A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…
Star Wars
Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
56 BBY
[Opening Scroll]
The Jedi have successfully maintained peace in the Galactic Republic for over 4000 years. They are able to successfully detect disturbances in The Force, foresee disagreements, and help prevent all-out wars.
Against the Jedi's recommendations, the Galactic Senate has voted in favor of establishing a penal colony far removed from Coruscant, their center of operations. The Supreme Chancellor has ordered that a scouting expedition be sent to the Outer Rim in search of a suitable planet.
The planet, ideally, should be uninhabited, have a ready source of renewable energy, and be of stable climate. The expedition is led by Captain Silios, who had the foresight to request that a Jedi accompany him…
Chapter One
. Aboard the Republic Cruise ship, Genesis
From his seat in the second row, the Jedi can see the flight computer's screen and other various read outs over the shoulder of Captain Silios, seated to the left of the co-pilot, Ensign Palatine. He's a bit more apprehensive than usual, but he convinces himself that this is to be expected, given that they have just come out of hyper space. He wonders if it's him or has the space travel temporarily weakened the energy field that surrounds himself and the crew.
He'll ask Master Yoda once he returns. But it does seem to make sense. Jedi were meant to stay on the ground, surrounded by plenty of people, animals, trees, at the very least a blade of grass or two - not out here in the middle of nowhere with only 2 companions, flying through space aboard a dead spacecraft, searching for a planet with little to no life. "Oh well," he thinks, he must remain alert.
On the view screen, a curious potato-shaped planet comes into view, with a thin atmospheric layer, through which the surface looks to be more rock than vegetable.
"Master Qui-Gon, what can you tell me about that planet? Are you able to sense anything?" asks Captain Silios.
"Not a thing, Captain. The increase in The Force as we approach is minimal," responds the Jedi.
"My scanners tell me the same: there's some life down there, but not much,"
The cabin of the Republic cruiser moans, rattles, and complains as it enters the planet's atmosphere. It then levels off 3,000 feet from the surface.
"Shall I set us down… there?" asks the co-pilot, pointing to a section of terrain relatively free of craters, and appearing to be sufficiently flat.
"Yes. That'll do nicely," responds the Captain.
Palpatine lands the craft. The crew unbuckles.
"We'll need to put on Enviro-suits, Master Qui-Gon. Readings indicate there's too much cosmic radiation outside," informs Captain Silios. His brow furls slightly as he continues reviewing the readings. "But it should be a leisurely stroll. We'll be bounce-stepping – not too much gravity, and it's… not uniform across the planet. We'll be heavier in some parts, lighter in others"
"Should I scan for nearby planets that might be more…round, Captain?" asks Ensign Palpatine with a 'please-say-yes' look on his face.
"No. Let's give this planet a chance, all the nice 'round' ones seem to be inhabited, Ensign… and uneven gravity might even be advantageous for penal-colony-purposes," responds the Captain.
"Indeed. We wouldn't want the prisoners to be too comfortable," interjects Qui-Gon with a half grin, as he clanks shut the front of his bulky Enviro-suit.
As he grabs the Enviro-suit's helmet, tucks his hair into the collar piece, and then puts the headgear on, he reflects on the reasoning behind the mission. While he had been expecting his first solo mission on official Jedi business to be routine, he can't help but think that his talents are being especially wasted on this mission. Other than serving as a means of getting a reading on The Force, there really isn't any other reason for a Jedi to be a member of the scouting party. If droids and space probes could be outfitted to transmit the information to Coruscant, he wouldn't have to be here at all.
His companions finish putting on their suits, and Palpatine hits the hatch release. The back of the ship opens with a depressurizing 'whoosh.' The trio bounce-steps down the ramp and steps onto the planet's surface.
"Let's stay alert, gentlemen. Take our readings, collect the soil samples, complete this mission as efficiently as possible," transmits the Captain over the suit's integrated com link.
"Agreed," responds Qui-Gon as Palpatine simultaneously states, "Ay Capt."
The trio bounce-steps around to the front of the ship, and then they spread out across the plain. Occupied by their task, none of them notice that they're no longer alone. The landing gear and ramp are carefully being inspected by ghostly, eight-legged creatures that have no discernable front or rear. Guided more by touch than sight, the creatures are knee-high and move about systematically. Once every section of the craft has been crawled upon, the spiders sink effortlessly back under the planet's surface, leaving no tracks.
Ten seconds later, the three explorers notice a low rumble; the ground below them starts to tremble violently. They struggle to retain their balance.
"Back to the ship!" yells the Captain.
Qui-Gon turns to face his companions and the ship, but then instinctively remains perfectly still. The Force has told him that there's something else to be done before running. While the front and port-side landing gear of the craft start to sink into the ground, he sees Palpatine fall below the surface. His fall is sudden, as if a trap door had opened below him.
Qui-Gon extends his right hand in Palpatine's direction. To his horror, he can't feel him, he knows he should be there, but there is no presence. He doesn't panic. With his left, he takes hold of Captain Silios 15 yards away, levitating him just above the planet's surface, lest he should fall also. He closes his eyes, lowers his head within the helmet, and uses The Force to switch off his com-link, so as not to be distracted by the Captain's frantic pleading for a response from Palpatine.
As he sinks into a meditative state, a thunderous crack of rock is heard. He stops waving his right forearm in Palpatine's direction, and now aims for the ship. The ground below the craft has split open, and he now has to use The Force to keep it from falling in. He breathes deeply and slows his heart. Sadly, he only has enough calm to save himself, the ship and Silios. He's being stretched thin. While everything weighs less on this low-gravity planet, he has to use every ounce of himself to keep it all afloat.
Qui-Gon and the Captain float in through the spaceship's rear hatch. Qui-Gon releases the Captain who dives for the hatch control and switches on the ship's life support system. He takes off the Enviro-suit as quickly as he can, and takes control of the ship. Qui-Gon opens his eyes but then collapses and loses consciousness, still inside his suit.
As he tumbles downward, Palpatine loses his bearings as the faint light from the surface flashes across his visor in all directions. He reaches for his grappling hook blaster attachment, gets off a shot, then braces for the jolt as the cable unwinds off the spindle. The jolt hits him. The blaster is ripped to pieces by the cable that's ultimately attached to his Enviro-suit at the waist. The force of the sudden stop slams his head against the back of his helmet. He manages to open his eyes for a brief moment. Above him, he sees two needle-like metallic legs appear out of nowhere. They cut the cable. He feels himself falling before losing consciousness.
His mind is swirled with shades of black and red. The sound of the ship's repulsor-lift thrusters echoes in his mind faintly at first, but the sound slowly becomes deafening. Then it stops. Hundreds of alien voices call from all directions. He doesn't understand the language, but the sound causes in him a great feeling of abandonment….and hate.
Hate for the Jedi who was there to keep him from harm. Hate for the captain, too lazy to scan for another planet. Hate for the Officer who had denied him a promotion. (HE had never been denied promotion before!) Hate for the military. Hate for its structure, rules, regulations, and purpose. Hate for all that endeavors to maintain peace. Hate for peace itself.
Hate - for all Jedi.
Hate that burns in his marrow