off by the sudden appearance of ten heavily armed Clone Troopers who where already primed to fire on them. Their blaster bolts where intercepted by a wall of green and blue energy, and each shot was turned back on the Clones. Once they where dead, K'Kruhk continued with, "I went to the Security hub, Skywalker. All of the controls had been hacked to bits by a Lightsaber!"

Anakin took a step back. At best, perhaps one of the Clones had picked up a fallen lightsaber and used it on the controls. At worst, they where dealing with an unknown Dark Jedi. Grievous had been dealt with by Obi-Wan, Ventress was dead and Maul was being transported to Coruscant by Ahsoka. With a pang, he thought of his former Padawan being trapped alone on a cruiser filled with some of the most skilled Clones in the Grand Army of the Republic. He had, after all, made sure to assign her the very best men in his legion.

He shook his head and focused. There would be time to worry for Ahsoka later. He knew she was far more skilled than the average Jedi Knight, and there was no way Rex would betray her like that. He returned his focus to the thought of the damaged controls, and a horrible thought occurred to him. Palpatine must have had a back-up plan, in case Anakin didn't turn on the Jedi.

"That's not good," Anakin remarked as the two Jedi raced down the hall. They soon entered a large atrium filled with stone busts of great Jedi Masters. It was also filled with blasterfire and swinging blades.

A group of Jedi stood firm in the very centre of the atrium, with their lightsabers flashing brilliantly in the air as they deflected bolts back at the Clone Troopers. Scattered around their feet where the bodies of many fallen, both Jedi and Clones alike. K'kruhk and Anakin slammed into the side of the line of Clone troopers, catching them off-guard. With a single sweep of his blade Anakin bisected three Clones as he used the Force to send five more flying through the air.

The tactic worked, and the battered Jedi circle was granted a reprieve on their flank. Now, they could properly mount a counter-offensive. Several of the more rested Jedi, including Anakin, leapt high into the air with the Force, over the heads of many Clones and landed on the other side of them. Eventually, Anakin found himself fighting back-to-back with Master Shaak Ti.

"Skywalker!" Shaak Ti grunted as she deflected a series of bolts. "We've lost contact with Master Windu and his team. They went to-"

"I know," Anakin replied. "I was there. Master Windu is alive. The others...I was too late to save them."

"We can honour them later," Shaak Ti said firmly. "All of the exits have been over-run by the Clones. A few Jedi made it into the sewers, I hope. And the skies are being watched by the Republic fleet."

"I can get us past them," Anakin said as he Force-pushed two Clone gunners away. "I am on my way to the council chamber for the Padawans. Then we can make a break for the fighters."

"The skies aren't clear, Skuwalker," Shaak Ti replied furiously. "We've already tried that. They shot down most of our best pilots."

"But not the best pilot," Anakin remarked wryly as he nudged his head towards the door tot he turbolift, which would take them directly to the Council Chambers. The elder Jedi Master paused for a second, as she considered his words. "We can't fight them off," Anakin said heavily, knowing just how many Jedi had already been lost. "We're already being over-run," even as he spoke, two Jedi Knights and a Padawan fell to concentrated blaster fire. Shaak Ti saw this as well, and nodded in agreement.

"Jedi!" she cried loudly, "fall back now! To the hangars! Go!" Those who could still stand and fight turned to run. A few brave Knights, mainly those who where too wounded to run, stayed behind to guard the rear for their fellow Jedi. It was a futile effort, as the battle had been lost a long time ago. But they held to their ground stubbornly. And Anakin took one last look just in time to see the last Knight fall.

Palpatine will pay for their deaths, and dearly, Anakin thought to himself. He'll pay for them all, he told himself as he thought about the countless bodies strewn about the Temple. About the damage he had done to the Galaxy as a whole. Something inside of him broke as he clenched his flesh hand into a tight fist as a nearby stone column crumbled under it's own weight. He would pay, but that would have to wait. At the moment, Anakin could only try to salvage as much of the Jedi Order as he could. Because as flawed as they where, they where the Galaxy's best hope of defeating the Sith Lord.