Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy as It Should Have Been
By Darth Plagueis2122
Note to the Reader: Welcome back to my retelling of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. You'll notice a few changes and additions in this story. In retrospect, I see my take of The Phantom Menace as a necessary (albeit brief) prologue to the subsequent two episodes. While writing it, I recognized what many reviewers online have suggested...perhaps one could have started with Episode II first and dispensed with a prologue. However, I think I dealt fairly with the set up needed in Episode I. At the end of the day, characters need to meet and the chess game must start somewhere. Needless to say, my approach to Episode I was to paint a broad-strokes picture to set the stage for the greater drama to follow.
My approach to Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side differs in many ways from what I did with Episode I. For starters, I have seen more reviews, read other fanfictions, and seen some very interesting material. If you haven't seen it yet, I advise you to go to YouTube and checkout the wonderful fan edit Star Wars: "The Blackened Mantle" which is an excellent retelling of the story. There is also a noir-themed Star Wars prequel fan edit that's also worth taking a look at. Along with the other vidoes and reviews I've cited before (Belated Media, Red Letter Media, Jeremy Jahns, and Binary Bastard), these fanfilms have really given me a new sense of direction especially regarding where to take the story and how to craft Anakin and Padmé's love story and beginning to set up how a noble Jedi can fall and become an infamous Dark Lord of the Sith (I feel that these two points are some of the strongest weaknesses in the prequel trilogy that Lucas gave us in the movie theaters).
You'll notice that the story being told here is also significant longer. Each chapter is very long. I am not feeling rushed, this story (along with a rewrite of Episode III which is already forming in my mind) is one I have been dying to tell, so I want to enjoy it for a while if possible. As a result, it will take longer for updates to be posted as a result of the time it takes me to map out and write a chapter. Trust me, it'll be worth the wait.
Once again, I need not remind people that I do not own Star Wars, LucasFilm and Disney do, but I sure love playing around in the wonderful galaxy that they created.
So without further ado, let's jump in again...shall we?
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
Episode II:
Shroud of the Dark Side
There is unrest in the Galaxy.
Several thousand star systems have declared their
intentions to leave the Republic.
This separatist movement,
led by Count Dooku,
has made it difficult for the limited
number of Jedi Knights to maintain
peace and order in the galaxy.
With the former Jedi Dooku unable to control his own supporters,
Queen Amidala attempts to form an alliance to stave off Civil War
as the Senate considers buidling an ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
to assist the overwhelmed Jedi...
Act I
Chapter 1
Anakin Skywalker's eyes opened as he found himself chained to a grayish-colored column. The little he remembered was getting swarmed by a bunch of Separatist droids before his vision went dark. To his left was his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The two had grown close over the course of ten years filled with countless missions many of them spent in the Outer Rim Territories. Kenobi had risen up through the ranks over the past decade. Indeed, he now had five years under his belt as a full-fledged Jedi Master though he had not yet been invited to serve on the High Council. He had made a reputation for himself simply as "The Negotiator" because of his skills with a lightsaber in difficult situations. He sported a reddish beard on his face that marked him with distinction. Anakin rarely called him master or even Obi-Wan. Instead he called him by another more familiar name. One he had earned when they had fallen into a vile nest of gundarks around the same time that Kenobi first attained the rank of master.
"What do you think of the odds Ben?" Kenobi rolled his eyes. Initially he found the name annoying when his apprentice began to use. Over the years they spent together, however, it grew on him—he honestly liked the fact that Anakin referred to him by that name. It was a mark of the friendship and genuine affection both men had for each other. Kenobi remembered with fondness the story of that name. During a routine patrol of Tatooine, a group of local Tusken Raiders had invited the two Jedi to liberate them from a persistent set of gundarks that terrorized the region and killed moisture farmers and Sand People indiscriminately alike. It was child's play—almost beneath what a Jedi was supposed to do—but it was far more dangerous than either he or Anakin would ever care to admit. When they had vanquished the foul beasts, the ecstatic tribesmen heralded Kenobi as their savior—they called him Urrgah-Ben—which Anakin said roughly translated into "mighty slayer." Obi-Wan had his doubts about the veracity of that name. Whatever it meant, the name stuck and now his young apprentice refused to call him by any other. By comparison to their previous adventures with wild beasts, the threat that confronted them now was significantly worse than when they faced down the gundarks. They would both need to keep their wits about them if they were to get out of this mess.
"Hopefully they are in our favor." He stared at the thousands of spectators waiting for the beasts to enter the arena. Geonosians were insect-like with harsh wings and vile faces. The planet was dotted with caverns and honey-combed labyrinth-like structures. This world was surrounded by a ring cluttered with asteroids. It was a slightly more humid version of Tatooine. Only this planet was covered with bright red and orange sand and dotted with rocky cliffs and large sets of rivers which cut through the cliff sides on a regular basis creating more of the same unforgiving and uninviting territory. The sun beat heavily on the two Jedi Knights. Sweat dripped from their faces. While Anakin relished these sorts of adventures, Kenobi was more reserved than his outgoing apprentice. Though only a few years separated them in age, it might as well have been decades—so different were their respective temperaments. Anakin shouted out to his master.
"They weren't too smart…they didn't take our lightsabers!"
"Well, so much for small miracles Anakin!" For all their bravado, Obi-Wan really had no idea how they were going to get out of this situation. It seemed impossible, but their scheduled execution would be the necessary powder keg that would set the galaxy ablaze in all-out war. They had been following the trail of a bounty hunter known only as Jango Fett. He had a significant reputation in Hutt Space for being one of the most feared bounty hunters in the region and quite possibly the galaxy. Other than the name they knew nothing else about him or his motives—except for the fact that he was the prime suspect in a string of assassinations that rocked Coruscant and the Galactic Republic to its very core. He had a lot of blood and his hands, and it didn't seem like he was going to stop his violent killing spree.
No sooner had they arrived on the planet than they found more than they bargained for as they discovered a massive military presence on the planet. The self-styled Separatist Movement (officially known as the Confederacy of Independent Systems) had been pushing for less bureaucracy and greater autonomy for systems that were not in the Galactic Core. These systems thought that their views not being heard in the halls of the Galactic Senate. They proceeded to launch a campaign of organized protest mixed with violent raids against symbols of Republican authority—the latter approach came with devastating consequences.
Though the Order of Jedi Knights was ostensibly apolitical, as defenders of peace and justice, they could not help but take notice of the increasing tensions that inched the galaxy ever so closer to the brink of civil war. What began as a series of disputes over autonomy and representation now threatened to spill over into something far worse. The Jedi High Council was also aware that they could not respond to every potential threat. The estimated number of Jedi Knights scattered throughout the galaxy number around 10,000—certainly not enough to deal with a full-blown war. Furthermore, the Republican army and navy, though formidable, simply did not have the requisite number of troops to engage a growing enemy—this reality became ever clearer as the Separatists began to rely heavily on the droid armies of the Trade Federation and the Techno Union both of whom had scores of their own to settle with the Republic and the Jedi. With a nearly unlimited supply of soldiers and battlecruisers as their disposal—there was a palpable tension among many senators that the Republic was woefully unprepared to deal with the threat posed by insurrection and war.
However, as united as the Separatists appeared, they were heavily factionalized (perhaps even more so than the Galactic Republic from which they longed to break free). Those who coalesced under the nominal leadership of the former Jedi Master Count Dooku eschewed violence and sought real change within the confines of the Republic. They formed a solid block—a loyal opposition of sorts in the Galactic Senate. Perhaps the most powerful advocate for this reformist wing of the Separatist Movement was none other than Bail Organa, the Senator and High Prince Representing Alderaan.
Nevertheless, not all Separatists agreed with Dooku and Organa's gradualist approach. Many Separatists continued to work with the Federation and others in pursuit of a military solution to the tensions that wracked the Republic. Inevitably, the tensions within the heavily factionalized Separatist camp led to conflict with the Republic and the Jedi Knights. The precipitating event that pushed the galaxy over the precipice was the systematic assassination by rogue Separatists of several key Republican senators, and this is where Jango Fett's handiwork came into stark relief. Over the past few weeks, at least twelve senators had been targeted—seven of them were killed and the rest were badly wounded and fighting for their lives in various medical centers scattered across Coruscant.
The Jedi Council decided to dispatch two knights to track down the alleged assassin. The two they happened to send on this mission were Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. How they got here however was less important than how the two Jedi were going to survive their terrible ordeal in the arena. Kenobi didn't relish his role as the prime motivator of war. Hopefully the distress call they sent out to the Republic had gotten through. If it did, Minister Palpatine and the Council would have mobilized the Republican army and been hot on their trail. Otherwise, they were surely dead. Suddenly the gates opened, and out came several gigantic beasts that seemed to emerge from their worst nightmares.
"Ready?" Anakin nodded. Without another word passing between them, they both leapt up at the same time shattering the chains that held them to the pillars and igniting their lightsabers.
"That's wasn't so bad."
"Let's not celebrate just yet." A large reptilian beast made its way to the center of the arena. Anakin closed his eyes as his master looked on anxiously. He ran toward the beast and leapt over it in a single bound driving his blade down hard taking two of its eight legs off in one clean sweep. "Nice shot!"
"Watch out!" A large Acklay came toward them screeching loudly. They two Jedi jumped out of the way. Several other gates opened releasing a wider variety of beasts. One extremely large gate remained unopened as of yet.
"We can't do this forever Anakin." Obi-Wan struggled to catch his breath as the two knights ran off toward one of the shattered columns that stood near one side of the arena. "Even with lightsabers, we can't take them all on." Anakin searched the stands, trying desperately to come up with a plan.
"Ben, there's something else we aren't seeing." Kenobi felt it too. The Geonosians were holding something back. They didn't have much time to ponder over their predicament. Another Acklay, this one was red in color, came at them. They gripped the hilts of their lightsabers hard and charged at it. Anakin grunted as he took several of its legs while Kenobi leapt into the air and chopped off the beast's head. The other creatures started backing away, but it wasn't out of fear of the Jedi. A large roar broke out through the arena followed swiftly by silence. Even in the stands filled with gawking Geonosians, there was not a word to be heard. A heavy metallic thud could be heard as the largest gate slowly opened. There was another large roar as a mighty green Rancor stepped forward and lumbered slowly toward the Jedi Knights. "Any ideas?"
"Run Anakin! He can't go after both of us." But Skywalker stood his ground.
"Get behind me now."
"What? You can't take that thing on, it's too strong."
"I know…I can't explain it Ben…but I need you trust me right now." Kenobi sighed and grabbed hold of his blade.
"When I have heard that line before…" He mustered his courage and stood behind his apprentice. Both of them gripped their blades tightly. The Rancor let out a powerful roar as it displayed its full power. The beast extended its claws out to grab both of the Jedi.
"No matter what happens, stay behind me." There was a strong determination behind Skywalker's words. He was young and still learning the ways of the Force, but his gut feelings were almost always spot on. Obi-Wan Kenobi implicitly trusted his apprentice. He nodded his head never taking his eyes off of the beast. Anakin closed his eyes once again and tried to center himself. He raised his saber then ran forward with Kenobi close behind him as they dove underneath the massive legs of the Rancor. The beast took a moment to realize what happened before it began to turn around. By then, Anakin had jumped on to the beast and plunged his lightsaber into its back. The Rancor screamed in pain and knocked Skywalker hard to the ground. Some blood began seeping down the creature's back and it took longer more measured breaths, but it was still a force to be dealt with. Anakin slowly rose to his feet, he felt dazed. Obi-Wan Kenobi ran toward him to help him up.
"You all right?"
"Don't worry about me Ben. Go against it now."
"What? You want me to charge it?"
"It may be our only chance!" Kenobi couldn't believe what the younger Jedi was asking him to do. He did his best to clear his mind and then turned to face the beast. Without a second thought, he ran headlong toward the Rancor. He yelled out loudly as his blade connected with the leathery flesh—he concentrated only on hacking and slashing his way till he reached the opposite side of the arena. He could hear the crowd excitedly shouting and screaming. Something had happened along the way. Anakin ran toward him a beaming smile on his face.
"What happened?"
"Didn't you see?" Kenobi saw the Rancor (or what was left of it) split in half in the arena with blood and burnt leather shards scattered along the way.
"We aren't out of this yet Anakin." The words barely came out of his mouth as a horde of Geonosians and Separatist battledroids spilled into the arena—the mix of spears and blasters trained on the two knights. Both men knew that they could not defeat all of the soldiers that were encircling them in a deadly vice ready for the kill.
Before anyone knew what was happening, a large familiar sound broke through the atmosphere. The two Jedi looked up as they saw several hundred Republic troop carriers, accompanied by a contingent of gunships, descending on their position laying down cover fire against the droids. The unmistakable figure of Jedi Master Mace Windu was leading the troops as they descended down to rescue the two Jedi.
The gunships opened fire against the droids as laser and blaster fire mingled throughout the sky. Anakin and Obi-Wan made their way to the nearest troop carrier. They could hear Mace Windu barking out orders to some of the personnel on board his craft.
"Once the Jedi are aboard pursue the droids out of the arena. We can't let them get away!" A young captain in the Republican navy accompanied him at his side—though stocky and inexperienced he carried himself with grace and authority. The young Mon Calamarian was named Gial Ackbar. He quickly noticed that the droids and Geonosians were now in full retreat from the arena.
"Sir, the gunships should move ahead of us right away. We can cut off their escape route before they make it to those Federation cruisers."
"Do it." Ackbar turned around and instructed his men to move the gunships further away. Obi-Wan finished jumping aboard the cruiser shortly after the Mon Calamarian finished giving instructions to his men. "All right, let's head out now!" The rest of the troop carriers rose into the air and began to engage the Separatist forces ahead of them. Anakin strapped himself in next to Kenobi and the two let out an almost simultaneous sigh of relief.
"Well, Ben I'd say that was another successful mission." Kenobi rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders.
"Your definition of successful and mine are completely different Anakin." Windu heard their banter and smiled as he joined them.
"Glad we ran into you Obi-Wan."
"Better late than never I'd say." He paused and stared down at the now empty arena. "So Palpatine got our message?"
"Yes and he made us move right away. He sent us with a very large fleet." Anakin spoke up.
"Smart move on his part." Windu faced him.
"Perhaps…I didn't think we needed four regiments but he wanted us to take all the necessary precautions." Windu took in a deep breath and steadied himself as the carrier banked right quickly. "Did you find Jango Fett?" The feeling of levity that had been there quickly ceased as soon as Mace Windu uttered that name. Both Jedi looked away from him a bit disappointed. Finally, Kenobi spoke up and broke the awkward silence.
"We did, but he got away. Fett knew we were coming." Anakin piped up.
"It's like he expected us Master Windu." Windu shook his head.
"You both covered yourselves very well. There was no way he could've know you were on to him."
Somehow he did," said Kenobi. "One thing's for certain…he's definitely responsible for the slew of assassinations we've had on Coruscant." Windu's eyes burst open upon hearing that.
"You have proof of this?" Anakin nodded.
"Yes, he's our guy. But…it doesn't add up…"
"How so?" asked the older Jedi.
"He's one of the most renowned bounty hunters in the Outer Rim. I should know. The Hutts used him a lot on Tatooine and Nar Shaddaa…his name was feared among slaves and smugglers alike. To hire someone like him, you need a lot of resources. I think he's working for the Separatists full time…" Windu interrupted Anakin's account.
"So he's not with the Hutts anymore?"
"Not with the amount of time and effort he's been putting in with the Separatists. He's not just an assassin…with what we saw here before they captured us he's playing a much bigger role than just a hired gun. Fett's serving as a military commander and a mediator between the various Separatist factions. He has no time to work for anyone else. There's something else that doesn't make much sense either. This guy is a brilliant assassin and a good tactician, but he's not capable of marshaling so many Separatists."
"You think there's someone else behind him?" asked Windu.
"I think we have to consider the very real possibility that he's working for Darth Sidious." A chill went down Windu's spine at the mention of that name. He scratched his chin for a moment and then turned to face Kenobi.
"Do you agree with your padawan's assessment?" Kenobi nodded his head.
"I saw much the same thing. There's no doubt in my mind that Sidious is pulling the strings here. The level of organization that these Separatists have, that fact that they are totally outside of the control of Dooku and antithetical to Senator Organa…it's all very suspicious." Captain Ackbar approached the three Jedi.
"Sorry to interrupt." Windu replied.
"Not at all, report Captain."
"The gunships have intercepted the fleeing Separatists. We managed to cut their army in half, but a large amount of them got away. We only brought down two or three of the Federation's battlecruisers. The rest made their way off world before we could reach them. There's no world from our fleet—but it's safe they say we didn't intercept them. It appears that they've abandoned Geonosis for now."
"Very well then, continue to mop up the rest of the resistance and prepare the fleet to return to Coruscant as soon as enemy hostilities have ceased." The Mon Calamarian bowed and left.
"Yes sir." Windu strapped himself in the last remaining seat next to Anakin.
"Palpatine agrees with your assessment of the situation. But what's happened here isn't good news for anyone." Obi-Wan Kenobi spoke up.
"Why, what's wrong?"
"The Senate has voted overwhelmingly to expand the Republican military, increase the draft, and make use of clone troopers."
"Are you serious?"
"We knew that was coming Ben," said Anakin as he looked out to the horizon. Mace Windu shook his head sadly.
"War is coming swiftly upon us all I am afraid." He paused for a moment as their carrier lurched up into the outer atmosphere of the planet. "As soon as we finish here we have to go back to Coruscant immediately. The High Council is holding an emergency session. They'll want to hear a full report of the situation from both of you." Kenobi played with the hilt of his saber as he spoke again.
"Does Yoda think we can avoid war? Especially after this mess, I don't think that's possible or even realistic…" Windu replied calmly.
"It's never too late. But we are close to a turning point in this conflict. This is no longer about galactic politics. Besides, there is still some hope. A number of Loyalist and Separatist senators are working feverishly to avert bloodshed. The High Council will have to consider some of these proposals as well." He paused and looked intently at the younger Jedi. "Yoda made it perfectly clear that he wants both of you to give your thoughts on the matter. We don't just want a standard report. We need to look at this Separatist crisis with fresh eyes—eyes that haven't been blighted by spending too much time in the hustle bustle of capital politics if you catch my drift."
"We do," said Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Coruscant felt less inviting than the first time Anakin Skywalker arrived in the metropolis more than ten years earlier. They rode in silence as their small transport carried them (along with Mace Windu) toward the mighty Jedi Temple. The emergency session of the High Council coincided with simultaneous debates in the Galactic Senate which stood only a few blocks down from the temple square. Everyone was taking the events of the past few months seriously. There was fear in the air, and there was significantly less traffic in the upper levels of the city as more people stayed at home to avoid the bombings and protests that were disrupting civic life. Uneasiness was palpable throughout the city, and it did not leave the Jedi Order unscathed either. As Anakin and Obi-Wan walked behind Mace Windu they noticed that there were substantially less Jedi milling about the corridors. Indeed, very few Jedi brought their families to the main capital grounds for fear of violence and bloodshed.
The three Jedi made their way in silence up the turbolift to the main council chamber. The massive doors slid open and they saw many familiar faces—Plo Kun, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Depa Billaba, among others. They were engaged in a heated debate among each other and with Minister Sheev Palpatine who stood in the center of the room pacing back and forth. It barely registered when the three Jedi entered.
"We have no choice Ki-Adi…there simply aren't enough Jedi Knights to deal with this threat," said Palpatine forcefully. The Cerean master shook his head and slammed his fist down hard on the chair.
"Minister Palpatine, with all due respect, we cannot give in to brash militarism so quickly. The Republic hasn't fought a full-scale war for the better part of two thousand years…you cannot expect our forces to be ready for this fight…Count Dooku can contain the Separatists…" Palpatine was about to respond when Mace Windu spoke up loudly with the two younger Jedi in tow behind him.
"Forgive the intrusion but I think we need to put our differences aside for a moment." There was silence in the chamber now as Windu continued. "We need to hear out Master Kenobi and his padawan on what they uncovered at Geonosis." Ki-Adi-Mundi motioned for the two Jedi to step forward next to Palpatine. They did so in silence.
"What have you uncovered Master Jedi," asked Mundi. The room was anxious with anticipation at what news they might have brought.
"We tracked down the bounty hunter suspected of murdering several senators." Plo-Kun spoke up.
"Jango Fett?"
"Yes." Obi-Wan stared down to the floor, searching for the right words. "The Separatists who were gathering there were building a significant military presence. There were thousands of droid factories and a large complement of Federation and Techno Union battlecruisers present. There can be no other conclusion that some of the Separatists are preparing for war with the Republic." Anakin Skywalker stepped forward amidst the murmuring of the Jedi Masters.
"Forgive my impertinence, but while many Separatists respect Count Dooku…I don't think the ones who hired Fett and have started building that army we saw are going to back down. They won't listen to Dooku or anyone else for that matter." He paused and then added, "For what it's worth, I don't like the idea of clone troopers …much less an expanded army…It's dangerous and could lead to a much wider conflict which nobody wants. But these guys are growing strong and they aren't taking prisoners…had Master Windu and the Republican troops not made it when they did…Ben and I probably wouldn't be here right now. At the very least we need reinforcements." When he had finished speaking, Anakin stepped closer to his master and waited for the Council to speak up. No one did. Sheev Palpatine spoke up after looking briefly at his comm link. He had just received an urgent message from the floor of the Senate.
"Given what we've heard from Master Kenobi and Skywalker…I think we have no choice but to make use of the clone troopers. I just received word that the Senate has voted to increase military spending and has further voiced support for the Military Expansion and Reorganization Act. I know we are all uncomfortable with this…but we have to come to grips with reality…" He was about say more when suddenly the doors to the chamber opened, illuminating the venerable Grand Master of the Order—Yoda.
"Late I am to this meeting…my apologies." No one uttered a word. All eyes focused on the diminutive Jedi Master as he slowly made his way to the center chair, the only sound echoing through the room was the sound of his well-worn gimer stick. "Right Palpatine is I fear. Stopped the Separatists must be if we are to have peace." He paused as he sat down gently. "But might alone wins not wars. Victory uncertain is if confront them we do in this manner."
"Master Yoda," Palpatine interjected. "Are you suggesting that we should not resist them at all?"
"No…no…but another way we must find to confront this enemy. Clouded the future is by the Dark Side of the Force. We must be careful if challenge them we do in this manner we end up ourselves destroyed in the process." All in the room nodded their heads in agreement—everyone except for Palpatine.
"Your perspective is always refreshing Master Yoda. But I am afraid to say that the point is moot. The Senate has already voted in favor of expanding the military and using the clone troopers. Furthermore, as the highest ranking member of the Republican Defense Council, I have no choice but to follow the will of the people in this matter. And the people my Jedi friends, want to feel safe and secure. They don't want to be afraid anymore." Yoda chuckled with a mix of gravity and seriousness.
"Precisely my point this is Minister Palpatine. Fear is what our enemies want. Fear is what seek to prevent we do. But we must be cautious that overtake us this fear does not. Or else suffer our democracy will…crushed our civic life will be…Fear I do that dark times the Republic faces." Palpatine cleared his throat and spoke up.
"I am sorry. I don't see any other way out of this situation. We will prepare for any eventuality. And I would hope that the Jedi Order would bury their policy disagreements and, at the very least, take leadership of this army. We need all of you now more than ever." Yoda smiled and nodded his head.
"If needed we are, we shall be of service. In the meantime, consider your proposal we will."
"Very well then…I have an army to organize…if you'll excuse me." Palpatine bowed and left the chamber. Mace Windu turned to face Yoda.
"That didn't go well. I am afraid Palpatine's right. You weren't there Yoda. It was a nightmare getting Obi-Wan and Anakin free from the clutches of those Geonosians." The green-colored Jedi master raised his left hand up dismissing Windu's concerns as he spoke in a calm and relaxed manner.
"Time there still is for us to avoid conflict. The House of Organa a solution may have." Kenobi spoke up.
"What kind of solution are they proposing?"
"A unity conference they propose…hold in two months time they will. Hope to bring Separatists and Republican senators they do. Queen Amidala proposed this last night to the full senate." Hearing Padmé Amidala's name again brought mixed emotions to Kenobi. His thoughts returned to that day ten years ago in the palace when he lost Qui-Gon and faced down Darth Maul. The next statement out of Yoda's mouth sent shivers down Kenobi's spine. "In grave danger she is in I fear…" His first instinct was to protect her. He shouted out almost without thinking,
"What! From whom?" Windu spoke up.
"There have been threats against her life. Rumor has it that the Separatists have put a heavy price on her head. They don't want this unity conference to be held…much less to succeed." He paused and looked squarely into Kenobi's eyes. "She and the other delegates will need to be protected for the next two months. Bail is working with Dooku to rally the Separatist factions for the conference, but they'll need time. If Amidala dies, any chance of peace dies with her. She is seen as the voice of reason by both the Loyalists and the Separatist camps. We believe that she maybe the only one capable of bringing the two sides together." Anakin was curious and asked the obvious question.
"So you're sending us to protect her, aren't you?" Yoda smiled at the precocious youth.
"Great insight you have young Skywalker…less certain I am about the feelings of your master…" Obi-Wan was taken aback by Yoda's suggestion that he was somehow conflicted, even though he knew it to be true he didn't want to admit it openly.
"I am perfectly capable of fulfilling this mission." Windu waved his hand for him to be silent.
"We are well-aware of your personal history with Queen Amidala. We know you worked well with her in the past Obi-Wan. We also know how much Qui-Gon Jinn meant to both you and Padmé. Though there is certainly much conflict in you, quite frankly you two are probably the only Jedi who can deal with her."
"How do you figure that?" asked Obi-Wan.
"She's not known for her patience or her willingness to listen to orders. In fact, if I remember correctly, you are the only one she would ever take orders from." Kenobi couldn't help but smile. He wanted to laugh, but it was true. Padmé Amidala was known for being strong-willed. Even though ten years had passed, that aspect of her personality hadn't changed one bit. Had she really been queen for fifteen years already? When they first met, she was twenty-two and had only been on the throne for five years. Now, in her early thirties, she ruled with grace and poise but was still as independent as ever.
"We will do whatever it takes to keep her safe." Yoda nodded his head.
"Good. May the Force be with you both." With that, the meeting had ended and the two young Jedi were dismissed.
Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi moved to the lower levels of the Jedi Temple. The young apprentice couldn't help but tease his master.
"So let me get this straight, in case I missed anything…"
"Out with it Anakin…don't play games."
"You liked her…didn't you Ben?" Kenobi rolled his eyes and sighed trying to (unsuccessfully) roll with it.
"Yes I did." Anakin still felt like ribbing Kenobi, but his tenor became more serious as the conversation progressed.
"I mean I don't want to tell your business…but we're not emotionless…we aren't droids…we are supposed to care about other people…isn't that one of the first lessons you taught me master?" Kenobi stopped by one of the large windows overlooking the Galactic Senate.
"I also taught you to be mindful of the kinds of attachments you form."
"Still, I don't entirely understand why you let her go."
"Anakin…you are still a young Jedi with much to learn." He paused. "You wouldn't understand." It was Skywalker's turn to roll his eyes.
"…I wouldn't understand? Ben we've both lost people we cared about…I mean we've been together for a while spending months at a time together on various missions, right?" Kenobi nodded his head. "We share everything with each other. This is one thing you have never been able to talk with me about…" He thought about his next sentence, about whether or not he should say it. He decided to be impulsive and confront his friend directly. "Obi-Wan you have to stop blaming yourself for Qui-Gon's death. You did exactly what you needed to do that day on Alderaan." He paused again. "You had to save her life, it was your duty." Kenobi sighed as his shoulders dropped and he leaned his head against the hard glass of the window. They stood there motionless for a moment. Anakin was waiting to hear something—anything from his master. Finally, Obi-Wan Kenobi found his voice and the courage to speak openly to his padawan.
"I am sorry. You're right of course. I shouldn't have kept you in the dark for so long." He paused a bit and turned around to face Anakin Skywalker. "We lost a lot more than Qui-Gon Jinn that day. Dooku went off and did what he felt he needed to do. Then there was Maul. He was so pathetic at the end, I pitied him. He wouldn't take my hand…He wouldn't allow me to save him…he just dropped down the falls…" It was clear his was holding back tears. It was difficult for Anakin to see Obi-Wan in so much pain. "I hated him then. I'd be lying to myself if I felt otherwise. Though I wanted him to take my hand that day, I'm glad he fell. I hate him still even after all this time." Hearing that word made Anakin feel uneasy, but he understood (albeit imperfectly) the feelings his master felt.
"Ben you keep on torturing yourself with that day. You're replaying it right now. All your failures…everything…you sound afraid more than anything else."
"I know." He paused again. "That's not the worse part of it though…I have dreams…nightmares really…where I see myself having to choose between Qui-Gon and Padmé over and over again…and a voice keeps on taunting me—telling me that I am wrong no matter what I do." Anakin's eyes widened as a realization dawned on him.
"This is exactly what Sidious wants…"
"And that's why I had to let her go Anakin. Sure I felt guilt, confusion, and anger. But that's not why I cut myself off from her. There were plenty of times in the last few years that I could've seen her…but, instead, I've avoided her completely. The Sith see me as a person of interest now, both because of the way I dealt with Maul but also because they can sense my confusion and anger. It's easy to get at a Jedi through the people he loves and cares about Anakin. That's why Jedi Masters, especially those on the Council, don't generally have families. A knight can have a family, he can balance affection with his duty to the Force and the Republic…but those who have the most responsibility…the most commitments…they can't afford to have their emotions called into question. They become clouded…" He paused to gather his thoughts together. "The point is that I can't put Padmé in the crosshairs any more than she already is…Sidious is bent on taking her life one way or another. He tried it ten years ago and I am convinced he's trying it again now with this business with the Separatists. I can't make her more of a target, I can't leave an opening for fear to creep in and corrupt me either. Do you understand what I'm saying now?" Anakin nodded his head.
"I do." They made their way down a few more levels in silence. When they reached the mezzanine—overlooking the mighty statues and the great square of the Temple, they saw an amazing sight in front of them. There was a woman dressed in a conservative black flight suit. Her curly brown hair pulled back behind her face. She seemed older than the last time they met her, but there was no mistaking who she was. When she saw the two Jedi Knights she smiled and walked slowly toward him. Anakin looked at Obi-Wan, "You ready for this old man?" Kenobi smiled.
"Who are you calling old?" Kenobi patted him on the back. The two Jedi laughed as they made their way to the clearing and bowed before the Queen of Alderaan—Padmé Amidala.
Amidala was struck by how mature Obi-Wan Kenobi looked. He sported a reddish beard, but otherwise he was the same Jedi Knight who had gone with her to free her brother and liberate Alderaan from the Federation's occupation. The younger Jedi next to him she vaguely recalled from their brief meeting at Tatooine. He had long sandy brown hair, dressed in dark blackish robes and still had the same blue eyes she had seen before the podrace. The levity between the two that she saw when they first became master and apprentice had only grown in the intervening years—and she was happy that Obi-Wan seemed content with his life as a Jedi Master. They bowed to her respectfully and she smiled.
"It's good to see you again Master Jedi." Kenobi did his best to play it cool and avoid her gaze, but he couldn't help it. He let out a brief smile back at her before he spoke up.
"You look wonderful Padmé." He forgot some of his manners and stepped back letting Anakin come forward. "Let me introduce to someone who I am sure you remember…this is Anakin Skywalker—Jedi Knight." Anakin was happy that his master introduced him that way. He bowed down slightly before her.
"Actually I am Ben's apprentice, a padawan…but we've been through a lot together to put it mildly." She dispensed with the rest of the politeness that would have been expected from someone of her social standing and jumped right in to the business at hand.
"I hate protection details as you well know Obi-Wan." He nodded his head recalling their earlier adventures. "But the Jedi Council didn't give me much choice in the matter." Obi-Wan spoke up now.
"I know how tough you are…but no one's invincible. And in light of what's going on in the rest of the galaxy right now, you appear to be our only hope for peace." Padmé turned away.
"My loyalties rest with the Republic of course. Unfortunately my brother doesn't agree with me. After the Federation invasion…." She paused searching for how to explain her brother's position, "he lost a lot of faith in the Republic."
"Given that Sidious delayed the relief fleet…his views are completely understandable. But the Separatists don't have all the answers. All they're doing is destabilizing the Republic…" She cut Kenobi off.
"Which sounds more like Sidious's doing…"
"Yes, I feel the same way." Anakin liked her directness and the authority with which she carried herself. It made sense why Ben Kenobi would've fallen for her hard. But Anakin Skywalker held himself up to the highest standards of nobility. The ex-slave in him was never far away from his mind. He knew his duties and he carried himself politely. Nevertheless, she was Force-sensitive and could feel his thoughts. Surprisingly, she was as impressed with the younger Jedi as he was with her. Most politicians tolerated the Jedi. She was one of the few who deeply admired the Jedi Order. Though he enjoyed the light banter between his master and the Queen, his senses were suddenly on fire as alarm bells rang out. The Force was screaming out to him. At the very least they needed to get to a more discrete location—the sooner the better.
"My Lady…" Anakin cut in. "I think we need to get indoors…" Kenobi sensed his apprentice's unease as well.
"What do you feel Anakin…what is it?"
"He's here."
"Who?" asked Kenobi.
"Fett."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely." Both of them saw Separatist protesters doing one of their periodic marches in the distance. There were thousands of them cluttering the government district and making their way toward the Senate building. But that wasn't what was bothering Anakin. He was about to speak up, when suddenly two concussion missiles flew over their heads crashing into one of the large statues dotting the square in front of the Jedi Temple. In an instant, Anakin grabbed hold of Padmé and dove down hard on the ground covering her with his body. Ben Kenobi also hit the floor hard close by them as the statue burst into flames pieces of stone and metal began raining down on the square as multiple alarms began to drone loudly across the area. Kenobi got up breathing hard.
"Anakin is she all right?" Padmé spoke up.
"I'm fine…just fine." The younger Jedi slowly got up to his feet.
"Ben…" he reached out with the Force as he helped Padmé to her feet. "…Fett's still here. He's going to try again. I am taking her into the protest…"
"Are you insane?"
"That's the point, he won't fire on Separatist sympathizers…he'll expect us to run in the opposite direction and he will strike again…I feel it." Anakin paused keeping the Queen close to him. "Go back to the Temple and get us help…I am going to try to lose ourselves in the city!" Kenobi nodded his head and ran past the decimated statue. "My Lady, stay close to me."
"All right, lead the way!" They ran together. She was clinging to the hem of his cloak as he grabbed the hilt of lightsaber in his hand. They made their way through the wide square and mingled with the protestors who were now lost in confusion as other citizens and local police forces attempted to break through the mass of people gathering near the Temple.
Obi-Wan Kenobi glanced back at to where he had left them and smiled. They had vanished. His apprentice was right. It would be difficult for Jango Fett to track them down now that they had joined up with the crowd.
The two of them ran down some winding streets and passed another group of troopers and police before they made it to a narrow row of alleys in an upper-class section of Coruscant overlooking the Jedi Temple. Anakin pushed Padmé back against the wall. His senses were still ablaze with caution. They weren't out of danger yet.
"Is it okay now?"
"Shh," he said. She held her tongue wanting to make a snide comment but was too tense to do so. He started relaxing a bit. "Listen, we're going to move two blocks down. I know a place where Ben will be able to find us. Does anyone know where you docked your ship?"
"Besides my staff?"
"Yeah."
"No one, but it's on the public registry…anyone could have followed us."
"Then we better count on getting a different ship all right?"
"We're going to leave Coruscant now? I am not ready…they are still people I have to meet with before we start prepping for this conference."
"You're going to have put those plans on hold my Lady, we need to get off this planet as soon as possible." He brought his comm link close to his mouth. "Ben you read me?" Static came through and then suddenly Kenobi's voice squawked over the speaker.
"I'm here Anakin."
"Change of plans. I think the Queen's transport has been compromised. We can't take her ship to get out of here."
"Where can I meet you?"
"The usual spot."
"But that's too open, it's going to be risky."
"We have no choice Ben…we might be able to secure safe passage with a transport in the section. I'll be there in a few minutes, it'll take some time. I need you to show up right away so that we can get off of this rock as fast as possible."
"Understood." The comm link shut off as Anakin put it in his book.
"Anakin…where are we going?" asked Padmé.
"You need to trust me. All right? I can't tell you anything more than that. If you want to say alive, stick with me and don't get out of my sight." She swallowed down hard and nodded her head acquiescing to his demands. "Follow me." They jumped out of the alley quietly and ran down some side streets near a row of silver towers and jutting platforms. It felt like an eternity has passed before they made it to an older group of warehouse east of the Temple area. Anakin grabbed her hand and pulled her through a side door. The lights in the room flickered but it was quiet with small slits for windows. Obi-Wan Kenobi ran up to them from the opposite side of the room.
"Good to see you both made it."
"We might have lost him…I don't sense his signature anymore." Kenobi smiled.
"What's the plan now?"
"We need a run-of-the-mill freighter that we can get on board with the least amount of questions being asked. Something that could take us to the Outer Rim or close to Wild Space…far away from the Core Worlds. Someplace we can all lay low." Kenobi scratched his beard.
"The Merchant District by Republica 2 might be the place we're looking for…but they'll know we're Jedi."
"At this point it doesn't really matter." Kenobi looked at Padmé.
"This all right with you?"
"I don't like running Obi-Wan, but if we have to, then let's do it." The three of them left the warehouse by an alternate exit and slowly headed toward the Merchant District.
They made their way to a smaller hanger and found a long freighter there with mostly cargo being loaded on board. The crew was small, only a pilot and a few mates, which should significantly decrease any attention the Jedi and the Queen might receive. Anakin Skywalker walked up to the pilot who stopped moving some crates around to speak with him. It struck him that this man had a strikingly familiar accent.
"What can I do for you?"
"I am looking to book passage for myself and my companions," he gestured over to Padmé and Obi Wan, "to wherever you're headed with your cargo." The pilot nodded his head. He had dark brown hair and wore standard dress fatigues that were faded brown. He paused for a moment to think about Anakin's request. "If you're concerned about what we can pay…" He gave Anakin a weird look as if he recognized him from somewhere.
"It's not that, it's just uh…this is kind of last minute. We're heading out to Dantooine, then Sullust, and back to Tatooine—that's where I am from. We'll dock there and spend a few weeks refueling and picking up cargo before heading back to the Core Worlds."
"Did you say you're from Tatooine?" The pilot let a small smile come to his face.
"Yeah?"
"Where from?"
"I grew up in Mos Eisely, used to hang around Beggar's Canyon and shoot some random womp rats when I was a kid with my folks." Anakin couldn't believe his luck.
"Well I grew up in Mos Espa…" A twinkling came into the eye of the pilot, now he certainly recognized the man who stood in front of him.
"Wait a minute…by the Force…can't be! …You're him!" Padmé and Obi-Wan were patiently listening and wondering what was going on.
"Who?"
"Yeah…I knew I recognized you from somewhere…you're Anakin Skywalker aren't you?" Anakin gave a somewhat embarrassed look to his companions.
"Yes…why?" The pilot's face beamed with excitement.
"You got me interested in becoming a pilot. I mean this is amazing!" His excitement made Obi-Wan Kenobi chuckle to himself. Anakin was quiet lost.
"I am sorry, where did we meet? I don't know what you are talking about at all…"
"I saw you race in the Boonta Eve Classic…the big one where you beat Sebulba…I never saw a human race like that before…it was exhilarating. I don't believe I am standing in the same room as you." Padmé and Obi-Wan couldn't contain their laughter both at the situation and at the fact that Skywalker was profoundly unaccustomed to being held in such high esteem. "When I saw that race…I said I want to be a pilot just like him." Losing himself for a moment he put his hand out and shook Anakin's "I'm Captain Owen Lars…this is my ship the Jundland Bay…and wherever you and your friends need to go…I'll be glad to take you."
"We got to talk about some sort of compensation here…I refuse to cause you any trouble." Lars looked down and saw that Anakin had a lightsaber hanging from his waste.
"So you're a Jedi too?" Anakin nodded quietly.
"I won't hear of any of this nonsense of you paying. No way. You inspired me to follow my dreams and you serve the Republic I love more than anything else. I insist that you and your friends come aboard right away." Anakin looked back to Kenobi who nodded his head in agreement.
"Very well then, Owen. We'll come aboard." The young freighter pilot was full of smiles as the two Jedi and the Queen stepped aboard and strapped themselves in. Within minutes of their arrival, the ship began to lurch and enter into the outer atmosphere of Coruscant.
They reached a steady cruising speed as they made their way toward the first Republican fueling stations orbiting around the planet. Owen Lars stepped back and mingled with his guests. "…my father wanted to be a moisture farmer." Anakin smiled, he felt on familiar ground with this pilot. They were hitting off quite nicely.
"What happened?"
"I wanted to get off that blasted world…you can appreciate that?" Skywalker nodded his head. "If I may ask, what exactly are two Jedi doing on a civilian freighter?" Kenobi grew serious but Anakin shot him a look saying it was all right. Owen Lars seemed to be a trustworthy man trying to make his way in the galaxy..
"We're trying to avoid calling too much attention to ourselves."
"These are dangerous times, even for the Jedi. What with the Separatist threat and everything that's been going on…"
"Have they reached Tatooine?"
"They started agitating there about two years ago. It's not surprising. The Separatists can't stand the Bounty Hunter's Guild or the Hutts. They think the Republic could do more to assert its authority on the Outer Rim."
"Easier said than done Owen. The Republic can't afford to start a fight with the Hutts when they've got Separatists breathing down their necks."
"I didn't say they were right, but that's how a lot of folks feel." Padmé Amidala spoke up suddenly.
"So how is it that you're so loyal to the Republic? It's odd to find that so far out of the Core." Owen passed his hand through his hair as he replied.
"My father was a commander in the Republican army before he started his farm." The three passengers listened intently to the story. "Cliegg…he was born and raised on Tatooine near the Jundland Wastes….but my grandfather was a transplanted Alderaani who fell in love with the daughter of a local trader and moisture farmer. So we had the best of both worlds growing up. I appreciated the independent spirit of the Outer Rim Territories but I also was raised on the stories of the Great Hyperspace Wars and the Old Sith Wars…and how great were the ideals of the Republic…I grew up with a profound love for Alderaan…stories of Theed Palace." Padmé smiled to herself. If only this pilot knew who she was, he would be even more star struck than when he met Anakin. "Anyway…it wasn't all that surprising when my father left Tatooine and joined the service. You had to be eighteen, but he lied…he signed up when he was sixteen…"
"Where did he serve Owen?" asked Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"Oh…he fought pirates for a while. Pulled some crazy stunts near Nal Hutta. Swung back around and led the relief operations near Yavin IV." Kenobi's eyes widened upon hearing the name of that world.
"So he fought alongside the Jedi Knights?"
"Yeah he did…served for a long time. We're talking about thirty or forty years ago. Yeah that sounds right. At the end of his career, just before he made it back home…Cliegg fought the army of that crazy Sith Lord…what was his name again?" Anakin finished the sentence.
"Plagueis?"
"Yeah…crazy stories he told us about that guy when we were growing up as kids. Said if we didn't behave Darth Plagueis would come and take us away while we slept." Kenobi's curiosity was piqued now.
"What kind of stories did he tell you?"
"Well, his commanding officer was a big time Jedi Master. She was a Togruta…tough woman…he told me you never wanted to get her angry." Obi-Wan's heart fell to his stomach. He knew the story, but to hear it from the son of a Republican veteran was something else entirely. Anakin sensed his master's discomfort. "This Jedi was a no-nonsense woman. But the troops respected her a lot. They would follow her from one end of the galaxy to another. That's how much authority and respect she commanded. Anyway, my father thought that it was impossible for this Jedi to have anything on the side. She was dedicated to her troops but rarely showed any kind of feelings or emotions. I mean she was on the Jedi Council, very involved in politics and the military…no one thought she had any time for a private life."
"He saw something that told him different?" Kenobi asked with baited breath.
"Yes…" Owen paused to clear his throat. "…He was taking a break near one of their forts. This was before the big battle at Dantooine…he saw her from a distance. She was holding hands with a younger Jedi at her side. They were looking at the stars and talking. Now you have to understand, all my father ever saw from this woman was her as this tough military leader. I think she was the last Jedi to hold the title of general in the Republican army. He saw her so relaxed. Just walking up and down the perimeter with this young human at her side…the rest of the troops knew…but they never let on…Jedi don't get much time to relax…they were protective of the general's privacy."
"Do you remember the name of the younger Jedi she was with?"
"I think father mentioned it once in passing…I wonder where that guy is now? They had some good stories about him too. He's the one they say who killed Plagueis." Kenobi leaned back and closed his eyes as Owen Lars moved on to another subject. He was lost in thought as if someone had plunged a dagger through his heart twenty times over. After a while Owen left them. Eventually Padmé fell asleep, leaving only Anakin there starting pensively out of a small porthole. The younger Jedi spoke up.
"It's funny how the Force works don't you think?"
"Tell me about it. This guy's father knew Qui-Gon, he saw your podrace." Anakin felt a bit uncomfortable.
"It's the will of the Force that we ran into him." Obi-Wan Kenobi nodded his head in silence. He didn't want to talk about this anymore. Kenobi changed the subject to more pressing matters.
"Where do you think we should debark?"
"Honestly, I think Tatooine might be safest."
"That's uncomfortably close to Geonosis…."
"It might fool Jango Fett. I mean look at it from his perspective, would two Jedi Knights you had cornered on one planet go to the system right next door?"
"True." Kenobi sensed a tremor of fear emanating from his apprentice. "What is it? Relax…we're going to make it through."
"You really don't get it do you?"
"What am I missing Anakin?" Skywalker let out a sigh filled with anxiety.
"Fett won't stop until she's dead. He's the best bounty hunter in the galaxy for a reason. We might be able to fool him for a little bit, but we have to prepare for the eventuality that he will cross paths with us."
"But that's not the only thing that has you worried?"
"Ben, I don't think he's working alone. I felt a different presence watching our every move as we made our way through the streets and slums back there…"
"What kind of presence?"
"It was cold…barren…merciless."
"You think it's a Sith?"
"No, whoever it was had some training in the Dark Side…but they aren't fully trained as a Sith."
"Maybe Sidious found a new apprentice." Anakin shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't like it Ben. I have a bad feeling about this." Kenobi nodded.
"Me too."
Jango Fett was furious about the day's events. Flying aboard Slave I, he was ready to butcher his accomplice. Her thin frame entered the cockpit and stood beside him silently.
"You're a fool."
"Am I? Without me you would have no knowledge of where they would take the Queen." He waved his hand away in disgust and slowly lifted his Mandalorian helmet off of his head exposing his scarred face. He passed his hands through his closely cropped hair.
"Skywalker detected your Force-signature. That means he knows I am not working alone on this job. If Sidious were here he would kill you." She let out a mocking laugh as she sat down across from him.
"No, my friend…if Sidious were here he would reward me and excoriate you for your ill-timed attack. Did you really think those missiles were going to wipe her out? And right in front of the bloody Jedi Temple, what were you thinking Fett?" He slammed his fists down hard on his chair and stood up approaching the woman. Fett shoved his finger toward her face menacingly.
"Listen to me…if we're going to work together…we are going to do it my way or not at all. Do you understand me?" She remained silent as he continued. "You were supposed to get the Queen…"
"She ran into that crowd of protestors alongside Skywalker…there wasn't a clear shot…and I wasn't about to reveal myself in broad daylight in front of the troopers and police who were gathering to inspect the mess you made." Fett scoffed at her convenient excuses and turned away in disgust. He plopped back in his seat starting out into space. She slowly came behind him and rubbed his shoulders gently.
"Get away from me…" She didn't stop. She could feel him relaxing ever so slightly.
"You don't mean that Jango."
"Yeah well…a fine job we did today…"
"Ah, so now you accept some responsibility…" He started tensing up.
"Don't start this again…" She thought better of making another snide comment but continued rubbing his shoulders. A few minutes passed in perfect silence. She stopped massaging him and leaned in gently kissing his neck. He leaned back against her. They were an odd couple by any standards, but they cared for each other. Was it love? No one was quite sure, but they had grown closer over the past few months as they butchered senators who stood in their path.
"We'll cut them off at Tatooine my love."
"How can you be so sure that they are going there? It's too close to Geonosis…it would be foolish on their part."
"Precisely Jango…it's where we would least expect them to go. But it's in the trajectory of that freighter."
"Why not strike at them when they reach Dantooine, isn't that an earlier stop for them?"
"Yes…but we need them to relax…to lower their guard so that they won't see us coming next time."
"I tried this once before for Sidious and I got burned. What's going make this time any different?"
"Come now…he rewarded you handsomely even though you lost them."
"Still can't believe he can still stomach working with those Federation types, cowards the whole of them…money hungry cowards…" She smirked at the blatant hypocrisy on display before her.
"And what are you bounty hunter? An altruistic citizen doing his duty?" He laughed at the thought.
"I never said I was. But at least I don't run away from a fight. I stay and finish the job till it's done or I am dead." She held him close to her body.
"That's what I like about you Jango…you're a man who knows what he wants."
"Yeah…" He paused for a moment waiting for her to say something more but it never came. "Get strapped in. They're making the jump to lightspeed."
"Very well then."
"You had better be right about this…" He punched in the coordinates for Tatooine and readied the ship for lightspeed.
"We won't fail this time…I promise." They said nothing more as the ship blasted into hyperspace.