Disclaimer: I do not own any of Star Wars, the right of ownership of Star Wars belong to Lucasfilm and I guess Disney too. The only thing I own is the characters you do not notice and the plot.
Chapter 2: New Problem
Rachelle was sitting on the steps of the Jedi Temple when Mark walks up the stairs. She was drinking a bottle of water. "What are you doing out here?" ask Mark. "I was waiting for you. I am locked out of our quarters and I cannot get in." say Rachelle. Mark sighs as he looks at his 25 year old Padawan. After the 4 years of training, Mark thinks it is almost time for her to try her luck at becoming a Jedi Knight.
Mark walks down to the hall. He presses his finger against the pad. The door opens. Mark eyed Rachelle with a widen eyebrow. He touches the pad to turn the lights on. As soon as the Lights were on he notices a Happy Birthday sign hang from the ceiling.
"Happy Birthday, Master." say Rachelle looking up at her mentor. "Okay how did you find out?" ask Mark silently. "Senator Zane told me your birthday is today." say Rachelle. She looks up at her mentor's face. There was only a small hint of a smile on his face. So small that it was hardly noticeable. That smile fades away when he looks at Rachelle.
"Why are you doing this?" ask Mark slightly as he looks at his Padawan. No one ever celebrated his birthday before since he came to the Jedi Temple. Every year it seems like something bad would happen on his birthday. The worst thing that had happen on his birthday was Order 66 in his universe.
"I want too. You have trained me for what is going on 5 years and you are very nice. I thought I never once saw you celebrate your birthday. I thought maybe of changing that. Plus you always seem so lonely or out of it on days like today." say Rachelle. Mark grabs a glass of water and takes a sip. "I have my reasons." say Mark. "Can I ask you what those reasons are?" ask Rachelle.
Mark turns to faces her once more. He looks at her deeply. He wishes she would just drop it. "No, but I appreciate what you are doing." say Mark as he cups her shoulders. He looks down at her with a smile on his lips.
Rachelle looks into his strong blue eyes and can feel the power coming from his eyes. The thought of kissing them appear in her mind. Her feelings and emotion for her mentor keep on growing over the years. There is a part of her that afraid of becoming a Jedi Knight because that means spending less time with him.
She is still trying to figure out if he has the same emotions or thoughts about her. She could really see herself being with him in love. Still that something she could not read from him. She have grown better at reading her mentor through the Force and from his body language but there are some stuff she can find out one day and the next it would be block.
Everyday she has a debate with herself about rather she should tell her mentor of how she is feeling or not and the latter of the debate seem to always win. It had taken her almost a year to find out that she is in love with her mentor but she had feeling for at least half of that year, but she was confused about it.
She knows that he never love someone romantically he stated something like that before the Battle over Coruscant. When he was upgrading his Starfighter that she had crashed into on the Invisible Hand, she asked him some questions about love, and by his answers she knows by what he said that he never love someone besides family love.
"You know what; you have helped me out a lot. Maybe I should tell you why I am like this on my birthday. In my universe, Order 66 was activate on today well this universe is behind by one year so it would be almost 6 to 7 years ago Order 66 was activated." say Mark.
Rachelle gasps when she heard this. She rushes forward and hugs her mentor lightly. Mark hugs her with one arm. The closeness made Rachelle feel better than anything. She looks up at Mark with a slight smile. She was almost hating herself from letting go, but she does not want the moment to become awkward.
Anakin Skywalker was sitting with his kids on the couch in the 500 Republica. Leia is resting her head against her father's arm. Luke is sitting beside him. "Daddy I love you." say Leia in a sweet voice.
"I swear Mas Amedda must have been lazy when he was finishing up Palpatine's term. There are stuff from 18 BBY." say Padme walking in with a Datapad with bills that needs to be sign or veto.
Anakin looked up. "At least he is not a Sith like Palpatine. If he was, I am for sure Mark would sense it and put a stop to it." say Anakin looking up at Padme as she sits down in a chair. "Shouldn't you be teaching the children how to handle the Force before they become Padawans? I thought Mark said the Temple agreed that you can teach them and that they sometimes have to be in the Temple to learn." say Padme looking up.
"Mommy! Daddy did teach us, Look what I can do!" say Leia as she focus on the Force and made water in a cup lift up into the air. She twists her fingers a little and the water forms a heart. By the look on her face she was contracting hard.
"I could too, look Mommy!" say Luke as he used the Force. Nothing happen until they hear something crashed. Anakin jumps up and look around and saw that bookcase full of Holobooks fall to the ground. Padme sighs as she shakes her head, but had a slight smile on her face.
"Luke! You need to be careful! Someone could got hurt." say Leia looking at her twin. Both kids have something of their mother. Leia got Anakin's temper, which Padme sometimes feared too much about it might lead her daughter to the Dark Side. Anakin told her that he knows who Darth Vader was in Mark's universe because Mark told him. She was surprise when she heard it was him, until he explain that it seem possible to him.
It is strange that Leia look like her when she was younger, but have some of the major traits of her father, but Luke who look like his father have some of her major traits. While it is strange at the same time it amazes her greatly. "Sorry, did not mean to, I was trying to lift the glass." say Luke rubbing the back of his neck.
"How the Force you manage to knock down the books?" ask Leia looking at Luke with her eyes on him and with her arms cross. Padme have to hide her smile behind the Datapad that she had to her face. Leia could be very serious at times and that is strange for a kid her age, even for Naboo.
Anakin sits back down after he puts the bookcase back up. "Calm down Leia, it was an accident." say Anakin as he set back down in his seat. Luke look over at his mother who was back to reading the Datapad within her hands. "Mommy what are you doing?" ask Luke. Padme looking up, usually she tries to not do work in front of her kids, and she would use her office in the Senate building. She also has a small office in her apartment. Due to one of the kids playing a joke on her, she cannot enter the room without gagging from whatever gas they put in there.
Something tells her that Anakin might be in on it too, since with him being a Jedi Knight and the twins not even be consider Padawan yet, he could have easily sense if they were lying.
"I am reading something for work." say Padme lightly as she glances at Luke for a few seconds before turning her to look at the Datapad. She presses a button to change the screen to another page of the bill. "I thought we were going to play games." say Leia looking at her mother. Her mother looks up at her daughter who shares the same deep brown eyes that she does.
Padme turns the Datapad off and puts it on a stand by the chair. "Go pick out a game, you two." say Padme. The twins jump off the couch and rushes over into a small closet where they keep all the game. Padme smiles as she watches them run off toward the closet.
They came back with a box. It was a board game that has holograms. You press the button and a hologram appears to tell you what move to make. There is another button you will have to press depends on what spot and you will have to what the card say. It is a child game to get kids moving. Also it is one of Luke and Leia's favorite games; Mark had introduced them to the game when they were on Bakura when they were having a meeting about a station in the Outer Rim.
The next day, the 37 year old Mark got up and went to the High Council Chamber. There was a meeting from a Jedi through a Hologram on the new space station that was put in the Outer Rim an effect that the Padme manage to get past in the Senate before she was elected as Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. It was a way to bring law and order to the Out Rims.
"They do not seem like your average criminals band from this part of space. They seem to have powerful ships and seem to be really organized as if there were some kind of military, but I cannot find any information on them." say the blue Nautolan as she crosses her arms.
"How many survive?" ask Obi-wan with his left leg cross over the top of his right leg. "A very few, there was some Force Sensitive that know the Dark Side a bit came down. Before they even arrive they manage to take down any surveillance. I swear the forces are much worst than those that we faced during the Clone Wars. They were ruthless and humans. All the Clones that were station here was killed." say the Nautolan as she rubs her nose.
"The condition of the base?" ask Mark leaning forward into his seat. "The shields manage to block most of the attack. One of their ships destroyed half of the station along with the Attack Cruisers that was station. We are currently running on reserve power. We have contact local planets and they are sending supplies. The major source is Bakura…" say the Nautolan before a Lightsaber pierces her heart.
The Hologram focuses on a tall guy wearing a golden color mask. "You stupid base you have put here will be destroy in 10 seconds. Enjoy your finals days." say the voice as he let the transmission running as he walks out of the room. During the transmission the guy was looking at Mark. Exactly 10 seconds went by and the transmission cut short when there was a loud explosion and the rooms feel with fire.
Mark was thrown back into his seat by a reaction to seeing that as if it was happening right in front of him. "We really should get a Holographic projector that is no so detail." say Mark as he calms his breathing down. He hasn't expected an explosion since his duel with Palpatine in the Chancellor Suite back in 19 BBY.
"I sense something dark is coming once more." say Mace Windu. "Mark do you know who he is, he kept looking at you." say Shaak Ti. "I sense he is a Sith, but the there are only 4 I have faced. They are Sidious, Maul, Dooku and Vader. 2 of them I know for a fact that they are dead, Vader I left him for dead on Mustafar, his body most likely is nothing on the planet. Lava must likely engulf him. Dooku redeem himself and he is currently in prison working his time out until he can rejoin the Order." say Mark.
"You left him to die on Mustafar that means that there is a small chance that he has lived." say Stass Allie who is the Tholothian who had healed Mark after his battle with Darth Vader in 19 BBY.
"That is always a possible thought, but you do not see the condition he was in. It would amaze me if he lived through any medical procedure. Plus let not forget he is a Clone of me so his presence would be like mine but way much darker feel to it. I did feel the darkness from the guy but I cannot seem to sense if it is him. It could be that his DNA was mixed with someone else. Than again that study was never really proven. I have spoken to Kamino and they have tried to figure that out. I still try to figure out how they made a Clone of me. The thing is, the presence still feels familiar but I do not know if it is Vader." say Mark as he looks at Stass.
Mark was always the type of person who tries to find information that he needs. When he is face with something new, he determined to figure out as much as possible. When he had time to head to Kamino after the Clone Wars had ended he had talk to them to find the answers that he is searching for and to notify him what they find. So far it is hardly enough important information to get a basic idea.
"The thing is Mark the Dark Side can use hatred to keep themselves alive. Darth Maul did this and I cut him in half back on Naboo." say Obi-wan as he look over at Mark.
"Still I think we should send someone to look after who is this new Sith Lord." say Stass as she looks at Mark. "I can call my mother and see if she can send some military to check it out. They have some good investigation team." say Mark.
"We must find this Sith and try to take him down before he can get more powerful and try to take down the Republic." say Kit Fisto, who has been in medical care for about a year and a half since his near death experience with Palpatine in the Chancellor Suite back in 19 BBY.
"Whoa, slow down Kit, if it is Vader, I think the only person who stands a chance against him is Mark. Anyone else going off to find him will be suicidal without getting anything done. It would be one thing to put your life on the line to take him down if you have the chance, but it would be a waste if nothing changes." say Shaak Ti looking at Kit.
"The question remains is should we send a Jedi to oversee the investigation?" ask Mace as he looks around the room. "If there is another attack on that area, then we should. I want to see if this will continue, I am sure Chancellor Skywalker will push for a full investigation of the source. Send some of the 3rd Legion to the base. It still remains one of the strongest troops in the Grand Army of the Republic for protection. Maybe even some of the 501st Legion too. The thing is, no one besides the High Council and a few members of the Senate knows about that station. We might have a spy within the Republic that told whoever did this. We should focus on them to prevent supplying whoever we are facing with evidence." say Mark.
"Sound's like a grand idea, but I think we still should send some Jedi over to oversee and for protection. I say Rahm Kota will be good for the trip, since you bring up the topic of a spy, how about you and your Padawan go find evidence about it. Since you seem great at finding evidences." say Mace.
Mark nods to this. "The question is who can be the spy, it has to be high up, and there are only a handful of Senators that knows about it. They are Senator Zane, Senator Organa, and Chancellor Skywalker." say Shaak Ti. "Well we know Chancellor Skywalker would not do anything like that, she is too close to the Jedi and plus she does not have that type of person. She is peaceful. Matter of fact all of them are peaceful. There is one more person we forgot about." say Mark.
"Who is that?" ask Obi-wan looking at Mark. "Vice Chancellor Mas Amedda, he was filling in for the rest of the Chancellor Palpatine term. That idea was brought in and pass when he was in office." say Mark.
The High Council nodded to this as Mark stated it. They know Mas Amedda is slightly greedy, but is he that greedy to put give out top secret information. Mark had known that Mas Amedda wanted to become Chancellor. The question why he would want to do something like that? That was simple, he wants to tarnish Chancellor Skywalker's good name and so that she will be voted out and another election where he can once more try running for Chancellor. It would not surprise him, and then he will have to find the question, how did the Vice Chancellor got to a Sith and how did he know where to find them.
He knows one thing, Mas Amedda might be greedy enough to do something like that but he is no Sith Lord. Something like this will be hard to find evidence. If they deal with a direct contact with each other there will be nothing. Knowing the Sith they are most like to remain hiding. So someone must also be able to contact with both the Vice Chancellor and the Sith Lord.
Than again he could be looking at it wrong. It could be someone passing in the government that overheard them talking or planting a bug on his mother, Bail or the Chancellor to find the location. There does not have to be a threat that someone would want to take the Chancellor out.
Mark tries to remember where Mas Amedda was with Bail, Amelia and Padme. The only time they talked about the base together was on Bakura at his mother's house out in the yard. There were some Bakuran government officials there too, since some of their some of the supplies that went into building the station the Bakuran government was buying. There are also some Bakuran Military officials there since they were looking over as it was being constructed.
"There could be some others, I just remember. A Few Bakuran government officials and some military officials." say Mark. Mace looks at Mark and than around the room. Since Yoda, the Jedi Order's Grand Master is not there and Mace Windu is the Master of the Order he is the one who has the say. Until Yoda shows back up, Mace Windu has control over the order. The only thing they know is that Yoda went to his homeworld, which is a mystery to everyone. He said something about meditating.
"Okay this is what we are going to do. We hardly have any proof about the Vice Chancellor; it will be bad for everyone if we go marching toward him on the subject. So I think you and young Rachelle should head to Bakura talk to your mother and those that was present during the meeting." say Mace. "In case of any trouble, I want to go and talk to Chancellor Skywalker to see if we can take some of the Clone Troopers with us. It might be a good idea for her to come around. She could help out." say Mark.
"That is up for the Chancellor decide, if she does intend to go along, than you must make sure you protect her well. There are people out there that would want her dead and I would not be half surprise if some of those are from Senators that are against her because she is trying to clean out the Senate. Start tomorrow, no point of doing anything till tomorrow. You want me to request a meeting with the Chancellor?" ask Mace.
"No, I could visit her on her free time. I will get onto the mission and head to Bakura as soon as possible tomorrow. What about my classes that I was teaching in Master Yoda absent?" ask Mark. "Do not worry about that, I am for sure I will be able to find a replacement for you until you are done. Now without any farther things need to talk about, I call this meet over." say Mace standing up.
Mark got up and walk to the lift with Obi-wan. "You know if the Chancellor comes, Anakin most likely would want to come to protect her." say Obi-wan as they rid down the lift. "True, even if the kids come along, my mother could watch over them while they are on Bakura." say Mark. "You think an Attack Cruiser will be a good place for two little children?" ask Obi-wan.
"They been on one before, remember that bad mission to Kamino when we try to stop a Bounty Hunter from killing them. Well they were on the ship before. The ship that was under my command during the Clone Wars has a room specifically for them." say Mark.
"True, I forgot all about that. I almost drown; oh Satine had a field day with that one. Sometimes I wish that you never change that code about marriage. Sometimes hiding it was much better." say Obi-wan with a slight smile on his face. Mark laughs slightly as he leans against the lift wall.
Obi-wan looks at Mark with a thought on his head, that thought he knows that Mark might find funny but it true. "I think that there might be someone out there for you." say Obi-wan looking at Mark. If there was anyone who deserves to have love like he and Anakin has with their love, it was Mark. If it was not for him, almost all the Jedi will be dead and the Republic would have fallen. You could also throw in the fact that he has to face Order 66 in his universe.
"Who would want me Obi-wan? I do not think I am the type of person any women in the galaxy is looking for. I spent my whole life protecting the Republic, besides my mother and some of my family members I do not know many women." say Mark lowly a bit. He focuses too much on his work and learning new things that he hardly stops to look for love. No out he preaches a lot, he never experience it, besides family love.
Obi-wan just smiles as he looks up to the ceiling. His best friend is so blinded that it seems so unreal. Obi-wan know that Rachelle loves him more than she let on. He could tell how she looks at him and how she seems so much more happier around him or thinking about him. Out of everyone, he thinks Rachelle would be a good partner for Mark; she does seem to have a lot in common with Mark. He knows that Mark has developed a bond with her. It started out just like his and Anakin bond. The bond was like father and son but evolves into brothers. Now Mark seems to act like an older brother to her. He has a strong feeling that Mark may develop feeling for her later on.
He is usually not the type that believes a mentor and student relationship should evolve into that of being in love with each other. Still there never been anything like between Mark and Rachelle. It would explain how easy it was for her to follow her mentor where 2 other mentors failed to capture her attention the way he did and that was before she was even had feelings.
Oh well only time will tell rather what he think will come true. He stands by what he thought. He had feelings before and they hardly fail him. Even the Force knows that he loved Satine before he even did. What he has with Satine is way more better than anyone else that he thought he loved.
They left the lift and went different ways. Both were thinking what Obi-wan had said. One can see a future between the mentor and student duo, and the other one highly doubt there could be someone out there for him. Also the one who thinks that there is no other for him have other thoughts on his mind.
Sorry about the wait, I need to think about what to type for this chapter, and as you can tell by the length it is one of the biggest chapter (as of 12/17/13) of this series and most likely the biggest I have typed. Another reason why it took me so long to post is that I try to somehow get the action going without dropping right into it.
Now if you guys read my last story and was paying close attention to it, by the basic description of the Sith Lord, you will know who it is. The helmet is a major giveaway.
Till next time, enjoy.