I CHOOSE YOU: star wars¹

thirty-nine

Zelena rushed towards Anakin when he made an appearance at the apartment. She embraced him tightly caressing his hair with care. "Are you all right? I heard there was an attack on the Jedi Temple. You could see the smoke from here."

"I'm fine." Anakin reassured her with a small smile. "I'm fine. I came to see if you and the baby are safe."

"What's happening?" Zelena moved her hands down to Anakin's biceps clutching them tightly.

"The Jedi have tried to overthrow the Republic." Zelena shook her head in disbelief. "The Assassins decided to stand with them."

"I can't believe that. They're my family."

"I saw Master Windu attempt to assassinate the Chancellor myself. And Cordalia was also attacked by Arya and Rena." Zelena gasped in shock. Her family was turning against each other.

"Oh, Anakin. What are you gonna do?" Zelena questioned him softly.

Anakin stepped away from his wife and turned his back to her. "I will not betray the Republic. My loyalites lie with the Chancellor and with the Senate and with you."

"What about Obi-Wan and my mother? My sister? My niece? Maeve and Arya? Your sister?" Zelena asked him quickly.

"I don't know." Anakin silenced her. "If the Assassins are smart, they'll join us, but many Jedi have been killed. We can only hope that Obi-Wan has remained loyal to the Chancellor."

"Anakin," Zelena's voice trembled as she took in this new information. "I'm afraid."

Anakin placed a hand on Zelena's hair and stroked it gently. "Have faith, my love. Everything will soon be set right. The Chancellor has given me and Cordalia a very important mission. The Seperatists," Anakin nearly spit out the word. "Have gathered on the Mustafar system. We're going there to end this war. Wait for me until I return. Things will be different. I promise." Zelena brought her husband into a desperate kiss that was far too short for her liking. Anakin pulled away from her hand still on her cheek. "Please, wait for me."

"I will." Zelena nodded as Anakin set off for his speeder sharing a look with his wife once he had strapped in. C-3PO walked up the steps towards Zelena as the speeder took off.

"Oh, my lady, is there amything I might do?" Zelena shook her head quickly denying him.

"No, thank you, 3PO." Zelena fought back tears as she bit down on her fingers.

"Oh." 3PO's peppy nature faded quickly. "I- I feel so helpless." C-3PO walked past Zelena who stood still on her balcony waiting for Anakin.
******

Zarina walked down the corridor with Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Senator Organa by her side. "How many other Jedi have managed to survive?" Zarina asked the old Jedi Master. "Or the Assassins?"

"Heard from no one have we."

"I saw thousands of troops attack the Jedi Temple." Senator Organa told the others. "That's why I went looking for Yoda."

"Have we had any contact with the temple?" Obi-Wan asked the Senator brows furrowed in thought.

"Received a coded retreat message we have."

"It requests all Jedi to return to the Temple." Senator Organa told the two present in the dark. "It says the war is over."

"Well, then we must go back." Obi-Wan looked down at Yoda. "If there are any stragglers, they will fall into the trap and be killed."

Yoda hummed in response. "Suggest dismantling the coded signal, do you?"

"Yes, Master. There is too much at stake." Yoda looked to Zarina who nodded.

"I agree. And a little more knowledge might light our way." Zarina told the others with a grim look on her face. The group moved to the cockpit where the Chancellor was contacting the Senator.

"We're receiving a message from the Chancellor's office, sir."

"Send it through." Senator Organa nodded towards the pilot.

"Yes, sir." Zarina leaned forward with interest in what the Chancellor would have to say. Instead, one of his cronies appeared on the screen.

"Senator Organa, the Supreme Chancellor requests your presence at a special session of Congress and at an execution." Zarina's face went pale.

"I will be there." Senator Organa told the second-in-command uneasily.

"He'll be expecting you."

"I am going to kill that old man when I see him again." Zarina seethed clenching her fist. "An execution no doubt for one of the dragons or one of the Assassins."

"Could be a trap."

"I don't think so." Obi-Wan told him as Zarina got up from her seat. "The Chancellor will not be able to control the thousands of star systems without keeping the Senate intact."

"If a special session of Congress there is, easier for us to enter the Jedi Temple it will be."

"Yes, well, I won't be joining you." Zarina began to pace her breathing becoming erratic. "I have to stop those executions and none of you will ne able to stop me."
*******

Zelena sat in her seat looking out over the Senate session. "And the Jedi rebellion has been foiled." Senator Organa tapped the redhead on the shoulder bringing her from her thoughts.

"What's happened?" He asked her looking at the Chancellor in confusion.

"The Chancellor's been elaborating on a plot by the Jedi to overthrow the Senate." She informed him placing her chin on her fist.

"The remaining Jedi will be hinted down and defeated." Applause broke out through the Senators. Zelena looked on at the scene with a worried look. "The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed. But I assure you. My resolve has never been stronger!" The Chancellor declared loudly as the Senators applauded him. Zelena glanced around the large room at the other boxes in worry. "In order to ensure the security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the First Galactic Empire!" Zelena raised a hand to her mouth as the Senators applauded this ridiculous plan. "For a safe and secure society." The Chancellor raised his hands up in power.

Zelena shook her head from the Naboo Senate seat. "So this is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause." She looked on at the scene sourly with a glare.