"𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚."

Obi-Wan and I were silent as we flew further away from Utapau. The events that occurred there were still fresh on our minds. Obi-Wan took a breath and activated an emergency code. A transmission from Senator Organa arrived.

"Master Kenobi," he greeted the Jedi.

"Senator Organa," Obi-Wan replied. "My clone troops turned on me. I need help."

"We have just rescued Master Yoda. It appears this ambush happened everywhere," Organa informed.

My heart sunk even further. My thoughts drifted to the other Jedi and their clone forces. So many minds stolen. How many Jedi would be alive? What about Anakin?

My heart weighed heavily in my chest. I felt a pang in my ribs where I had been shot on Utapau. I moved to the back of the small ship looking for medical supplies. After, finding a first aid kit, I slumped to the floor. A pained hiss escaped my mouth. I slowly shrugged off my jacket and lifted my shirt to see the horrific wound. I bit back a cry. I had no idea if my unborn child even survived this.

"Do you need help?" Obi-Wan said turning around in his seat. The transmission was over.

I nodded warily and let Obi-Wan help me with my injury. He finally placed a bacta patch over it and I couldn't hold myself back anymore.

"Obi-Wan, is- is my child okay?" I asked.

He lifted his gaze and looked at me. "Yes," he smiled lightly. "Both of you will be fine."

I breathed out a deep sigh, feeling immense relief. I realized how unshaken Obi-Wan had been. "Did you know?"

"I've known for quite some time now," he answered with a chuckle and I turned red. "It's alright, Sil, I've kept this to myself."

I nodded along. My thoughts drifted back to the situation we were in and the current state of the war.

"What happens now?"

"I'm not sure," Obi-Wan's eyes darkened. "We're going to meet Senator Organa and find out."

Obi-Wan tended to his own wounds while I flew us to the coordinates he gave me. I pulled into the senator's ship and we met with Master Yoda and Senator Organa.

"How many other Jedi have managed to survive?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Heard from no one we have," Master Yoda responded.

I walked behind them, listening in. I couldn't stop thinking about what could be happening on Coruscant and if Anakin was okay.

"I saw thousands of troops attack the Jedi Temple," the Senator said and my heart plummeted. Obi-Wan faced him with shock written all over his face. "That's why I went looking for Yoda."

"Have we had any contact from the Temple?" Obi-Wan asked. I bit my tongue to keep myself from speaking out.

Once it was revealed that a message was being sent out to the Jedi to return to the Temple, Obi-Wan suggested dismantling it. That way, no other Jedi would return and be killed. With that, the ship set course for Coruscant.

I quickly went to Obi-Wan's side when Yoda and Organa left. "Do you think Anakin is okay?" I asked quietly.

"Let's hope he is."

***

Since Senator Organa was to attend a senate meeting, he was able to bring the rest of us onto the surface of Coruscant undetected. I could see thick smoke rising from the Jedi Temple and I felt another wave of fear. Master Yoda, Obi-Wan, and I made it to the Temple and I felt a surge of guilt as I watched the troopers guarding it.

"Obi-Wan, they can't help it," I quickly reminded him. During our escape from Utapau, I had done my best to explain the chips to him.

"I know, Sil," he reassured me. "I know." He had a sad expression on his face. "If Cody was in the right mind he never would have-"

"You're right, he wouldn't," I finished and Obi-wan nodded. I looked towards the clones lined up with their blasters on the ready. "You won't hurt them, right?"

Obi-Wan gazed at them and sighed. "I will do my best not to."

Obi-Wan and Master Yoda took the lead in charging into the Temple. I brought up the rear, stunning any left over troops who came at me. I looked left and right, my heart breaking at the sight of them slain. Lightsaber slashes were engraved across their armor. I tried not to think about which of the Jedi had inflicted the damage.

We made it inside and the sights were no less horrific. Jedi, padawans, all of them were dead. Obi-Wan looked on in horror while I scanned the bodies, wondering if Anakin had become one of the fallen.

"We must get to the central security station," Obi-Wan finally said. "I will send a beacon to all the Jedi telling them to stay away."

I nodded quickly and followed after him towards the security section of the Temple. While Obi-Wan gave his message, I stood not too far away with my blaster out, watching for any movement. As I stood guard, I found myself being pulled by his words.

"This is Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. I regret to report that both our Jedi Order and the Republic have fallen, with the dark shadow of the Empire rising to take their place. This message is a warning and a reminder for any surviving Jedi: trust in the Force. Do not return to the Temple. That time has passed, and our future is uncertain. Avoid Coruscant. Avoid detection. Be secret... but be strong. We will each be challenged: our trust, our faith, our friendships. But we must persevere and, in time, I believe a new hope will emerge. May the Force be with you always."

Obi-Wan sent the signal and faced me. It was a good speech, but I couldn't help feeling completely hopeless. Everything we had done, the lives sacrificed in this war, it had all amounted to nothing.

"Do you really think things will get better?" I asked him. "How can it with all that's happened?"

"There is always hope," Obi-Wan said in that inspiring voice of his. "You'll see."

He and Master Yoda briefly conversed on what our next steps would be while I kept an eye out. One of the doors slid open. There stood Anakin looking like he'd been through hell. Once he spotted me, he came running and pulled me into his arms. I threw my arms around his neck and held him tight as my worst fears dissipated. The comfort of his familiar embrace put me at ease. Anakin pulled away to look at my face and ran a hand through my hair.

"You're alive," he breathed and pulled me against his chest again. I let myself crumble in his arms. All the pain I experienced from the order given on Utapau came crashing down and I let my tears spill. He held me and I held him, the two of us finding solace in the other's arms.

Once we composed ourselves, we pulled away and stood next to each other, facing the Jedi who were watching us expectantly.

"Masters," Anakin greeted them in a tired voice. "There are no other Jedi left here. Palpatine is the Sith Lord. We need to stop him."

"We know, Anakin," Obi-Wan said and walked towards us. "And we know he is responsible for turning the troops against us."

I looked down as the memories came flooding back. It was a heartbreaking betrayal, and they couldn't even help it. I felt a pang across my torso as I remembered the blaster wound I received.

"Are you alright?" Anakin asked and put a hand over the wound. I only nodded, but Anakin realized this injury resulted from events on Utapau. "This is Palpatine's doing. He was going to have you killed..." his voice faltered as the realization set in.

"Then what's our next move?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Destroy the Sith we must," Yoda spoke up.

"I'll do it," Anakin said and we all faced him. "I can't just let him walk free after all he has done."

Obi-Wan grew curious. "Anakin, what exactly did Palpatine do while we were away?"

Anakin averted his eyes shamefully. He told us about Palpatine's attempts to get into his head, to turn him. It was apparent now to Master Yoda as well that we've had a secret relationship, but that hardly mattered anymore.

"Your dreams, a trap they were," Yoda said to Anakin.

As all the pieces came together, I was filled with anger. The person I had been suspicious of the whole time turned out to be so much worse than I imagined. Palpatine really had been behind the chips. He killed the Jedi, stole the clones' free will, took over the Republic, and he tried to twist Anakin's mind. My hands clenched into fists.

"He's a dead man walking," I said in a low voice.

Anakin shared my feelings and said a final word to the Jedi. "I'm going to end this."

"No," Obi-Wan protested seeing Anakin's look of determination. "You can't take him on your own!"

Anakin didn't listen and started towards the door. Panic filled me. Palpatine may not have succeeded in turning Anakin the first time, but Anakin was still unstable. He was unpredictable. In a flash of pure instinct, I ripped out my blaster and fired a stun blast at him. Anakin collapsed on the floor and Obi-Wan looked at me in total shock.

"It was on stun!"

He stared at me wordlessly, but the same fears in my head had passed through his as well. "Good thinking."

We shared a nod and looked towards Master Yoda who appeared indifferent to what just occurred.

"Destroy the emperor I will," Yoda said to us. "Leave Coruscant you three must."

Obi-Wan wanted to go with Yoda, but Yoda refused. Getting out of the Temple wouldn't be easy, especially with Anakin unconscious. Obi-Wan and I each slung one of Anakin's arms over our shoulders and we hobbled out of the room. The threat of troops spotting us hung over our heads.

"We need to find a quiet exit," Obi-Wan said. "Any ideas?"

I worked out all the ways out of the Temple in my head. There was one way I knew was never very crowded.

"We should head to the Ranger sector," I suggested. "There's not usually much activity down there."

"Very well," Obi-Wan agreed and we quietly made our way there. I glanced at Anakin from time to time, hoping he wouldn't wake up until we got to a ship and off of Coruscant. I wouldn't mind if he stayed passed out a little longer.

As we made it down the corridor that held the Rangers' quarters, my gaze kept drifting back to my own room. I couldn't believe I was really leaving all this behind.

"Do you need a moment?" Obi-Wan looked over and asked me. "I can take Anakin the rest of the way."

"Thank you," I said. "I'll just be one second."

I dashed back down the hall and tapped in the code. The door slid open and I took one last look at the place. This had been my home after a lifetime on Tatooine. I didn't know where I was going next. My eyes fell on the helmet my 212th friends had made and painted for me. A wave of grief washed over me as I thought of how tragically and suddenly those endearing ties were cut. It was all over now.

With a sharp inhale, I grabbed the helmet and dashed outside. I blew through the exit and felt relieved to find no troops out on patrol. A ship sat not too far away and I hurried over. The ramp lowered and I found Obi-Wan sitting in the cockpit. I put down my helmet and the two of us got the ship started, flying quickly off Coruscant.

We made it into open space and Anakin began to stir. His eyes cracked open and he looked left and right, taking in his surroundings. I kept my eyes out the window to avoid seeing Anakin's face when he would ask the question.

"Did you shoot me?"

I was silent for a moment. "I had to."

I heard a sigh behind me and Anakin walked towards the pilot seats. "You guys must be tired from bringing me here. Let me fly-"

"No," Obi-Wan and I cut him off simultaneously.

Anakin sighed in defeat and let his head hang. "I can't stop thinking about Ahsoka. What if... she didn't-"

"Anakin don't say that," Obi-Wan interrupted. "You must have hope."

"Right," Anakin replied absentmindedly. "Well, if both of you made it out, I'm sure Ahsoka did too."

I turned around in my seat to look at his tired face. I sent him a smile. "She has your training. She's going to be okay." I reached out to hold his hand and he smiled lightly.

"Yeah, she'll be okay."

***

We flew for Alderaan. Eventually Senator Organa and Master Yoda had arrived as well. Unfortunately, Yoda hadn't been able to defeat the emperor. We sat in a meeting room in one of the Senator's facilities to discuss what we would do next.

"Until the time is right, disappear we will," Yoda said to us.

The Jedi nodded in understanding. Anakin looked towards Senator Organa.

"Senator, if it is alright with you, Sil and I would like to live here on Alderaan," Anakin asked. "We will keep quiet."

"Of course," the Senator gave his approval. "You are all always welcome here."

We all looked at him gratefully. Senator Organa rose from his seat and gave a nod before leaving the room. Yoda then faced me and Anakin.

"Dangerous it is to raise a family on Alderaan," he said and my face fell. Yoda explained that he had sensed the life, rather, the lives inside me. And the midichlorian count was high.

"Twins," Anakin whispered in disbelief.

"Discover the children the emperor will," Yoda continued. "In grave danger you both are."

Anakin scowled. "We are not going to be separated, and neither will our children."

"Anakin-" Obi-Wan started.

"No!" Anakin refused to hear another word. "I am not abandoning my family. Do not ask that of me."

All was quiet at the table for a moment until Master Yoda broke the silence.

"Very well," he said and looked at all of us. "May the Force be with you."

"Thank you, Master," Anakin replied bowing his head a little.

Yoda and Obi-Wan stepped outside the room to discuss something. Anakin faced me excitedly, the biggest smile covered his face.

"Sil, we're finally going to have our own lives," he said cupping my face. "And twins!" he exclaimed quietly. "I never felt so lucky."

We hugged each other tight and I smiled into his shoulder. My heart was pounding in relief. "Neither have I."

We pulled away and left the room to see Obi-Wan waiting outside.

"Master," Anakin said upon seeing him. "It's been a privilege having you as a teacher. I hope I was a good student."

Obi-Wan broke into a smile and chuckled. "Well, I can't say you were always a good student."

The two laughed quietly. Obi-Wan stepped closer and placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder forcing Anakin to look at him. "But I cherish every minute of it. I am very proud of the Jedi you have become."

A bright smile came onto Anakin's face. "Thank you, Master."

Obi-Wan smiled in response and then looked at me. "It's been an honor having you at my side, Sil. I'm thankful you chose me to be your Jedi."

"So am I, Obi-Wan," I said smiling. "It's been a pleasure." We shared smiles and said our bittersweet goodbyes.

With Organa's help, Anakin and I secured a home for ourselves in a small town in Glarus Lagoons. We headed over and relished in the natural beauty and adored the friendliness of the people who lived there. The house was a nice size. I placed my helmet on a desk and smiled looking at it. The memories that came from it meant everything to me. Outside, petite, blue starflowers blossomed around the house. Life lingered all over the place we would call home.

I wandered around the area on my own for a bit, thinking about how I could open a small restaurant here the way Enzo did. Maybe Anakin would do some mechanic work. A smile fell on my face as I thought about how perfect it would all be.

The sky began to darken and I found my way back home. As I was about to step through the door I heard a voice call my name.

"Sil, come up here," Anakin's voice came from above.

I stepped back and tilted my head up to see Anakin grinning down at me from the roof. "The sunset looks amazing from up here."

A smile fell on my face and I nodded. Anakin held out his hand and summoned the Force to lift me off the ground and place me gently at his side. His arms went around me and I nestled myself into his chest. I looked towards the horizon and the entire landscape was bathed in golden light.

"I can't wait to raise our kids here," Anakin said contentedly.

"It's beautiful here, isn't it?" I said agreeing.

"Not as beautiful as what we have," he answered, turning slightly to look at me. He laced his fingers through mine and held my hand firmly.

Our relationship had been a shot in the dark. It withstood the Code, the secrets, and it survived the war. We made it. Here we were, hand in hand, watching the sun set over the place where our lives would begin.

🧡