Chapter 2: Black
This was the second meeting today, and the fifth meeting we've held all week. We Council members had met at least once a day for the last two weeks. Usually I would be meeting Ceranus in the courtyard at this time of day for tea, but I didn't mind much, since it had been raining every day this week. Today it turned out to beautiful outside though. I hope she isn't out there waiting for me.
But back to the meeting. I believe on that day we were speculating about where "They" came from. Master Yoda insisted we keep this threat a secret from the other Jedi. Our most recent data puts their origin as the Outer-Rim, just outside of the Kanzian system. From the Hall of Records we could trace their path. Lifeforms on planets were disappearing as "They" made a direct course. A deliberate course towards Coruscant. They were moving quickly and we sensed life fade away wherever they passed.
"The best mode of action would be to recall all Knights in the area back to Coruscant, and hold a counter attack on home soil" I insisted. "We need to think about procuring transports to move civilians off-world."
"Master Gilley," Master Yoda interrupted me. "Arrived, an old friend of mine has."
The most recent calculations gave us two more weeks before "They" arrived, but Master Yoda assured us that this "Doctor" only arrives at the last possible minute, and only when things are about to get really bad. The man seemed like nothing special. A humanoid wearing strange clothing. Rather eccentric and rude. He did not look much like a warrior, but he gathered much respect from Master Yoda.
::Ding::
A sound rang out from a device in his companion's jacket. It was at that moment that a sensation hit the entire Council at once. How could they be here so soon? How could they be at our doorstep and we just now are able to sense their presence.
"Master Gilley, war we must be ready for," Master Yoda started. "Mobilize the troops."
"Attention!" A group of young Jedi Knights stood before me on a bridge. A group that had excelled in their training, but did not have any actual combat experience. Green as they were, they needed to be caught up on the situation. I started to explain that an unknown presence was arriving on our planet today. I explained how the Council sensed life being stripped from planets. I explained how looking out into the stars, I sensed a line of planets with life stolen from them. Jedi that were sent on reconnaissance in those areas saw what were once lush forests and jungles, transformed into desolate deserts and wastelands.
As I briefed the young Knights on threat, I saw their eyes move upward. I could see starships breaking through the clouds above. The crafts fell lifelessly out of the atmosphere and into view. And then all at once they shot into all directions, hundreds of ships. I recognized many as ships from the Outer-Rim; Kanzian transporters, Hillucian cargo ships... A smaller, half of a ship, propelled itself towards the bridge.
I remember pushing the troop of young Jedi to the other side of the bridge. The next thing I knew, there was a black substance on me. It adhered to my body and I couldn't pull it off. As I tried to remove it, the substance came alive and bended my arms behind my back. I began to black out. I then remember looking out and seeing my old padawan Ceranus. She had grown a lot since the day I first took her on as a pupil. Her golden horns had grown into maturity just as her mastery of the force had. She stood in front of me with her lightsaber erected.
I attempted to turn around and see what threat she had taken arms against, but my body did not respond. It felt as if I were paralyzed. I was staring out of my eyes as if they were the windows of a transport. And then my body started to move on its own. My lightsaber was in my hand, also activated. My body was taking on a defensive position. I tried to struggle, but to no avail. I was trapped in my own body. Something was piloting me as if I were a vehicle.
The creatures thoughts melted into mine. I could see a desire to spread and pervert everything it came into contact with. I sensed a dangerous curiosity. A curiosity about me, a curiosity about The Jedi order, and a curiosity of The Force. It took delight in the power it just found. The pilot of my body became intoxicated by the potential of the weapon that just came into its hands. I tried to resist its control, but I was helpless. Trapped.
I tried to scream to Ceranus. I wanted to say "Run! Get away." I wanted to tell her to go to Master Yoda. Get the rest of the Jedi Council off of this planet, before they suffer the same fate. But no words left my lips. I thought about what Master Yoda would do. The man who trained me in the ways of The Force. I wondered if he had ever felt as helpless. And I remember a time when he told me that he had felt helpless. A time where he felt like there was nothing in his power that he could do. And at that time he trusted in a man. A strange creature that traveled through time and space in a strange blue box. Someone that Master Yoda had complete faith in.
I then knew what Ceranus had to do. She had to help this Doctor. She had to get him to his craft. She had to get him off of this planet so that he could save the universe. And so I tried again. Inside I was screaming! "Ceranus, help the Doctor. Whatever it is he needs, he may be our only hope. Don't let these things take over the Jedi Council. I have faith in this man that Master Yoda trusts above all else. Leave me here and help him. Help the Doctor." Inside of my head I was screaming to her. Screaming so that she could help the Doctor to save us all. But my lips did not listen. They ignored every word that I screamed except for one. They let slip only the word, "Help."
Chapter 3: Red
