Mistaken Identity: Order 66 Part 1 [25k words] (Patreon)

(Not everything is gonna be accurate, kinda hard to with taking such a big jump into the future. Also the force has been changed to fit the narrative, enjoy.)

The valley that housed the Temple of the Path was a place of serenity, hidden far from the galaxy's endless conflicts. The structure itself wasn't a temple in the traditional sense. It wasn't a monument to grandeur or power. Instead, it reflected the beliefs of those who called themselves Travellers. They saw the Force as a vast, infinite path, stretching across the galaxy and into the unknown. To the Travellers, their role was not to control or shape the path, nor to dictate what was right or wrong along the way. Their duty was simpler, yet infinitely complex: to walk it.

The Travellers believed the Force was not a tool or a weapon, as the Jedi and Sith often treated it. Instead, it was an endless flow of life and energy, encompassing light and dark, creation and destruction. They sought to experience the Force in its entirety, embracing all it had to offer without fear or judgment. This belief set them apart from the Jedi Order, who shunned the dark side, and the Sith, who sought to dominate it. The Travellers were neither, and in being neither, they became something entirely their own.

The temple itself embodied their philosophy. It wasn't a fortress or a citadel but a sanctuary that harmonized with the natural world. Carved into the hillside and surrounded by the lush greenery of Naboo, it seemed to grow from the land itself. Waterfalls cascaded from the cliffs above, their streams feeding into crystal-clear pools that reflected the sky. Birds chirped in the canopy, their calls blending with the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. To an outsider, the temple might have seemed unassuming, but to the Travellers, it was perfect.

In the heart of the temple's valley, an open courtyard served as the center of daily life. Stone paths crisscrossed the space, leading to various training grounds, meditation alcoves, and communal areas. It was here that Ahsoka Tano stood, overseeing a group of learners. She had been a Jedi once, but those days were long behind her. Now, as one of the senior members of the Path, she shared her knowledge with those eager to learn.

A dozen learners stood before her, each holding a lightsaber. Some blades glowed blue or green, while others shimmered with more unique hues. A few learners had salvaged their weapons, their hilts mismatched and worn. Others had crafted their sabers here under Ahsoka's guidance, each design as unique as its maker.

Ahsoka ignited her twin lightsabers, their white blades humming softly. "The lightsaber is not just a weapon," she said, her voice steady and clear. "It's an extension of yourself and your connection to the Force. If you treat it like a tool, it will fail you. If you trust it, it will guide you."

She demonstrated a simple sequence of strikes, her movements precise and controlled. The learners mimicked her as best they could, their blades flashing in the sunlight. Some moved with confidence, their training evident. Others struggled, their swings too wide or their footing unsteady.

Ahsoka stepped forward, correcting a young Rodian's grip. "Keep your wrist loose. You're trying to force it. Let the blade flow with you."

The Rodian nodded, adjusting his stance. His next attempt was smoother, and Ahsoka gave him an approving nod before moving on. She worked her way through the group, offering advice and encouragement. Her tone was firm but not harsh; she wanted them to improve, not to fear failure.

As the session continued, the learners began to find their rhythm. The courtyard echoed with the hum of lightsabers and the occasional clash of blades as they practiced dueling techniques. Ahsoka watched them closely, her expression unreadable. These learners weren't Jedi, and they weren't trying to be. They were Travellers, and their path was their own.

A short walk from the courtyard, under the shade of a massive tree, Master Aubrie Wyn sat with another group of learners. Aubrie had a calming presence, her voice carrying a quiet authority that drew people to her. She held a smooth crystal in her hand, its surface glowing faintly with the energy of the Force.

"Healing is not about control," she said, addressing the semicircle of learners around her. "It's about connection. The Force flows through all living things. When you heal, you're not commanding the Force. You're listening to it."

One of the learners, a young Twi'lek girl, raised her hand. "But what if you can't feel it? Sometimes it's... distant."

Aubrie smiled gently. "The Force is never distant. Sometimes we're the ones who create the distance. Close your eyes."

The learners obeyed, their eyes fluttering shut as they focused inward.

"Breathe," Aubrie continued. "Feel the life around you. The tree above us, the grass beneath you, the air you're breathing. The Force connects it all. It connects you."

The Twi'lek's brow furrowed in concentration. Aubrie moved closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't try to force it. Just listen."

A moment passed, and then the Twi'lek's crystal began to glow faintly. Her eyes opened in surprise, and Aubrie's smile widened. "Good. Now hold on to that feeling. Let it grow."

The other learners watched with a mix of curiosity and determination, eager to replicate the success. Aubrie continued to guide them, her calm demeanor reassuring even those who struggled. She moved among the group, offering quiet encouragement and subtle corrections.

Higher up the hillside, in a secluded grove, Master Fay sat in quiet meditation with another group. Fay's presence was serene, almost ethereal. Her silver hair shimmered faintly in the sunlight as she addressed the learners in her soft, melodic voice.

"Balance is the foundation of the Path," she said. "The Force is neither light nor dark. It is both. To deny one is to misunderstand the other."

One of the learners, a Mirialan man, hesitated before asking, "But isn't the dark side dangerous? Shouldn't we avoid it?"

Fay opened her eyes, her gaze steady. "The dark side is dangerous. So is the light, when used recklessly. The Force is not inherently good or evil. It is how we wield it that matters."

She gestured for the learners to close their eyes. "Feel the balance within yourself. Acknowledge the darkness without fear, and the light without arrogance. Both are part of the Force, and both are part of you."

The grove fell silent as the learners meditated, their connection to the Force deepening. Fay's teachings were subtle but profound, guiding them toward an understanding that was uniquely their own. For that was the purpose of those in the path, not to follow any doctrine or teachings, but to walk it and find meaning in their own way. Every single life form is unique, they all have a connection to the force in some way and all will find their own path. As the sun climbed higher, the temple buzzed with life. Children played near the waterfalls, their laughter echoing through the valley. Older learners practiced advanced techniques, their focus unwavering. The Path was not a place of rigid instruction but of exploration, where each Traveller discovered their own way forward.

Near the edge of the valley, where a cascading waterfall fed into a clear pool, Jaden sat alone. The sound of the water was steady and soothing, a constant reminder of the flow of the Force. Eyes closed, he meditated, his mind reaching out to the currents around him. He felt the life of the valley—the learners training, the trees swaying, the fish swimming in the pool below. He felt the energy of the planet itself, vibrant and beautiful. Yet there was something else, distant but familiar. A shadow on the horizon. Vaylin.

Jaden exhaled slowly, his connection to the Force steady but strained. He didn't reach for her, didn't push. He simply let the Force carry his presence outward, a silent beacon of light in the darkness. The sound of footsteps behind him broke his concentration. He opened his eyes to find Ahsoka standing nearby, her arms crossed. "You've been out here all morning," she said. "The learners could use some of your wisdom."

Jaden smirked faintly, his gaze returning to the waterfall. "They have you. That's more than enough."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes but didn't argue. She sat down on a nearby rock, her expression softening. "You're thinking about her again."

Jaden didn't respond immediately. When he did, his voice was quiet. "She's out there. I know it."

"And she'll come back," Ahsoka said firmly. "When she's ready."

"I hope so," Jaden said as he stood slowly, rolling his shoulders as he rose. The sunlight filtering through the trees glinted off the hilt of his lightsaber, hanging from his belt. His simple black robes shifted slightly as he stretched. His shoulder-length black hair, swept back, framed a face marked by faint stubble.

Footsteps crunched softly on the path behind him, drawing his attention. He turned, and his gaze softened when he saw Ahsoka approaching. She crossed her arms, a faint smirk playing on her lips as she watched him. Her blue-and-white lekku rested on her shoulders, moving slightly with each step. She wore practical tunic and pants that clung to her athletic frame. Her orange skin glowed in the sunlight, her toned arms folded over her chest as her piercing blue eyes locked onto his.

"Are you going to just stand there," she said, tilting her head, "or will you come kiss your wife?"

Jaden raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smile. "When you ask so nicely, how can I refuse?"

He closed the distance between them in a few strides, stopping just short of her. He reached out, his hands cupping her face as he leaned in. Their lips met, soft and warm, the kiss unhurried yet intimate. Ahsoka's hands moved to his shoulders, gripping lightly as she leaned into him. She smelled faintly of the valley's wildflowers, a scent that mixed with the clean air around them. When they pulled apart, she stayed close, her fingers brushing his jawline.

"Yuck," she teased, her voice quiet but playful.

Jaden chuckled. "Don't like it? Should I shave?"

She shrugged, her lips twitching into a grin. "I think I can get used to it."

Before he could respond, she pulled him back in for another kiss. This one was deeper, her fingers slipping to the back of his neck as she tilted her head. Jaden responded in kind, his arms dropping to her waist as the kiss lingered. Her lips were soft, and the faint press of her body against his sent warmth coursing through him. When they finally broke apart, her cheeks were faintly flushed, and Jaden couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"Come on," he said, taking her hand. "Let's walk."

They followed a narrow path that wound through the temple's gardens and orchards. The air was filled with the faint hum of activity in the distance—lightsabers clashing, voices calling out in training exercises, and the gentle rustle of the wind through the trees. Jaden stopped beneath a tall tree with golden fruit hanging from its branches. He reached up, plucking one and handing it to Ahsoka.

"Delarune fruit," he said. "Remember we brought the saplings back from the Unknown Regions. They don't grow anywhere else now."

Ahsoka bit into the fruit, her lips curving into a soft smile as the sweet juice ran over her tongue. "I missed this," she said, her voice quieter now.

"The fruit?" Jaden asked with a smirk.

She glanced at him. "The fruit. You. Everything."

They walked on, the silence between them comfortable. Ahsoka finished the fruit, wiping her hands on her pants as she glanced over at him. "So, what was so important that you had to disturb my meditation?"

Jaden turned his head, raising an eyebrow. "Meditation?"

"Yes, meditation," he said firmly.

"You were napping," she teased, her lips curving into a sly smile.

Jaden cleared his throat, his voice steady but slightly defensive. "I was meditating. The Force requires focus and... stillness."

"Stillness, huh?" Ahsoka laughed softly. "You were snoring."

He sighed, shaking his head. "What makes you disturb my meditation, then?"

Her laughter softened, and she stepped closer, leaning against him as her lekku brushed his arm. "I've missed you," she said softly. "We've all been so busy lately. Sometimes, I wish we could go back to the old days. Just us, on the Voyager."

Jaden rested his chin on her head, his arms wrapping around her shoulders. "It was simpler then. Just us, figuring things out as we went."

She nodded, the weight of her words hanging between them. After a moment, she pulled back slightly, her hands lingering on his chest. "There's something I need to tell you," she said.

He frowned. "What is it?"

"There's been an issue with recruitment."

Jaden sighed. "We don't recruit, Ahsoka. People are free to come and go as they please."

"I know," she said, her tone patient. "But others don't see it that way. There's a delegation from the Jedi Temple here."

Jaden's jaw tightened, and he looked past her toward the temple grounds. "Padmé didn't send them away?"

Ahsoka crossed her arms. "She tried. But they're not leaving. You know how the Jedi are."

Jaden exhaled slowly, his thoughts turning to the last three years. Naboo had left the Republic, reverting to its old monarchy with Padmé as Queen. Since then, the Temple of the Path had grown, becoming a sanctuary for Force-sensitives of all kinds. Some had left the Jedi Order, disillusioned by its rigid dogma. Others were untrained, seeking guidance and understanding of their abilities. They all found a home here.

But the Republic and the Jedi Council hadn't taken kindly to the temple's success. At first, the Republic had tried to blockade Naboo, cutting off food and supplies. The plan might have worked, had Jaden not shared technology with Naboo—under the strict condition it never left the planet. Among these technologies was an advanced molecular synthesizer, capable of replicating nearly anything. With it, Naboo had become self-sufficient, rendering the blockade meaningless.

When isolation failed, the Republic had considered more forceful measures. But any thoughts of military action vanished the moment they encountered the Revenant. Twice the size of any Republic warship, the Revenant was both a warship and a mobile research station. Constructed with remnants of a Star Forge discovered in the Unknown Regions, it was a symbol of power and independence that neither the Republic nor the Jedi could ignore.

Jaden's gaze returned to Ahsoka. "So, the Jedi sent a delegation. I'm guessing they're here to remind us of our so-called responsibilities?"

Ahsoka smirked faintly, tapping his chest. "Come on, Grandmaster. Time to meet your guests."

"I don't want to," Jaden said, his tone dipping into a rare whine.

Ahsoka raised both eyebrows, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. She leaned in close, lowering her voice. What she whispered into his ear made him blink, his expression shifting to one of quiet surprise.

"Fine," he said simply. "Let's go."

Ahsoka laughed, falling into step beside him. "I knew that would work."

As they walked back toward the temple, Jaden's thoughts lingered on the visitors. Whatever the Jedi wanted, they wouldn't change the Path's principles. People came here for freedom, not to trade one set of chains for another.

"Let's get this over with," Jaden muttered. Ahsoka smiled, her hand brushing his briefly.

His gaze lingered on the temple grounds around them. A faint smile touched his lips. This wasn't the dream he'd started with, but it was better in so many ways. He wouldn't trade it for anything. The Path had grown into something far greater than he ever imagined, a sanctuary and a beacon for those who needed it most.

His thoughts drifted as they walked. He remembered the day he first proposed the idea to Padmé. She'd been Queen Amidala then, though the title carried less weight than the burden she felt. The Republic had worn her down—years of bureaucracy, corruption, and endless cries for help she couldn't answer. She had watched trillions suffer, their pleas drowned out by political infighting and selfish agendas. Many senators, like her, had cared. But too many had turned a blind eye, content to let the war rage as long as their income remained untouched.

Jaden had seen it for what it was long before then. The Republic wasn't worth saving. Its collapse was inevitable, and when it fell, it would take countless lives with it. That was why he'd proposed the idea: Naboo would leave the Republic, and together they would build something better. Padmé had hesitated at first, torn between her ideals and the reality of what the Republic had become. In the end, though, her conscience won out.

Years later, Naboo had not only survived but thrived. The planet now had its own fleet, constantly dispatched on humanitarian missions to distant worlds the Republic had long abandoned. It wasn't just Naboo's people who had prospered. Refugees, wanderers, and Force sensitives from across the galaxy had found their way here. Some sought knowledge, others safety. Many came to heal, especially Jedi haunted by the horrors of war.

They walked in comfortable silence for a while, passing groups of learners and Travellers. Some paused to greet Jaden, offering nods or murmuring, "Master." He responded with small nods, acknowledging them without breaking stride. A young girl sprinted past, laughing as a small training droid hovered close behind, beeping indignantly. Jaden chuckled, shaking his head.

As they rounded a bend, a familiar figure came into view. Aubrie Wyn stood near a stone bench, her brown hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders. She wore simple robes like the others, though the way they clung to her frame left little to the imagination. Her bright green eyes lit up as she saw them, and she stepped forward with an easy grace.

"Well, look who it is," she said, her voice warm. "I thought you were meditating."

Jaden smirked. "I was."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "He was napping."

"I was meditating," Jaden repeated, his tone firm.

Aubrie stopped in front of him, her smile widening. "Sure you were." Without another word, she stepped closer and kissed him, her lips pressing against his with a soft hum. Her hands slid up to his shoulders, pulling him closer for a moment before she leaned back.

Jaden smiled down at her. "Miss me?"

"Always," Aubrie said, resting her hands lightly on his chest. She glanced over at Ahsoka, cupping her face gently. "Is he going to the palace?"

"Finally," Ahsoka replied, her smirk unmistakable.

"I'm not that bad," Jaden muttered.

"Yes, you are," they said in unison, their tones perfectly matched.

Jaden sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. "I'm going."

Aubrie laughed softly, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "I'll see you tonight," she said.

"See you later," Jaden replied, his voice softer now.

As he and Ahsoka left the temple grounds, he glanced back over his shoulder one last time. The sight of the temple filled him with a quiet sense of pride. It wasn't just a building. It was a home. For all of them.

Ahsoka broke the silence. "You really should get there as fast as possible."

Jaden glanced at her. "Why? We can walk. It's a nice day."

"Jaden," she said, her tone sharp, "don't start."

He held up his hands. "Fine, fine."

As they continued down the path, Ahsoka suddenly stopped, her body tensing. Her lekku twitched, and she shivered, her expression turning serious. Jaden seeing her change in expression turned to her. "What is it?" Jaden asked, his voice low.

"That," she said, gesturing vaguely. The air around them felt heavier, charged with power she rarely experienced. The Force seemed to bend, concentrating around him. She swallowed, steadying herself. "Every time you do this... it still gets me."

Jaden exhaled, his focus narrowing. He didn't reply, and Ahsoka didn't expect him to. She had seen him do this before—felt him do this before—but it never stopped being awe-inspiring. In all her time as a Jedi, she had never seen anyone who could manipulate the Force this way. Teleportation wasn't just rare—it was almost unheard of. Yet Jaden didn't hesitate, didn't falter. He just... disappeared. The air snapped around her, a sharp crack as the energy released. One moment, he was walking beside her, and the next, he was gone. The ripple in the Force lingered, pressing against her senses before fading into stillness. She stood there for a moment, exhaling slowly.

"Show-off," she muttered to herself, shaking her head as she turned back toward the temple.

Jaden reappeared inside Padmé's chambers, the transition instant and seamless. The room was quiet, lit by the soft glow of Naboo's sun filtering through the arched windows. Padmé stood near her desk, reviewing something on a datapad. She didn't flinch at his sudden arrival. Instead, she looked up, her lips curling into a faint smile.

"You could use the door like everyone else," she said, setting the datapad aside.

Jaden crossed the room in a few steps, his presence steady, grounding. "That would've taken longer."

Padmé tilted her head, her smile softening. "Always in a hurry."

"Not always," Jaden said, his tone lighter now. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his gaze meeting hers. "Ahsoka said there's a delegation from the Jedi here."

Her expression shifted, the warmth fading slightly as a shadow of concern crossed her face. "Yes. They've been... persistent."

"Of course, they have," Jaden muttered. "They don't like what we're doing here."

Padmé sighed, resting a hand over his. "It's not just about the Path, Jaden. It's Naboo's independence. They can't control us, and it bothers them."

Jaden exhaled through his nose, rubbing the bridge of it briefly before lowering his hand. He gazed at Padmé, his frustration with the Jedi delegation momentarily fading. A slow, predatory smile spread across his lips. "I'll deal with the Jedi later. Something else demands my attention."

Padmé turned from her desk, arching an eyebrow. "Oh? And what is that, pray tell?"

His gaze swept over her, drinking her in. Years had passed since their first meeting, yet she hadn't aged a day. Her long, chocolate-brown hair cascaded in soft curls down her back, framing a face he never tired of looking at. But it wasn't just her face—it was the way she carried herself, the elegance that never wavered, even in the privacy of her chambers. Though he wouldn't lie; the fact she had one of the sexiest bodies he'd ever seen certainly helped. She wore a casual dress today, though it did little to hide the shape of her body. His eyes drifted lower. The neckline dipped just enough to make his throat dry, revealing the swell of her breasts, and the way the fabric hugged her curves, straining slightly against her chest, only made things worse.

There was no reality where he wouldn't immediately feel his blood rush south at the sight of her.

"I fear I may have neglected my wife," he murmured, stepping closer. "She seems starved for attention."

Padmé's lips twitched. "Is that so?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he reached for her, his hands sliding around her waist, pulling her against him. Her body was warm, soft in all the ways he knew too well. His fingers curled slightly at her back, holding her firm, pressing her against the solid warmth of his own body. She let out a quiet breath as his lips found hers, claiming them. The first kiss was teasing, a brush of lips before he deepened it, tilting his head to press harder against her. Padmé tasted sweet, faint traces of the tea she'd likely been drinking earlier lingering on her lips. The sensation sent a slow heat curling through his chest, settling deep in his stomach, igniting a fire in his loins. Her hands pressed lightly against his chest, but she didn't push him away. If anything, she leaned closer, her fingers sliding up to grip at the fabric of his robes.

Between kisses, she tried to speak. "Jaden, the delegation—"

He swallowed the rest of her words with another kiss, his hand sliding up her spine. She made a faint sound against his mouth, somewhere between exasperation and a moan. Her body softened, her resistance slipping as he tilted her back slightly, forcing her to rely on him for balance. Her lips parted, allowing him to deepen the kiss further, their tongues brushing as heat sparked between them. He could feel the way her breath hitched, the way her body reacted as he drew her closer still, his erection now evident against her.

Padmé tried again, her voice softer now. "We have to—"

Jaden cut her off, pulling back just enough to meet her gaze. Her brown eyes were slightly dazed, her lips parted, swollen from his kisses.

"They can wait," he said simply.

Padmé inhaled, as if trying to summon a response. But when he scooped her up and carried her the short distance to the bed, she didn't protest. He tossed her onto the soft sheets, and she let out a breathless laugh, though there was no mistaking the warmth and desire in her gaze as she looked up at him.

"Jaden—"

He crawled over her, capturing her lips again before she could finish whatever weak protest she was about to make. She melted beneath him, her arms wrapping around his shoulders as she surrendered fully, her body molding to his, her legs parting to allow him closer as their kisses grew more heated, more desperate. His hands roamed, one sliding up to cup her breast through the fabric, thumb brushing over her hardening nipple, while the other traced down to her thigh, pulling her dress higher. Jaden's kisses trailed down Padmé's neck, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. His hands, impatient and eager, pushed her dress up, revealing her slender, toned legs. She wore nothing underneath, her skin smooth and slightly flushed with desire. His eyes drank in the sight of her; the delicate, pinkish folds of her vagina glistened with arousal, the small, sensitive clit peeking out just slightly, begging for attention.

He moved lower, his lips brushing against her stomach, his tongue tracing a line down to her navel, making her squirm with anticipation. Padmé's breath hitched when his breath ghosted over her sex, the heat of it making her arch into him.

When Jaden's tongue finally made contact, it was with a deliberate, slow lick from her entrance up to her clit, tasting her sweet yet musky essence. Her taste was like nothing else, a mix of her unique scent and the saltiness of her excitement. The smell was intoxicating, a primal perfume that drove him wild. He moaned against her, the vibration adding another layer of sensation.

Padmé gasped, her fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer. "Jaden, oh... that feels so good," she breathed out, her voice a mix of awe and need. His tongue danced around her clit, circling, flicking, then diving lower to lap at her entrance, savoring every drop. Each movement sent waves of pleasure through her, making her moan louder, her hips bucking against his face.

He varied his technique, sometimes flat and broad, other times pointed and precise, focusing on her clit in a way that made her thighs tremble. Her moans filled the room, each one more desperate than the last. "Yes, there... right there," she pleaded, her voice thick with lust.

The sounds she made, the way her body responded, spurred him on. He could feel her getting wetter, her scent growing stronger, her taste more potent. His hands gripped her thighs, spreading her wider for better access, his tongue relentless in its mission.

Padmé's moans turned to cries, her body tensing as the pleasure built to an unbearable peak. "Jaden, I'm... I'm so close," she managed to say between gasps. His tongue now focused solely on her clit, moving in quick, sharp motions.

Then it hit her, an explosive orgasm that seemed to start at her core and radiate out in shockwaves. Her back arched off the bed, her cries echoing through the chamber as her body convulsed. "Oh, please, Jaden, please, I need you inside me," she begged, her voice cracking with the intensity of her release. Her legs shook, her nails digging into his scalp as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her.

Jaden didn't stop immediately, drawing out her orgasm with gentle, soothing licks, prolonging the ecstasy until she was whimpering, her body sensitive and spent. He looked up at her, his face wet with her, a grin of satisfaction on his lips.

"Please, Jaden," she whispered, her breath ragged, her eyes pleading as she pulled him up towards her. "I need you... inside me... now." Her words were a desperate, needy command, her body still trembling from the aftershocks of her climax.

Jaden's fingers worked quickly at the fastenings of his trousers, the urgency of their shared need palpable in the air. He pushed them down, his cock springing free, hard and eager, the tip already glistening with pre-cum. The sight of him only heightened Padmé's arousal, her eyes locked on him with a hunger that matched his own.

Without further delay, he positioned himself at her entrance, the head of his cock brushing against her wet, sensitive folds. He watched as she bit her lip in anticipation, her body lifting to meet him. With one smooth motion, he pushed inside her, a groan escaping his lips at the sensation of her tight, warm walls enveloping him.

From Padmé's perspective, it was like being filled with fire and silk all at once. The stretch was delicious, a perfect blend of pleasure and pressure. "Oh, Jaden, yes," she moaned, her voice a melody of longing fulfilled. The sensation of him sliding in, the way he filled her completely, made her feel whole, connected in a way nothing else could.

Jaden felt the exquisite warmth of her, the way her body seemed to mold around him, squeezing him with each thrust. Every movement was a dance of shared pleasure, their bodies speaking in a language of moans and gasps. "You're so tight, Padmé," he breathed out, his voice strained with pleasure.

Their rhythm was frantic, passionate, each thrust deep and claiming. Padmé's hands roamed over his back, nails digging in slightly, urging him on. "I've missed this so much, Jaden," she whispered, her voice breaking with each powerful thrust. "Missed feeling you like this."

He responded by kissing her deeply, their tongues clashing in a dance as old as time, while his hips kept a relentless pace. Her moans grew louder, more desperate, as he hit that spot inside her that made stars dance behind her closed eyes. "Oh, gods, right there... don't stop," she pleaded, her legs wrapping tighter around his waist, pulling him even deeper.

The feel of her, the sounds she made, the way her body responded to his every move, drove Jaden closer to the edge. His breath was heavy, his control slipping with each passing second. Then, as he felt the familiar tightening in his core, Padmé's voice cut through the haze of pleasure. "Jaden, I didn't renew my implant," she gasped out between moans, her words sending a jolt through him. The implication was clear; she was fertile, unprotected.

Instead of slowing, Jaden's response was to kiss her hard, a silent agreement, a promise of something raw and primal. His thrusts became even more fervent, driven by the knowledge that this could lead to something beyond just their shared ecstasy.

Padmé felt the change in his movements, the intensity ramping up, and it sent her spiraling towards another climax. "Yes, Jaden, harder," she screamed, her voice rising to a crescendo of pleasure. The idea of him possibly planting life within her while buried deep inside, it was too much, too perfect. As Jaden neared his peak, the sensations overwhelmed him. He could feel every inch of her, the way her body milked him, her walls contracting around him as she came again, her legs tightening around him, locking him in place. His orgasm was a release of everything built up inside him, his cock pulsing as he came, filling her with long, hot spurts.

Padmé felt the warmth, the flood of his cum inside her, and it was like nothing else. "Oh, yes, fill me up," she moaned, feeling each throb of his cock, each wave of his seed. The sensation was overwhelming, a mix of satisfaction and a deep, primal joy at the thought of what this might mean. "I love how you feel when you release in me," she confessed, her voice thick with ecstasy, her body still trembling with aftershocks of her own pleasure. Jaden's movements slowed, but he stayed inside her, both of them basking in the aftermath.

...

The morning light spilled into Padmé's chambers, bright and irritating. Jaden was flat on his back, Padmé's nude body pressed tightly against his, her arm draped over his chest. Her skin felt warm against his, her breathing steady and deep as she slept, still clinging to him. His thoughts were filled with the memories of last night - the sex, the moans, her lips tracing his skin, how she had moaned his name when she climaxed. A sharp knock at the door cut through the quiet. Jaden opened his eyes, exhaling. He moved carefully, trying not to disturb her as he slid out from under her arm. Padmé made a soft sound of protest in her sleep but didn't wake as he eased out of bed.

Another knock, a little louder.

Jaden pulled on his pants and ran a hand through his hair as he walked over to the door. He opened it to find Sabé standing there, her arms crossed, a look of irritation already set on her face.

"Hello," Jaden greeted her with a wide smile.

"Don't hello me," she said, pushing past him without waiting for an invitation.

Jaden didn't need the Force to tell she was annoyed and it didn't take a genius to figure out why.

"Something wrong?" he asked casually, shutting the door behind her. "Has Luke been rowdy? Did you catch Leia at the temple again?"

Sabé turned sharply, her glare sharp enough to cut through durasteel. "You know damn well what's wrong."

Jaden shrugged, his expression one of mock innocence. "I really don't."

"Don't give me that," she snapped, turning to yank open the curtains, flooding the room with light. "The Republic delegation has been awful. A bunch of self-important bureaucrats whining like children because they can't throw their weight around here. The Jedi delegation isn't much better."

The sudden light stirred Padmé awake. She let out a quiet groan, shifting as she propped herself up on one elbow, her hair slightly messy from sleep. "Sabé, do you have to do that?"

Sabé shot her a look. "Yes. Because someone needs to actually deal with this mess."

Jaden smirked, leaning against the wall. "I thought you'd be glad to see the Jedi delegate."

Sabé froze for half a second, her face heating before she turned away, busying herself with adjusting the already perfectly straight curtain. "I'm taking a long break."

"A romantic break?" Padmé teased, smirking as she sat up, pushing the blanket off her body, making no effort to cover herself.

Sabé groaned, looking anywhere but at her. "Ugh." She then pointed directly at Padmé. "You're looking after Luke and Leia."

Padmé held up her hands in surrender, clearly amused. "I'll do it. Go enjoy your time with Anakin." Then she turned to Jaden, pointing at him. "And you."

Jaden sighed dramatically. "I know. Do my work."

Sabé huffed, satisfied, and turned toward the door. Jaden ran a hand down his face before grabbing his shirt from the floor, pulling it over his head. He adjusted his robes quickly before stepping back toward the bed, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to Padmé's lips.

"I'll see you later," he murmured.

She hummed against his lips before pulling back slightly. "Go deal with the Jedi."

Jaden sighed but nodded, following Sabé out of the room. The moment they stepped into the hallway, she shot him a glare.

"You're annoying."

He smirked. "And yet, here you are, waking me up first thing in the morning."

She rolled her eyes. "Shut up and walk."

Jaden chuckled, adjusting his robes as they headed toward the meeting chamber. Once he'd reached the open doors he could feel the tension coming from within. Naboo's finest advisors and ambassadors sat in discussion with the Republic delegation, voices already raised in heated debate. Jaden stepped inside quietly, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials. What he hadn't expected was to see the Supreme Chancellor himself. Palpatine sat at the central table, his expression patient, almost amused as he listened to the argument unfolding before him. His presence was a statement in itself—this wasn't just another political meeting. The Republic was desperate.

Sabé, still wearing the guise of Queen Amidala, walked confidently toward the front, only to realize Jaden was no longer following her. She turned sharply, her sigh of frustration nearly loud enough to carry through the room. Jaden chuckled quietly, leaning against one of the large support pillars near the entrance, arms crossed. He had no intention of rushing to the center of this mess just yet.

Sabé shook her head and turned back just as the voices of the Republic and Naboo officials escalated.

"This is not just our fight!" a Republic delegate snapped, slamming a hand down on the table. "Naboo exists within Republic space. You are obligated to support the war effort."

A Naboo advisor, a middle-aged man with graying hair and a weary expression, didn't back down. "We ceased being a member of the Republic three years ago. You have no claim to us."

"This war affects you as much as it affects us. You may call yourselves independent, but the Separatists will not respect your so-called sovereignty."

"Then let them come," the advisor countered. "We are not defenseless. Naboo and our protectorates are not the easy prey you take us for."

Another Republic official stood. "The Separatists have gained a foothold in the Mid Rim. If we lose those systems, it will not be long before the war reaches your doorstep."

"That is your war, not ours."

The tension was boiling over. More officials jumped in, some trying to support Naboo's stance, others pressing for compliance. Their voices overlapped, growing louder and more heated.

Sabé, already exhausted with the bickering, finally slammed her hands onto the table. "Enough!"

The room fell into momentary silence.

She took a breath, straightening. "Naboo and its protectorates are independent. We have no interest in this war. We refuse to send our people to die in a conflict that should have never started."

"You think we wanted this war?" one of the Republic representatives snapped. "We've been fighting for ten years. We are all weary and wish for it to end."

"Then negotiate with them," Sabé said flatly.

The response was instant outrage. Voices clashed again, the Republic delegates listing every reason why peace with the Separatists was impossible.

"They're murderers!"

"They've slaughtered entire worlds!"

"They bombed Humbarine and let its people starve!"

"You expect us to make peace with tyrants?"

Sabé's eyes burned with frustration. "This situation is of your own making," she said coldly. "You act as if Count Dooku alone is responsible for this war, but you're wrong. Go to the Outer Rim. Go to the Mid Rim. You'll find entire worlds that wanted nothing more than to be free of the Senate's corruption. You forced them out. Your greed, your failure to care for your own people, led them to take up arms. If you truly wanted peace, you would have listened to them before it ever came to this."

There was silence. The delegates didn't like hearing the truth, but no one could deny it.

Before any of them could retort, the Chancellor spoke.

Palpatine leaned forward, his hands folded neatly in front of him, his tone quiet, almost pleasant. "Queen Amidala—" he let the title hang just long enough to be deliberate, and Sabé caught the implication "—your perspective is... enlightening. But surely you cannot believe that the Republic should simply surrender to the demands of traitors."

"Perhaps if you had spoken to them before the war began, they wouldn't have been traitors," she countered.

Palpatine chuckled softly. "Ah, what a world it would be, if hindsight dictated all our decisions. But here we are." He tilted his head slightly. "Regardless of our disagreements, I do not come only to discuss war. You say Naboo is neutral, and yet, surely you do not wish for innocent people to suffer."

Sabé stiffened. "Of course not."

Palpatine nodded. "Then perhaps we might discuss aid. There are worlds suffering from food shortages, millions of people starving. Surely, for all your criticisms of the Republic, you will not deny those in need?"

Jaden could feel the shift in Sabé's presence. The anger was still there, but now she was boxed in. Palpatine had twisted her argument back on her, and there was no real way to deny it.

She inhaled slowly. "Negotiations can be made."

Palpatine's smile widened slightly. "Excellent."

And just like that, the tension in the room shifted. The Republic officials seemed pleased with this small victory. But Jaden wasn't fooled. This was only the first move in a much larger game.

Palpatine shifted slightly, his attention turning. "But there is... another matter."

The Jedi stepped forward.

Jaden had sensed them from the moment he entered the hall, though he'd ignored them. Now, they moved into the center of the discussion. Master Eeth Koth led them, his broad form tense with restrained energy. He was a strong Jedi, but stubborn and volatile when it came to matters of belief. Beside him, Master Adi Gallia's presence was quieter, but no less rigid—she carried herself like someone afraid of what she had come to witness.

Jedi Knight Aayla Secura stood just behind them, her blue skin vibrant against her robes, her expression carefully neutral. There were others, a small group of Padawans who stood in the background, silent. But Jaden knew there was another.

The Grandmaster was here. He could feel it.

It didn't matter.

Koth wasted no time. "This Path you've built—it's a training ground for future Sith."

Sabé lifted her chin, unfazed. "That's a bold accusation, Master Jedi."

"It's not an accusation," Koth shot back. "It's a fact. The Path does not adhere to the Jedi Code. You do not denounce the dark side, and that alone makes your people a danger."

Sabé's patience was running thin. "The Path is not an army. It is not a cult. It is a place of learning, of balance."

"A fool's excuse," Koth said, his voice laced with disdain. "You are not Force-sensitive. You have no knowledge of the dangers your people meddle in."

Sabé's expression hardened, but before she could respond, Koth turned his head slightly, his tone sharp. "Where is your Grandmaster?" He didn't even try to mask the mockery in his voice. "It is an insult that he is not here."

"He's right here," Jaden said.

The room stilled as he stepped forward, away from the pillar where he had been leaning.

Koth turned fully, eyes narrowing. "Hiding in the back?"

Jaden smirked. "Observing."

Jaden stepped forward without hurry, his boots tapping lightly against the polished floor as he made his way to the front of the room. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut, and he could feel the eyes of nearly every Republic official and Jedi in the room settle on him. He didn't rush. Didn't acknowledge them yet. He just pulled out a chair beside Sabé and sat down.

Master Eeth Koth scoffed, shaking his head as Jaden leaned back in his chair, appearing completely at ease. "So, the King of Naboo finally graces us with his presence."

Jaden exhaled through his nose, folding his hands in front of him. He didn't react beyond that, and Koth didn't like it.

"Nothing to say?" Koth continued, voice laced with thinly veiled disdain. "Or is it beneath you to speak to us?"

Jaden remained silent, watching, waiting.

Sabé, to her credit, remained composed, though he could see the slight twitch in her fingers where they rested against the table. She wanted to jump in, but she knew better. This wasn't her fight, not directly.

Koth's patience began to wear thin. "Explain yourself."

Jaden tilted his head slightly. "About what?"

"The Path," Koth snapped. "You sit here on Naboo, gathering Force sensitives outside the authority of the Jedi Order. You do not renounce the dark side. You allow its influence to exist unchecked." He leaned forward, eyes hard. "That is dangerous. Reckless. Irresponsible."

Jaden nodded slowly, absorbing the words as if he were truly considering them. Then he met Koth's gaze and spoke evenly.

"And yet, in all the time the Path has existed, no war has come to Naboo. No dark lords have risen from our ranks. No conflict has spilled from our teachings." His voice didn't rise, didn't shift. It was calm and uncaring. "We exist. That is all."

Koth's expression darkened. "For now."

Jaden leaned back again, exhaling slowly. "What is it you fear, Master Koth?"

Koth scoffed. "You act as if you don't know."

"I want to hear it from you."

Koth's jaw tightened, but Jaden could see it now. The cracks in his anger. The uncertainty beneath the outrage.

"You are a blind man walking a narrow path," Koth said finally. "You think because you have balance that others will. That is not how the Force works. The dark side is not an idea. It is not merely another perspective. It is a corruption. A poison."

Jaden studied him for a moment. "That is your view."

"It is the truth."

Jaden sighed, shaking his head slightly. "Truth is a matter of experience, Master Koth." He gestured around the room. "You sit here and lecture me about danger, but the Jedi Order has been at war for ten years. A war you were dragged into because you refused to see the rot growing in the Republic."

Koth's eyes flared with anger, but before he could speak, Jaden continued.

"You talk about corruption, about poison, but what of your own Order? How many Jedi have fallen to war? How many have lost themselves in battle, in anger? You speak of the dark side like it is something separate, something distant. But it exists within your ranks as well." He let the words sink in, watching the reactions across the table. "You refuse to acknowledge it because you fear what it says about yourselves."

Silence settled over the room, heavy and unyielding. Koth's hands curled into fists, and for a moment, Jaden thought he might lash out. But then, a voice cut through the tension.

"That is enough," Master Adi Gallia said, her tone sharp, but there was unease in her eyes. Fear.

Jaden met her gaze. "Is it?"

She hesitated.

Koth stood abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. "You mock us."

"I do not," Jaden said simply. "I only offer perspective. One you don't wish to hear."

Koth's lips pressed into a thin line. "This... Path of yours will lead to ruin. And when it does, the Republic will not stand by and watch."

Jaden smiled faintly. "I wouldn't expect you to."

Koth's expression hardened, but before he could push further, a new voice entered the conversation.

"I think we're getting ahead of ourselves."

Aayla Secura leaned forward, her hands clasped in front of her. Unlike the others, she wasn't radiating frustration or hostility. If anything, she looked... thoughtful.

"We came here to speak. To understand. Perhaps we should allow Grandmaster Jaden the chance to properly explain his perspective before we decide his fate."

Jaden laughed. A genuine, amused chuckle as if Aayla had just said something truly ridiculous. The sound cut through the tense atmosphere, and it was enough to make Master Koth bristle, his fingers curling against the table's edge.

"You think this is funny?" Koth snapped.

Jaden leaned back in his chair, smirking slightly. "You talk about deciding my fate, like you have the power to do so." He shook his head. "The Jedi have no power here."

Koth's glare darkened, but Jaden continued before he could interrupt.

"Long are the days gone when you were peacekeepers. Now, you're nothing more than tools of war. Weapons wielded by a crumbling Republic, striking at enemies you created yourselves." His gaze flicked between Koth and Adi Gallia. "Even you two—Masters of the Council—have fought in this war so long that the dark side you claim to fear has seeped into you unchecked."

Koth's fists clenched, and Adi Gallia shifted uncomfortably, but neither interrupted.

Jaden turned to Koth first. "You let anger bubble beneath the surface, hidden under your sense of duty, your so-called discipline. You think you have control, but one day, it will consume you. And when it does, you'll justify it—because it'll be for the greater good. Because you're too arrogant to believe yourself capable of falling."

Koth's jaw tightened, but Jaden was already turning his gaze to Adi Gallia.

"And you," he said, voice steady. "Your fear will be your undoing."

She inhaled sharply, but he didn't stop.

"Unchecked usage of the dark or the light is dangerous. You tell yourselves the dark side corrupts, that the light must be held above all else, but until you recognize the darkness within yourselves, until you learn to balance it, you'll become what you fear the most."

Outrage erupted instantly.

The Republic officials began shouting, some slamming their hands on the table. The Jedi bristled, and Koth stood so fast his chair nearly toppled over.

"How dare you speak to us this way!"

"The Jedi have fought and died for this Republic, and you dare accuse us?"

"You lecture us on darkness when you harbor Force-users outside the Order?"

The Republic delegates weren't silent either.

"Naboo may have its independence, but your protectorates do not!"

"You think you're untouchable because of that dreadnought you keep in orbit? You think the Republic will tolerate this arrogance forever?"

The words barely left the delegate's mouth before Sabé shot up from her seat, slamming her hands on the table.

"Is that a threat?" she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.

The official didn't back down. "We're merely stating reality. Naboo is not the only world that matters, and if your Path continues to grow unchecked, you will face consequences."

Sabé was seething, ready to tear into them, but before she could, the room shifted.

A shiver ran down her spine as Jaden stood.

The air became thick—heavy. A weight pressed down on the chamber, sudden and suffocating. It wasn't just the shift in atmosphere, it was him. His power flooded the room, pressing against them like an invisible force, seeping into every corner of the space.

The shouting ceased instantly.

The Republic delegates, the Naboo officials, even the guards at the door—all of them stiffened, their breaths caught in their throats. Some of them gripped the table, their legs trembling under the weight of something they couldn't comprehend.

The Jedi fared little better.

Even Koth—stubborn, volatile Koth—struggled to remain standing, his muscles locking as an unseen force was holding him in place. Adi Gallia's breath hitched, her hands clenching against the armrests of her chair. The Padawans in the room visibly struggled, beads of sweat forming on their brows as they tried to withstand the invisible pressure bearing down on them.

Palpatine smiled.

Jaden's expression hadn't changed. His eyes remained steady, his posture relaxed. He hadn't moved, and yet his presence alone had forced the entire room into submission.

"If you ever move against my home," Jaden said, his voice calm, quiet—but so much worse because of it. "If you ever threaten the people under my protection, there will be no place in this galaxy where you will be safe."

The pressure increased. The air grew heavier. One of the Republic delegates, already on the verge of collapse, gasped as his knees nearly buckled.

Jaden didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.

"You call yourselves peacekeepers, but you bring only war." His gaze flicked to Koth, who stood frozen, his body rigid with effort. "You call yourselves protectors, but you only protect what serves your interests."

He let the words settle. Let them feel what he was.

Then, just as suddenly as it had come, the weight lifted.

The room exhaled in one collective breath as the pressure vanished. Some of the delegates nearly collapsed back into their seats, others shook as they struggled to regain composure. The Jedi, too, were visibly rattled.

But no one spoke.

No one dared to speak.

Jaden sat back down, folding his hands in front of him. "Naboo will not take part in this war," Jaden said, his tone final. "The Path will not allow the Jedi to take any of its members against their will. This is my decision, and it is final."

Eeth Koth's face darkened, his breathing growing heavier. His anger swelled, barely restrained. His fingers twitched, his body tensing as frustration took hold.

Then, his hand moved.

He reached for his lightsaber, his fingers closing around the hilt—

And stopped.

His arm locked in place. His muscles strained, but his hand wouldn't move, as if frozen in time. Confusion flickered across his face, quickly drowned by more anger. His teeth clenched, and his breath came sharp and uneven as he fought against whatever unseen force held him in place.

"Master Gallia, take Master Koth away to calm down."

The voice came from the back of the hall.

Every head turned.

The Republic officials. The Naboo advisors. The Jedi.

The crowd slowly parted as a cloaked figure stepped forward, his pace unhurried. No one spoke, but the air in the room changed, an unease settling over them. The figure moved with the weight of authority, the kind that needed no announcement.

"Yes, Grandmaster," Adi Gallia said immediately. She placed a firm hand on Koth's shoulder, urging him back.

Koth's jaw tightened, his fists shaking at his sides, but he obeyed.

The cloaked man continued forward, steps steady. The crowd gave way for him without hesitation, some stepping aside instinctively, others doing so after a pause as realization settled in.

Jaden watched, silent. He knew before the hood came down. The figure reached the center of the hall, stopping just a few steps away from Jaden. Then, he pulled back the hood. Anakin Skywalker stood before them.

The Grandmaster of the Jedi Order had arrived.

Jaden hid his smile, and Anakin did the same as he took his seat across from him. There was a moment of silence between them, both trying to maintain their composure in front of the others, but Jaden wasn't in the mood for posturing.

"Clear the room," Jaden commanded, voice firm but casual.

Sabé was on her feet instantly. "Gladly," she said, glancing at Anakin with barely concealed affection before turning to usher out the others.

Palpatine, however, remained seated. "Perhaps I should stay," he said smoothly. "Discussions of this nature often require—"

Anakin cut him off with a polite smile. "Thank you, Chancellor, but I think this would be better if it were only the two of us."

There was a flicker of something in Palpatine's expression. It wasn't quite anger, but it was close. His fingers drummed lightly against the table before he stood, nodding to both of them. "Of course, Grandmaster. I look forward to hearing how this meeting goes."

His words were pleasant, but the look he gave Jaden before turning was anything but.

Jaden didn't care.

One by one, the room emptied. The advisors, the Republic delegates, the Jedi. The doors shut behind them, and silence followed.

Then both men stood, and without hesitation, they clapped their hands together in a firm grip, grinning at each other.

"It's been too long," Anakin said.

Jaden smirked. "You mean since the last time we had to put on a show?"

Anakin chuckled. "Exactly."

They pulled apart, still smiling as they took their seats again.

"How are things?" Jaden asked, settling back into his chair.

Anakin let out a long, exhausted sigh. "I'm so tired of this war." He ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. "The Council, the Senate, the endless battles—it's all annoying. I swear, if one more senator tells me they're 'concerned' about the Jedi's role in the Republic, I might just throw them out of a window."

Jaden chuckled. "Wouldn't be the first time a Jedi took drastic action in the Senate."

"Don't tempt me."

There was an easy familiarity between them. Even after all this time, the years apart, their friendship had never really faded.

Anakin sighed, his grin fading slightly. "I'm sorry about what happened earlier. The way they acted."

Jaden waved him off. "I understand. Everyone's been on edge."

Anakin nodded. "More than ever." He leaned back. "How are the kids?"

"They miss you." Jaden's voice was softer now. "Luke keeps sneaking out to follow the older kids at the temple, trying to train. Leia is a menace—Padmé had to pull her out of the temple last week because she kept following Ahsoka around, insisting she was ready for a lightsaber."

Anakin smiled, something genuine in his eyes. "They sound just like their mother."

"That they do."

A comfortable silence settled between them for a moment.

"How's your position?" Jaden asked.

Anakin scoffed. "I wish I never got a seat on the Council."

Jaden raised an eyebrow. "Didn't stop you from taking the title of Grandmaster."

"Didn't exactly have a choice," Anakin muttered. "The Order needed stability, and Yoda was done. He practically forced it on me."

Jaden studied him for a moment. "You don't regret it, do you?"

Anakin hesitated before shaking his head. "No. I just hate the politics of it all." His gaze turned serious. "That's why I'm here, Jaden. This war... it's getting worse."

Jaden frowned. "How bad?"

Anakin's jaw tightened. "We're expecting an assault on Coruscant any day now."

Jaden exhaled, his mind already racing through the implications. If the Separatists were preparing to strike the Republic capital, that meant they had finally gained enough momentum to go on the offensive.

Anakin leaned forward. "The war changed when the enemy recruited someone new. Someone powerful."

Jaden's eyes narrowed slightly, his body tense but unreadable. "Who?"

Anakin hesitated, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then he spoke.

"I fought her once," he said slowly. "On Mygeeto. After she killed Master Mundi."

Jaden's breath stilled.

Anakin's voice dropped lower. "I've never faced anyone like her before." He locked eyes with Jaden. "Not since you."

Jaden's heartbeat quickened. "That's impossible."

Anakin didn't look away.

"She'd never do that," Jaden said firmly.

"I'm sorry, Jaden." Anakin's expression was grim. "It's her."

Jaden didn't move. Didn't breathe.

"It's Vaylin."

Then the world exploded.

A massive force shook the entire palace. The shockwave tore through walls, shattering windows, sending furniture and debris flying. The sound was deafening, a roar of destruction that echoed through the city.

But before the explosion could reach them—before the blast could tear through the chamber—Jaden moved.

His hand snapped up, and the Force surged outward from him like an unrelenting wave. The explosion stopped at the threshold of the room, as if it had hit an invisible wall. The heat, the pressure, the debris—all of it was repelled in an instant, the sheer force of Jaden's power slamming outward and sending the remnants of the blast tearing back the way it came.

The entire palace trembled.

The room was silent.

Then Jaden stood, his body rigid with barely contained energy, his breath slow but measured. His heart pounded in his chest, but his expression was cold.

Anakin had already risen to his feet, his lightsaber now in hand. His stance was tense, his gaze sharp.

Jaden turned toward the now shattered balcony, his eyes scanning the burning horizon beyond. Smoke curled into the sky, the scent of fire already thick in the air.

For the first time in years, war had come to Naboo and it angered Jaden in a way that he had not been angered in a long time. He could already sense the same anger in Anakin, though it was merely a mask for the concern he felt for Sabe and his children. "Go and make sure they're safe I'll handle this," he said.

"Are you sure?" Anakin asked.

"Of course, get everyone to the temple, they'll be safe there," he replied.

"Be careful, I sense great anger approaching..." Anakin said as he clasped hands with Jaden once more.

"You as well," Jaden replied before heading out to confront the enemy.

...

The palace shook again. The rumble beneath Sabé's feet sent a chill through her spine, but she didn't falter. The air smelled of scorched stone and plasma discharge, the sounds of battle roaring in every direction. The blaster in her grip felt heavier than it should have, but she forced herself to move faster. The guards around her were tense, their faces set, weapons raised as they stormed through the broken corridors of the palace.

She had known something like this would happen. She had known for a long time that someone, somewhere, would not tolerate Naboo's independence.

But not like this.

She had always imagined war coming in slow steps, with warnings, with threats, with diplomacy failing before violence took its place. Not an ambush. Not an entire droid army slipping past their defenses and laying waste to her home. Her mind raced. Their fleet should have detected this attack long before it reached the ground. There should have been time to evacuate civilians, time to mobilize their forces. But the droids had arrived too quickly, had moved with too much precision. Someone had helped them. A traitor.

Her stomach twisted, but she had no time to dwell on it.

She forced her voice to stay steady as she turned to the nearest guard.

"Where is the Queen?"

"With the children," he answered immediately, his eyes sharp, scanning the halls as they ran.

Sabé's grip tightened around her blaster. Padmé. Luke. Leia.

They were still inside.

She pushed harder, moving past fallen debris, past the bodies of fallen guards and battle droids alike. A squad of palace security forces was holding back an advancing wave of droids at the end of the hall, their blasters firing in tight, controlled bursts.

She lifted her blaster, took aim, fired.

The bolt struck the lead droid in the chest, sending it staggering. Another shot finished it.

She didn't stop.

Blaster fire whizzed past her as she moved into cover, pressing against a broken pillar. The droids kept advancing, their movements relentless, precise. The palace guards were fighting well, but they were outnumbered.

She took a deep breath, steadied herself, then swung out and fired again.

One shot. Two. Three.

The droid collapsed. Another moved in to replace it.

A heavy clanking noise filled the air.

Her stomach sank.

B2 Super battle droids.

The massive droids marched forward, raising their arms. The barrels of their cannons glowed as they prepared to fire.

The guards scrambled.

A second later, plasma blasts erupted from their weapons, tearing through stone and steel alike.

Sabé ducked, pressing herself behind cover.

The guards retaliated, their shots concentrating on the approaching Droids. The first B2 took damage, sparks flying from its armor. Another shot struck it in the head, and it collapsed, its limbs twitching.

The second droid raised its arm, preparing to fire.

Sabé moved before it could.

She raised her blaster, pulled the trigger three times. The first shot struck its shoulder, the second hit its chest, the third burned through its central processor.

It fell.

The guards pressed forward, finishing the last of the droids.

Sabé pushed forward before the smoke cleared.

Padmé was still inside, but more importantly so were her children. She had to get to them and get them to safety.

"Hurry!" She shouted to the guards that were still with her.

...

As soon as she heard the first explosion Padme took Luke and Leia and started to move quickly quickly, keeping her back to the wall as she listened for the sounds of anything else incoming. The sounds of battle were everywhere—blaster fire, explosions, the distant roar of ships overhead. She quickly discovered the palace was under siege. She kept her grip firm on Luke's hand, her other arm around Leia's shoulders. The children stayed close, their eyes wide, their bodies tense.

They didn't cry.

She was grateful for that.

The halls were filled with bodies. Palace guards. Servants. Battle droids. The scent of smoke and scorched fabric filled the air.

She turned a corner and stopped.

Ahead of them, the battle raged, the temple guards were in a firefight.

A squad of temple guards had taken a defensive position near a collapsed archway, their blasters aimed at the advancing wave of battle droids. Their shots were striking down droids before they could get too close.

A droideka rolled into position.

The shields activated instantly, the blue energy barrier absorbing the incoming blaster fire.

The temple guards adjusted, spreading out, trying to find an angle.

The droideka's cannons spun, glowing.

The guards had no time to move before the droid opened fire.

The first guard was hit instantly. His body slammed against the floor, unmoving. The second managed to dive behind cover, but the third wasn't fast enough.

Padmé didn't stay to watch.

She turned, pulling the children toward a side door.

Leia's voice was a whisper.

"There's another way."

Padmé followed her gaze. A servant's entrance. A narrow passage, mostly hidden behind a fallen tapestry.

She didn't hesitate.

She pressed a hand to the panel. The door slid open.

She ushered the children inside, then sealed the door behind them.

The storage room was dark, filled with crates, unused furniture, old supplies. The walls trembled from the impact of another explosion.

She took a breath.

They needed to keep moving.

The door behind them exploded inward.

Padmé threw herself over the children as debris rained down around them.

Through the smoke, a massive figure stepped forward.

Yellow eyes. Horned head. A massive frame covered in armor.

She had seen him numerous times in the news on the Holonet, someone who had been trained by Count Dooku and was said to be a monster in battle. Savage Opress.

Padmé's heart pounded.

She didn't think, she just grabbed the children and ran.

She moved through the dark passageways, her breath shaky, her mind racing.

Savage followed.

His footsteps were heavy, he didn't even seem to be walking fast, like he knew he would catch them no matter what.

The walls trembled.

Padmé took another turn, pushing forward.

She had to get the children out.

...

Theed was burning.

The sky was filled with drop ships. Hundreds of them. They descended fast, pushing through the clouds, engines roaring.

The first wave had already landed, and the ground trembled as more touched down, their metal ramps slamming into the stone streets. The doors opened before the dust settled.

Battle droids marched forward.

Their movements were loud as metal thumped against stone. Their weapons raised.

The Naboo security forces were waiting.

The first blaster bolts streaked through the air.

The battle erupted instantly.

Shots hit metal. Metal hit stone. The streets filled with the sound of combat, the cries of the wounded, the shouts of soldiers holding their ground.

The palace guards held the line.

They moved in formation, shields raised, blasters firing in tight bursts. The droids kept advancing, their numbers overwhelming.

The first tanks rolled in.

Their cannons fired.

Buildings collapsed.

Smoke filled the air, thick and choking. The sound of destruction was everywhere.

Inside the palace, the Jedi fought.

Eeth Koth moved first.

His lightsaber ignited, the green glow cutting through the air. He pushed forward, his blade slicing through droids with swift movements. Limbs fell. Sparks flew.

He didn't stop.

Adi Gallia followed.

Her blade spun, deflecting blaster fire, redirecting shots back into the advancing droids. She moved quickly, her strikes cutting through the enemy ranks.

Aayla Secura moved ahead.

Her twin sabers spun in tight, controlled arcs, cutting down MagnaGuards as they stepped forward. Their electrostaffs crackled with electricity.

They moved fast.

Aayla moved faster.

The first MagnaGuard lunged.

She twisted, her blade meeting the staff. The impact sent a sharp crack through the air. She shifted her weight, spinning low, bringing her second saber up.

The droid fell.

Another took its place.

The battle continued.

Outside, the starfighters engaged.

Naboo fighters shot through the air, dodging blaster fire, weaving between enemy ships. Their weapons flared, sending tri-fighters spiraling into the city below.

The palace gates had fallen.

The battle spread.

There was no end in sight.

...

The temple halls were filled with the sounds of movement—boots against stone, armor being fastened, lightsabers being checked. Ahsoka stood near the entrance, gripping her lightsabers, shifting her weight impatiently. The battle outside was raging. She could feel it through the Force, the anger, the violence, the fear. Beside her, Aubrie finished adjusting her belt, her healer's robes traded for something more suited for battle. She wasn't as proficient a warrior like Ahsoka, but that didn't matter. Jaden was out there. The others were out there. The people of Naboo were dying. They couldn't just stay here.

The others were gathered, Path members, all tense, waiting. Some looked uncertain, others resolute. Some had never fought in a real battle before. It didn't matter. They wouldn't sit back while their home burned. Ahsoka turned to them. "We can't wait any longer, the city is under attack. We need to move now."

Aubrie nodded. "The wounded will need help. The people will need shelter. We can't just stay inside these walls while the Republic and the Jedi fight for us."

There were murmurs of agreement. Some of the temple guards stepped forward.

"We're ready."

Ahsoka reached out through the Force, feeling Jaden, distant but strong. He was fighting. She knew he could handle it, but that didn't make it any easier. He was her husband. She wasn't going to sit by while he fought alone.

Just as they were about to move, a voice stopped them.

"No."

Master Fay stood at the end of the corridor, her presence was quite noticeable at this moment, she was easily the second strongest Traveller in the temple—since Vaylin left.

Ahsoka frowned. "Fay, we don't have time for this. The palace is under attack. Jaden is—"

"I know," Fay said calmly, stepping forward. "But you are not going."

Aubrie tensed. "With all due respect, we can't stay here. We won't stay here."

Fay's expression didn't change. "And who will protect the children? Who will protect those who cannot fight?"

Silence.

The words cut through the tension, forcing them to stop.

Fay turned her gaze to the others in the hall. "You all wish to fight. That is understandable. But you are not warriors." Her voice was even, but firm. "The Path was not built for war. It was built for something greater. And you would throw that away so easily?"

Ahsoka clenched her fists. "That's not what this is about."

Fay stepped closer. "Then tell me, Ahsoka. What is this about?"

Ahsoka opened her mouth, then shut it.

Aubrie crossed her arms. "Jaden is out there, fighting for us. You expect us to do nothing?"

Fay's gaze softened. "I expect you to trust him."

More silence.

Aubrie exhaled sharply, looking away. She did trust Jaden. She knew what he was capable of. But that wasn't the point.

Fay continued, "Jaden did not build the Path to be an army. And he did not make this temple a fortress. We protect, we guide, we heal. We do not seek war. You know this."

Ahsoka's grip on her sabers tightened. "That doesn't mean we let others fight for us."

Fay shook her head. "No. But it does mean we do not become what we have worked so hard to avoid. Violence breeds violence, did you not learn this lesson with the Jedi?"

Aubrie glanced at the others, then back to Fay. "And if the battle comes to the temple?"

Fay held her gaze. "Then we will defend ourselves. But we will not seek battle."

Ahsoka's lekku twitched in frustration. Her instincts told her to fight, to move, to do something. But Fay wasn't wrong.

Aubrie swallowed hard. "You're asking us to stay behind while our husband fights alone."

Fay's expression softened. "Jaden is my husband as well, but more importantly he is the protector of the path, he fights for all of us so we don't have to, please trust in him as I do."

The words hung in the air.

Ahsoka exhaled slowly. "I don't like this."

Fay smiled faintly. "Neither do I."

Aubrie looked down at her hands, then at the doors. Her body ached to move. But Fay's words stayed with her. She knew Jaden would protect them. She knew he would stop this.

Finally, she sighed. "We activate the shield."

The others hesitated, but one by one, they nodded.

Ahsoka exhaled sharply, nodding once. "Fine."

Fay inclined her head. "Thank you."

Together, they turned toward the control panel. The temple's defenses weren't weapons, weren't war machines, but they were strong. The shield generator hummed to life, its energy field rising high above the temple grounds, sealing them in, though there were many gateways that could be used for those seeking shelter.

Ahsoka stared at it, arms crossed. "He better be okay."

Aubrie's fingers curled around her wrist. "He will be."

...

A loud crack split the sky as Jaden teleported above the palace, space twisting and snapping back into place with a force that sent shockwaves through the air. He hovered there, arms crossed, gazing down at the battlefield below with narrowed eyes. The palace was in ruins—great sections of its elegant architecture had been reduced to rubble, flames climbed the walls, and bodies, both metal and flesh, littered the courtyards. The once-pristine streets of Theed were overrun with battle droids, their mechanical ranks advancing relentlessly as they gunned down Naboo's defenders. Explosions rumbled through the city as Separatist drop ships continued their descent, deploying fresh waves of reinforcements. The Naboo Royal Guard fought bravely, their blaster rifles sending bursts of red energy into the droid lines, but they were outnumbered. The Jedi delegation still held their position near the palace steps, blades of blue and green flashing as they deflected incoming fire, but even they were slowly being pushed back.

Jaden frowned. His arms tightened across his chest.

The Revenant should have intercepted this fleet. A force this size shouldn't have made it past the dreadnought's defenses. There was only one answer. A traitor. Someone had given the Separatists the means to slip through, whether by disabling their scanners or outright opening a path for them. Jaden's gaze lifted to the sky. The Separatist capital ship that had brought the droid army still loomed above, its heavy cannons aimed at the city. But its reign wouldn't last much longer. The Revenant fired. A single shot, perfectly placed, lanced through the Separatist flagship, piercing its core. The ship shuddered. Explosions burst across its surface, metal plating twisting under the force of its own destruction. The engines failed. The vessel split apart, its massive frame collapsing inward before the remains plummeted toward the surface.

Jaden exhaled. This attack was reckless. If the Separatists wanted Naboo under their control, there were better ways to do it. This wasn't an invasion—it was a statement. A distraction. Or something else entirely.

He rolled his shoulders.

His eyes flashed purple.

A shockwave erupted from him, rippling through the sky, distorting the air itself. Below, the battle slowed as the weight of his presence descended on the battlefield.

Jaden extended a hand.

The enemy hesitated.

Jaden tilted his head.

Then he moved.

A blur. A distortion in space. He was among them before they could react.

Blaster fire erupted from all sides. Hundreds of droids turned their weapons on him.

Jaden didn't move.

The bolts stopped midair. Suspended. Frozen. The battlefield went silent as thousands of red blaster shots hung in place like a deadly storm caught in time. Jaden closed his fist. The energy collapsed inward, twisting back toward its source. Hundreds of droids exploded in unison, metal bodies crumpling as their own weapons turned against them.

Super battle droids stomped forward, arms raised, cannons primed. Jaden exhaled. The air pulled. The droids lurched forward as if caught in an invisible tide. Their bodies bent unnaturally, armor caving in, circuits sparking before they crumpled into heaps of scrap.

Droidekas rolled into position, shields flashing to life. Jaden raised a finger. The ground beneath them collapsed, swallowing them whole. They fell into the void—gone, erased.

AAT tanks rumbled forward, their cannons locking onto him.

Jaden extended both arms. Pulled.

The tanks lifted off the ground, spinning midair as their heavy frames bent under his grip. He clenched his hands into fists, and the machines compressed into balls of twisted metal before launching outward, tearing through the remaining droid ranks like cannon fire.

Dropships descended, deploying fresh reinforcements. Tactical droids issued new commands, attempting to reorganize their forces.

Jaden exhaled.

The sky darkened. The battlefield trembled.

Shadows stretched unnaturally. Green mist slithered through the ranks of the droids, weaving into their circuits. The machines twitched, then turned on each other. Blasters fired wildly. The army fell into chaos.

Lightning rained from the heavens. Each bolt struck true, bursting through droid formations with pinpoint accuracy.

Jaden lifted a hand toward the nearest warship. The massive vessel shuddered. It tilted. Metal groaned as it bent at impossible angles. Then, without warning, it crumpled into a single point before vanishing from existence.

The last wave of droids formed a desperate defensive line. Jaden moved.

A blur. A ripple in space.

The machines fell apart.

The battle was over before the remains hit the ground.

Jaden stood amidst the wreckage, arms crossed once more. Smoke curled from melted droid parts. The scent of ozone filled the air.

He rolled his shoulders.

Barely even tired.

The battle was over. The last remnants of the droid army lay in twisted heaps, smoke rising from shattered metal. The air was thick with the lingering energy of the Force, but Jaden wasn't satisfied. Something wasn't right.

He felt it.

A pull—no, a warning.

The Force trembled around him, and he knew. Padmé.

His body moved before his mind could catch up, his feet pivoting as he turned back toward the palace. His senses reached out, searching, stretching, feeling—her fear, her desperation, the rapid beat of her heart. She was in danger. He had to—

He stopped.

A figure stood in the ruins of the battlefield.

Pale skin. Yellow eyes. Dark hair. A heavy black cloak wrapped around her form, the hood drawn back just enough for him to see her face.

Jaden's breath caught in his throat. His heart clenched.

"...Vaylin," he whispered.

She didn't move.

The wind howled between them. The battlefield was silent, as if the entire planet itself had frozen in place, waiting, watching. Jaden barely breathed. His mind reeled, a thousand thoughts crashing into one another, but his body—his body understood before his heart did. He braced himself.

Vaylin exhaled.

The Force screamed.

The world shattered.

A shockwave exploded outward, the air itself bending under the weight of her power. The ground cracked apart as a massive Force push erupted from her, sending everything—rubble, bodies, the remains of droids—hurtling through the air.

Jaden barely had time to react.

The blast caught him full force.

He was launched off his feet.

The impact was like a starship crash. He flew backward, body twisting uncontrollably as he was thrown across the battlefield. His back slammed into a building. The wall collapsed instantly, bricks and stone bursting apart as he tore straight through it.

Another.

And another.

He crashed through three more buildings before slamming into the streets, rolling violently across the ground, tearing through duracrete and shattering statues. His momentum barely slowed before he hit another structure, this time a massive stone archway that cracked apart from the impact.

The force didn't let up.

Jaden was airborne again, flung like a ragdoll, his body colliding with the ruins of the city before he finally reached the edge of the river.

He hit the water hard.

The river swallowed him whole, the current dragging him beneath the surface, the world above twisting into a blur. For a long moment, he didn't move. The water around him was quiet. Cold.

...

Padmé ran, her breath coming in short gasps, heart hammering so hard she could hear it over the alarms blaring throughout the palace. The walls shook with every impact as droid forces stormed through the halls, their blaster fire cutting down anyone who stood in their way.

But it wasn't the droids she was running from.

It was him.

She could hear his footsteps. Heavy. Relentless. The sound of metal scraping against metal as his saber carved through obstacles in his path. A door that had locked behind her? Cleaved in half. A group of royal guards that had tried to slow him? Dead before they could even scream.

Savage Opress was hunting her.

Padmé clutched Luke and Leia to her chest as she sprinted through the corridors, barely dodging a falling chandelier as another explosion rocked the palace. She turned a corner, running past fallen guards and shattered statues, her mind racing. She had to get the children to safety. She had to—

A crash behind her.

She turned, just for a second—Savage was close, too close. His eyes locked onto hers, burning like molten gold. His double-bladed saber ignited, casting the walls in red.

Padmé ran faster.

The hallways twisted ahead, but she knew where she was going. She ducked into a side passage, kicking open a vent grate hidden behind a tapestry. Luke and Leia whimpered in her arms, their small hands clutching her dress.

"Inside," she whispered, lifting them into the vent. Leia went first, eyes wide, terrified but determined. Luke hesitated, staring at her.

"Go," she urged. "Hide. Don't come out until I come for you."

Luke nodded slowly, then crawled in after Leia.

Padmé exhaled, steeling herself.

Then she turned.

Savage Opress stood at the entrance of the passage.

The lights flickered above him. His saber hummed.

Padmé raised her pistol and fired.

The red bolt shot through the air, but before it could land, Savage flicked his wrist. The bolt stopped midair—then flew back at her.

She barely dodged, the heat grazing past her shoulder. She fired again—twice, three times—but Savage deflected each shot with a lazy spin of his saber. Then, with a low snarl, he lifted his free hand and crushed the air between them.

Padmé was launched backward.

Her back slammed into the wall, the impact sending pain shooting through her ribs. Before she could recover, an invisible hand wrapped around her throat.

Savage lifted her into the air.

Padmé gasped, kicking, struggling, clawing at her neck, but the grip only tightened. Her vision blurred. Her lungs burned.

A shadow moved behind Savage.

Padmé's head lolled to the side—and her blood turned to ice.

Maul stepped forward, his eyes cold, calculating. Beside him, Asajj Ventress twirled a lightsaber between her fingers, smirking.

Maul's voice was quiet. Dangerous.

"Where are the children?"

Padmé's vision swam, but she forced herself to stay conscious. She gritted her teeth, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled against the hold.

She wouldn't answer.

Savage tightened his grip.

Pain exploded in her skull. A pull—dark and cold—ripped through her mind, clawing at her thoughts, trying to pry them open. She bit down on her lip hard enough to bleed, forcing the pain to ground her.

She wouldn't answer.

She wouldn't answer.

Savage's grip crushed down—

Then—

An explosion.

The doors blew apart.

Sabe and the guards stormed in, blasters firing. The air filled with red streaks of light, cutting through the smoke.

Savage dropped Padmé.

She hit the ground hard, coughing violently, vision spinning. Strong hands grabbed her—Sabe, pulling her up, eyes wild with panic.

"Padmé—"

"I'm fine," she choked out.

But she wasn't.

Sabe turned, blaster raised, but it was too late—the Sith were already moving. Maul's saber flashed, cutting through the guards in one clean motion. Ventress flicked her wrist, sending one of her lightsabers spinning through the air, slicing down another.

Sabe saw it. She saw all of it.

And she knew.

They weren't going to win this fight.

Not here. Not now.

She turned back to Padmé, her grip tightening.

"We have to go," she said.

Padmé shook her head. "Your children—"

"I'll find them. But you need to run."

Padmé hesitated.

Then she felt Sabe's hand on her cheek, warm and shaking. Sabe's eyes met hers, dark and full of something she couldn't name, a small smile appeared on her face. "I love you," Sabe whispered.

Then she shoved her.

Padmé's breath caught as she stumbled backward—toward the window. Then she was falling.

Sabe turned just in time to see the last of her guards fall, their bodies hitting the cold stone floor. The air was thick with the scent of scorched flesh, the hum of lightsabers reverberating off the shattered walls. Maul stepped forward, his weapon still ignited, his gaze cold.

"Ah the false queen," he said, tilting his head slightly. "You've played your role well, but it ends here."

Ventress circled around her side, her movements slow, deliberate. "A handmaiden pretending to be royalty," she mused, her grip tightening around the hilts of her weapons. "How very disgusting."

Savage merely cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders.

Sabe tightened her hold on her blaster. Her hands ached, her body burned, but she did not falter.

She lifted her weapon and fired.

Maul moved first, his blade slicing through the air, cutting the bolt in two before it could reach him. Ventress followed, twisting her wrist and sending one of her sabers spinning through the air toward her. Sabe ducked, rolling across the floor as the blade passed inches from her skull.

She came up firing again, rapid shots aimed at their heads, their chests—anywhere they weren't guarding. But they were too fast.

Savage lunged, closing the distance in an instant, his massive hand reaching for her. She twisted, ducking under his grasp, bringing her blaster up to his chin and pulling the trigger.

Nothing.

His other hand slammed into her ribs.

Sabe flew backward, skidding across the stone floor. The blaster fell from her grip.

She pushed herself up, reaching for the knife strapped to her boot, but Maul was already there. His foot came down on her wrist, pinning it to the ground.

He crouched, his face inches from hers.

"You fought well," he said. "But you were never going to win."

Then he drove his weapon through her chest.

Sabe gasped, her fingers tightening around empty air. She felt the heat first, then the pain. It was distant, almost surreal. She barely had the strength to hold herself up. The pain in her chest was unbearable, her body weak, trembling. She could feel the burning in her chest, but she refused to fall. Not yet.

Maul's weapon pulled free from her body, its crimson glow illuminating his expressionless face. She stumbled back, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. The world around her blurred, the edges darkening.

Then she heard it.

A scream—raw, filled with fury and grief.

A storm descended upon the chamber.

The walls shook as the Force crashed through the space, sending dust and stone flying. The heat of a weapon slashed through the air, striking down toward Maul before he could even step back.

Maul leapt away just in time, flipping backward as Anakin Skywalker landed in front of Sabe. His stance was low, his blade burning bright in his grip, his breathing sharp. His presence filled the room like a terrifying force, pressing down on everyone. Anakin didn't look at Sabe. He didn't look at the others. His gaze was locked on Maul, on the crimson blade that had just been pulled from her body.

His body trembled, his fingers flexing over his weapon.

Then he moved.

Ventress and Savage attacked first, coming at him from both sides, but Anakin didn't hesitate. He twisted, his lightsaber crashing against Ventress's first strike, locking against hers for only a fraction of a second before he pushed, sending her flying back with sheer force.

Savage came down next, his weapon slamming toward Anakin's head. Anakin caught the strike mid-air, his grip shifting, twisting, redirecting the massive Zabrak's strength against him. Savage stumbled forward from the force of his own attack, his balance thrown off—

Anakin drove his elbow into the Sith's ribs.

Savage let out a grunt, stepping back, but Anakin didn't let up. He turned sharply, his lightsaber flashing as he slashed toward the Zabrak's legs. Savage barely moved in time, jumping back, but before he could recover, Anakin's hand snapped forward.

The Force grabbed him.

Savage's body lifted from the ground, slammed into the stone floor, ripped back up, then hurled across the chamber, crashing into a pillar.

Ventress recovered, sprinting forward, both of her weapons cutting through the air in rapid, fluid strikes. Anakin twisted his wrist, deflecting each attack, stepping into her space, forcing her back. She struck low, fast, trying to break through his guard—

Anakin caught her wrist.

Her eyes widened for only a fraction of a second before his other hand came up, grabbing her throat.

Then he threw her across the chamber.

She hit the ground hard, rolling, barely able to push herself up before Anakin was on her again. His blade came down, her weapons barely rising in time to block. His strikes came faster now, relentless, unforgiving. Each movement sent tremors through her arms, her legs nearly giving out under the sheer weight of his attacks.

She ducked, twisted, tried to break away—

Anakin's knee slammed into her stomach.

Ventress collapsed, coughing, gasping for air.

Then Anakin felt the shift.

Maul.

He moved, his blade catching Maul's mid-strike. The room erupted into red and blue light, their weapons a blur as they clashed over and over, neither giving ground. Sparks flew with each strike, their footwork precise, calculated, the floor beneath them cracking from the sheer force of their movements.

Maul was aggressive, fast, his attacks strong. But Anakin was faster. His grip shifted seamlessly between styles, his stances adapting mid-strike. His body twisted, evading Maul's blade by inches, redirecting each attack with minimal movement.

Then he attacked.

He turned his saber, locking it against Maul's in a sharp motion before twisting it out of the way. His free hand shot up, cracking against Maul's jaw with enough force to send him staggering back.

Anakin pressed forward.

He struck low, then high, then spun into a horizontal slash. Maul caught the attack, barely managing to parry before Anakin's other hand snapped forward. The Force slammed into Maul's chest, sending him skidding across the chamber floor.

Maul barely had time to recover before Anakin followed.

His weapon cut down, Maul deflecting, retreating, desperate to gain distance. Savage charged back in, roaring, his blade coming down hard—

Anakin ducked, spun, struck.

His saber burned through the air, slicing across Savage's shoulder. The Zabrak stumbled back, growling in pain, but Anakin didn't stop. He grabbed him by the front of his tunic and hurled him across the room.

Then he turned on Ventress.

She was already back on her feet, moving in again, trying to take advantage of an opening that didn't exist.

Anakin caught her first strike.

His foot slammed against her knee, throwing her balance. His elbow crashed against her jaw, her body spinning from the impact. His saber came down in a flash of blue light—

Ventress barely escaped with her life, throwing herself backward, rolling away.

Anakin exhaled sharply, stepping forward, his eyes locked on them all.

It wasn't enough.

He wanted more.

The Force surged through him like a storm, his grip on his weapon tightening. He took another step forward, prepared to finish it, to end them all here—

Then he felt it.

A weight in the air, pressing down on everything.

A presence.

He turned—

Vaylin stood there.

Her skin was pale, her eyes wrong, her robes blacker than the void. The ground beneath her cracked, the very air around her trembling.

She lifted her hand.

Anakin moved, bringing his weapon up, his grip tightening, the Force surging through him—

She hit him with it. It wasn't a push. It wasn't a blast. It was everything.

Anakin flew.

He felt himself rip through stone, through metal, through air. The city blurred around him, the sky twisting above.

Vaylin having dealt with the Grandmaster turned back to her useless underlings. Her golden eyes flickered as she surveyed the scene before her. Maul, Ventress, and Savage stood in silence, their bodies tense, their breath heavy from the battle.

She exhaled slowly, the sound sharp in the stillness.

"Foolish," she muttered, her voice cold. "You waste time playing with your food while the real prize slips through your fingers."

Ventress shifted slightly, but said nothing. Maul's grip tightened on his weapon, his lips curling.

"The children," Vaylin continued, her tone sharp. "That is why you are here. Not for some petty revenge, not to amuse yourselves with a fight you were never going to win." She turned her gaze on Maul, unblinking. "You've spent your entire life losing, yet you still think you have power."

Maul's expression twisted. "You—"

His voice cut off.

Vaylin barely moved. A flick of her wrist, and the room was filled with the sound of gasping breath.

Maul lifted from the ground, his fingers clawing at his throat. Beside him, Ventress and Savage did the same, their bodies frozen, their lungs burning for air.

"You are nothing."

Her words were not shouted. They did not need to be.

They pressed down on them, a weight heavier than the Force that constricted their throats, that crushed their pride beneath her will.

"You will not speak back to me," Vaylin said. "You will not question me. You will obey, or I will end you here and now."

Their struggles weakened. Their vision blurred.

Then she let them go.

All three fell to the ground, coughing, gasping. Maul's hand trembled over his throat, his yellow eyes burning with fury—but he did not speak.

Vaylin closed her eyes. The Force stretched out before her, the temple, the city, the ruins. It whispered to her, guiding her focus, showing her what she sought.

She felt it.

Small presences, trembling in fear. Hiding.

Her eyes snapped open. She turned her hand toward the wall.

The metal vent ripped free.

Dust and debris scattered as the passage was exposed. Inside, huddled together, were two small figures.

Luke and Leia.

They clung to each other, their small hands gripping tightly. Their breaths were rapid, their little bodies shaking. They knew. They had seen.

Vaylin raised her hand again.

The children lifted from the vent, dragged out by an unseen grip. Their tiny arms flailed, reaching for something, anything to hold onto.

Leia screamed first, her voice breaking into desperate sobs. Luke followed, his cries raw, terrified.

Vaylin barely looked at them.

"Let's go," she commanded.

Maul and the others hesitated only for a moment before following.

Luke and Leia struggled, kicked, screamed. Their cries echoed through the broken halls, high-pitched and filled with terror.

They saw her.

Sabe.

She lay motionless on the floor, her body still, her eyes unseeing. Hole in her chest and her dress torn. Her blaster lay nearby, useless now.

"Mommy!" Leia sobbed, reaching out despite the invisible hold that dragged her forward. "Mommy!"

Luke screamed, twisting, his small hands clawing at the air. Sabes body shifted closer as he unintentionally dragged her to him with the force but it was not her.

Sabe did not move.

She would never move again.

The Sith walked past her without a glance.

They reached the hangar, stepping over wreckage, the hum of engines filling the air. A shuttle stood waiting, its ramp lowered, its interior dark. Vaylin strode forward, the children still floating in her grasp. She stepped inside. The others followed. The engines roared. The ship lifted, rising through the ruined spires of Theed, up into the smoke-filled sky. Luke and Leia cried until their voices broke, until their small bodies ached, but no one heard them.

The ship angled toward the stars. Then it was gone.

...

Jaden's body floated beneath the surface of the river, suspended by the current, his limbs twisted and broken. The force of the blow had torn through him—his arm, nearly severed at the shoulder, hung limp and useless; a large shard of metal was embedded deep in his side, the sharp edge jutting out, blood seeping into the water around him. Another piece of twisted debris was buried in his leg, the jagged edges cutting into the muscle, cutting deep. His head lolled to the side, half-submerged, his breath ragged and faint. He could feel it all—the pain, the blood loss, the weight of the water pressing down on him—but through it all, his mind was focused elsewhere.

Vaylin.

The name echoed in his thoughts, a distant whisper. He had always known there was darkness in her, but he never expected it to come to this. She had always been different. Always pushing away, trying to find her place, to feel like she belonged. He had seen it in her eyes when they first met, when she left. And now—now she had crossed a line he never thought she would. He had known she had been restless, seeking something, but he had never imagined she would take such a dark path. Her sudden departure, her words, all the things she had said—he had tried to understand. Tried to reach out. But she had rejected him. She had rejected everything.

Jaden closed his eyes beneath the water, letting himself drift, letting the darkness settle around him. He could feel the anger of her actions pressing on him, but beneath it all, there was something else. Something he couldn't escape.

'I still love you,' he thought bitterly. 'I always will.'

It hurt. It always hurt. His heart ached at the thought of her—the woman he had loved, the woman he had hoped would stand by his side. But now, she had become something else. Something dangerous. Something that could tear apart everything he had built. But his love for her hadn't changed. It never would. Even now, drifting in the water, broken and torn, Jaden's heart ached with the weight of his feelings for her.

He opened his eyes slowly, staring into the murky depths. The water was still, almost peaceful; with m a deep breath, Jaden focused, his eyes glowing faintly as the Force enveloped him. Slowly, the water around him began to churn, rippling as he rose from the depths.

The shards of metal that had once pierced his body began to tremble and shift. They pulled free leaving behind gaping wounds that slowly closed, healing at a rapid pace. His torn limbs reformed as if they had never been broken, muscle, bone, and skin mending before his very eyes. The water around him swirled violently as he rose higher, his body slowly reassembling itself.

He clenched his fists, pushing himself to the surface.

With a sudden surge of energy, he broke through the water, the river's surface splitting open beneath him as if the very water itself feared him. The shards of metal and debris scattered in all directions, falling back into the river, forgotten. He stood tall, his body whole again, his injuries healed.

Jaden looked up.

The sight before him was enough to make him freeze.

A ship. A small craft, barely visible in the distance, leaving the atmosphere of Naboo.

His eyes narrowed, and his senses flared.

A tremor in the Force. Something had happened. Something terrible. The ship was leaving. It was leaving with something—no, with someone—someone important.

No.

He could feel it now—the ripple in the Force, the faintest trace of two familiar presences. Two children. His mind flicked back to the vision of Luke and Leia, their faces filled with terror, their small bodies helpless in the grasp of the dark power.

He had failed. He had let them slip away.

But there was something else now. Something worse than he had imagined. The tremor in the Force was the calm before the storm. Jaden's heart beat faster as he turned toward the horizon. He could feel the darkness rising, the weight of something vast and terrible beginning to take shape. And this time, it wasn't just Vaylin.

He could feel it in the air, in the fabric of the Force. A change had come. A shift so powerful that the galaxy itself seemed to hold its breath.

Jaden stared at the ship as it grew smaller and smaller in the distance. Whatever had just happened—whatever Vaylin had done, whatever they had taken—was the beginning of something that could tear the galaxy apart.

And he was no longer sure he could stop it.

But he would try.

___________________________

The weeks after the battle were long and without rest. The dead were buried, the wounded treated, the ruins cleared. Naboo had suffered before, but this was different. The scars ran deep, not just in the land but in the hearts of its people. There was no celebration, no relief. Only the quiet, steady work of those who remained. Jaden walked among them, never stopping. He moved from one broken street to the next, from one shattered home to another. His hands hovered over the dying, the injured, the ones barely holding on. Where he could, he healed. Where he could not, he made their passing easier. The Force moved through him without pause, burning like fire in his veins. But he did not stop.

The Travellers did the same, silent, tireless. They had been shaken by what had happened, but now, with the battle over, they returned to what they were meant to be. Healers. Guides. Keepers of peace. Aubrie barely slept. She had worked for days without stopping, mending wounds, easing pain, whispering comfort where she could. Even now, she knelt beside another broken soldier, her hands glowing faintly as she poured what strength she had left into his shattered ribs. She did not look up when Jaden approached, but he could feel the exhaustion in her bones. He pressed his hand on the soldier and quickly healed him on Aubries place.

"You need rest," he said as he put his hand on her shoulder.

She shook her head. "Not yet."

He didn't argue. They both knew neither of them would stop until there was no one left to save.

Ahsoka stood atop the ruins of a tower, watching the city below with Jaden joining her. The fires had died, but smoke still drifted in thin wisps through the streets. Her arms were crossed, her jaw tight.

"They will come again," she said when she heard him approach. "This won't be the last time."

"I know."

She exhaled, shaking her head. "This isn't how it was supposed to go. We were supposed to be ready for anything."

Jaden looked down at the streets, the people moving through them. "No one is ever ready for this."

She was silent for a long time. "We need to talk about what happens next."

...

The alliance with the Republic was not celebrated. It was agreed upon in a dimly lit chamber, behind closed doors, with tired voices and reluctant nods. Padmé had argued against it at first, her voice steady yet filled with frustration. Naboo had left the Republic for a reason. They had seen what it had become. But in the end, there was no choice. The Separatists had made sure of that. Jaden had been the one to push for it. Not because he trusted the Republic, but because the Force had whispered to him. He had felt the shift, something bad was on the horizon. Something had changed. He had felt Vaylin's hand in it. And he knew—Luke and Leia were at the center of it.

He would get them back.

The delegates left shortly after. Jedi and Republic officials, returning to Coruscant, returning to war. Jaden met Anakin outside the palace, "We will be there soon," Jaden said. Though he did not acknowledge Jadens words he just left. He did not blame the man, he had just lost his wife and his children had been taken. The only thing holding him together at this point was the motivation to get his children back. He had barely spoken in days. He had buried Sabe himself, had stood at her grave long after the others had left. There was a darkness in his eyes now, a cold fire burning just beneath the surface.

Jaden watched him go, watched the ships leave Naboo's sky. He had made his choice. Now, it was time to move.

The Revenant now loomed in the void, its massive form cutting through the stars like as moved through hyperspace . It was a ship of war, a relic of an age long past, and yet it had never felt more alive. The crew numbered nearly 100,000 strong and all of them had been trained on its systems for years. Jaden stood on the bridge, his hands resting on the railing, his gaze fixed on the distant planet below. Master Fay stood beside him, her presence steady, unwavering. Ahsoka was near, arms crossed, waiting.

A signal flashed on the console. A transmission. Jaden stepped forward, activating it.

A single message.

A Separatist fleet was approaching Coruscant.

Jaden exhaled, closing his eyes for a moment. The war was moving forward, faster than any of them had anticipated. And somewhere in it, Vaylin was waiting.

He opened his eyes.

"It's time," he said.

The Revenant turned toward the stars, engines burning. The battle ahead was inevitable. But Jaden was no longer just fighting a war.

He was going to bring Sabe's children home.

___________________________

A sudden explosion rocked the void as a cruiser burst into flame near Coruscant. Shrapnel flew and debris scattered. Republic ships shuddered under the impact. Missile trails and laser blasts crossed the dark space. The enemy fleet moved in quickly. A massive capital ship, The Invisible Hand, dominated the area. Its size and firepower were far greater than any Republic Venator or cruiser. Its weapons struck hard, pushing Republic forces back. On the bridge of a cruiser, an officer shouted, "All decks, brace for impact! Hold formation!" Other officers issued commands over the comm. The screens showed enemy destroyers and starfighters launching missiles. One cruiser on the port side took a heavy hit; its shields went down and it broke apart in a series of explosions.

A transmission came through the comm. "This is General Kenobi. Left sector reports enemy droid fighters. Engage them immediately."

In his starfighter, Obi-Wan Kenobi adjusted his controls. He saw a line of droid fighters emerge from a hangar on an enemy capital ship. "Copy that. Red squadron Target those fighters," he said. His hands moved quickly over the controls as he locked onto the enemy ships.

In another starfighter, Anakin Skywalker prepared for combat. The Council had urged him to stay out of this fight, to hold back his anger. He had ignored them. Now his voice came through rough and low: "I have them in sight. I will take them out." His eyes burned with anger and grief. His thoughts returned to the loss he had suffered.

A nearby cruiser shuddered as enemy blasts tore into its side. An officer shouted, "Heavy fire on port! Shields failing!" The Invisible Hand fired a volley of missiles that sent several Republic ships exploding in quick succession. The Republic fleet broke formation. The enemy formation tightened its hold.

Inside his cockpit, Anakin glared at the display. "Obi-Wan, cover my aft wing. I will clear these fighters," he ordered. His starfighter accelerated and dove into a stream of missile fire. The dogfight began. Laser bolts streaked across the view, and Anakin fired his cannons. Shots hit enemy fighters; explosions lit up the dark as ships broke apart. Obi-Wan maneuvered his own starfighter into position. "Anakin, we must pull back. Our squadrons are falling. We need to regroup," Obi-Wan said calmly.

Anakin's reply was harsh and filled with anger, "I will not pull back! I cannot let them win!" His voice trembled with raw emotion.

Obi-Wan tried again, "We must save ourselves to fight another day. We cannot lose the men we have left."

Anakin roared, "I have no choice. I will finish this fight!"

The main display showed the enemy fleet moving in tight waves. Missiles streaked across the screen. One missile hit a cruiser; it exploded in a flash. Another volley tore through the formation. The Invisible Hand pulsed its energy cannon. Republic ships broke apart under its fire.

"All our squadrons have been wiped out!" an officer shouted. "Low reserves remain! Fall back now!"

Yet Anakin's voice came over the comm, "I will hold them off until I secure a path." His tone was rough.

Obi-Wan replied, "Anakin, our numbers are nearly gone. We must retreat."

Anakin's reply came with a shout, "I will not yield until I secure a way to bring my children home!" His anger and pain pushed him forward.

The enemy capital ship fired another volley. Its energy cannon sent shock waves through the Republic formation. Screens showed several ships exploding in rapid succession. Enemy fighters swarmed around the wrecks.

"Watch your six, Anakin!" Obi-Wan called over the comm.

Anakin's starfighter dove and twisted sharply. "I see them. Engage the lead fighters!" He fired his turbolasers. Shots struck enemy ships; explosions dotted the view.

Obi-Wan's fighter flew close by. "Anakin please, we must obey the retreat order!" he urged.

Anakin's eyes flashed with fury. "I cannot retreat while I still have a chance to fight. I will not let them take what is mine."

On a Republic cruiser, Admiral Tarkin's voice came over the channel, flat and unyielding, "All units, fall back to the rally point. Regroup and prepare for another assault." Officers exchanged brief looks as screens showed the shattered formation pulling back. The enemy formation moved closer to Coruscant.

Obi-Wan said, "Anakin, our forces are nearly gone. We must withdraw now."

Anakin didn't even bother replying to him now. His starfighter surged into a gap in the enemy line. Missile fire exploded around him as he twisted through streams of enemy fighters and drifting debris.

The battle grew fierce. Anakin and Obi-Wan flew side by side. They dodged turbolaser fire and weaved between large cruisers and debris. Their ships turned quickly, executing tight maneuvers. Laser bolts streaked past as explosions rocked nearby vessels. In one sequence, enemy droid fighters closed in from behind. The two starfighters weaved between the gaps of large ships and wreckage. They fired at the pursuing fighters; enemy ships exploded in bursts. At one point, the fighters were all around them, and it looked as if the situation was lost.

Then, a voice shouted over the comm, "All units, Multiple ships are dropping out of hyperspace!"

The view on the screens shifted. A fleet led by the Revenant, along with Naboo cruisers and destroyers, appeared above Coruscant. Their weapons roared as they surged into the battle. The new ships fired heavy shots that struck enemy fighters. Explosions broke out among the droid groups.

Anakin's eyes widened. "The Revenant is here!" he shouted. "Now push!!!"

Obi-Wan replied, "Use the cover of the new fleet and head for the enemy hanger!"

The two starfighters adjusted course. They headed toward the massive enemy vessel. The Revenant's ships closed in, firing at enemy fighters. The enemy formation began to break under the new assault. The shields of The Invisible Hand flickered; panels broke apart.

Amid the falling debris, Anakin's starfighter surged forward. His ship took heavy fire; alarms flashed in his cockpit. "Obi-Wan, cover me! I am going in!" he barked.

Obi-Wan answered, "I have you covered. Watch your back!"

Anakin twisted his starfighter sharply. He flew through gaps between exploding destroyers and drifting wreckage. Laser fire streaked past as he forced his way into the open hanger of The Invisible Hand. Enemy fighters attempted to intercept him, but the Revenant's ships pinned them down. With a final burst, Anakin's starfighter crashed into the enemy hanger. The impact sent a shockwave through the vessel. Panels fell; sparks flew. The ship skidded along the hanger floor before coming to a halt. Red warning lights flashed in the cockpit.

Anakin jumped out igniting his lightsaber before slamming onto the ground releasing a massive shockwave of force that sent every droid flying across the hanger. Anger was seeping into his very being and his abilities showed it. Anakin had long since mastered Jedi abilities but now he was starting to tap into the dark side and he realised how much stronger it was making him. A small part in the back of his mind warned him against doing this, against using such power. But it was ignored by the part of him that raged at his wife's death and another part that felt fear for his children.

He knew he would slaughter everyone on this ship before losing them.

...

The Revenant was a war machine built for destruction. Its hull stretched longer than any Republic warship, thick with armor and reinforced shielding. Its weapons lined every surface—turbolasers, ion cannons, disruptors, and railguns fired in coordinated volleys. Proton torpedoes streaked toward Separatist ships, while phaser arrays from the experimental systems cut through shields. The Revenant tore through the enemy formation with every weapon at full power.

Inside the bridge, Jaden stood at the center, eyes locked on the battle. Officers relayed status reports. Screens tracked every engagement. The command deck flickered with readouts of shield levels, weapons status, and fleet positions.

"Form a wedge. Concentrate fire on their heavy ships. All forward batteries, target the nearest destroyer. Full power." Jaden's voice carried across the deck.

The officers responded immediately. "Aye, Grandmaster. All forward weapons firing."

The ship shuddered as turbolasers and disruptors fired in synchronized waves. Enemy shields flickered, then failed. Missiles streaked across the void. A Separatist cruiser lost its engines, drifted for a moment, then exploded.

"Launch all fighters," Jaden commanded.

Hangar bays opened. Hundreds of starfighters poured out, moving into formation. ARC-170s, Naboo N-1s, and Revenant-class interceptors took position, weaving through enemy lines. Droid fighters swarmed to meet them, filling space with laser fire.

Jaden turned to the sensor officer. "Distance to the Invisible Hand?"

"Ten thousand kilometers, sir. Heavy resistance ahead."

Jaden's focus remained on the battle. "Drive straight through. Bring main cannons to full charge. Target the lead battleship."

The Revenant advanced. Its prow carved through enemy fire. Shields absorbed the first wave of incoming shots. Railguns fired magnetic slugs, punching through ship plating. Plasma torpedoes detonated against enemy hulls, leaving ships broken and burning. Droid control ships scrambled to reposition, but the Revenant pressed forward without slowing.

"Shields at eighty percent," an officer called out.

Jaden nodded. "Hold formation. Push forward. Interceptors, cover our advance. Bombers, target their flagship's engines."

Starfighters split into attack groups. They weaved through enemy fire, launching torpedoes. Explosions rippled across the Separatist flagship as engines flared out.

Ahsoka stepped up beside Jaden. "We need to move now."

Jaden glanced at the holomap. The Invisible Hand loomed ahead. The Separatist fleet scattered under the Revenant's assault, but the enemy flagship remained intact, its shields still active.

He turned to the flight deck officer. "Prep my ship. We're going in."

Ahsoka followed him as they left the bridge. Jaden and Ahsoka moved quickly through the Revenant's corridors. The ship rocked from distant impacts, but the shields held. Officers stepped aside as they passed. The hangar bay loomed ahead, lined with fighters and transports preparing for launch. Ground crews fueled ships and reloaded weapons.

Jaden's personal starship, The Obsidian Wing, sat at the center of the hangar. Its engines hummed as droids ran final checks. A sleek, angular hull. Twin ion engines. Reinforced plating. A modified hyperdrive for quick jumps. Weapons integrated into the frame.

Jaden climbed into the pilot's seat. Ahsoka took the co-pilot's chair. Systems came online. Shields charged. Weapons primed. The flight crew signaled clearance.

Jaden gripped the controls. "Taking off."

The ship lifted. The hangar doors opened. The Revenant's turbolasers fired as the Obsidian Wing shot forward.

The void opened around them. Blaster fire crisscrossed between capital ships. Destroyers exchanged heavy salvos. Fighters weaved through explosions. The enemy fleet adjusted, droid fighters turning to intercept.

Ahsoka checked sensors. "Twelve incoming."

Jaden accelerated. The ship surged forward.

Enemy fighters closed fast. Ahsoka rotated the rear cannons. She fired. The first fighter exploded. The rest shifted formation.

Jaden banked hard. He spun through the debris of a destroyed cruiser. The enemy followed. Laser fire grazed the hull.

Ahsoka tracked targets. "Too many."

Jaden pulled the ship into a dive. They skimmed along a burning battleship. Wreckage drifted past.

Enemy fighters stayed close. More swarmed from the right.

Jaden hit the throttle. The ship blasted forward.

Ahead, a Venator fired its main cannons. The Invisible Hand returned fire. The space between them burned with energy blasts.

Jaden punched through. The enemy fighters hesitated. The Obsidian Wing slipped between the firing lines, weaving through incoming salvos.

Ahsoka took out another fighter. "Almost there!"

The Invisible Hand grew larger. Its shields flickered from impact. Hangar doors stood open.

Jaden lined up the approach. More droids launched from inside. He fired the ship's main cannons. The entrance filled with explosions. Fighters spun out.

He pushed the ship forward. Alarms blared. Shields dropped to thirty percent.

Ahsoka braced. "Hold on!"

Jaden fired repulsors. The ship hit the hangar floor, skidding to a stop. Smoke rose from the impact. Enemy droids surrounded them. Blasters primed.Jaden and Ahsoka jumped out. Lightsabers ignited. Jaden acted first and lifted his hand. The air around the remaining droids crackled as he summoned pure energy. Arcs of lightning snapped between his fingers, then exploded outward in branching streams. The closest droids convulsed as their circuits overloaded. Sparks burst from their joints. The energy surged through them, jumping from one to the next. In seconds, every droid in range collapsed in smoking heaps.

Ahsoka moved fast, her sabers flashing. She leapt over a commando droid, slashing it apart before landing behind another. She drove a blade through its core, then turned and bisected the next in one motion.

Heavy footsteps echoed. Droidekas rolled into the hangar, shields flaring. Jaden exhaled. He clenched his fist. The air pressure around them dropped. The shields flickered and collapsed as their projectors malfunctioned. He spread his fingers. The droids trembled, their limbs seizing as an unseen force disrupted their circuits. A metallic screech rang out as their limbs bent at unnatural angles. They crumpled inward, crushed from the inside.

More droids poured in from the far side. Jaden didn't turn. He reached out, his fingers twitching. The durasteel floor split open. Jagged metal shot up like claws, impaling the advancing droids mid-step. Their bodies hung for a moment before Jaden twisted his wrist, and the metal pulled them apart.

Ahsoka deactivated her sabers. "We go together."

Jaden shook his head. "No. You're finding Luke and Leia."

Ahsoka frowned. "We should stick together."

Jaden looked at her. "I'll keep Vaylin busy."

She hesitated. "She's strong."

Jaden stepped past the wreckage. "So am I."

The Force pulsed. A burning presence surged through the air. Anakin. The anger rippled like a storm.

Ahsoka tensed. "He's close."

Jaden nodd. "Help him."

Ahsoka placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll try."

Ahsoka hesitated, then turned. She sprinted toward the corridors leading deeper into the ship. Jaden watched her go he felt slightly worried for her but he knew she could handle herself, she was practically a master in her own right. Turning around he headed towards the ship trusting in the force to guide his way. He walked through the halls of The Invisible Hand, and soon the alarms blaring around him. Every step sent a tremor through the ship, his presence bending the Force around him. The first wave of droids lined the corridors ahead, rows of B1s and B2s raising their blasters, commandos kneeling into position, droidekas rolling into place with their shields snapping to life. They fired. Jaden kept walking. The air in front of him warped as he raised a hand, redirecting every blaster bolt back toward its source. Metal bodies sparked and fell apart as their own weapons turned against them. The droidekas tried to hold position, their shields absorbing the reflected shots, but Jaden clenched his fist and the energy fields burst in a flash of white light. The droids staggered for half a second before he flicked his wrist and sent them flying into the walls, breaking apart on impact.

More came from branching hallways, pouring into the passage ahead, filling the space with metal and fire. Jaden reached out. The walls shuddered as durasteel buckled inward, the entire corridor compressing like a collapsing tunnel. Droids caught in the implosion crumpled, their limbs folding under the weight of their own armor before the bulkheads crushed them completely. The remaining battle droids that had avoided the collapse pushed forward. Jaden turned his palm upward. The floor cracked and tore free beneath them, the plating rising in jagged slabs. He gestured forward. The debris rushed ahead like a tidal wave, sweeping the droids off their feet before slamming them into the far wall, crushing them against their own reinforcements.

Blast doors locked down ahead, emergency security protocols sealing the passage. Jaden kept walking. The metal groaned, the reinforced barriers trembling as they bent inward. He didn't slow. The doors exploded outward before he reached them, shards of twisted steel shooting forward, impaling the next wave of droids waiting behind them. He stepped through the wreckage. A formation of super battle droids leveled their arms. The barrels of their built-in weapons glowed as they prepared to fire. Jaden raised a hand. They froze. Their servos whined as they tried to move, but invisible pressure locked them in place. He twisted his fingers. The metal of their bodies groaned and crunched inward, their torsos folding, limbs snapping off at the joints. He released his hold, letting the wreckage drop as he moved deeper into the ship.

Heavy footsteps echoed ahead. A new wave emerged, larger droids, some twice his height, armored in phrik plating, energy shields humming to life, weapons designed to cut through tank armor. They spread out, blocking the passage. Jaden didn't slow. He extended his arms, palms down. The gravity shifted. The droids buckled, their frames warping under the sudden force. The plating bent inward, servos failed, joints collapsed. The pressure increased. They flattened against the ground, their bodies snapping apart under the unseen weight. Jaden stepped over the remains.

The security response escalated. Turrets deployed from the ceiling, swiveling into place, tracking his movement. They fired in coordinated bursts, alternating trajectories, calculating movement paths. Jaden flicked his fingers and the bolts reversed midair, slamming back into the weapons that fired them. The turrets exploded one by one. The passage ahead twisted, emergency blast doors cycling into position. Jaden exhaled. The lights flickered as the entire hallway trembled. The structure warped inward. Bulkheads collapsed. Conduits burst. The sealed doors dented, then peeled away as the entire section of the ship folded into itself. Sparks rained down from ruptured power lines as the wreckage settled into silence.

He reached the final stretch. The observation deck loomed ahead, the last elevator waiting at the end of the corridor. The last line of droids stood in formation, blocking his approach. Thousands filled the hall, shoulder to shoulder, row after row, weapons raised. Tactical droids stood among them, issuing commands, calculating every possible engagement scenario. Jaden reached forward. The Force surged. Sparks erupted in his hands, they continued to grow unchecked until a sphere of pure lightning erupted from his hands smashing into the batallion of  droids and destroying them entirely. The path was clear. The elevator doors waited ahead, undamaged, untouched by the destruction around them. Jaden stepped inside. The lift doors closed. The ascent began.

At the top, the doors slid open. The observation deck stretched before him. The stars filled the viewport beyond the duraglass. At the center of the room, standing alone, waiting for him, was Vaylin. Jaden stepped out of the elevator. The observation deck stretched before him, wide and silent, the stars outside unmoving. He walked forward, his footsteps the only sound. Two MagnaGuards blocked his path, electrostaffs spinning as they lunged. He lifted his hand. Their bodies jerked mid-motion, metal screeching as their limbs tore apart. The pieces dropped to the floor. He kept walking.

Vaylin stood ahead, her back to him, watching the battle beyond the viewport. He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Her body tensed for a moment, then relaxed against him. A slow sigh left her lips.

"I have missed you," he said.

"And I you," she whispered.

She turned. Her eyes were blue, her hair golden, her face soft. She was beautiful. He cupped her cheek. She leaned into his touch. Their lips met. Warmth spread between them. She clutched his robe, pulling herself closer. He deepened the kiss, his hands pressing into her back.

She pulled back and rested her head against his chest. He led her to a seat, and she sank into him, arms wrapped around his waist. They sat together, silent for a time. She traced her fingers along his arm. He brushed his hand through her hair.

"How are they?" she asked.

"They miss you," he said. "Padmè, Aubrie, Fay. Even Ahsoka."

She smiled. "And the Path?"

"Strong," he said. "But incomplete without you."

She was quiet. He felt her hold tighten.

"Where have you been?" he asked. "What have you been doing?"

She hesitated. "Searching. Learning. Seeing the truth of this galaxy."

He ran his fingers down her back. "You could have come home."

She shook her head. "Not yet."

Jaden exhaled. "Then come home now."

She stiffened.

He pulled back slightly. "Vaylin."

She hesitated, then whispered, "I can't."

His fingers lifted her chin. "Stop this. Whatever this is. Come home."

She looked at him. For a moment, her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but she turned her head away.

"I have to do this," she said. "It's the only choice."

Jaden's grip tightened. "Please. Let me help you."

She stood. "You can't."

He frowned. "Why?"

She turned. "Because of you."

His expression darkened. "Vaylin."

She stepped away. "You've gotten too used to your strength. You believe yourself unchallenged. That no one in the galaxy could oppose you."

Jaden's eyes narrowed.

"But... you were deceived."

The words hung between them.

Her eyes shifted. Her hair darkened.

"Vaylin, no," he said. "I don't want to fight you."

Her breath hitched. Sparks flickered at her fingertips.

"Your power has left you blind," she said. "And now the Republic, Naboo... everything will fall."

Tears ran down her face. The air grew heavy.

"Vaylin! Tell me what's happening!"

She trembled. "Darth Sidious has committed acts for power more vile than even my father." Her voice broke. "And they have worked. Now the galaxy will be consumed by his shadow."

Jaden's stomach clenched.

"I'm sorry."

Lightning erupted from her hands.

Jaden caught it with his palms, but the force behind it sent him crashing into the wall. Energy surged through him, his muscles locking as he strained against the attack. His fingers curled, pushing back. The bolts bent, twisting against their source. Vaylin gritted her teeth, pouring more power into the strike. The floor cracked beneath them. The walls shook. Jaden roared, forcing his hands forward. The lightning reversed, breaking her hold. The energy burst outward, sending Vaylin stumbling back. Jaden stepped away from the wall, his breathing steady and he drew his lightsaber the blue blade igniting from its hilt.

Vaylin also drew her lightsaber and the blade hummed to life. They stood across from each other, their breath steady, eyes locked. The Force swelled around them. The floor beneath them trembled. Vaylin lunged first. Jaden met her strike. Their sabers clashed, sending a shockwave through the observation deck. Vaylin twisted her wrist, redirecting the angle, slicing low. Jaden stepped back, parrying upward, his saber spinning into a follow-up strike toward her ribs. She ducked, the tip grazing past her shoulder as she pivoted, her blade whipping in a counterstroke toward his back.

Jaden turned with it, their sabers dragging against each other in a crackling arc. He locked the momentum into a spin, pushing her off balance. He struck at her legs, forcing her into a backflip over the command table. She landed, both hands gripping her saber, her feet digging into the floor as she propelled herself forward. Jaden blocked the downward slash, shifting his grip as he guided her blade past him, then sent a palm strike into her chest.

She flew backward, but she twisted midair, pushing against the Force to land on her feet. Her hand flicked forward. Jaden's body wrenched sideways as an invisible grip seized him, slamming him through a console. Sparks flew. He rolled before she could follow up. She launched forward again, her saber a blur. Jaden sidestepped the first strike, ducked the second, then intercepted the third, guiding her blade past his shoulder. He drove his knee into her stomach. The breath left her lungs, but she recovered instantly, sweeping her saber low. Jaden vaulted over it, flipping behind her, slashing down. She blocked, the impact cracking the floor beneath them.

Their blades clashed again, neither giving an inch.

Vaylin's fingers curled. The air around Jaden constricted. He felt the pressure squeeze around his throat, but he twisted the Force around himself, breaking the grip. He shot his hand out. The Force hit her like a hammer. She flew back, her boots dragging against the floor, but she threw her own hand forward. Jaden braced as the impact slammed into him, sending him flying at the viewport. He caught himself midair, flipping back onto solid ground.

Vaylin was already on him. Their sabers crashed again. She kicked at his knee. He blocked with his shin, stepped inside her guard, and pressed his elbow into her ribs before slamming her into the floor. She rolled, launching herself into a rising strike. He caught it, locking their blades. Her free hand ignited with lightning. The crackling energy surged toward his face. He dodged, but the heat burned against his skin. He caught her wrist, redirecting the blast upward, then twisted, throwing her across the deck. She landed against a support beam, bent her knees, and shot forward again.

Jaden brought his saber up to meet her. Their blades moved faster, exchanging blows, shifting angles, countering with perfect precision. Every clash sent waves of energy through the deck, the ship groaning under the pressure.

She raised her free hand. The floor beneath him exploded upward. He leapt, spinning over the debris as she launched a piece of broken durasteel at him. He caught it midair with the Force, flipped it, and hurled it back at her. She cut through it, the shards scattering as she surged forward.

They met again, their sabers clashing in sparks. Jaden stepped inside her next swing, caught her wrist, and twisted. Her saber dropped for half a second before she wrenched free, her boot driving into his ribs. He staggered, caught her ankle before she could pull away, and threw her over his shoulder. She barely managed to get her lightsaber with a quick force pull.

She hit the ground hard. He pressed his palm against the floor. The deck plates beneath her cracked, then burst upward, sending her flying. He followed, launching himself with the Force, slamming her midair with a palm strike. She crashed through the upper deck, debris falling with her.

Jaden landed beside her. She coughed, her body bruised, but she gritted her teeth and swung her saber at his head. He ducked, slammed his palm into her stomach, then lifted his hand. The Force carried her into the air, her limbs locking as he held her in place.

She roared. The ship shook. A wave of raw power blasted outward. The durasteel walls caved in, consoles shattered, and Jaden was sent skidding back.

She landed. Her hand shot forward. Lightning poured from her fingers, hitting him square in the chest. His body seized from the impact, the force driving him through the wall, deeper into the ship. He gritted his teeth, pushing back against the onslaught, but the energy crackled through his body, locking his muscles.

Vaylin advanced, the air around her pulsing with power. She clenched her fist. The ship twisted. Bulkheads imploded. The floor buckled, the durasteel folding around them.

Jaden summoned his strength. He caught the lightning in his palm, forced it back, then surged forward. His fist struck her jaw. The impact sent her flying through the broken hull. She caught herself on the next level, flipping midair. Jaden followed, leaping after her. They met mid-flight, their sabers crashing against each other. Sparks flew. The ship trembled. They broke apart, landed on opposite sides of the deck.

Vaylin exhaled, her eyes burning. "You still don't see it."

Jaden steadied his stance. "See what?"

She spread her arms. The Force erupted around her. The hull behind her bent outward. The structure buckled. The vacuum of space pulled at them. The observation deck's outer walls gave way. The air thinned. Alarms blared.

Jaden lunged. She caught his saber with her own, their blades locking one final time.

Then she pushed.

The explosion sent him flying. The viewport shattered. He was pulled into the void. Jaden twisted, adjusting his momentum with the Force. His body spun once before he stabilized, eyes narrowing as he summoned control over his own environment. He slowed his breathing, gathered what oxygen had been blown out with him, and reinforced his body against the vacuum. It wouldn't last forever, but he wouldn't die here. His lightsaber hummed, its glow illuminating the darkness around him as he turned his gaze to The Invisible Hand.

Vaylin still stood where she had sent him, staring at him across the empty abyss. Then she pushed off, moving toward him with unnatural speed. The Force wrapped around her, propelling her through space, her body cutting through the void with perfect control.

"Vaylin, this is your last chance."

She said nothing. The vacuum carried no sound, but he saw her expression tighten before she shot toward him. Her saber flashed in the darkness, swinging for his chest. Jaden met her strike mid-space. Their blades crashed, sending a visible ripple through the vacuum. The impact shoved him backward, but he adjusted instantly, twisting his wrist and parrying the blow aside. His hilt struck her face, the impact visible in the sharp snap of her head. He spun with it, bringing his blade down her back. His muscles tensed as a jolt of pain spread through his chest, hurting her like this felt wrong.

She twisted with the wound, her breath sharp as she turned the pain into motion. Her grip tightened. The Force pulsed. A whole squadron of fighters, distant but within reach, shuddered in space. Their pilots barely had time to react before Vaylin seized them. The ships lurched in different directions, their thrusters useless against the sheer grip of her will. Then she threw them at Jaden.

Jaden's body blurred as he propelled himself backward. The first fighter came screaming toward him. He barely dodged, using the Force to angle his body, twisting just enough to let it pass by inches. Another ship followed. He planted his feet against its nose, used the impact to launch himself upward, then caught another with a Force grip midair, turning it sharply into the next. Wreckage spiraled away.

He landed on the surface of The Invisible Hand, skidding against the hull. The next fighter closed in. Jaden crouched and launched forward, leaping across the ship's exterior, using the metal as footing to maneuver between the incoming starfighters. His hands stretched outward. The Force rippled through the battlefield. Turbolaser batteries along the hull twisted mid-fire, targeting the incoming vessels. The next wave of fighters were obliterated before reaching him.

The last fighter hurtled toward him at full speed and he raised both hands up stoping it in its tracks. Before he could react, Vaylin crashed into him, exploding through the fighter. Her saber pierced his side, burning straight through his ribs. His mouth opened in a silent gasp, pain searing through his body. She pushed him back, their momentum carrying them across the hull. He smashed through a turbolaser tower, then another, debris scattering in their wake. Jaden braced, gritted his teeth, then flipped mid-motion. His leg shot up, kicking Vaylin off him. She spiraled backward but recovered instantly. Lightning burst from her fingers. The void between them lit up with crackling energy.

Jaden raised both hands. Using Tutaminis he absorbed the blast, the sheer power making his skin burn from the pressure, but he redirected it, transforming it into raw Force energy. He thrust it forward. The impact struck Vaylin like a cannon. She flew backward, slamming into the side of an Acclamator-class cruiser. The hull caved under the impact, her body ripping through multiple levels before she emerged on the other side, her body torn, blood trailing behind her. But she didn't stop.

Jaden's eyes flashed purple. His hands stretched outward. The Force gripped the ship. The Acclamator listed violently, the structure groaning as he slammed it up. The ship tilted, moving toward Vaylin. Its nose hit first, breaking apart on impact, tearing through the decks she had just been thrown through.

For a moment, the battlefield was still.

Then red lightning erupted from the wreckage as Vaylin absorbed the life force of everyone in the ship. Jaden's eyes widened. Vaylin stood amidst the shattered remains, her arms outstretched, arcs of unnatural energy pouring from her fingers into the hull of the ship. The bodies inside, those still clinging to life, withered as she drained them. Their screams never reached the vacuum. Only the light in their eyes dimmed before they collapsed. The entire cruiser, its power, its crew, everything within it, became fuel for her.

Jaden reached toward her, but he was too late.

She turned toward him, her presence now monstrous. The Force bent around her, her power surging beyond anything he had felt from her before.

She moved.

Jaden barely had time to react before she sent a wave of energy at him, large enough to split a capital ship. He threw up both hands, catching it with his own will, but the sheer force sent him crashing into the hull of The Invisible Hand once more, carving a trench through the metal.

He rose. His body straightened. His breath slowed. His eyes turned fully purple. The energy around him changed. The void of space bent inward, the Force wrapping around him. His mind and body moved as one. Balance. True balance.

Vaylin struck first.

She hurled debris, entire chunks of the shattered Acclamator flying toward him. Jaden reached out, his fingers barely moving. The wreckage froze midair, then reversed. It flew back at her, faster than before. She cut through it, carving a path forward, but Jaden was already moving.

They clashed again.

Saber against saber, movement against movement. Their fight tore across the battlefield, each strike sending ripples through the Force. They moved between wreckage, through the empty space, colliding with the debris of warships as they fought. Jaden broke through a maneuver, striking across her shoulder. Vaylin retaliated, lightning surging through her free hand, gripping his wrist before he could pull back. He twisted, reversing the hold, forcing her own energy back into her.

She screamed, but it didn't stop her.

They soared through space, breaking through the hull of a Venator-class destroyer. The fight continued within its ruined halls. Jaden caught her next strike and sent a Force shockwave through the floor. The ship split apart, venting them back into the vacuum. They crashed into another drifting vessel, their sabers still clashing.

Then came the final strike.

Both extended their hands. Lightning surged. Hers red, his pure green. The two storms collided, expanding outward until the width of their clash engulfed an entire destroyer. The power struggled between them, each pushing forward, their wills locked in the Force.

Jaden roared.

His energy broke through hers.

The lightning struck her full force, sending her flying into the depths of space. Her body drifted, her power finally breaking.

Jaden didn't hesitate.

He pushed forward, flying through the void, reaching for her. He caught her, wrapping his arms around her before she could disappear into the abyss. He held Vaylin close as they drifted through the void, his grip careful. His eyes returned to their natural blue, his power settling. His bubble of air expanded, wrapping around her, sustaining her. She gasped, her chest rising, her body struggling to regain itself. She was alive, though broken. Her breath was shallow, her pulse weak.

His love for her was his weakness. He had the chance to end this, to stop her once and for all, yet he couldn't. Not without knowing. Not without understanding why she had become this. The Vaylin he knew—the one he loved—had left him, but he refused to believe she was gone.

Turning back toward The Invisible Hand, he pulled himself toward the ship with the Force, his body aching, his mind clouded. He activated the emergency force fields around the hull breaches, stepping inside, carrying her with him. The air rushed back, stabilizing the atmosphere. The ship groaned from battle damage, but it would hold long enough.

He would bring her back to Naboo. There, he could contain her. He could reach her. Maybe even change her mind.

He took a step forward.

And then the Force screamed.

A shift so great, so unnatural, that his body nearly collapsed under the weight of it. His heart pounded. It felt as though the galaxy itself had turned inside out. The presence was dark, suffocating, powerful beyond anything he had felt before.

Anakin.

Jaden turned and ran, his mind blank except for the name. He sprinted through the ship, his feet barely touching the floor as the Force propelled him. He could feel it before he reached the room.

The doors slid open, and Jaden stepped inside.

The sight before him sent ice through his veins.

Bodies littered the floor. Maul's lifeless form lay in a twisted heap, his skull caved in, his chest carved open. His lightsaber lay in two pieces beside him. Savage Opress was no better, his body torn apart, arms missing, his horned head barely attached to what remained of his shoulders. Asajj Ventress lay against the wall, her throat crushed inward, her face twisted in frozen agony. Count Dooku sat slumped against the far side of the room, his torso split from shoulder to hip, his eyes still open in shock.

Jaden barely registered them.

His gaze locked on Ahsoka.

She twitched on the ground, her body scorched. The burns ran deep, the pattern unmistakable—Force lightning. Her arms were barely able to move, her fingers trembling as she tried to push herself up, but her strength had left her. Her sabers lay beside her, useless. She was dying.

But worst of all—

Jaden stopped breathing.

Luke and Leia.

The twins lay motionless, their small bodies sprawled across the floor, lightsaber wounds still glowing faintly in their chests. Their faces were peaceful, as if they had simply gone to sleep.

Jaden staggered, the weight of the moment crushing down on him. His hands curled into fists, his nails digging into his palms. His mind refused to accept what he saw, but the Force did not lie. They were gone.

A slow breath, ragged and deep, pulled him back.

At the end of the room, on a black throne, sat a figure draped in dark robes. The presence wrapped around him like a storm, a void of pure malevolence. And before the throne, kneeling, head bowed, lightsaber still ignited in his hand.

Anakin.

Jaden took a step forward, his eyes burning as he surveyed the carnage. Luke and Leia's lifeless bodies, Ahsoka barely clinging to life, the broken corpses of Sith Lords scattered like discarded tools. His voice came out low, rough with restrained fury.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Anakin turned, his face blank, but in his eyes—sadness. Guilt.

From the throne, a slow chuckle. The robed figure shifted in his seat, the darkness around him thick. "You have arrived just in time to witness the elevation of my apprentice, Grandmaster." His voice was mocking, almost amused.

Jaden's focus snapped to him, piecing everything together. "You must be Darth Sidious."

The man let out a rasping laugh, rising to his feet. "Once, perhaps, I was... but not anymore."

A shiver ran down Jaden's spine. The darkness around the man pulsed, unnatural, twisting in on itself. His hood remained low, but in the depths of the shadow, Jaden saw the glow of red eyes, bright and hungry.

"It is thanks to you, Grandmaster, that I have become what you see before you."

Jaden clenched his fists. "What are you talking about?"

Sidious tilted his head slightly, his voice dripping with something between amusement and scorn. "When I first created you all those years ago, I thought you a failure. Yet, when you emerged—years later—I watched you ascend to an unprecedented level of power. You surpassed all Jedi. Even my own strength was dwarfed."

The room darkened. Jaden's breath was slow, controlled, but he could feel the edges of something terrible pressing down on him.

Sidious continued, his voice deep, reveling in his own triumph. "Because of you, I sought new ways to gain power. And gain power I have. You now present no more threat to me than your little apprentice did." He gestured toward Ahsoka, her burned body twitching on the ground.

Jaden felt his anger spike. He wanted nothing more than to cut this monster down. But he controlled it, held it tight. "Why wait so long?" he said. "If this was about me, you had years to strike."

Sidious laughed again, a slow, deliberate mockery. "This was never about you, Jaden." He stepped forward. "Every master needs an apprentice. And now I have mine."

Jaden turned to Anakin, his voice breaking slightly. "Anakin... what are you doing? This isn't you. You would never do this."

Anakin stared at the floor, his shoulders tense, his saber still ignited in his hand. His voice was quiet, almost pleading. "Through the dark... I'll be able to bring them all back." He hesitated. "I'm sorry, Jaden."

Jaden's heart twisted.

Sidious sighed dramatically. "As entertaining as this has been, I have more pressing matters to attend to." His hands rose, fingers spread. Lightning erupted from his palms, crackling with unnatural power.

Jaden barely had time to let go of Vaylin before the attack reached him.

The moment the lightning touched him, he knew this was different. The sheer force of it tore through his defenses. His arms shook as he held it back, his body locking under the impact. His bones vibrated. His muscles burned. The heat in his hands grew unbearable. The smell of scorched flesh filled the room. His skin blackened. His fingers trembled. His hands were dissolving, muscle disintegrating under the assault.

Pain exploded through his chest.

Anakin stood behind him, his blue saber piercing through his back. The tip burned through his ribs, searing his organs. Jaden's vision blurred. The lightning surged through the wound, his body convulsing from the overload. Then—Sidious twisted his hands, sending a final wave of power through him.

Jaden slammed into the wall, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud. The pain was unbearable. The wound in his chest smoked. He barely had the strength to breathe.

Sidious stepped forward, looking down at him. "Good, Anakin," he purred.

Jaden barely heard them. He was focused on one thing—survival.

He had shifted his heart just before the blade entered, avoiding a direct fatal strike. But the damage was severe. His unique physiology was the only thing keeping him from dying outright. He called upon it, sinking deep into himself, pulling everything inward. He let his body go still, his Force signature vanishing. To anyone watching, he was dead.

"You have done well, Lord Vader," Sidious continued, his voice smooth and triumphant.

Jaden barely opened his eyes.

Sidious stepped closer to Anakin, voice lowering into something almost warm. "Do not mourn them, my apprentice. I have knowledge of places... places where we may yet restore what was lost. I will show you."

Anakin's hands tightened into fists. His face twisted with pain, but he did not resist.

Jaden couldn't let this continue.

He focused. The Force flooded his body, his wounds knitting, his strength returning in an instant. He had only seconds before they noticed.

He moved.

In a flash, he teleported—once, twice—grabbing Vaylin first, then Ahsoka, before vanishing one final time.

Sidious turned, his red eyes narrowing, but Jaden was already gone.

Anakin stepped forward, igniting his saber, prepared to chase him.

Sidious held up a hand. "Leave him, Vader." His voice was absolute. "He has nowhere left to run."

He pulled a communicator from his robe, the device lighting up in his hand. His lips curled into a slow smile.

"Execute Order 66."

(AN: by the way this ain’t gonna be canon to the story. These are just what ifs. Sorry for the lack of sex in this it seemed like a waste of time.)