Murder the Dawn: Chapter Thirty Five: It's Only Just Begun

[ladyofleithian]

In which Acheron attacks the Temple, and Bail Organa decides to get the hell out of dodge just so he can actually do something about the invasion.

Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be.

Author's Notes: Included a bit of a reference to the whole "Deception" arc in The Clone Wars -- another thing that, on further thought, really bugs me. Because true, Obi-Wan's lied (in a sense) in the Original Trilogy, but it's not the Original Trilogy yet, and you would think, at least from one standpoint, that Obi-Wan would be a little more upset about having to deceive Anakin. I mean, look at his reaction in Revenge of the Sith when he has to go after Anakin, not to mention...well, a lot of what he goes through in Revenge of the Sith in regards to Anakin. Because Anakin's not just his Padawan; he's like a brother to Obi-Wan, and I don't think Obi-Wan would be able to throw that away that easily. I haven't really gotten to "Crisis on Naboo" yet (so I'll have to see how it all pans out in the end), but from what I saw in "Deception/Friends and Enemies/The Box" -- yeah, I don't think it was one of the Clone Wars' finest hours, really. I just hope they don't repeat that in Season Five.

But anyway, enough rambling/ranting (and I do apologize if I inadvertently offended anyone; it just bugged me) -- I hope you enjoy this chapter at any rate!

The siege on the Jedi Temple was one of the most difficult things – no, the most difficult thing – that Obi-Wan had ever done. He had had to do many questionable things during the Clone Wars, such as faking his death to go underground as a spy – something that Anakin and Satine had been particularly angry at him for. But this...this was even worse.

Dueling the Masters was one thing. They had experience for this, and though Acheron hated having to fight some of his dearest friends, he could at least take solace in the fact that they were at least preparing for such things.

But then there were the younglings. And even now, striding into the chamber where the younglings hid, he could see the fear and desperate hope in their eyes -- that maybe the brave General Kenobi could be able to save them.

“Master Kenobi,” one of them said, “There’s too many of them. What are we going to do?”

Silence. And then...

“I’m sorry.”

And hand shaking as he did so, Darth Acheron -- formerly Obi-Wan Kenobi -- ignited his lightsaber.

***

Bail Organa had seen many things over the course of the war. But even now, looking out over the ruins of the Jedi Temple, he could not help but utter a curse that would make a Corellian dockhand blush. Even now, telling one of his guards to stay on the Tantive IV, to not turn it around (brushing off their questions as to why they weren’t just getting away from here as it being urgent business), Bail headed towards the building, which, he found, much to his chagrin, was guarded by clones.

Even now, Bail wished that he had had time to actually get in the speeder before starting the engines, but it wasn’t like he had much of a choice. If anything, with the clone troopers shooting at him, it was lucky that he still had a choice. Below, the boy was still cutting down clone troopers left and right, and Bail was almost tempted to leap off the speeder and help him, but the boy quickly gestured towards him, as if telling him to go, before finally, a blaster bolt managed to fell him.

It was a fortunate thing, Bail mused darkly as he managed to pull himself into the speeder and right himself moments later, that he hadn’t crashed into the building nearby. Otherwise, things would have been far worse than one would have expected. The best he could do now was make his way out of system and make sure that everyone else was all right. But even so, he had a feeling that it wouldn’t be easy.

He supposed he should thank the boy for saving him. If anything, the boy had died to save him. Even now, he could not help but wonder, if he could have saved him, perhaps --

But there was no time. He had to get off Coruscant.

It was later in space that he got the transmission from Master Yoda. The news -- the Jedi Master’s clone troopers had turned on him on Kashyyyk. It was only through quick thinking (or so Bail interpreted it) that the Jedi Master had managed to escape. If this was a galaxy wide thing --

There was no time to waste. He had to get to Kashyyyk. And that was a fact.