Imagine if you will a great cord stretching across the galaxy from one expansive spiral arm to the other thousands of lightyears away. Now imagine if that cord snaps under extreme pressure, the shock wave being sent out throughout the void rumbling past all that stood in its wake. The climatic events that would make up the first few hours of Order 66 were just such a rope proving how fragile it all could very well be. Using one command, Palpatine would singlehandedly change the face of the galaxy for years to come. Even those remotely attuned to the Force would feel its effects as it's entirety seemed to tremble and shake, those more attuned feeling almost as if their heads had been dunked into molten carbonite. 

Feemor had of course felt it, the change in the air and the sudden shiver running down his spine. It was an odd sensation one that he could only place one other time in his life and that was when his old master had died on Naboo all those years ago. Ever so suddenly he did not feel like a Master of the Jedi Order, a General of the Grand Army of the Republic or a Negotiator of immense skill. He felt very little and very cold in a vastly immeasurable galaxy. The very fragile structure that they had so fiercely been trying to preserve over the course of this turbulent war had finally given way. He turned to his padawan Charuri who was looking back at him with an uncertainty in her eyes hand reflexively reaching towards her lightsaber. She must have felt it as well, how could she have not felt such a thing? She was patiently waiting for a response from her Master, looking upon  the almost alien visage of shock open his face. But a moment passed and his soon recollected itself as he quickly found his own center once more. 

“Let’s move Charuri and quickly.” His voice had none of the humor or calmness that his padawan had been accustomed to. It felt like he was far on the horizon with a great storm separating the pair. Had she suspected at least some words of comfort? Maybe that it was some fluke, that whatever had just happened wasn't as bad as it seemed, that everything was going to be okay. But of course the Force did not have flukes, such a wound could only mean the worst had come and with it a terrible darkness. So she followed her Master matching his footfalls in the sparsely occupied halls of the temple, echoes bouncing of high and lonely walls almost sullenly. They passed a few other pairs of Jedi all moving in the same direction as them all seemingly stirred by what they had all sensed. The members of the Temple Security Force which had been patrolling in higher numbers after the attack on Coruscant, if not sensing the effects on the Force they at least had seen the urgency in their Jedi allies. 

The outer walls shook as what felt like several starships all at once buzzed dangerous close to the temple walls and around towards the front entrance. Following this was a great overwhelm presence of the Dark Side something that clung to Feemor’s heart as it was slowly approaching the temple threatening to consume it. It made sense, most of the experienced members of the order were spread out across the galaxy, those that remained at the temple were mostly the young and the old with a few veterans of the war intermixed between them. To attack them now would not just cripple the Republic but the lifeline of the entire Jedi Order, thousands of years of learning, knowledge, and tradition eradicated within hours. Chauri looked at her master as they progressed now going from a determined walk to a slow jog as she spoke. “Master.... where are we going?”

“Towards the High Council Tower. As of recently Master Shaak Ti had been put in charge of the defense of the Temple due to recent concerns. It would be the most ideal place to form a temporary command post as needed.” Feemor explained calmly, the fear having been washed away through mental fortitude and replaced with a statue like form of determination.

“A command post? You don’t think that the Separatists would attack us here would they?” And if almost on cue another cord was cut as the Gatekeeper fell outside. Following almost moments later by a large explosion that rumbled through the temple. The pair stopped for a moment and listened as blaster fire began echoing through the halls towards the entrance of the temple. The pair looked at each other and without needed works broke into full sprints added by the force to cover more distance at a much more rapid pace.


By the time they reached the entrance to the High Council Tower the surrounding area was already filled with activity as the sounds of battle raged far ahead of them still at the entrance. The Security Forces were already in full motion and groups of knights, padawans and masters alike were rushing forward towards the sounds of battle while others were setting up defensive positions to hold the line where they were. It was surprising to see how quickly they had all responded to the crisis but they were still so few and judging from the sounds the force attacking was much, much bigger.  They were most likely heading to reinforce vital locations up ahead such as the archives to protect the knowledge stored within. As Feemor made a move towards the entrance of the Tower itself where beyond the threshold she could see important looking people all talking and preparing, he made a motion for Charuri to stay.

Charuri looked about and noticed a group of younglings sitting against a wall a look of confusion up their faces. They couldn't of been more than five or six years old at the best. She noticed one of them a small Barabel boy looking up in fear with tears coming down his small reptilian face. Charuri not content to just sit around approached him and went on one knee so she could face him more directly with a smile on her face she asked him trying to mask her own uncertainty. “Hey what's the matter kid?”

The little reptilian looked at her and with a quivering voice spoke. “Well we were sleeping and then the guards came in and got us all out of our bunks really quick and stuff. They didn't act normal either they wouldn't smile or anything. And Master Rashi she wasn't the same either..... she didn't smile or tell us any jokes or anything. Then there was this big explosion and we were told to wait here and Master Rashi said she would be right back.... but she’s not.”

“Oh don’t worry kid. I’m sure Master Rashi is just fine, she’s a Jedi like me and maybe like you some day that means she is really strong and is going to protect you right? So come on you gotta be confident  for her and for the rest of your friends!” Charuri spoke as calmly and warmly as possible as she wiped a tear off of the child’s face. The Barabel child nodded slowly and a sense of determination spread across his face. 

“Thanks Lady.... My name is Serdn by the way.” 

“And mine is Charuri Rol and I’m going to be the awesome Padawan that make sures none of the bad guys get you.” And at the time the sound of footsteps made Charuri turn around as she saw Feemor approaching her. His face was grave looking almost as if he had seen a ghost as he approached. As she did she stood up and left the younglings and approached her master who ushered her towards the hallway that lead to the sounds of fighting. Charuri was the first to speak up. “And so what are our orders master?”

Feemor looked at his padawan so confident and reassured even with the looming darkness getting closer and almost smiled envying her ability. He let out a small sigh as he spoke to her quietly. “Currently there are two present objectives, One group is to head towards the archives and reinforce them to launch a counteroffensive. The other group is to assure the successful evacuation of all younglings, nonessential personnel and noncombatants out of the temple.”

“Do you know who is attacking us Master?” Charuri asked wondering how the Separatists had snuck a droid army in under their noses. Feemor looked into the distance before he spoke and when he did it was not an answer but another question.

“Charuri do you know of a way out of the temple that would not draw much attention?” Charuri nodded in response. Back in her younger years she had been assigned work with one of the requisition officers working within the Temple, because of that she knew of the intricate system of supply tunnels meant to ferry cargo beneath the bowels of the temple, they had many access ports which if knowing the correct controls and path could lead a person straight out into the undercity. “Good, then envision that path in your head and if it comes to it when I say run you follow it to the very best of your abilities not stopping for anything. Please do this for me my padawan.”

“Of course Master, but you didn't answer my question who is attacking us?” Charuri explained looking up at Feemor concerned. He never just called her padawan unless things were very grave and very important. He hated the formal naming conventions, he felt it separated the members of the order too much and put too many unnecessary boundaries.

“We managed.... to get some footage from Security before the connection was cut off.. It’s the clones Charuri being lead by one wielding a lightsaber. The clones are attacking the temple.” Charuri was expecting this to be some sort of joke, it didn't make sense. They had fought with the clones against the republic, they shouldn't be attacking each other. It had to be a mistake, the cameras must have glitched out or something but sadly it was not the case.

“So what do we do now?” Though in her heart Charuri already knew the answer that was coming.

“What else? We hold the line.”