This is the chapter where the Greys will finally take back their homeworld. This shall be a two parts most likely. I'll be doing stuff with the Mandalorians afterwards.
I own only my original characters, I don't own Star Wars.
Six months since the Trial of Jace Pax
The war was turning in the Republic's favor, but while the Grey Jedi's alliance with the Jedi and the Republic was still good and strong, Cato's Knights were beginning to become impatient. One of the largest reasons the alliance existed was so the Jedi could aid the Greys in retaking their homeworld, Zonama Serkot.
Jedi Council Chamber
The now eighteen year old Cato Pax was having a meeting with his Council of Balance, discussing this very subject. Cato had invited Jedi Masters Yoda, Windu, Kenobi and Skywalker in on this meeting as to receive their opinions. Unlike the last meeting, all councilors were present.
"Master Pax," Grey Master Tyke, ever the traditionalist said. "Our business is of no concern of the Jedi."
"I wish to hear their thoughts on the matter," Cato reasoned. "And if we are to keep an alliance with them, we must involve them in things like this." Tyke received looks from the other councilors that showed him that they supported this decision and he decided to stand down.
"As you no doubt know, the Knights and their families are beginning to question this alliance," Grey Master Amon said. "As we have said before Jedi masters, we had hoped that if we could get you to trust us that you might aid us in retaking Zonama Serkot. My people want to go home."
"Not that we don't want to help you," Anakin said. "But this war has thinned out our forces. We just don't have the time to do this. And with your planet being nomadic, there's no way for us to locate it." This received light laughter from everyone, leaving the young Jedi Knight confused.
"My old Padawan," Kenobi began. "That last reason is funny because the Greys know exactly where their planet will be at any given time."
"Our ancestors created an algorithm to predict exactly where it will move to in the future," Grey Master Udon said. "It is on the border of the Outer and Inner Rims as we speak."
"It's why we have decided to begin planning this attack now," the now fourteen year old Sofi said. She had matured very much after her brother's trial and had excelled greatly, so much so that she was no longer Cato's apprentice, but she is now the Head Grey Knight, so she speaks for the other knights. "It is close enough for us to launch a surprise attack."
The Jedi went into deep thought for awhile, then Master Yoda spoke up.
"This with our own council, we will need to discuss. A plan, we will also need to hear."
Cato then nodded at this. "We anticipated this answer and have already come up with a plan."
"What might that be?," Master Windu asked.
"Our planet has powerful planetary defenses, as well as an energy shield," Grey Master Cyvos explained. "We have decided that if we were to use a small cargo ship, we could pass through the shield and deactivate it, allowing the troops to land and take back Zonama Serkot."
"Risks would no doubt be extremely high," Master Tyke said. "Which is why it must be a volunteer. We already have a team of ARC troopers ready, but we still need a leader and some other Force sensitives."
"Go, I will," Master Yoda volunteered.
"As will I," Cato said. "Anyone else?"
"I will, as will my apprentice, no doubt," Anakin said.
"I shall as well," Obi-Wan said.
"I will stay behind and focus on the war in other parts of the galaxy," Master Windu said, and Cato nodded.
"Well then its settled," Cato concluded. "Should the Jedi decide to help, Masters Yoda, Skywalker, Kenobi, Padawan Tano, the Council Of Balance and myself shall lead a team of ARC troopers and infiltrate the shield over Zonama Serkot, and deactivate it. I want this Council to recall the Knights, we'll need all the help we can get, no doubt we will face tough resistance. Let me know on your council's decision. This meeting is adjourned."
They all then left the chambers, all but Master Yoda and Cato, who both walked up to the window and looked out at the city.
"I cannot tell you how much this means to me and my people," he told the little green man, who smiled.
"No need, there is. The guardians of peace and justice, the Jedi are. All those in need, we help," he said back. "A wise leader, you are, Cato. You're just as knowledgeable in the force as I am. The Greys down the right path, you will lead. Over, perhaps when this war is, the Grey Jedi, the chancellor and the senate will recognize."
"Perhaps so. But that doesn't matter really. What matters is that the Jedi and the Greys may learn to coexist without conflict."
Yoda nodded in agreement. "Already happened, it has."
Cato smiled and walked out and went to his room to await the Jedi Council's decision. A few hours later, a now fifteen year old Ahsoka came in and he got up to greet her with a kiss.
"I'm so happy for you," she said. "You're finally going to be taking back your home."
"My people's home maybe, but not mine," he said back, confusing her. "My home is wherever you are."
She smiled and gave him another kiss, then they broke apart when they heard someone come in. They turned and saw Padmé.
"Am I interrupting something?," she asked, smirking as she saw both teenagers were blushing badly.
"N-no. Not at all. How can we help you Senator Amidala?," Cato asked.
"First by calling me Padmé, and I just wanted to come and visit, it's been a while since we last saw each other."
"Indeed it has, not since after I introduced you to Sofi."
Padmé smiled at the mention of her apparent fan.
"Yes, she was rather excited to meet you wasn't she?," Ahsoka said and she nodded.
"I heard she's a knight now."
"Yup," Cato said. "She's Head Knight of the Grey Jedi, youngest ever."
"You must be very proud."
"I am. As would my mother and her own parents," he said with some sadness in his voice.
"Well, I have learned from dealing with the Jedi that the dead are never truly gone," Padmé said. "Merely taken on another form of existence."
"That is very true," Ahsoka said. "I suppose you've heard about what the council meeting is about, right?"
"I have actually, and unfortunately, the chancellor is rather reluctant to support this action."
"Well, I'm afraid that this is the only way for this alliance to survive, as my people grow impatient," Cato said. "We have held the hope of reclaiming our world with the Republic and Jedi's help for sometime now."
"I know how that feels," Padmé said. "To have your homeworld taken away from you."
"Indeed, perhaps I should meet with the chancellor, this council meeting seems like it might take awhile. Could it be possible?"
"Of course, I will see what I can do," she said. "Now I'm afraid that I must leave you. It was a pleasure to see you again, Master Pax."
He nodded and she then left, and Ahsoka grabbed him by the collar and pressed her lips against his.
"Since we were interrupted," she said when they broke away. "Now I should probably go see if my Master needs me for anything."
"Of course," he said and the kissed one last time briefly. Then they headed in different directions.
Cato went off to meditate, to calm himself down and to get ready for the great battle ahead.
As he began to relax, the Force called to him and he was pulled into a vision.
He now found himself on a desert planet, with twin suns setting on the horizon. Then he saw an old man come into view and he somehow knew who it was. He looked into the direction where he was looking at and saw a moisture farm was nearby him. A little boy then appeared and began running around, playing. Cato smiled when he saw this, but soon realized that there was more to him than meets the eye. His eyes, deep and powerful, and destiny could be seen within them as clear as day. Cato's eyes widened when he figured it out.
But then the vision changed and he now found himself in a palace on Alderon. He saw a familiar senator nearby, Bail Organa, whom he had met on occasion. In his arms, he carried a little brown haired girl. The Baransu no Kage quickly saw her eyes, while a different color, had the same look of destiny in them and he gasped in shock at the sudden realization that came to him, but then the vision ended and he looked around to see he was back within the meditation room, with Master Yoda now in there as well.
"You see, what did?," he asked.
"I saw a boy on a desert planet, I believe Tatooine," he answered and this peaked his interest. "He was being watched from afar by an old man, and somehow I knew who both of them were."
"The future, you saw."
"And it didn't end there, I then was on Alderon, in the palace of Senator Bail Organa. In his arms he carried a little girl, exact same age as the boy was. There was something about them both that shocked me. Even if it was a vision, I could feel how strong in the Force they were, especially the boy, it was incredible."
"Something else, there is, isn't there?," he guessed.
"Their eyes, while different colors were the same, had the stink of great destiny about them."
"Mindful about this vision, we must be. To pass, it may yet come."
Cato nodded and then he remembered something.
"Has there been a meeting yet?," he asked and he shook his head. Then his communicator went off.
He turned it one to see it was Senator Amidala.
"Hello Master Pax, Chancellor Palpatine has said he'd be more than happy to meet you," she said.
"Wonderful, I'll be there as soon as I can," he answered nodding goodbye and disconnecting. "I was told the chancellor had some reluctance in aiding the Greys with taking our world back."
"A voice in Jedi matters, politicians do not have."
"Perhaps," he said then smirked. "But I'm not a Jedi, am I?"
Yoda chuckled slightly at this and he nodded.
"Inform you of the council's decision when you return, Padawan Tano will," he said and Cato nodded.
Cato then left and soon found himself just outside Palpatine's office, where he found Padmé waiting.
"Hello again, Padmé," he said and she smiled and nodded. Then the chancellor's assistant appeared.
"The chancellor can see you now," he said then walked away. They walked in and Cato saw the chancellor, he was about his height or an inch shorter. He seemed to be middle aged but still seemed quite strong still. He wore slightly bulky maroon and black robes.
"Senator Amidala," he said. "Always a pleasure to see you. And you must be Cato Pax, the Baransu no Kage."
"I am indeed," he said, bowing slightly. "It is an honor to finally meet you, chancellor."
"The honor is mine. You and your Grey Jedi have helped turn the tide in this war. What say we get straight to business?"
They both nodded and took a seat at his desk.
"I have been told recently that you and your order wish to take back your homeworld of Zonama Serkot," the chancellor said. "While I would do anything to repay for aiding the Republic the way have, I'm rather hesitant to send in troops to a heavily defended planet when so many are needed in all parts of the galaxy."
"While that is a good reason to be hesitant, I'm afraid that my hands are tied in this situation," Cato said. "To put it in simple terms, my people want to go home. I know it's a large risk, but my Council Of Balance and I have devised a plan to sneak onto the planet and deactivate the planetary defenses."
"How, might I ask?"
"The Jedi Council are having a meeting about deciding to aid the Greys as we speak," Padmé said. "I believe that it would be easier to hear it from them when they reach a decisions."
"Hmm...when you put it that way," he said, and Cato noticed something in his eyes that was practically unnoticeable, but he couldn't figure out what it was. "Very well. Master Pax, I seek only to protect and serve the Republic, which is why I'm reluctant. But I trust the Jedi's judgement in these situations, so if they were to aid you, then I shall as well."
"Then I suppose it is settled," Cato said and they arose and he shook hands with the chancellor. "I best be heading back to the Jedi Temple, the Council has likely come to a descision by now."
"Of course, it was a pleasure to speak with you," he said and nodded a goodbye to them both, which they returned and they then left.
"You handled that very well, I'm impressed," Padmé said as they walked.
"Thank you, I've learned how to deal with politics with my position as Baransu no Kage," he said.
"Well, I must take my leave, it was good to see you again. May the Force be with you."
"And you."
She then walked to her own office and Cato continued his way out of the Senate Building and back to the Temple.
Chancellor's Office
Now dressed in fitting robes and hooded, Sidious walked over to the hologram pad and contacted his apprentice as the room was securing itself.
"Yes, my master?," Dooku asked.
"The time has come, my apprentice," he said. "My son and his new allies now move to take back Zonama Serkot. This must not happen!! If the Greys take back their homeworld, they shall patrol the entire galaxy, and could attack out of nowhere at our occupied worlds. You, General Grievous and Ventress shall meet me there. Leave at once!"
"Meet you, Lord Sidious?"
"Did I hesitate when I said it?"
"N-No, master. Of course, I shall send word to them immediately as I head there myself."
"Good," he said then he cut it off. He then changed again and sat at his desk and sighed. "...Cato...you are such a disappointment."
Jedi Temple
Cato soon reached the briefing room, where his Council of Balance awaited him, along with his girlfriend. Bariss Offee was also there, as she and Ashe spent time with each other under the guise of them being partners.
"Cato, glad your back," Sofi said. "The Jedi Council has decided to aid us. We are to leave upon your command."
"Excellent," he said, then he took a look around and began to give a little speech. "We all know the risks. We all know what the outcome for every one of us might be. But we are Greys, and Jedi. The Separatists seem to think that they may take whatever they desire, Well we shall prove them very wrong. No doubt Dooku and the other high raking leaders shall try to stop us personally, but I have faith in the Jedi. I have faith in the Greys. But most of all I have faith in the Force, and I know that it shall be our ally in this fight. With all of this said, go and get plenty of rest for tomorrow we shall leave and begin our quest for our home. And if this struggle costs us our lives to win, I wish to say now, that it has been an honor to call you my friends, my brothers and sisters. My loved ones. No matter what the enemy will throw at us though, I know that we shall overcome each and everyone of them. For we have Force on our side, and it shall never abandon us!!"
They began cheering loudly and some of the Jedi Council has come in were impressed by the speech. They all then obeyed his command and left to go get some sleep, Ashe and Bariss left together as they, like Cato and Ahsoka, were roommates. Ahsoka then left while Cato stayed behind to speak to Master Yoda, Obi-Wan and Anakin.
"An impressive speech, that was," he said and the young leader nodded in thanks.
"You're not wrong when you said that Dooku and his minions will be there," Anakin said.
"Sidious himself will likely be there even," Cato said. "The risks are too great for him not to get involved. The Greys will be able to patrol the galaxy again if we were to take back our planet."
"You and I shall fight him together," Yoda said.
"I'll keep Dooku busy," Anakin said next. "Ahsoka and Sofi will likely want to take on Ventress."
"Indeed," Cato said. "I was contacted by Master Luminara on the way back, likely after the meeting. She told me that she had Padawan Offee study up on the structures on Zonama Serkot and gave me her permission should I choose to let her come along."
"And were you?," Kenobi asked, and he nodded.
"I'm gonna follow your advice, and get some rest," Anakn said and Yoda soon followed and they left Obi-Wan and Cato alone.
"I'm very proud of you, Cato," he said. "You have become a great leader to the Greys and have turned the war to our favor in a couple of years. Now you shall take back your world."
"I only hope the cost won't be too much," he said, then he realized something. "Obi-Wan, this might be a little strange, but you know the Duchess of Mandalore, correct?"
"Yes, I do. What about her?"
"Well...this shall be very shocking to you," he said and as he continued, Kenobi saw Ashe and Bariss returning. "And it involves him as well."
"Cato, what is going on?," he asked, getting a little concerned.
"Ashe and I met Duchess Satine during one of her visits here, and she was rather shocked to see Ashe. She later told us that it was because...he's her son."
Obi-Wan was in totally surprised by this revelation.
"There is more, I'm afraid. His father is...," he said then slowly gestures towards the Jedi Master and he quickly figured it out, but couldn't believe it.
"You're m-my...son?," he struggled to say as he was still processing this new information. Ashe then removed his mask and then signed 'Yes.' He had the same bone structure as him, even looked almost like a longer version of himself, only Ashe had two deep and long scars going from the corners of his mouth to about two-thirds across his cheeks. Cato and Bariss then left the two to talk for a little bit.
"I must say I'm shocked at this still," Bariss said. "Jedi aren't supposed to make ties with anyone, much less have feelings for them. I always thought Master Kenobi was the perfect example of that."
"The perfect example of that is Master Windu," Cato said. "As I've said before, it's extremely difficult to not make personal relationships with others. Master Yoda even, I'm sure at some point during his nearly 900 year life, had to have had a few relationships."
"I suppose you are right," she said. "And it does sound a little hypocritical coming from me."
"It's all you ever known, so it's understandable for your mind to go that way. Now, I must go and get some rest, make sure that Ashe behaves the way he usually does tomorrow."
"Isn't that a bad thing?," she joked and they both chuckled.
"Good point," he said. "You both better head straight to bed after this, you'll most likely be keeping Grievous busy tomorrow."
She nodded, unaffected by the mention of Grievous. On his way back, he encountered Anakin again.
"How'd he take it?," he asked as he was already told.
"How would you take it?," he answered, and he nodded.
"This makes things interesting."
"Even more so, you mean?"
"True, goodnight," he said waving and Cato waved back. He got to his quarters and found Ahsoka in bed already and he smiled at the sight.
He got undressed and got into bed with her and she cuddled up to him.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey."
"I'm scared, Cato."
"I know, so am I," he admitted.
"Please try not to die, please," she begged. "I don't think I can live without you, I love you too much."
He pressed his lips to hers and she quickly responded.
"I love you too," he said. "And don't worry, I have no intention of dying tomorrow."
She smiled and she kissed him and soon enough, one thing led to another.
They eventually fell asleep in each other's arms. The upcoming battle could bring victory in the war within the Republic's grasp, but only if their mission succeeded.
For now though, the Grey and Jedi has each other at the moment.
The next chapter might take some time, but I hope this was worth the wait, next one will definitely be, I'll make sure if that. Until the next chapter, May the Force be with you.
