SIEGE

    With all the chaos throughout the galaxy, when night had fallen, Padawan Lath fell asleep in a matter of minutes for the first time in weeks. Previously stationed on the Venator Starhawk with her Master for the Outer Rim Sieges, it was her first night back at the Temple in nearly six months. Had it not been for the recent death of Count Dooku and the discovered location of General Grievous, it was unlikely that the Starhawk would’ve been called back to Coruscant by the Council. It seemed as if the Council was preparing for an end to the war, and while many other Venators remained in the Outer Rim, some were being sent back to Coruscant. She assumed it was because her and her Master’s mission above Tork had been successful. They had taken over the planet in a matter of weeks and the Separatists never returned. Now that the Count was dead and their droid general on the run, Tork was most likely safe and the presence of the Starhawk was no longer necessary. But the damage to the planet was immense. She wished she could physically help the locals of Tork rebuild their homes instead of leaving in such a rush to probably never return. Unfortunately, these were the consequences of war. It had ravaged the galaxy for three years that felt like ten and all 16-year-old Jenna Lath could do was hope that the end was near.

Before she had fallen asleep, Jenna Lath had yet to hear if Master Kenobi and the 212th had completed their mission on Utapau. Of course, she was not privy to this exclusive Council intel but her Master had a way with the shadows of the Temple. Jedi Master Mira Alahay had a special ability that could mask her presence through the Force so that no one could sense her lurking in places she wasn’t allowed access to, or listening to information she wasn’t cleared for knowing. Master Alahay was the only Jedi that Jenna knew that had such an ability. She wondered that if the Council had discovered Alahay’s ability that they’d dishonor her and strip her of the Master title. In that case, she’d lose her Master, which was the only companion Jenna had in the Order. Her training kept her busy which ruled out any friendships with the other Padawans. Additionally, everyone was so busy worrying about the war that there wasn’t time to worry about friendships. Jenna had one focus. It was to complete her training as a Jedi. And one more: not die in the process. Then the unexpected happened. Jenna Lath woke up to the smell of smoke and the sounds of screams and blaster fire.

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Jedi Master Mira Alahay couldn’t be more proud of her Padawan. Jenna Lath obeyed every instruction she had given her. Even when she was a little girl, Jenna had always shown respect, integrity, and class toward her Master and her fellow Jedi peers. She was lucky to have chosen such a gifted girl because she’d heard of other Padawans and their rebellious natures. She pitied those Jedi Masters who had to deal with those types of Padawans and was utterly grateful for Jenna Lath’s existence.

Alahay felt that Jenna was close to being knighted and couldn’t wait to speak to the Council on behalf of her success during the mission on Tork. At the age of 16, Mira Alahay never had to worry about going into battle in a galaxy-wide war. Yet her Padawan was thrown into one and had not faulted. On the battlefront, Alahay was given the title General, as all Jedi Masters were, and her Padawan carried the title Commander with utmost prowess. She fought for her troops and didn’t treat them as mere soldiers but equally as people. Individuals. Alahay had taught that mindset to Jenna, and she couldn't have been happier with the result. She knew of Jedi who thought of the clones as replaceable cannon fodder. She knew the story of the traitorous Pong Krell, who had tried to kill his own clones after giving himself over to the dark side. Again, she was not supposed to know this but she made it her business to know everything about the Jedi and what went on behind Council chamber doors. Although sworn to secrecy, she told everything to her Padawan as well. She deserved to know and the more she knew, the more prepared she would be for future challenges as a Jedi. Alahay didn’t dislike the Council for not informing everyone on certain incidents but she knew all too well they had started to keep too many secrets for their own good. Fellow Jedi should’ve been informed on what was happening around them, especially during this time of crisis. On the other hand, she knew some Jedi would overreact to such things, which is why she understood the Council’s discretion with certain matters. Nonetheless, Alahay would find the information whether it was meant to be found or not, for both her, and her Padawan’s own benefit.

The Starhawk had touched down on Coruscant shortly before evening, which is when Alahay had heard the rumors of Master Kenobi being sent to Utapau to find General Grievous. She relayed this information to her Padawan in hopes it would ease the young girl’s mind. The war was almost over. They both could sense it. Jenna Lath had rarely slept while stationed over Tork which is why Master Alahay had sent her to her quarters earlier than normal. She deserved the rest. Their mission was complete and right now they could only wait for their next assignment.

The Jedi Temple at night was always peaceful. For most Jedi, the Temple was their home. A safe place, away from war and the concerns that came with it. It was only until a few days ago that Coruscant was finally attacked by the Separatists. Mira Alahay couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for the younglings in the Temple, knowing that war had finally arrived outside their home. Alahay felt this uneasiness as she made her way through the Temple halls. She heard whispers of other Jedi Masters conversing as she traveled toward the entrance of the Temple. Despite the whispers, everything else was quiet. Most of the Knights and Padawans were in their quarters while most younglings were sleeping. Although she felt the unease among fellow Jedi as she passed quarters and Jedi crossing her path, she felt tranquility as well. With the attack just days ago, she was surprised that the Temple had remained as calm as it was now. However, something was missing. When it hit her, she couldn’t believe she had missed it before. The Jedi Temple Guards that were supposed to be stationed inside were nowhere to be found. She had seen one Temple Guard upon her arrival outside the Temple, but was just too caught up in her Padawan and Master Kenobi’s crucial mission on Utapau to recognize that the others were missing. There were usually more than a dozen. Something was off. She felt it through the Force.

Needing answers and wanting them fast, Master Alahay searched the corridors for a Jedi that seemed wise enough to know why the rest of the Temple Guards weren’t on duty. She speed walked only a few meters down the hall when a voice called from behind. 

“Master Alahay!”

Alahay turned around to see the togruta Jedi Master Shaak Ti. 

“Master Ti! Your presence is...is shocking but most welcome. I thought you were stationed on Kamino,” Alahay said.

“My time on Kamino has been...mostly successful. Despite one…..setback, the clones are more impressive than ever. My presence was needed here to discuss important Council matters,” Ti responded.

Alahay knew better than to ask what the clone setback was (she had heard some rumors) and found it unnecessary to ask about the Council matters as well, for that was probably about Kenobi’s mission. Instead, she nodded her head, smiled, and let Master Ti continue.

“I stopped by your quarters but couldn’t find you, and your Padawan must’ve been asleep when I stopped by hers.”

“These past few months have weighed on her. I gave her the rest of the night to relax. It’s the least she deserves,” Alahay explained. “And it seems our paths have aligned. I was looking for someone with knowledge about the whereabouts of the Temple Guards. I noticed only one on duty at the entrance.”

“The remaining have been gone for some time now. Someone should’ve notified you upon your arrival. It’s why I came looking for you. The Council asks that you aid in the protection of the Temple tonight. You and a few other Masters will be patrolling the Entrance Hall. We’ve been assigning Masters to fill their void since their disappearance,” Ti explained.

“When did they disappear?” Alahay asked.

“Some time before the death of Count Dooku. The Council has been distracted with many things as of late. This mysterious disappearance is one of those many things. It’s good to have you back Master Alahay.”

Before Ti could walk away, knowing that Alahay would fulfill her duty without a response, Alahay failed to bury her curiosity. 

“Master Ti. May I ask where the other Council members are?”

Ti turned around and smiled. She was well aware of Alahay’s curious nature. And because she was unaware of her special abilities, Ti respected Alahay and trusted her with carrying out the duties of a Jedi Master.

“You may,” Ti responded softly. “To name a few, Master Yoda is on the wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk while Master Mundi is leading his clones into battle on Mygeeto at this very moment.”

“What about Master Windu?” Alahay thought the additional question would annoy the Council member. Luckily, however, she was wrong.

“He left Temple grounds within the hour. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”

Alahay didn’t want to ask where he was. She wasn’t even sure Master Ti knew where he went but thought it better to put her curiosity to rest.

“If you may excuse me, Master Alahay. I must return to the chambers to meditate,” Ti said.

“Of course, Master Ti. Good night,” Alahay said.

Ti turned back around and in a few moments had faded into the shadows of the night.

Master Mira Alahay was accompanied by four other Jedi Masters in the Monumental Temple Entrance Hall. More Jedi Masters were stationed at multiple entrances throughout the Temple as well.  Alahay wondered if the reason for her return to Coruscant was due to the disappearance of the other Temple Guards. After all, the Jedi were spread thin across the galaxy. Even Master Yoda, who had rarely left Coruscant, was offworld fighting to aid the wookiees. The Jedi were winning the war--with the recent death of Count Dooku and the capture of Grievous inevitable--but right now it felt like they were losing it.

The Jedi Masters conversed with each other while Master Alahay kept her distance. It was unlike her to casually chat with another Master. Her responsibilities, attention, and time lie with her Padawan and her Padawan alone. She only felt the need to talk to another Jedi during a mission or to seek out information, like she had just done with Master Ti. 

She noticed that three of the four Jedi that were talking began to giggle about something. That’s when the pain hit. Her and another Jedi Master--the one that hadn’t laughed--put their hands to their foreheads.

Jedi Master Karrtan let out a yelp which caught the attention of the three now serious-faced Jedi.

“Master Karrtan, what is it?” one of them asked.

“Something is...happening ...something terrible,” Alahay responded instead, blurting the words while pressing on her forehead with her right hand. 

The four Jedi turned to Alahay, who stood against a pillar a few meters behind them. 

“What is happening to us?” Master Karrtan said, falling to one knee because of the added pain to his heart. He clenched his heart with his other hand, fearing the worst.

“It’s the Force ...reaching out…..so many people…..no…..so many Jedi…..being killed,” Alahay explained. Every second of the pain taught her something new. Karrtan was relieved that he wasn’t having a heart attack but could only revel in that discovery for a few moments before he realized that Alahay was right.

The three Jedi helped Karrtan up on both feet as his pain started to decline. “It was so sudden. Now it’s gone,” Karrtan said, staring at Alahay who had also seemed to recover from her pain.

“I have a really bad feeling about this,” the youngest of the Masters gasped.

“Are those?” Karrtan had heard them first.

“Troops,” Alahay said, eyes widening at the revelation.

All five Jedi Masters could hear the marching of boots coming from outside, as they got closer and closer to the Temple entrance. 

“Master Ti!” Alahay yelled into her comm. No answer. “Master Ti!”

“You didn’t come through my comm, someone has jammed the frequency,” Karrtan panicked.

The boots were louder than ever.

“We have to alert the Temple now!” Alahay yelled.  

“Go,” Master Karrtan said, motioning to the youngest of the Masters. “We’ll hold them off. Sound the klaxons, let’s hope those weren't tampered with too.” They were.

The young Jedi Master ran off toward the quarters above the balcony, screaming orders at newly awakened Padawans and younglings. “Find your masters or head for the Council chambers,” Alahay heard him say.

By now, the sound of the boots were just outside the doors. 

“May the Force be with us,” Alahay said as she ignited her green lightsaber followed by the other three Masters by her side.

The entrance door slid open with the use of what looked like the Force. Alahay immediately made out the body of the one remaining Temple Guard that lay motionless outside the door, lightsaber cuts across his armor. The four ignited Jedi lightsabers stood no chance against what approached them.

A hooded figure marched slowly and menacingly, flanked by a battalion of clone troopers with blasters at the ready. The figure held an already ignited lightsaber. And the color was blue.

“The saber,” Alahay tried to collect herself. “The markings.”

“It’s the 501st,” Karrtan said.

“It can’t be,” Alahay muttered.

“It is,” Karrtan said, now getting a clear look at the hooded figure less than fifty meters away.

Anakin Skywalker. Jedi Knight.

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“Skywalker! What is this?!” Karrtan yelled at the top of his lungs. Skywalker stopped and the couple thousand troopers behind him came to a simultaneous hault. For a brief moment, no one said anything and no one moved a muscle. All that was present in the air were the hums of five ignited lightsabers and the distant screaming of Jedi on the balcony, who had also spotted the battalion of clone troopers storming their Temple led by a mysterious figure.

After a brief moment of pure anxiety at what would inevitably happen next, Skywalker pointed his blade at the Jedi, and the clones began to fire. Skywalker remained silent, splitting off to his left to head for the balcony of Jedi, who were now jumping off to aid the four Masters that were desperately falling back and deflecting blue particle bolts. The clones split in formation with Skywalker into two aisles on both sides of him while the rest continued to march toward the Jedi on the ground floor. Bodies were falling rapidly from both sides. Each clack of alloy metal that hit the floor shattered the heart of Master Alahay piece by piece. She and Karrtan had survived the initial eruption of blaster fire while the other two Masters that fought beside them were killed. The youngest Jedi Master had seemed to have succeeded in warning the Temple but there was no sign of him and no sign of her Padawan, Jenna Lath. 

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Jenna Lath sat upright, trying to calm herself and find her breath. She heard distant small explosions and for the first time in a while, she had no idea what to do. Her quarters were on the far side of the Temple, furthest away from the entrance, and at any moment, whatever was out there could burst her door open and leave her cornered. Her mind raced as she put on her robes and picked up her lightsaber. When the hilt hit the skin of her hand, she felt a wave of relief surge across her body. She was a Jedi Padawan. She knew how to use the weapon to defend herself as she had done many times before. It was no different tonight. The screams became louder and the air filled with the familiar sound of blaster fire deflecting off of lightsabers. She tied her long, blonde hair into a ponytail, ignited her blue lightsaber, and opened her door. 

At first, she was taken aback as to what was really happening. Clone troopers with matching blue markings were firing at Jedi Padawans and Masters. The clones seemed relentless. One of the first things she saw was a Jedi Padawan in the distance, who became surrounded by clones and put his hands up to surrender. The nine clones around him refused to lower their weapons and the Padawan fell to the ground. 

“No,” Lath muttered to herself, holding back anger and the urge to charge the clones who had killed the innocent boy. Instead she bolted the other way and deflected bolts left and right, slicing clone armor and clone blasters that stood in her path. Her eyes quickly darted to the ground while in full sprint to find dead younglings on the Temple floor. She noticed the lightsaber slashes on a youngling’s chest. Count Dooku is dead she thought. It must have been the secret Sith Lord the High Council had been looking for. The Sith had invaded the Temple with a batch of turned clones to help murder the Jedi. It took everything in her to hold back the vomit inching its way up her throat. 

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Alahay figured out where Skywalker seemed to be headed. It was logical that he take out the Council members if any were still in the High Council Spire. Although, there was nothing she could do. There were too many clones and too little Jedi to clear a path for her to get to Skywalker. She had to remain in the Entrance hall, trusting that whoever he was after were prepared to defend themselves too.

The High Council Spire was relatively quiet. It was as if the chaotic attack had no effect on other parts of the Temple. When Skywalker arrived at the base of the Spire, his troopers fanned out and left him alone per his non-verbal command. They took command of the landing pad, burst in rooms searching for hidden Jedi, and set small fires as some had done in the Entrance hall. Skywalker headed for the turbolift that led straight to the Council chamber when he stopped in his tracks for the second time. He slowly turned to his left. He stared at the door to a sound-proof Meditation chamber and used the Force to slide it open. There, in the middle of the darkened room, sat Master Shaak Ti. She was deep in meditation and the opening of the door seemed to have ended that.

“What is it, Skywalker?” she asked as a blue blade pierced her chest from behind. She writhed in shock and agony, then tumbled to the floor, dead. 

He returned to the corridor and headed for the turbolift to find out which Jedi Masters awaited him in the Council chambers above.

“MASTER!” Lath shouted, jumping down from the balcony and sprinting toward her Master.

“Padawan! It’s good to see you!” Alahay shouted back. Padawan Lath fell in formation, back to back with her Master to deflect any blaster fire that came their way. 

By now, the attack had spread throughout the Temple. The pop of aerial bombs that were bombarding the roof of the Temple shook the sacred building and all within it. Smoke had risen higher and higher as small flames grew into ones so large they engulfed entire rooms. Smoke, fire, and death crept closer and closer to both Master and Padawan as they fought for their lives. Alahay kept her eyes focused on Karrtan, who stood in the distance killing as many clones with his saber as possible. With a large Force push, Karrtan sent almost ten clones into the wall. It was too late before she spotted a small thermal detonator rolling toward him.

“Karrta--” she screamed, the deafening sound of the blast drowning out her warning. Karrtan flew into the air and landed onto the Temple floor, smoke rising off of his stiff charred back.

Alahay winced and turned the other way to find something much worse. Younglings had jumped off the balcony as well, most without lightsabers as they had not built theirs yet. While still back to back with her Padawan deflecting blaster fire with the Force and her lightsaber, Alahay counted seven younglings that picked up fallen clone blasters to aid in the fight. No. Alahay expected the worst and wasn’t surprised. However, she couldn’t find the strength to look away. Seven blasters had been picked up by those children and within seconds, seven blasters fell back to the Temple floor.

“Padawan, we have to keep moving,” Alahay shouted over the turmoil.

“There’s nowhere to go, Master,” Lath heaved out the words.

It was the first time Alahay sensed dread in her young Padawan. Lath usually drenched in optimism, until tonight. But the pessimism and fear of her Padawan was well warranted. The Jedi Master felt them too. 

“The High Council Spire! There’s a landing pad with starfighters at the base!” Alahay shouted.

That information gave Lath the tiniest amount of hope to reassure herself there was still a way out. Sure, the clones were probably waiting for Jedi at the pad but there shouldn’t be as many that initially stormed the Temple entrance. Master and Padawan moved through the corridor as fast as they could, stabbing and cutting off clone heads in the process. They finally reached the base of the Spire and came to a stop, when the door to the pad opened from the other side.

There, in the doorway, blocking their escape and only hope of survival stood the hooded figure.

Alahay had planned on masking their presence in the Force with her unique ability. Like many Jedi around her, her plan died immediately when the hooded figure spotted them. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Padawan, run!” Alahay shouted, using her right arm to push her Padawan behind her.

“But Master!” Lath retorted, as both Jedi backed down the way they came. The hooded figure’s pace started to increase.

“Take any Jedi along the way and find somewhere to hide,” Alahay looked into the eyes of her Padawan. The eyes pleaded for her to retreat too. “Go now, that’s an order. I’ll hold him off.”

Lath couldn’t believe her Master had pulled that card. Giving her the order to leave her Master to die. As the figure approached, Lath made the decision to obey her Master’s wishes.

“May the force be with you, Master,” Lath mumbled the words as tears began to trickle down her face.

Master Alahay gave her a smile and Force pushed her Padawan down the hall with her right hand as she caught an overhead strike from her attacker with her left. She brought her right hand back to her lightsaber hilt, gripping it tightly as the blue saber inched closer to her face. The green and blue blades’ sizzle became hotter and hotter and Alahay thought it to be the end of her life. Closing her eyes and expecting the pain, the blue blade let go of the clash. She opened her eyes to find Skywalker turning around to bat off another blue lightsaber spinning toward him. It was Karrtan. He was alive.

Karrtan called his own lightsaber back to his hand and shortened the distance between him and Skywalker with a fast paced limp. The two blue blades met with clash after clash but Karrtan was clearly injured. It was by the will of the Force that he survived to help Alahay. Realizing she could end this with the help of Karrtan, she charged at Skywalker but he turned around to meet her with a Force choke with his gloved right hand. Battling off Karrtan’s attacks with one hand and lifting Alahay into the air with another, one of the Temple pillars collapsed. The falling rubble caused Skywalker to let go of his grip of Alahay and Force jump out of the way. Behind Skywalker was a piece of the collapsed pillar. Underneath it was the stiff hand of Karrtan, his lightsaber hilt slowly rolling out of the open palm.

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The rubble and Force jump that followed had taken off the hood that Skywalker had worn since his arrival. He stood upright and stared into the mournful eyes of Master Alahay, still overcome by the quick death of Karrtan. She could feel his glare so she looked up and met it. There was no yellow in his eyes. Only the glisten of dried tears under them. She didn’t know who or what he had become. All she knew was that if his skill matched that of his reputation--which so far it had--it spelled doom for them all. 

There was no escape.

“What happened to you, Skywalker?” she said. He didn’t dare flinch at the name and used the momentary silence to charge at her again. She quickly called Karrtan’s hilt to her hand and ignited both blades in a cross to block Skywalker’s overhead strike. He pulled away from the clash and swung in her direction. High, low, low, high, middle. It was easier to block every strike with two lightsabers but he kept on advancing and she was running out of corridor. She fiercely batted away his attacks and Force flipped over him. When she landed, he immediately struck her knee with his blade that caused her to belch, adrenaline quickly numbing her pain. However, she kept on retreating and kept on blocking his attacks. She could see it in his face that she was getting to him. He was getting annoyed. She wanted to make it worse.

“Tell me, Skywalker,” Alahay breathed heavily as the pace of the attacks started to quicken. “What would your Padawan think of you now?” 

Now that Karrtan was dead, Alahay’s one remaining goal was to delay Skywalker in the hopes her Padawan would somehow get to safety. If she were to pester him and make him angry in the process, then so be it. His eyes widened when he initially heard her comment. The attacks doubled in speed and her stamina hit an all-time low. When she started to stagger, Skywalker forced her into the same rubble that had fallen onto Karrtan. He then forced both hilts out of her hands and aimed his lightsaber at her neck. It was finally over. So she wanted to make it count.

“What would Ahsoka---” the blade had cut her throat before she could finish.

The figure had been standing over the dead Jedi for some time when Padawan Jenna Lath shouted, “Get away from her!” 

He turned around to see a group of Padawans and younglings, their lightsabers drawn, at the end of the hall.

Without hesitation, Darth Vader marched toward the young Jedi, with his lightsaber ignited at his side. The Padawans and younglings attempted one last stand to defend their Temple. Their courage was met with slaughter. He quickly approached Lath and the young Jedi beside her. This was when Lath realized her idea of coming back with the remaining Jedi to save her Master was the first and last mistake she’d ever make. She could see her Master lying atop rubble at the far end of the hall. It was all for nothing. There was no more hope and everything within her crumbled. Her strength had immediately failed her when the figure, who she finally recognized as Anakin Skywalker, had swatted his blade against hers with such force that it sent her hilt flying. He lifted her up with his left hand, not with the Force, but with sheer strength and started to squeeze tight. On her left, a Padawan with long blonde hair fought Skywalker with his green lightsaber only to be cut down after five clashes. It sickened her that she lasted longer than the multiple Jedi he was taking on with his other lightsaber-wielding hand. Then she closed her eyes, without the knowledge of what was happening or why it was. She wished she could talk to her Master again. She wished she had searched for an escape route with the other young Jedi instead of marching them to their deaths. This was finally the end and all she felt was pain and regret. She thought of Master Alahay’s failed sacrifice one final time. Then everything went silent.