First, to understand what in the name of all that's holy I'm talking about, go here.

Go ahead... go. I'll wait.

Finished? Okay. Now, down to business.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The scene is a devastating one. One can only imagine the grief and horror and disbelief that flooded Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda and they came upon this grisly scene. It's interesting to note that they did not yet have confirmation of who the perpetrator was... although Master Yoda most certainly had some ideas. Those suspicions would come crashing down in terrifying reality soon enough.

Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, hero of the Clone Wars, Chosen One, hope of the galaxy... expectant father... had slaughtered children. How could this happen? What madness had seeped into his mind... his soul? All too clear to you and me... clear to Obi-Wan and Yoda as well. The self proclaimed Emperor. Palpatine. Greed. Lust for power mistaken for love for his wife and unborn child(ren). Anakin's fears and desires made it all too easy for Palpatine to twist him into a mindless destroyer of innocent life.

But... what of Palpatine? Why is it that the first mission he sends the newly christened Darth Vader on is to the Jedi Temple? As leader of the Republic in a time of war, he surely knew that the vast majority of the adult Jedi Masters and Knights would be in the field leading their troops into battle. Only a skeleton crew would have been left behind to tend to the Temple business... and to it's most valued asset, the Younglings and Padawan Learners... Palpatine knew this and he sent Vader to kill those young Jedi. He sent Vader to destroy all hope for the future... to strike fear into the heart of the galaxy.

After all, that is what children are, right? Our best hope for the future? How best to undermine your enemy, to bring down those who would oppose you... kill their young. Kill the one thing in which they have placed their hopes and dreams and faith.

What does this still moment say to me...? That is a loaded question. There are many different things I could say. I think of all the abuses that children, born and unborn, suffer at the hands of those who should love them the most. I think of estranged spouses that abuse or even murder their children just so they can show the other party who's boss. "If I can't have the kids, no one will." I think of children who are killed in the name of inconvenience... kids who are used up and thrown away by the worst our society has to offer. Yes, my list would be very long.

What does this still moment mean for the GFFA? You know, I sit here and I wonder what everyone thought of this event. Surely news of it got out somehow to someone. Of course, Palpatine would have covered it up... naturally... but, there were those who knew, those who survived Order 66, a certain senator with an adopted daughter. I am certain that they would have told of the carnage that was wrought by Darth Vader. I'm sure that not all those who heard about this believed the Emperor's claims of a Jedi plot to take over the government. Why kill children? What would Younglings and Padawans have known about any such plot? Not a thing, I'm sure. So, why didn't those who knew speak up, make it known to the galaxy at large that their exalted new leader was a Sith and Vader was his bloodthirsty child butchering henchman?

Well, this is where Palpatine was very smart. He knew what people would murmur to each other, "If he can order the deaths of all those innocent children, what would he do to us?" He struck fear into their hearts and destroyed their hope... that is what happens to the world when our young are senselessly victimized. It takes real courage to stand up that kind of evil...

Thank the Force that Palpatine overlooked a few minor details... the New Hope within Padme's womb.

For me, two scenes are pivotal in the Star wars Saga... one is from whence my blog name comes... the other truly is this moment. More so than any other, this one shows that Anakin is truly gone. Killing the Trade Federation leaders was just the icing. The massacre of these children was probably the one thing that ripped the soul out of that little slave boy from Tatooine. Seeing the aftermath that Obi-Wan and Yoda encounter should rip our souls out a bit, too...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more Still Moments in a Galaxy Far, Far Away please visit the Official PLB Fan Fiction Club.