CHAPTER THREE- A BRAND-NEW WORLD

The morning following Anakin's mysterious vision of the spirit swords, he made a trip back to the Jedi Temple and investigated the ancient star charts of the Jedi, wondering just where Earth was. Stories of the mysterious blue planet were few, he knew…but from what little he could find, they were a primitive, violent people. They were all human, a rarity in Anakin's mind, but they seemed so caught up with enriching themselves that they didn't take the time to notice anything going on in their Galaxy.

"Blast," Anakin mused, realizing just how far away – and how dangerous – such a trip would be. The trip would take him several years…unless he left everything behind, which he knew he could not do, the Jedi Council would never permit it.

"Master?" the voice of Asoka Tano, his Padawan, asked. Anakin looked up at her, rather surprised.

"What is it, Asoka?" Anakin wondered, stepping away from the charts and his crude calculations.

"Master Kenobi said you were being troubled by a vision of spirit swords. I…I found some information you might like to know – information in an ancient scroll that was taken from one of Count Dooku's ships during a raid."

"What would Count Dooku want with spirit swords?" Anakin asked.

"We don't even think he knew it was there – it was practically hidden in a pile of garbage, about ready to be pitched in the trash compactor," Asoka said. "To top it off, it was written in the ancient Earth script called "Greek," which would make it almost impossible to translate without the capabilities we have here."

"Did you translate it?" Anakin wondered.

"Yes," Asoka said. "There's not much information in the scroll, but it says the two spirit swords are called Soul Calibur and Soul Edge. Soul Calibur contains good energy, while Soul Edge is pure evil. The swords have been in existence on Planet Earth for thousands of years…and it appears that Soul Edge is on a constant quest to devour and taint as many souls as possible. There was a note at the bottom about someone named "Nightmare, the Azure Knight," but that was all I was able to gather."

Anakin found himself amazed at the Togmaruth. "Excellent work, Ashoka."

"Thank you," his Padawan replied…but then, she appeared to get a bit nervous. "Master Skywalker…you don't plan on hunting these swords down, do you?"

"I can't say I wouldn't want to – if someone could get a hold of these swords, it could end this war in our favor," Anakin explained. "However…it would be a long journey. One would have to give up everything in order to find the blades, and that's time I don't have. Don't worry, Asoka."

His Padawan smiled. Meanwhile, Anakin was almost lost in his thoughts.

"Soul Calibur…Soul Edge…the two powers are dangerous when apart," he mused. "But…what would happen if I bring them together? Would they act like the Force…and balance each other out? And…could Palpatine have a way to cut down on the trip?"

Later that afternoon, Anakin was in the office of Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, listening to him jabber on about a meeting in which Anakin had no interest. Nothing seemed to interest him today – not when the spirit swords seemed to occupy his mind.

"Anakin?" Palpatine asked. "Is something wrong?"

"The spirit swords." Anakin blurted out.

"The spirit swords?" Palpatine repeated, almost taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

Anakin told Palpatine everything he knew, and Palpatine hung on Anakin's every word. When he finished, Palpatine appeared dumbstruck.

"Do you truly believe one could rule the universe with these blades, Anakin?" Palpatine asked incredulously. "Do you believe they have that much power?"

"It certainly appeared as though they did – but I need a way to get there without telling the Council," Anakin said. "They would never let me go if they knew."

Palpatine paused, almost as if trying to come up with a way around the problem. "There is one way," he said. "It is a dimensional transporter, hidden deep within the bowels of the Jedi Temple…but no one up until now has been able to access it, at least, not since the days of the ancient Sith Temple, which, as we know, has been destroyed."

"So it's buried under a pile of Dark Side rubble?" Anakin asked.

"It should be…but there's a tunnel under the Opera House that will get you to it. It bypasses all the rubble, and is very easy to access. I can't go with you, Anakin…but I will show you how to get there. Meet with me tonight, at midnight."

"Very well, Chancellor," Anakin said. "I will."

…

That night, Anakin meet with Palpatine as ordered. "Did you say your good-byes to your wife, Anakin?" Palpatine asked. "Even with this short route…there's no telling how long you'll be gone."

"Yes," Anakin replied. "I shouldn't be gone all that long, however."

"The destination is locked in on a place called "Rouen," in the nation of France," Palpatine said, handing him a small machine. "Keep this translator on you; not a one of them speaks Basic."

"Thank you."

Palpatine then led him to the transporter, a large, circular machine with a large computer on its periphery. "Good luck, Anakin." Palpatine said as he fired up the machine. "As the Jedi say…may the Force be with you."

Before Anakin could reply, he was blinded by a bright blue light…and everything was gone.