STAR WARS: THE JEDI WARS
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away the galactic empire is falling apart. Democracy has slid out of sight and the Jedi Order 66 is finding it harder and harder to keep the peace in a system that demands revolution with people who are rallying against each other.
Meanwhile, the Sith Lord, Darth Sidious is hiding under their very noses and controlling the senate from the inside.
But thousands of kilometres away in another system on the planet Othen, rumours of a Jedi army trained in the art of warfare and lead by two individuals neither dark nor light are spreading like wild fire. The Jedi Master, Yoda, has sent two Jedi Knights to the planet to investigate the rumours and bring to light the truth and perhaps to help decide whether the best solution is to stick to their own battle and fight for democracy in their own system or join the war on the Sith and fight for the universe in one enormous clash of light and dark.
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Master Windu stepped off the ship onto the black planet with a sour look on his face, a frown set deep and a bead of sweat forming on the ridge of his brow.
Obi Wan Kenobi followed suit, noticeably uncomfortable in the heat and disorientated by what was around them, or lack thereof; an endless flat land of harsh, black dessert.
"Othen is hotter than I anticipated," Windu mused grimly, squinting up at the blazing sun. "Not my area comfort,"
"Nor mine," Obi Wan agreed, looking around, above and under the ship, "Still, if Master Yoda wanted us here then I suppose we'll have to endure,"
He started walking forward, out of the shadow of the ship and instantly regretted it, the heat searing through the sole of his boots and he quickly stepped back in and turned to Windu who was looking at him with mock awe.
"Why did Master Yoda make you a master?" he asked sarcastically as he pulled out a container from the pocket of his robe and smeared the contents of it on the bottom of his feet.
"Is that what that was?" Obi Wan asked, reaching for his own gel, eyes wide in enlightenment. He watched as Windu walked out onto the sand without flinching though the discomfort of heat was still obvious.
Obi Wan followed suit and when he took a step onto the devilishly hot sand, he found only a luke warm heat rising and he could almost bounce his way to nowhere instead of walking. He found a sort of childlike enjoyment coursing through his being as he tried to bounce freely without Windu's knowing. He found himself thinking of Anikan and how that boy would undoubtedy bounce regardless and laugh at Windu's face of disapproval.
"Where do you propose we start, Master Kenobi?" Windu stopped suddenly and turned to Obi Wan who bounced to his side with a small grin earning himself the look he thought he'd get, "Having fun?" He added.
"It gives a mission like this a little light. To answer your question as a result, I have no idea. What were Master Yoda's instructions?"
"He gave us the coordinates and said that we were to disembark and merely…look," he gestured to the emptiness about them before letting his hand drop to his side in a loss, "Look at what, I wonder,"
"No mention of the 22nd Order, then?"
"None…but I think that means they never contacted him either. I certainly would have known if they had,"
"Could that mean that they don't know we're here?"
"I think it means they didn't know we were coming,"
The looked at each other wearily for a moment before Windu pulled out his lightsabre and held it above his head,
"Maybe they need assurance,"
"Assurance?"
"They haven't killed us yet, we're not bad people…," he paused, "Yet,"
The whir of electricity sent out a mild flare as Windu's purple lightsabre buzzed to life. Obi Wan observed his surroundings a moment before deciding that perhaps it was best that he do the same. Moments later his own lightsabre was lit and blue above his head, contrasting the barren landscape.
Windu looked this way and that, looking for anyone to find them,
"We're sitting ducks like this,"
"Better than dead ducks," Obi Wan responded and Windu looked at him in grumpy agreement.
Minutes passed and still no sign of any life forms, no sense sparked their awareness, there was nothing. They were alone on the Planet, alone and vulnerable to the heat.
"Order 66," came a thick, steely voice that sounded like a rake over gravel, "And only two. A pity,"
Windu and Obi Wan spun on their heels to see who or what was behind them. Two individuals one behind the other, the taller at the back and just off centre. The eyes that shone out from the depths of black robed hoods were rimmed with yellow but had no hint of the red that signified a Sith. The mark of the in between it was called. A dangerous place to be, a dangerous trade to learn, neither here nor there.
It was the taller one at the back who spoke while the other stood deathly still.
"A pity…I would say the same," Windu countered but earned only so much as a sly chuckle from the taller being,
"Were you expecting more than the two leads to show themselves, Master Windu? Perhaps the entire army?"
Windu's frowned deepened as a result of the mockery. Windu was unsure of what he was expecting, Obi Wan didn't know himself and it was part of the reason why he found the mission both exciting and frightening. The rumours were impossible but if one were to imagine an army of Jedi Knights – one was awed. But then one has to assume the existence of a Sith army and the thought is suddenly terrifying. A clash inevitable and the endurance of light and dark challenged and there can only be one winner.
"We weren't sure if you knew we were coming, Master," Obi Wan interjected, "But clearly –"
"But clearly nothing. We had no knowledge of your impending arrival and no knowledge still of who you are. We received word but once, many a year back from Master Yoda that he would send someone to our aid and whom we should accommodate to the best of our ability. But no one came and so we thought you were lost or otherwise chose not to join our cause. No matter, we don't need you as much as you might need us,"
"Arrogance is a path to the dark side, Master Jedi, I caution you,"
"We are not Jedi, Master Windu, we have free reign over whatever we want to be. We are defined by the choices we make, not by the way we are taught," the tall man, it must have been, sneered, silencing Windu again.
"How do you know us?" Obi Wan interjected a second time, calming the tension.
"A scanner; we traced the ship to its landing and we linked its registered code to Coruscant. So we assumed you to be the lost Jedi. WIndu we recognise for you are second only to Master Yoda," he glanced at Windu briefly before returning his attention to Kenobi, "But you, Master…?"
"Kenobi, Obi Wan Kenobi,"
"Kenobi…we have not seen nor heard of the likes of you before,"
"I'm still new to the Jedi council, only 4 years,"
"Hmm…not long at all," his head dropped, pensive a moment over the news before taking a breath, "I am Jed Reno and this is my apprentice Shep Leelo,"
The shorter, silent and still, nodded curtly but gave no other indication of acceptance or acknowledgement.
Obi Wan bowed and was relieved when Master Windu obliged and showed the same curtesy they had been denied.
"Pleasure," Obi Wan offered but in unison, the duo turned to leave, leaving them with nothing but words thrown over Jed's shoulder,
"Fly carefully and safeguard our secret, please,"
Windu followed stubbornly and Obi Wan watched him briefly, choosing to stay and wait as to be followed by two Jedi Knights was not particularly good manners. Jedi do not follow but something was obviously out of place, Windu's desperation – for that could only be it – for them to tell him anything of importance and the swiftness and aggression with which Jed responded to Windu was obvious and though his voice was calm, it carried and Obi Wan could hear it.
"We are vulnerable here, Master Windu. I will not ever tell you our whereabouts or even put faith in your good name for the sake of a maybe. If Master Yoda wants to investigate us, then he is welcome to do it himself,"
"He sent myself and Master Kenobi, we are his two most trusted. Is that not enough? Master Yoda, despite the stories, is old and time is short. The temple needs him there,"
"Death is a natural part of life but I daren't believe him to think that I would let you saunter into our domain without proof of identification. You say you are his most trusted…how do I know?"
"From Jedi to Jedi, Master Reno, use your feelings,"
"I use them more than you know, Master Windu. Again I say, I won't risk anything. You must understand our position. That is my feeling. I feel you are well and safe but I cannot tell your sustenance. If you were tortured, can you hold your tongue? Can you lie?"
Windu did not respond and Reno's aggression reseeded and he straightened, content in his small victory. A small sigh escaped the blackness of his hood, glancing over at his apprentice, who looked undisturbed by the ordeal,
"If it means so much, Master Windu, allow me to propose a solution; I will send Shep with you back to Corascunt. Allow her to meet with Master Yoda and decide with all of you present,"
Windu gazed at the apprentice wearily before nodding,
"Very well but then we leave now,"
"Of course," Jed responded almost as if the decision was a stupidly obvious one and he turned to Shep and said something inaudible that made Windu's already accusatory face look even more so. Then, with no other words spoken, an understanding seemingly reached, Jed Reno simply walked away and for a while all who were left behind watched and waited, wondering at what point Reno might indicate a secret somewhere into which he'd disappear. But he walked forever.
Windu marched back to Obi Wan and raised his eyebrows,
"Consider my trust shaken,"
"Caution," Obi Wan agreed and when they looked back, Leelo was making her way towards them determinedly and behind her, Reno had simply disappeared. Obi Wan watched Leelo walk past them and onto their ship without a word before he smirked at Windu,
"Looks like we missed it."
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The ship was cold and a terrible contrast to the blazing heat of Othen.
Obi Wan was staring out of the main window, the stars blinking at him from their respective galaxies. Windu was somewhere else in the ship, his hand on his chin, deep in thought.
He was deep in his own thoughts when the captain startled him out of his head with a question,
"Did you see the death pits?"
"Pardon me?"
"The Death Pits of Othen. They're pretty much legend now, no more, no less. Heard of them?"
"Stories from when I was a boy only,"
"I take it you didn't see them, then,"
"No," Obi Wan's thoughts wondered again, back to when he was learning about the history of the Jedi and the various temples on varying planets – one of which was on Othen. But Othen had been attacked many years back when it had been caught in the middle of civil war. It had gotten the brunt of the battle and the planet had been set a light. The fire roared on for months and months before it went out but needless to say, the temple was burnt to the ground and the planet was left to wallow in its own pity, to become its own ghost story.
The Death Pits had been an outstanding feature, however. Othen was not favoured by many neighbouring galaxies, many of which were inhabited by Jedi temples, and the pits were the reason. Like the death penalty but without restrictions; if you fell in, no one helped you out. If you were thrown in, then you would die regardless of trial. They were simply enormous holes in the ground that hinted at an endlessness that would take you through the planet core and out the other side by which time you would have frozen.
Some said there were terrible beasts that lay within. Other said you merely hit the ground and died; either way, the Death Pits held endless fascination and terror and there were five of them situated all over the planet but since its destruction all those years ago, the death pits fell into myth and legend.
"I would love to see them," the pilot's voice came wafting out of the blue and drew Obi Wan's concentration back to the present.
"I'm sure," he uttered, "They'd be quite something,"
Just then, the rustle of robe and the slide of door alerted him to someone's entrance. Low and behold, Shep Leelo entered, silent and, dare Obi Wan think, hostile,
"Good evening,"
But Leelo said nothing though she looked at him, he could tell.
"Are you comfortable?"
Still nothing.
"Would you like a refreshment of some kind? Water, perhaps? Anything to eat? No one ever feels like eating when flying but it is important,"
He looked at her, waiting for a reaction, some form of yes or no or even indifference but she gave no sign of recognition, not even one that said she'd heard him. Obi Wan shrugged and continued gazing out.
"Silent," the captain said, "Can you speak or are you unable?"
Obi Wan stalled. He hadn't actually considered the idea that perhaps instead of being rude and obnoxious, she simply was unable to speak. Perhaps some cruel twist of fate left her without a tongue, crushed her voice box, burnt her throat? Anything.
He turned to her to utter his apologies, but then…she spoke and it was a voice that flowed like the river instead of a voice that stumbled over stones,
"No, Master Kenobi, I'm not mute. Thank you for your offer but I am fine,"
Obi Wan was temporarily stupefied. The voice of Jed Reno was harsh on the ears and he expected no less of Leelo but just to prove him wrong, he was graced with a tone that glided through the air easily, disturbed nothing and yet was disturbing to link it to the eyes that sometimes gleamed out of the darkness when the light caught her just so.
"I apologise for my abrupt manner," he uttered, still stunned.
But he was met by stoney silence again and Obi Wan wondered why she didn't speak. What kept her from it? Did Reno teach her not too or was she simply somebody who preferred her own company to that of others. Traumatised, perhaps, traumatised into silence, into not liking the sound of her own voice.
"My mistake," the captain said again and he went silent himself. Saying no more within the presence of Leelo as she stood carefully behind him.
The stars blinked and flashed and became blurs if one stared at one too long. The silence drew on and on without anyone saying anything. Obi Wan saw the Captain shift and sigh in discomfort and Obi Wan felt his own unease growing. He dared a subtle glance over at Leelo who stood still and unperturbed by the silence. Only she was unworried by it.
"Are you always this silent?" Obi Wan dared asked expecting no response and not so much as a blank stare did he get, "Has Master Jed taught you to be silent?"
She smirked, a clear indication of definitely not.
"Are you afraid of something, then?"
Another look, sceptical and defensive as if offended by the notion of fear. She turned away again,
"What good would it do to talk to you, Master Kenobi? I have instructions to talk to Master Yoda, not anyone else. So why bother?"
The tables turned and Obi Wan felt a sharp stab of insignificance,
"How about for social reasons,"
"Do I seem like a socialite to you, Master Kenobi?"
Obi Wan recognised a losing battle when he was in one and so he said no more to anyone. Choosing to leave Leelo and the captain altogether, he wondered through the spaceship in search of something to do to remove his thoughts from the mess he was inevitably going to find himself in.
He found Master Windu doing the same, playing with a piece of ship metal as it floated up and down and around him while he waved his hand absent-mindedly.
"Master Windu?"
"I don't trust them," he said bluntly, not looking at Obi Wan as he entered quietly,
"I don't think they trusts us either, Master,"
"A problem which we have to find a solution for. We need to find mutual ground, Obi Wan," he looked at him for the first time, his face not as hard, not as guarded but more worried, concern lining his face and making him look tired, "Or otherwise everything will fail."
"What do you want me to do, Master?"
"It will take time, but start now; Shep Leelo is someone we'll need to tip toe around. I sense she is harder around the edges than her Master,"
"Well that would make sense. Level each other out. Master, do you think they even are Master and apprentice?"
"I'm not sure. Perhaps another front to keep us from knowing too much before we say no. I understand. They're a fragile duo,"
Obi Wan nodded,
"Surely Master Yoda will know, however. That is if he has had contact with them before…"
"He would have told the council. Me at the very least. This sounds too much like the clone army you stumbled upon,"
Obi Wan remembered clearly how it stumped the council how the old Master told no one of his dealings with the clone army and for what reasons.
"Maybe she simply doesn't like to speak,"
Windu looked at him doubtfully and Obi Wan knew that it was indeed doubtful. Perhaps it was so that she wasn't fond of speaking but she made a special effort of not even acknowledging the voice of her addresser except on occasion.
"I would very much like to know what Master Jed said to her…either way," Windu stood and gazed out a window where he could see the light spotted planet of Corascunt, "We're almost there."
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They alighted the ship one by one and Obi Wan could see the relief on the Captain's face as he was finally relieved of Shep's tense silence.
She followed Obi Wan and Windu through the halls of the Jedi temple, looking up to take in its magnitude; the way the pillars reached high to keep an extravagant ceiling from falling on them, the way the floors were made of marble and glinted in the sunlight and gave the temple an air of elegance so well suited to the art of being a Jedi Knight. There were no doors for the temple was meant to be wide open for the public, to allow the light to stream in endlessly from whatever source.
Windu was trying to explain the to's and from's of the temple to Shep Leelo as she made no indication of understanding.
"And here," he said, stopping at the entrance to a small room that would like a snow globe if looked upon from the outside, "Is the council room."
He waited for her to enter before glancing at Obi Wan and entering himself.
Obi Wan entered after him, weary and not at all surprised that the small council had gathered and were waiting patiently for them.
"Welcome," Master Yoda offered as Leelo took up a position in front of him and Windu, bowing slightly. The first time Obi Wan had seen her truly show respect. He felt suddenly awed by Yoda, more so than he'd ever felt before. He had respect from the hardest of people and people he had never met.
"Your master, happy he is not. Not enough, my two most trusted were?"
"No, Master Yoda,"
"Hmmm…" Yoda nodded, "Precarious your position is. Understand I do. Brave you are to come alone,"
Leelo said nothing.
"Lower your hood," Yoda pointed at her in the way he always did with no particular reference, "See you we must,"
Obi Wan found himself leaning forward in anticipation, not realising he'd been wondering what lay beneath the hood, what the face that had those eyes looked like, where the voice came from.
Leelo hesitated a moment before doing so. No one uttered a word as she did so but obvious effort was put into it.
Shep's face was riddled with scars and broken flesh, a permanent smile put in place that stretched from each corner of her mouth to the middle of her cheeks.
Only Yoda regarded this feature with indifference. But Obi Wan was surprised – the voice most of all, flowed like the river where as the voice he would have expected should he have seen her face first, would have been thick and sticky like blood.
"Now tell us about your cause, Young Shep,"
"We need your full confidence. We need either a yes or no. I cannot accept a neither here nor there from two Jedi Knights we don't know. But the war that is coming –"
"What war?" A Jedi master with a strange look about him said abruptly, "What evidence is there of this…'war'?"
"Do you think you are the only galaxy that suffers?" Shep growled, "This disruption is happening everywhere and Master Jed recognised this many years ago. He taught himself about the half way mark between the light and dark,"
"Dangerous that is," Yoda mused where Master Windu looked on without saying another word.
"Yes, Master," Leelo agreed, "But he has not taught anyone else. Only me."
"How many other Jedi are there? How does your training help them?" Windu asked sceptically.
"Battle combat and that of defence are two very different fighting styles. Are you aware of how the fighting style of the Sith is far more brutal? They aim to kill you. You aim to disarm,"
"In the balance you are, easily swayed perhaps," Yoda commented again and Leelo looked at him a moment, thinking about it,
"Perhaps,"
"Why should we trust you? Why put our faith in you?"
"We're putting our faith in you, Master Windu," Leelo said measuredly, unaffected by Windu coming up on the offence, "You don't serve us, we serve you. Basically. There are 10 000 Jedi Knights thus far. Jed only wants to lead you but if something goes wrong…you can kill us fairly easily,"
Leelo shrugged and Windu leaned back. He looked more relaxed, as if the mutual understanding he was going on at Obi Wan about was found.
Obi Wan felt himself being persuaded and was about to voice it when Yoda hmm'ed to himself again and nodded,
"Very well. Send word back to your Master, be there in five days, I will."
Leelo bowed and without further interaction, put her hood back up and left. The moments following her departure, Windu turned to Master Yoda with concern in his voice,
"Surely we need you to stay here, Master…"
"Master Windu, be there in five days," Yoda turned to Windu with a sternness only Yoda had, "I will."