Trouble at the Senate
It had been several days since the four jedi had found the ancient temple. They had managed to clean up the building and make some improvements and repairs. In the temple's central tower, Luke Skywalker stepped into the jedi council room which had now been remodelled into a replica of the one that once occupied the Great Temple on Corusant. Approaching the grand master's chair, Luke was hestitant to sit down when he heard a voice from behind him.
"Having trouble accepting your new role, Master Skywalker?" Kiri asked, walking in and sitting at one of the other council chairs. "Because they're so few of us, we must all play many different roles: both jedi knight and jedi master." Luke turned to face her and saw she was now dressed in the familiar brown and white jedi robes, they all now wore. Robes that they had found in the temple's closets.
"It's hard to see myself as the grandmaster of the jedi." Luke replied, sitting down in the chair. "I mean, it was only yesterday I recieved a few hours of jedi training from Obi-wan and a few weeks training from Yoda. The rest of you had a lifetime."
"True. But you are the son of the chosen one and Yoda tasked you with rebuilding the order. So, we all must respect your leadership." Kiri looked at Luke's hand, then at his face. "Ah, it seems you've gone through some changes since we've arrived her."
"Oh, the beard?" Luke replied, stroking his stubble. "I decided since I'm a jedi master now. I'd go for an Obi-wan look." He held up his hand. "And my robotic hand wouldn't work in here. So I replaced with a clockwork gear hand with no microchips or circuit." He flexed the metal hand. "Completely driven by the force, it's like operating a phantom limb."
"Well, if you think you've gone through some changes. Wait until you see Lady Ahsoka." Kiri laughed. "The two of us just got back from a shopping trip on Naboo and she recieved quite the makeover." As if on cue, Ahsoka Tano entered the concuil chamber and Luke's jaw nearly hit the floor. The tortuga's head horns and tentacles were gone and in their place was a long head of dark brown hair braided into dreadlocks.
"Hello, Luke." She said, running her fingers through her hair. "How do I look?"
"Uh... I... uh... well." Luke stopped, blushing towards her before pulling his jedi hood over his face. "You look fine." After a few moments, he asked. "Why the new look?"
"Well... It occurred to me. Ahsoka Tano is still one of the most recognized people in the galaxy thanks to the 'clone wars holovids'." She explained. "So, I thought a different look would help me stay unnoticed when I travel." She rolled her eyes. "You don't want to know how many fanboys I came across while visiting planets in the past few days." She shook her head in disgust. "You wouldn't believe what some of them wanted me to do."
"That's good idea, Ahsoka." Luke explained, looking between his two fellow jedi. "From now on, because there are only four of us, the jedi will have to operate as the sith did for a thousand years. Until we can replenish our numbers, we must act in secret not letting the public know that the jedi are going to return."
"But, we've always been there to help the people of the Republic." Ahsoka protested. "How can we do that from the shadows?"
"We must be like the Torturi Clan, ninjas that strike from the darkness. No one may know we're helping them; we'll use mind tricks and swift attacks on our foes to cover our tracks." Luke closed his eyes. "The four of us have a whole galaxy to protect."
"Uh, actually. Make that five." Voolif Monn called out, entering the room. He dragged a frozen slab of carbonite behind him on two U-boats. "You'll never guess what I found in the storage basement in Zorba the Hutt's palace."
"Wait, is that Quilan Voss?" Ahsoka asked. "I haven't seen him since the Battle of Mandalore. I heard the Hutts had captured and executed him. Not freeze him in carbonite."
"Trust me. I have a friend who can attest to the fact that hutts perfer freezing their enemies as trophies." Luke walked over and switched off the freezing unit. "Stand back everybody, this is going to get really strange." The carbonite slab began to glow an eerie red and the human figure inside broke off the pieces of carbonite like plaster. Slowly moving around, Voss tried to stand up only to tumble out of the carbonite and land face first on the floor.
"Where am I? Get back here you, hutt scoundrel." Voss tried to stand up, grabbing for his lightsaber. But was unable to find it. "Where's mi saber? Why can't I see anythin'?"
"You have hibernation sickness, Master Voss." Ahsoka replied, taking his arm. "Your eyesight will return in time."
"Ahsoka-lassie? Is that you?" Voss asked. "Did ye come to rescue me from the Hutts?"
"Uh, no. Master Voolif did that." She explained.
"Voolif Monn, you old scoudrel." Voss laughed. "Where are ya? I haven't seen ye since the Battle against that scumbag, Grrrievous on Dantooine."
"I'm right behind you." The wolfman growled. "I can smell your stench from the other side of the room."
"Well, stay there you dirty dog. I don't ye shedding all over mi new jedi robes." Voss replied.
"Well, it's been over twenty years since you had a bath." Voolif replied. "Unless that slab came with a shower."
"Twenty years in a hunk of rock?" Quilin asked. "Are you kidding me?"
"I'm afraid not, Master Voss." Luke replied. "Welcome to the Galaxy Alliance. The Clone Wars ended two decades ago."
"Who's this lad? He sounds like if Skywalker had a kid or something." Voss joked. When the room stayed silent for several minutes, Master Voss collapsed into one of the chair. "We've got to be kidding me." At that moment, the big bulky communicator on Luke's belt began to beep.
"Sorry, I got to take this call." Luke stated, exiting the chamber and heading downstairs.
He made his way to one of the portals leading out of the Temple's pocket dimension, Luke arrived on the jungle planet of Tython. His X-wing was parked and R2 was waiting for him. "Okay, R2, patch in to the holonet. And let's see who's calling me."
The droid beeped in response and projected an image of Leia dress in a familiar white dress with her hair in her familiar two buns.
"Hey, sis. How's it going?"
"Help me, Obi-wan Kenobi. You're my only hope." Leia replied, before facing the other way and kneeling down.
"Ha, ha, very funny." Luke replied, trying not to laugh. "That joke was hilarious the first time around."
"Sorry, Luke. I couldn't resist." She smirked at him. "Listen, today is the first meeting of the Galactic Senate since Palpatine had it dissovled four years ago." The princess explained. "I would like for you to send two of your jedi to represent the order at this important event."
"I don't know Leia. We're trying to keep a low profile." Luke replied. "Maybe we shouldn't interfere in galactic politics. We all saw how well that went for the jedi order the last time around."
"Luke, it's important the galaxy be aware the jedi are there to protect them." Leia replied. "Besides, something tells me that there might be some kind of trouble at the Senate meeting."
"See you do have some force abilities." Luke replied. "You felt there was going to be trouble. If you'd only let me, train you to be a jedi."
"Sorry, Luke. But I make a better senator than I do a knight." Leia shook her head. "Anyway, I'll have my shuttle waiting to pick you up should you decided to go." Returning to the temple, Luke told his fellow jedi the news.
"The Senate is holding its first meeting in four years and Leia wants two of us to represent the jedi council."
"What do ya mean 'first meeting in four years'?" Voss asked in confusion. "What the heck happened in the galaxy while I was gone."
"It's a long story. We'll explain later." Voolif replied. "Luke, why don't you and Ahsoka handle this one. I'll try an explain to our freshly thawed popcicle about the Galactic Empire and its emperor.
"Come on, Ahsoka. Let's head for the capital." Luke told her as they made for the portal.
"Oh sounds great." She replied. "I'd love to stop off for a bantha burger at Dexter's diner."
Coming out of hyperspace, Luke's X-wing flew towards the surface of Coruscant. Coming down to the surface, they arrived at the space dock reserved for the senator of New Alderaan. Staring at the elegant silver ship that was waiting for them, Ahsoka's eyes went wide.
"Luke, that's a Naboo crusier." She said in disbelief. "That's her ship."
"Whose ship?" Luke asked as they landed. As the X-wing landed, Leia came down the ramp. Flanked on one side by a dark-skinned man wearing the senator's robes of Naboo and on the other side by a gungan in senator's robes.
"Leia, so glad to see you." Luke came up and hugged her. "Who are your friends here?"
"Luke, I'd like you to meet Captain Panaka, now Senator for Naboo." She stated.
"Nice to meet you, Master Skywalker." The former greeted him. "I met your father once when I was the chief of Queen Amadala's security force. He saved our planet by winning a pod race and blowing up a droid control ship."
"Uh... that's interesting." Luke replied shaking his hand. "And who's your frog-like friend over here."
"Mee-sa Senator Tarpals," He stated. "Mee-sa, met you papa and bombad jedi Kenobi and jedi Qui-Gon. They save are world by cutting strange candy corn man in half and throwing him down pit." There was a short pause.
"O-kay." Luke replied. "You two are certainly interesting."
"Luke, be polite." Leia replied. "Let's get on the shuttle." The small group boarded the Naboo transport where two more familiar faces waited for them.
"Master Luke, it is so wonderful to see you." 3PO exclaimed. "We were just on our way to a meeting with the Senate." The droid looked over at Ahsoka. "And who are you, Miss."
"3PO, it's me. Ahsoka." She asked in surprise. "Don't you recognize me?"
"Sorry, miss. I don't seem to recall you." The droid shook his head.
"I knew I should have waited on the makeover." Ahsoka grumbled.
"So, Luke, this is the mysterious jedi padawan who popped out of hyperspace." Leia teased him. "I guess the jedi aren't doomed after all. When can we expect a bunch of younglings running around with lightsabers?" Both Luke and Ahsoka turned bright red while the two senators tried to keep from laughing.
"LEIA!" Luke growled. "IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!"
"Just teasing you, little brother." She giggled.
"I'm not your little brother. I'm older than you." Luke replied. "At least, that's what Obi-wan told me."
"If we may get back to business," Panaka stated. "We recently discovered your family's connection to our beloved Senator Padme and we offer this shuttle to your sister as a gift."
"Yees. Wee-sa also bombad support your sister in the New Galactic Senate." The gungan shook his head. "Mee-sa just hope I can be a better gungan senator than the moron was." Everyone in the shuttle, except for Luke, knew who he was talking about.
Their shuttle docked at the Senate hall and Luke and the others were soon inside the massive chamber. The Senate building had changed little in the past thirty years, including some of the seats with dents in them. Luke, Leia, and Ahsoka took the Alderaan seat while their companions headed over to the Naboo chair.
It was only a few minutes before three figures stepped up to the speaker's box and the session began.
"Honorable representatives of the galaxy." Mon Mothma spoke sitting in the center seat. "As the newly elected chancellor of the Galactic Alliance, I welcome you to a new day of democracy."
"Wow, so this is the Senate chamber." Luke said in awe. "Looking around, I never seen a government building this big." Leia and Ahsoka gave each other a knowing look.
"Farm boy?"
"Farm boy."
"Before we begin our session, I would like to welcome the newest member to our Senate from the planet that made this Galaxy Alliance possible. Please welcome, Senator Wicket T. Warrick, of the moon of Endor." Everyone looked in surprise to see a hoverseat filled with four ewoks all chanting "Yubnum."
"What's Wicket doing here?" Luke asked.
"Who invited the teddy bears?" One of the other Senators grumbled.
"Aww! They're so adorable!" Ahsoka answered.
"Better keep those guys away from Captain Rex though." Luke replied. "He'll burst into tears if he learns his beloved 501st was wiped out by those guys. The ewoks are now using their helmets as a drumset."
"We are honored today to bring democracy back to the galaxy after a twenty-five year dictatorship." Mothma explained. "And even though the republic is dead and gone, we shall continue to honor its message of freedom."
"But Chancellor, if we are going to stand for freedom. How can we possibly make deals with tyrants?" Senator Akbar of Mon Calamari stated. "The Alliance is going to let this new Imperial Government, the first order, join as a member state. How can we possibly allow this?"
A roar of agreement came from the Wookie senate box whose planet had been enslaved by the empire. Luke noticed a familiar friend with a bowcaster on his back, sitting behind the wookier senator. He realized this alliance would be a shaky one.
"I would most certainly like to agree with the honorable Akbar." the nemoidian senator agreed. "The empire destroyed all of our planet's economic structures and ruined our businesses."
"You have some room to talk. Your planet created the Trade Federation and started the Clone Wars." Senator Nadeen of Corellia answered.
"That was then and this is now." Grand Admirial Thrawn spoke up standing in the First Order's hoverbox. "The Trade Federation, the banking clan, and the techno union were all destroyed by the empire. It was the empire that ended the Clone Wars, not the jedi, not the republic."
"THAT'S BECAUSE YOU MURDERED THEM, YOU BLUE-SKINNED SON OF A BANTHA!" Ahsoka exploded. "YOUR EMPEROR WAS A SITH LORD AND CAUSED OUR ENTIRE ORDER TO BE MASSACRED BY YOUR STORMTROOPERS!"
"That was HIS personal vandetta, not ours." Thrawn argued. "And was it not one of your jedi, Anakin Skywalker, who threw the emperor into the Death Star's main reactor; taking your revenge? All over the galaxy when the stormtroopers fled after Endor, there were riots on every world. Every Imperial secret police, every governor, every offical who ever commited an atrosicity against the good people of this galaxy. They were all linched, shot or otherwise incompasitated. The people of this Alliance have already had their revenge against the Empire. All we ask now is to continue our ways and live in peace."
"Yeah right, an imperial peace." A familiar ex-smuggler called out from the Corellia senate box. "That's a peace where we all go to pieces." That remark caused an outburst from all the boxes and the Chancellor had a hard time getting everyone calm again.
"Everybody, please calm down." Mothma sighed, rubbing her temple. "Many of us were on different sides in this terrible issue, but now that war is over. We'll take a fifteen minute recess before we continue." As the senators all broke up and started leaving their boxes, no one noticed two shadowy figures standing up in the now empty balcony that had once housed Palpatine's throne.
One of the figures: a blue skinned durro in an Old Western hat and jacket pointed a blaster rifle towards the Senate box of Corellia, taking aim at the unsuspecting senator.
"Time to say good-night, Nadeen." The bounty hunter opened fire. The blast going through Nadeen's skull and sending him tumbling out of the Senate box. The other senators cried out in panic as the two figures in the royal balcony fled.
"MURDER! A SENATOR HAS BEEN MURDERED!"
"LOOK UP THERE!" Luke pointed. "I think its a bounty hunter."
"By the force, I don't believe it." Ahsoka yelled. "It's Cad Bane." The two jedi nodded at each other, activating their lightsabers and force jumping from box to box to reach the balcony.
"Excuse me, pardon me." Luke replied.
"Luke." Ahsoka groaned. "It's jedi business. You don't have to apologize." The two reached the top and ran through the open door to confront Bane in the hallway.
"Time's up, scuzball." Ahsoka exclaimed. "You're under arrest for killing a senator."
"Jedi, I thought you were all gone." Bane pulled out his twin blaster twirling them. "Looks like I get the last ones." He opened fire and Luke and Ahsoka deflected his shots with their lightsabers slowly making their way towards the surprised bounty hunter. "Oh scrap, I forgot how strong these guys are." The durro smiled. "Well, I least I got some help."
The two approached the bounty hunter when Luke heard a familiar troming of boots behind him. The two jedi turned their heads just enough to see a familiar green suit of mandoralorian combat armor; And Luke's blood ran cold.
"Boba Fett." Luke exclaimed. "But I thought he was eaten by the Sarlacc."
"The Sarlacc found me somewhat indigestible, Skywalker." The buckethead replied. "Now, I'm back to collect my debts." Pulling out a thermal detonator, the bounty hunter activated the sphere and tossed it between the two jedi. Turning around, Boba rocketed away through a skylight.
"NO, BOBA. I'M STILL HERE!" Cad Bane yelled. "THIS WASN'T PART OF THE PLAN!" BOOM! Ahsoka tackled Luke to the floor knocking both of them out of the blast range. Cad Bane on the other hand was vaporized by the detonator leaving only a charred cowboy hat on the ground.
"Wow, I can't believe we took him down so easily." Ahsoka gasped. "He was always the toughest enemy Anakin and I had to face."
"Come on, let's get back to Leia." Luke replied. As the two jedi ran off, one of the ewoks from the Endor box came walking up, picked up Bane's hat. After examining it, he put it on his head.
"Yubnum." He exclaimed, running off down the hallway like an old west hero towards the sunset.