The Knight Before The Dawn | Chapter 9

Chapter 9

The short flight to the Republic Supreme Courts was agonizingly silent. Four Jedi Temple Guardians surrounded a bound and shamed Barriss Offee while Anakin Skywalker flied the Jedi shuttle. Barriss was waiting to drop dead from electrocution, but her nanodroids remained dormant. It was like an unending nightmare that she could never wake up from.

Frustration and rage was fuming from Anakin like a strong odor. Barriss couldn't help but notice it in the shuttle. She never realized just how out of control Anakin was. The thought led her mind to Ahsoka. 'It's no wonder Ahsoka was so thirsty for revenge when Letta was transferred.' Barriss thought to herself. 'It's amazing she is as level-headed as she is, being his apprentice.'

When the flight was finally over, Anakin briskly escorted Barriss and her captors to the courtroom. Ahsoka's trial was coming to an end. Most of the politicians seemed to either know Anakin or understand his situation because no one stopped him. He escorted her through every checkpoint quickly. The Jedi Temple Guardians had one side of their double lightsabers ignited and crossed in front and behind Barriss as they walked. She didn't know what to expect or anticipate. At that point, she was just along for the journey.

A large door opened after a bit of a wait and Anakin rushed in to a large room with his hand raised. "Chancellor!"

Barriss and the guardians walked into the massive courtroom too and followed behind Anakin as he made his way to the central platform. Anakin had apparently interrupted the Supreme Chancellor. Palpatine looked down on him with a practiced indifference. "I hope you have a reason for bursting into our proceedings, Master Skywalker."

Anakin sounded proud as he announced his victory. Anger and vanity resonated from him. "I am here with evidence and a confession from the person responsible for all of the crimes Ahsoka has been accused of. Barriss Offee! Member of the Jedi Order and traitor."

Admiral Tarkin narrowed his gaze on Barriss, then looked up at the Chancellor. Palpatine gave a severely subtle turn of his head letting Tarkin know not to act just yet. Tarkin discretely reached into his pocket to grasp the trigger. He was ready to silence Barriss once and for all. Palpatine furled his brow a little to tell Tarkin to back off. There was no way they could explain away Barriss' death in front of so many witnesses.

Ahsoka Tano, moments away from being convicted of murder and terrorism, looked to the central platform feeling both pain and shock. "Barriss, is that true?"

Anakin turned his attention to Barriss. He growled at her. "Tell them the truth."

His anger reminded her yet again of just how different she was from the rest of the Jedi. This 'poster boy' for the Jedi was anything but a true Jedi. She glared at him for a moment in defiance, and then looked up at the Chancellor. She wouldn't likely see the end of the day, especially with Tarkin witnessing this first hand. She took a deep breath and steeled herself. This was her chance to explain her views and motives to the most influential people in the Republic and the Jedi Order. This wasn't just her confession, it was her manifesto.

The courtroom cameras focused on Barriss Offee and projected her image to large screens on the walls high above for everyone to see as she began to speak her testimony. "I did it, because I've come to realize what many people in the Republic have come to realize. That the Jedi are the ones responsible for this war! That we've so lost our way that we've become villains in this conflict! That we are the ones that should be put on trial. All of us! And my attack on the temple was an attack on what the Jedi have become; an army fighting for the Dark Side. Fallen from the light we once held so dear. This Republic is failing! It's only a matter of time."

Anakin took hold of her cuffs and pulled her back. She had said quite enough. Everyone in the room looked shocked, but also concerned. Perhaps not in everyone, but in some, Barriss delivered a persuasive and powerful argument. It was enlightening and disturbing for many to hear. Admiral Tarkin and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine were of those who weren't even fazed by the confession. Palpatine waved his hand and dismissed the case. "Take her away." On the outside, he didn't seem to care, but on the inside he was furious. He was so close to being rid of Ahsoka. Out of all people, it was Anakin who stopped Palpatine in his tracks.  

As soon as she was done speaking, Barriss' full attention was on Ahsoka. Barriss couldn't speak anymore, so she showed with her face the most sincere expression of sorrow and remorse. Ahsoka only glanced up briefly. It was unclear whether Ahsoka was considering what Barriss had said or realizing the betrayal that was just revealed. Barriss was escorted away without knowing. She didn't get a chance to say she was sorry or even say goodbye. With tears lightly trickling down her olive cheeks, she walked towards what was certain to be her death.

---

Several Weeks Later…

"Wake up, Traitor!" A clone's voice echoed into her cell. Barriss Offee pulled her messy, knotted hair out of her face and fidgeted a little in her orange prison fatigues. She said nothing. Barriss looked up at the clone who stood outside her cell. "It looks like you are going on a trip. Approach the front and place your hands through the slot on the left."

Barriss stood up slowly. She put her hands through and was instantly cuffed with energy binders. Such cuffs were designed to keep Jedi prisoners, but she was no longer a Jedi. The red energy wall deactivated and clones quickly entered the cell to grab her by each arm. They escorted her out of the Republic Detention Facility and towards a ship. Barriss didn't put up a fight. She didn't inquire as to where the ship was going or what was happening to her. Her mind was still back in that courtroom.

The ship took off once the clones were seated and she was adequately chained to her seat. Perhaps they were finally getting around to putting her on trial. They dismissed her from the courtroom without a single question. She only confessed to the bombing of the Jedi Temple, not the murder of Letta Turmond and the clone troopers. Barriss really didn't care all that much what happened to her at that point though. Ahsoka was free and her message was heard by at least a few.

The only thing she wanted was forgiveness, but after all that she had done, Barriss wouldn't even bother asking if she got the chance. The ship landed at a building near the Coruscant power plant sector. The clones got out of the shuttle and took Barriss with them. There was an ominous, dark feeling to the entire area. It looked like a place that was out of the way and rarely visited. Barriss prepared herself to be executed. She retreated into her own mind and did her best to become one with the Force.

As she had her eyes closed, the clones guided her forcibly to a dark circular room with a prisoner containment unit in the center. The clones attached binders to her ankles and shoved her into the blue column of energy. After a moment, her body was steadily floating by her binders in the center of the otherwise dark room. The clones exited without her and she was alone. For a long, agonizing silence, Barriss prepared for her execution, but again, it never came.

Barriss' curiosity finally beckoned her enough to open her eyes. She looked around and saw that she was alone. 'Solitary confinement.' She thought to herself. 'They must think this is a worse punishment. Apparently, they forgot that I was a Jedi. All I do in my cell is meditating.'

She was about to close her eyes again, but the sound of soft footsteps caught her attention. Barriss looked around the room, but saw no one. A malevolent and sinister voice spoke from the darkness. "I am sure you're wondering why I haven't killed you yet."

The voice was unsettling and Barriss didn't recognize it. "Who's there?" She called out. Her voice was hoarse and dry. Those were the first words she'd spoken in weeks.

"Your master, of course. You may not have killed Ventress, but you otherwise performed very well. Did you really think I would throw away such talent?" He stepped into the light right in front of her. Darth Sidious had a slight grin on his face as he watched the surprise spread across Barriss' expression.

"You… I… You're not going to kill me?" Barriss was only beginning to grasp who exactly she was talking to.

"No." Sidious cackled. "I have great plans for you." His fingers lit up with Force Lightning. Barriss Offee's torment was only beginning.