//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Coruscant - Palpatine Revealed/Between The Dark & The Light // Story: Star Wars: The Trials of the Force (Part One) // by Admiral Producer //------------------------------// The next day, the Battle of Coruscant was reported to be over at last. Chancellor Palpatine had been rescued and the de facto leader of the Confederacy, Count Dooku, had been killed by Anakin Skywalker himself. Overall a devastating loss for the Separatists, the Republic had miraculously achieved victory in a battle they had not initially been prepared for. Over the next few days, Silverstream rarely saw Anakin. She had heard that he had been denied the rank of Master by Mace Windu and that was a crushing blow to his self-pride. She had tried to see him whenever she could, but he was on a mission for the Council, which was growing concerned over Palpatine’s power gain in the Senate and had asked Anakin to spy on him for them. That proved to be a mistake. For Palpatine had the Jedi Knight right where he wanted him. He began to tempt Anakin with knowledge of forbidden Force abilities that the Jedi would never teach him, including the ability to save those he loved from dying. Silverstream at this point had no idea about her Master’s relationship with Padmé Amidala, only hearing that she was a Senator for Naboo who hung out with Anakin a lot. But something wasn’t right and Silver knew it. She didn’t trust Palpatine. He had always seemed too shady for her tastes whenever she saw him. She certainly didn’t trust him with her Master either. But she had no way of warning Anakin as he was always busy. So she tried to distract herself by hanging out with Katooni and her friends. But it would all come to a head when Anakin would return to the Temple with a terrifying realization. It all began one night after word had gotten out that Obi-Wan had destroyed General Grievous. Silverstream’s knighting ceremony had been moved to the next day. At the moment, the Jedi Order was set on making sure that Palpatine returned the emergency powers he had gained back to the Senate. As Silverstream had just finished a rehearsal with Katooni, she returned to find the Council Chambers empty. The sun was setting on Coruscant, creating a beautiful orange sky reminiscent of the first time Anakin had confided in Obi-Wan about having a Padawan all those months ago. How far I have come now, Silverstream thought with a smile as she sat down on one of the Council seats, Mace Windu’s seat, for good measure. She no longer hated Mace, but she still wanted to stick it to him for not believing in her. Sitting in his Council seat was the perfect revenge in her opinion. As she mused about her accomplishments in her mind, the sounds of footsteps pricked her ears. She immediately got up, thinking it was Mace Windu, but instead it was Anakin. Silverstream immediately brightened upon seeing her Master, but that smile quickly faded upon looking at him. He looked conflicted, concerned, almost distressed. It was nothing like his usual self. This had her worried. “Anakin,” Silverstream asked him, “Are you okay?” “Leave me alone, Silverstream.” Anakin said. He sat down in his Council seat, the one next to Obi-Wan, looking deeply troubled, almost as if the Council had betrayed his trust again. “Anakin,” Silverstream tried. “Silverstream, leave me alone!!” Anakin snapped, “Would it kill you to leave me alone for 5 minutes?!!” Upon seeing her wide eyes and frightened expression, his manner softened. “Sorry. You can…sit with me if you want.” Silverstream wasted no time in doing so, wanting to catch up with him and find out what was troubling him. It was here where the truth would finally come out. “What’s going on?” Silverstream inquired, “This isn’t like you. You’re not so…prone to yelling all the time…” “You wouldn't understand,” Anakin told her, “I never told you any of this. And I don’t want to.” “Do you think I might tell the Council?” A soft glare. “Sorry, sorry!” Silverstream apologized hurriedly, “I was trying to say that I wouldn’t and I won’t. Please…you don’t keep secrets from me.” Anakin faced her, “I’ve kept more secrets from you than you think. For your own protection, and my own sanity.” He sighed, “Silverstream…Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord.” Silverstream gasped, “I remember you told me about those guys once. The super scary dark-side wielding Jedi destroyers?” Anakin nodded, “He’s behind everything, including the war. I told Master Windu about it and they’re going off to confront him.” “That’s good, right?” Silverstream was confused, “Then the war will be over?” “Yes, but…” Anakin took a deep breath, “He has the power to save my wife from dying….Padmé…” “That Senator from Naboo?” Silverstream asked. “Yes,” Anakin nodded again, “The woman you see occasionally…we’ve been married and she’s pregnant. She’s about to give birth to a child. But…I’ve been having…visions, dreams. In them, Padmé dies in childbirth. I lose her. But…Palpatine said that he could change all that. Some ancient Sith legend. His master taught him to influence the midiclorians to create life. That also includes cheating death…” The more Silverstream listened, the more she understood why she rarely saw Anakin. Everything fell into place. Palpatine had manipulated everything, manipulated Anakin. Rage came to the surface as she thought of that rotten old man praying on the Master she cared about. Even if it was true, the dark side was not something to be messed with. Anakin had taught her that much. “Anakin,” Silverstream said cautiously, “Why don’t you believe the Jedi can help you with that? They practice the Force too.” “Because they don’t like attachments!!” Anakin growled, “If I was to tell them, not only would I lose their trust completely, I would be expelled. Huh?! Do you want that?! Do you want a new Master?!” “No,” Silverstream began to tremble, “But…you don’t know that. There are plenty who can vouch for you and stop that from happening.” Anakin scoffed, “Oh yeah?! Who?!” “Master Kenobi,” Silverstream replied, “Your Master. And me.” “You’re not on the Council.” Anakin reminded her. “True,” Silverstream admitted, “But has that ever stopped me from sticking up for you? You stuck up for me when Master Windu doubted me. You weren’t on the Council then. Why can’t I do the same for you? I don’t care about the ban on attachments, Anakin. It’s a stupid law. I’ll be there for you. Me, Katooni, Master Kenobi…everyone who knows and loves you is here to support you. You just have to believe we can.” Anakin couldn’t help but smile a little, “I’m starting to like this world where you come from. It seems like nothing that I have ever seen before.” “You’d love it, Anakin.” Silverstream replied, smiling back. The two sat in silence for about 5 minutes, not looking at one another. Anakin seemed to be in deep thought and Silver thought that perhaps he was considering her offer, that he would indeed tell the Council. She didn’t want to pressure him, but she had learned that it was unhealthy to keep things like love and personal attachments to herself. She intended to make good on her word and defend him if things got heated. She just needed to rally Katooni, Petro, and all the others in time. Suddenly, Anakin stood up, that look of great disturbance back on his face. He glanced at her briefly and then towards the exit. Silverstream looked up, “What’s wrong?” Anakin shook his head. “I have to go.” With that, he took off towards the outside of the Temple. Silverstream followed him quickly, worried about where he was going. Once outside, Anakin found a starship and boarded it. Silverstream kept calling after him, but he didn’t seem to hear her. As the starship took off, Silverstream realized that her worst fears were happening. This was the moment that Qui-Gon had warned her about. She realized that if Anakin was to save the Chancellor, then his turn to the dark side would be complete. “ANAKIN!!!!” Silverstream screamed at the top of her lungs, but it was no use. Anakin had already left. A figure emerged from inside the Temple. It was Katooni dressed in blue spotted pajamas. “Silverstream, what’s wrong? I was preparing for bed and I heard you-“ Katooni was cut off mid-sentence by a very stressed out Silverstream. “Anakin’s gone to the Chancellor’s office!” Silverstream told her quickly, “I don’t know how to get there in time!” “Chancellor Palpatine?! What-“ “Katooni, there’s no time! You have to get me up there somehow!” Silverstream insisted. Katooni nodded. “Fly up there, Silverstream. You’ll make it if you leave now. Go!!” Silverstream nodded back. Unfolding her wings, she rocketed up into the night sky, visions of Jedi dying and Anakin burning on Mustafar assaulting her mind, rendering her unable to think clearly. The Force was warning her that this was it. She couldn’t fail. ——————————————————————————————————————————————— Meanwhile, in Supreme Chancellor Palpatine’s office, a duel of catastrophic proportions was happening. Several Jedi lay on the floor, their bloodied bodies littering the area as Master Mace Windu fought Palpatine. Flashes of purple and red illuminated the room as the embodiments of the light side and dark side fought for control of Coruscant, and of the galaxy’s future. With each rapid stroke of their lightsabers, the two duelists destroyed everything in their path, the fury and rage on Mace Windu’s face fueling every block and strike as the only duty he had at that moment was to destroy the last of the Sith. There was no room for discussion, no room for diplomacy. It was either Mace killed Palpatine, or die trying his hardest. A stroke to the head and Palpatine was on his knees momentarily. But the victory was fleeting as the Sith Lord returned with his own offensive strike, catching Mace off guard and forcing him to the defensive. Then, Mace returned with his own strike, cornering Palpatine against the wall and holding the lightsaber to his throat. “You are under arrest, my lord,” Mace Windu hissed, “I am going to end this once and for all!” Meanwhile, Silverstream had arrived inside the building. She followed the sound of the two combatants dueling, hoping to catch Anakin there before he did something that could cost his life, or something much worse. No, she didn’t want to think of what could be worse than that. As she neared the location, she heard the sound of Anakin’s voice. He had arrived. She just hoped she wasn’t too late. She could make out faint echoes of: “…He must stand trial!” “…He’s too dangerous to be left alive!” “…He must live!” “I need him!!” The final cry rang out loud and clear and that was when Silverstream knew she had made it. She saw Anakin there, posed as if to strike, lightsaber in hand. She knew she must call out to him or all would be lost. But would he listen? An entirely separate war was ensuing in her mind as a part of her was scared that Anakin was already too far gone. But another part of her knew she could still save him. With a loud yell, Anakin reared his arm back, ready to strike out at Mace Windu in order to save Palpatine. It was now or never. Taking a quick deep breath, Silverstream screamed as loud as she could: “WAIT!!!!” All at once, Anakin paused mid-strike. The tension in the room seemed to die down at that moment as he turned in the direction of that familiar voice. Time seemed to stop. Silverstream faced him, not caring if she was going to die right there or not. Anakin looked shocked, even a little afraid. “ANAKIN!!!” Palpatine shouted angrily. Silverstream shook her head slowly, her worry and concern for Anakin seemed to calm the young Jedi Knight down, if only for a brief minute of realization of what he was just about to do. “Silverstream…” Anakin’s voice was trembling. He turned his lightsaber off as tears welled up in his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to save Padmé, but at what cost? If he killed Mace now like he was right about to do, Silver would think him a monster forever. Then not only would he lose his wife, he would also lose his Padawan…again. “Please,” Silverstream pleaded softly, “Let’s go…” Anakin nodded. She was right. This wasn’t worth it. He’d be much better off telling the Jedi about his secret. The dark side of the Force was a path one couldn’t go back on, even if they wanted to. He just hoped he wouldn’t be expelled for violating the attachments ban. *SNAP* The severed head of Palpatine rolled right next to his body. In that moment of distraction for Anakin, Mace had delivered the killing blow, decapitating the treacherous Sith Lord in one strike to the head. The duel was over. Mace stood over the deceased Sith Lord like a warrior who had just killed his nemesis. He shut off his lightsaber, pausing to catch his breath. The Office was in ruins and the bodies of the dead Jedi Masters served as a cruel reminder of the battle that had taken place. Anakin walked over towards Palpatine’s corpse and let out a powerful scream of agony, his only possible hope of saving Padmé gone. She would die and he wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to her. He fell to his knees, sobbing relentlessly. Mace looked confused, but Silverstream gave him a look saying she would explain to him later. Mace nodded and Silver put a comforting claw on Anakin’s shoulder. Anakin looked up at her, tears flowing down his face. She let him cry into her chest as she held him. She had saved him as Qui-Gon had foretold, but she never expected it to be this painful to witness. How much did Padmé really mean to him? She vowed she would do whatever it took to help Anakin save her, no matter what she had to do in order to get the Council’s help. She silently promised him as much. Qui-Gon’s prophecy had been fulfilled at last. The Chosen One had been saved.