Author's Note:

This is my take on the circumstances of Order 66, since Anakin was not a key part. This was a very dark chapter for me to write, but I still don't feel like it conveyed the depth of the circumstances. We've all seen Revenge of the Sith, and most of us have seen the most recent Clone Wars. We know how these scenes played out, and I didn't feel like I necessarily needed to go back through it shot by shot. This story is about Anakin and Padme, but I felt like this chapter was necessary to get a feel of what was happening at the time. As for Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Yoda and the rest, consider their situations to be the same as was shown in film. Thank you to everyone who has continued to follow this story, especially as I work to bring myself back into this. May the Force be with you! ~ t6d

24 hours earlier.

"I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi."

Mace Windu stood alongside the hologram board, alone, arms folded in front of him as he glanced between the holographic images of Yoda, Ki Adi Mundi and Aayla Secura. The Jedi Masters grimly acknowledged in their own ways. Only Yoda spoke.

"Circumstances were there, to bring this line of thought?"

"A feeling," answered Windu. "The Dark Side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor. I feel it growing. We have no proof, but I feel we should act on this."

"I agree," said Ki Adi Mundi in his slow, methodical way.

"Confront the Chancellor," said Yoda, his ears bending downward as they often did when he was deep in thought. "Express our concerns with the continuation of the war, we should. And see his response."

"I sense this war could have been long since finished, had we not had invisible obstacles thrown at us at every turn," said Aayla Secura, and she shook her head sadly. "I feel you are right, Master Windu. Something is amiss."

Windu nodded slowly, and one by one, the other holograms disappeared, leaving only Master Yoda.

"I fear this confrontation will go badly," said Windu, slowly. "We must prepare for the worst, whatever form that may take."

"Find Master Skywalker, we must."

"Obi-Wan is on Utapau, tracking General Grevious. I will have him contact Anakin."

"May the Force be with you."

"And with you, Master Yoda."

Chancellor Palpatine paced in his office. The most recent session of Congress had not gone well. More and more systems were demanding answers, were demanding an end to the war and an end to the money being spent daily, hourly, to continue this seemingly unnecessary conquest.

Years earlier, the Clone Wars had been a grand achievement. There was a clear goal, and everything had fallen perfectly into place to achieve that goal. The marriage of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala had meant to serve as a tipping point. There had been many objectives with that union, all of them disguised as being for the good of the Republic, and no doubt, a grand achievement for the Jedi Order. The closer the couple became, the easier Palpatine thought it would be control the mind of the young, seemingly naive, Anakin Skywalker. He had felt control, and in the blink of an eye, Anakin had slipped from his grasp. He had underestimated the young Jedi, and all his work over the last many years had started to fall apart.

Now, Anakin and Padmé were nowhere to be found, and he was no closer to discovering their whereabouts. The war was progressing in the favor of the Separatists, as they continued to defeat the Republic's armies at every turn.

There was a beep alerting Palpatine to an incoming hologram. He received it, leaning heavily on the table as the hologram of a bounty hunter appeared before him.

"Report," he growled.

"Nothing, sir," answered the bounty hunter. "They aren't in Sector Eight. I've checked flight records and tracking forms. I've spoken to more people than I can count. No one has seen them."

"That's not good enough," hissed Palpatine. "You are the fourth bounty hunter I've enlisted for this job, and the fourth to fail me. Give me a better answer, or I will consider this the end of our contract."

"Sir, I have searched everywhere. At this point, we'd best look for corpses. They can't still be alive if four of us haven't been able to find them."

"Very well." Palpatine's eyes flashed yellow for a moment, then faded as he pulled himself together. He straightened. "Your payment, as we agreed." He lifted his hand.

The bounty hunter stiffened, gasping, as he levitated off of the surface on which he stood, scratching desperately at his neck. Palpatine glared for a moment, then clamped his hand into a tight fist. There was a loud snap, and the man in the hologram went limp, lifeless. Lifting both hands, Palpatine used the Force to crush the hologram table. Sparks flew and lights flashed, and the air shivered with the intensity of that moment.

A comlink chirped.

"Chancellor, Master Windu is here to have an audience with you."

"Send him in," hissed Palpatine, stepping away from the crushed hologram table. He sat down behind his massive desk, folded his hands in front of him, then forced a small smile. The door open and Mace Windu entered, followed by Masters Agen Kolar and Saesee Tiin. Their faces were stone, grim, unyielding.

"Master Windu," smiled Palpatine. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Unfortunately, we are here to discuss the war," answered Windu. Palpatine motioned at the seats in front of his desk, but the Jedi made no move to sit. Slowly, he rose, folding his hands in front of him as he feigned a look of sadness.

"The war has taken a toll on all of us," sighed Palpatine. "I sense it is drawing to a close, although I don't see how with our continued defeats. The Jedi generals in charge of our armies are, need I say, losing their touch."

Windu made no move to express his frustration over this comment. He did not flinch and his voice did not show any frustration he might have felt.

"I feel we should change our tactics to better target the Seperatist leader, General Grevious, and Count Dooku. They are, after all, in charge of the Seperatist armies. With them in custody, they would be leaderless and it would be easier to end this war."

"Perhaps, instead, you should pull back your Jedi forces and leave the fighting to our clone commanders."

"Perhaps not," answered Windu, and his eyes flashed, the only indication that this conversation was nearing an end. "The clone army is, and always will be, under the leadership of the Jedi Order. We will see this war to it's completion."

"Oh?" The yellow gleam returned to Palpatine's eyes, and his brows narrowed as he stared at Master Windu. The edges of his mouth twitched.

Master Windu could feel the air stiffen, but he did not relent. "Perhaps we should leave the decision to the Senate, whether or not to remove the Jedi from this war."

"I am the Senate," hissed Palpatine.

"Not yet," snapped Windu, and for the first time he knew he was speaking to a Sith Lord.

"It's treason then," growled Palpatine. There was a flash of red light as his lightsaber ignited by his side, then he hissed loudly and launched himself at the Jedi.

"Commander Cody, the time has come. Execute Order 66."

The door to the Chancellor's office opened, and through it boldly strode Count Dooku. He paused only when he saw the bodies of the Jedi Masters littered on the floor of the office. His brow lifted slightly when he saw Master Windu among them. He made a move to speak, but Palpatine spoke first, his voice raspy and angry.

"The time has come to finish our plans, Lord Tyranus."

"The Jedi will be destroyed?"

"Every. Last. One. I am sending you to the Jedi Temple. Wipe out every Jedi in your path. Leave none alive. Then meet me on Mustafar."

"As you wish, My Lord."

On Mustafar, the Separatist leaders had seated themselves around a very large table in the main conference hall. Battle droids lined the walls, several dozen of them. General Grevious stood to the side, robotic arms behind his back as he patiently awaited the arrival of his master. The light of the fire and lava flickered on the walls, and the lights within the building seemed insignificant in comparison. It was clear something was afoot, and the Separatist leaders spoke in hushed tones among themselves.

The door to the conference hall opened and Darth Sidious strode in, hood low over his face to conceal his features. Count Dooku followed one step behind. They stopped at the head of the table, General Grevious joining them. All three looked out over the Separatist leaders, and for several tense seconds, their was utter silence. Then Sidious spoke.

"The war is over," he said in his deep, raspy voice. "You have fought well and achieved much. My commanders will take care of you."

Sidious took a step back as Dooku and Grevious stepped forward, igniting their lightsabers as they did so. The doors surrounding the room opened and clone troopers stepped in, rifles at the ready. What followed was a blur of red, blue and green blades, and laser fire, and many screams and cries. Within moments, the Separatist leaders were dead, as were their droids. The clones lined the walls, having taken the place of the droids, their rifles in hand, in the ready position. Dooku and Grevious turned to face their Master.

"It has been done, My Lord," said Grevious, bowing low in front of Sidious. Dooku only nodded and hooked his lightsaber on his belt.

"Almost." Sidious looked at each in turn, then the corners of his mouth twitched. He rose his hand and motioned at the clones. He nodded towards Grevious and Dooku. "Kill them."

The clones raised their rifles, and before the two unsuspecting commanders could react, they opened fire.