Chapter 13: A Kings Decision and his People
"Heard nothing yet, we have. Troubling this is. Must continue to look for young Skywalker and master Kenobi we have to." The small and ever commanding grand master of the Jedi order, Yoda commented to the Jedi council with him, and received nods of agreement from most of the council, and even those that didn't nod agreed in silence.
"It's been months master Yoda. The strike force to finally end or capture general Grievous has not been able to locate a triangulated coordination for master Kenobi and knight Skywalker. They've been at it since their victory over the Confederate fleet." The Cerean master Mundi commented in more sadness than an argument against continuing to look. Yoda nodded sadly as he sat in his chair, with master Windu beside him clasping his hands together and up to his chin in near brooding thought.
"Continue the search we shall, until found alive, or confirmed dead, we will. Continues without them the war does, and for the Separatists, without Grievous the war goes on as well. Count Dooku, we know, ever searching he is for his general and supreme commander." Yoda said pointedly, and Mace nodded.
"We know that despite the loss of an entire fleet above Elom the Invisible Hand and this mystery ship of the Separatists managed to jump into hyperspace despite us activating gravity-well generators via interdictors." Mace reminded the council.
"It was confirmed by the fleet admiral that both knight Skywalker and master Kenobi were very close to boarding Grievous's ship, and by the sound of things this new ship was an experiment. Based on what Republic Intelligence has been able to gather the separatists deliberately leaked that information to us on the whereabouts of general Grievous and the fleet in an elaborate first test of the anti-gravity-well vessel in a battle situation. For whatever reason this new technology not only affected the Invisible Hand, but the surrounding area, and thus took both Jedi star fighters with it. The inaction and lack of sightings of Grievous since the battle above Elom leads to only one logical conclusion as for now, and that is that both he and master Kenobi, and knight Skywalker are in some region of space that is either unexplored or all communications are down." Mace, the ever proficient master of explaining things reminded the council and all manners, both there and via hologram nodded along.
"Have any of our Jedi, or Republic Intelligence heard anything through Separatist channels stating if they know anything more then us?" Master Koon asked from his seat as he was one of the few masters still on Coruscant for now. Mace and Yoda exchanged a glance and silently agreed on something before Mace activated a small holo-projector in the center of the room where a holographic image of Dooku appeared.
"The Chancellor's office sent this over to us from Republic Intelligence last night, and it is telling." Mace said and began the playback as Dooku began to speak.
"Have you found the location of the Invisible Hand yet?" The regal looking Sith lord asked an unseen figure, who then came into his own holo-projection, and appeared to be a Neimoidian captain of another CIS vessel.
"We have been able to triangulate a very large section of the Outer-Rim where the S.O.S beacon is transmitting from. However, there are complications…"
"How so captain?" Dooku asked and flashed back into view.
"The signal is seemingly jumping off several regions inside a large quadrant not too far from the Elom system moving Coreward. Whenever we attempt a hyperspace jump into a location inside the quadrant we reenter normal space outside of a select area of space inside the quadrant but not where we need to be."
"Explain in plain context captain, I grow tired of these incoherent ramblings." Dooku responded in a cool but ever menacing voice.
The captain reappeared and seemed shaken. "Yes Count. What I mean to say is that we have the quadrant where the ship is in. We have a region we need to explore to find the center of the beacon, however we are incapable of reentry into this small region, and we think it is because a dense nebula is making all machinery uncooperative to a degree." The count reappeared and nodded. "How many known systems are in this nebula?"
"Not many, Count. This area of space has only a few known and tracked worlds, but most are abandoned or devoid of life, and only used for resource stripping before the war, but due to lack of ability to effectively communicate or navigate ships inside the nebula it remained almost completely unexplored. In order to find General Grievous and reach him effectively and extract him quickly we will need to go down an old-fashioned route."
The count cocked a brow. "Explain captain."
"Oh, uh yes Count. We will need to reach the edge of the nebula and begin placing old hyperspace beacons behind us at certain intervals and mark their locations, so we can jump to and from them freely, as we begin the arduous task of manually piloting ships into the nebula and try to triangulate the signal better."
"That can take months captain. How many systems can this nebula hold?"
"Not many, several dozen spread out by some light years, but we can still manage to reach these planets with normal engines operating at full capacity, and once we begin placing beacons, travel in and out of the nebula should become easier. Do I have your authorization to go ahead and begin the task Count, sir?"
Dooku seemed to quietly deliberate with himself, before curtly nodding once. "You do, so do it, and take only a single ship, yours, with you. Once you have found the world we are looking for, drop the beacon and report back at once! Only then will I impart a fleet to your disposal."
"Very good Count, but I have one other fact in need of mentioning." Dooku again cocked a brow, but silently gestured for the captain to continue.
"While tracing the signal off the invisible hand, we came across an underlying, and weaker signal that we could not interpret using our own decoding technology. We believe it to be of Republic origin."
"Ah, so the two Jedi, Skywalker and Kenobi did end up wherever our dear general is, did they?" Dooku asked but it was more a statement of fact rather than an actual question.
"Continue to track this signal as well as it may aid in coordinating the actual location of the general and them as well. If he has not already, when you return to pick up Grievous you will inform him it is top priority to apprehend or kill these Jedi if they are not already of course."
"As you will Count." And with that the connection between the two ended, the holo-projector shut off and the council stayed in silence for a moment as all members thought in silence for a time longer.
"So, by this information we are basing our assumptions on them being alive?"
"It is all we have to go on." Mace retorted evenly as per his usual monotone.
"For one thing, I believe that the separatists would deactivate any Republican S.O.S signal, and avoid all possible risk of Republic forces finding them rather than Confederate. Beyond that….I can only say I feel that both knight Skywalker and master Kenobi are alive. Despite our diminished capacities I firmly believe we would have been able to feel their deaths. Especially if they were together." Mace pointed out and Yoda grunted in agreement.
"Meditated on this matter, I have. Believe I do, as master Windu does. Alive they are, cut off from aid both sides are. Either on a world or stranded in space, alive I still believe them. More logical it is, that on a world where available freely food is, it is for us to assume." The council members all nodded on again.
"I worry that if we don't get these two back soon the people will lose hope. Whether we like it or not masters the public has kept its spirits high on knight Skywalker and master Kenobi's accomplishments. Now that they're gone, I feel sadness, dread, and defeat coming in waves from Coruscant alone." Master Tiin said aloud and many other masters agreed.
"We are aware master Tiin. We have made it clear to those blasted reporters an other paparazzi members that we firmly uphold our position of missing in action, but not dead. The Chancellor has also taken this position." Master Windu said, though at mentioning Chancellor Palpatine he slightly grimaced and Yoda sighed beside him.
"Great care, is needed when dealing with the public. Too easily their spirits are turned to darkness and despair. Continue our search we will, and must. Monitor Count Dooku and this Separatist search for Grievous we will, and through their actions, come closer to our own goal we will." Yoda commanded and the council all nodded once more in final agreement, as mace nodded he laid his eyes across the entire council.
"Very well. This council session is now adjourned. May the Force be with us all."
When the council emptied and Mace followed Yoda to his meditation room, the two sat together in momentary silence before going off into their own two-man council.
"On your mind something is?" The smaller green master asked with a hint of a smile on his face and Mace nodded, sitting cross-legged from Yoda.
"Something's changed master Yoda. I sensed it not too long after Skywalker and Kenobi went missing."
"Ah, shifted the Force did. Felt this did you?" Yoda commented matter-of-factly and Mace nodded.
"Yes master, and so did you?"
Yoda grunted, before nodding. "Yes. Great shift in the Force it was. Feel I do from young Skywalker it is. Less confusion, less darkness in him I sense. The pain within him, lessened it has in the recent months of his missing."
"Do you think this has anything to do with the prophecy master Yoda?"
The small green master closed his eyes and asked the question himself within the Force before answering. "Feel I do that it does. However, great care I will caution. Something dark growing in the Outer-Rim it is. Something outside the Force, and powerful it is. Working in tandem with the dark side it is. More perseverance we in the light must have. Worry I do, that something unexpected, and equally as evil, awakened to the galaxy it has become. And its sights, set upon the galaxy it is." Mace sighed as he inclined his head low in thought as he too felt something new but equally as evil as the dark side festering beyond their sight. Even as the dark side seemed to take a hit as of late it too was still shrouding their vision, and the Jedi ability to press past the encasing smog of the dark side of the Force. To say the least, it was frustrating.
"We need to find them soon master. I'm….admittedly untrustworthy of Skywalker, maybe even to a fault," Yoda grunted in an approving manner but Mace ignored it. "However, if the prophecy is true, and if this shift is a sign of that we need to get him and master Kenobi back amongst us at once. The Sith threat is still growing, and whatever this new darkness is must be addressed."
"Agree with you I do, but patience we must have. Continue this war does, and so will our search. Release frustrations, and meditate into the Force you must, old friend. Sense a great feeling of relief in the Force I have. Young Skywalker, for the better perhaps, his being away from us may be. When returned to us he has, see if correct we will."
"Yes master." Mace agreed, and the two then fell into quiet and content meditation.
Everyone had returned to the hall of Meduseld after the funeral of the prince Théodred. Anakin and Obi-Wan had decided to keep out of it, not out of disrespect but merely because it didn't feel right to them to shove themselves into the funeral of a man like this when they came from not only off world, but from far away as well, and were more stranger to the people of Rohan then most. However, Gandalf and king Théoden had returned with a pair of small children, a brother and sister, who seemed tired and very hungry. They had been less willing to talk with the wizard and king, but to the kings niece Éowyn the small girl at least told her everything, but the two Jedi were not sure if the boy had spoken yet, but that was hardly the issue. What they had said was, and now everyone was gathered to listen and decide on what course of action they all need take.
"They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the wildmen are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot and tree." The golden haired maiden said and the two Jedi shared a look as they thought of the horrors taking place to the west.
"Where's mama?!" The little girl demanded as Éowyn calmly shushed the girl.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash." Gandalf said to Théoden as he sat to the kings right, as the king himself had his forehead cupped in his hand.
"All the more potent for he is for he is driven now by fear f Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Drawn him away from your women and children." The white garbed wizard advised as he then laid a hand on the kings chair as the king looked to it with a weariness and wary in his eyes. "You must fight." Gandalf finally said.
"You have two-thousand good men riding north as we speak. Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king." Aragorn spoke up from his seat at a table, pipe in hand and across from Gimli who was eating like he had starved for a whole year, and Legolas stood ever quiet behind the ranger, while the two Jedi stood behind Gimli but facing in the direction Aragorn looked to, at the throne.
Théoden rose from his seat looking weary and still ever tired. "They will be three-hundred leagues from here by now. Éomer cannot help us. I know what it is that you want of me. But I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war." The king declared with a tone of finality about him while Anakin exchanged a look of uneasiness about the whole idea of not confronting this enemy while Obi-Wan shrugged, and Gimli continued to eat loud and proud all but breaking the tension in the room that suddenly grew.
"open war is upon you. Whether you would risk it or not." Aragorn then received everyone turning to look at him as if he were insane to talk so candidly and matter-of-factly with the king himself. Including Théoden who seemed quiet annoyed in that moment.
"When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan." The King replied as Aragorn took the retort with stride, and Gimli burped into the tension grappled room, and Anakin smacked the dwarf's right shoulder. "Gimli!" The dwarf merely smiled and slightly chuckled as Gandalf and everyone else remained focused on Théoden.
"Then what is the King's decision?"
The King took in a deep breath before releasing it as a look of assurance crossed him. "We will leave Edoras. Make for Helms Deep. From there, we will outlast Saruman, as we have always done in dark times." The King said and with his tone it was obvious. The conversation was over, and everyone either quietly accepted it or begrudgingly accepted it in equal silence. Even Gandalf who slightly shook his head and left the room with Aragorn following along with Legolas, as Gimli stayed to finish eating along with Anakin and Obi-Wan who began to have their own discussion by their small friend.
"Well….that could've gone better." Anakin commented dryly and Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. "Aragorn and the king here are butting heads over the fact I think Aragorn is getting more attached to the idea of having to take up his role as king, and maybe it was a leadership issue."
"Sure, but I do think we, and of course they need to understand that this Saruman has already launched a all but genocidal campaign against them. Running away will only embolden them master." Obi-Wan inclined his head to the side in a sign of slight agreement.
"Some are not so open to standing their ground and fighting to the bitter end like you my friend. At times the best strategy is to pull back, retreat, and wait for the opportune moment when your opponent makes a critical error and you exploit it." Anakin rolled his eyes but cracked a smile.
"Always the one to wait and see huh Obi-Wan?" The master chuckled. "Oh yes Anakin, quite indeed. You just wait my friend, and I'll show you that your willingness to push an attack will eventually lead you to your ultimate mistake."
"The old, 'high ground,' thing again master?" Anakin asked as he recalled when he and Obi-Wan practiced before the entire Fellowship some weeks ago, and even before then when his master made a show of his saber style's kept emphasis on attaining greater standing than your opponent. It's what made the style a bit unappealing for Anakin who greatly preferred Djem Sho, to Soresu.
"Yes the high ground thing Anakin." Obi-Wan said with a chuckle, as Anakin turned and tapped Gimli on the shoulder as the dwarf finally stopped eating and rose to a stand from his seat.
"What do you think Gimli?"
"What do ya mean laddy?"
"Y'know, the whole stay and fight, or retreat and try to outlast an enemy." The dwarf huffed as if the question was offensive, and Anakin rolled his eyes as he figured out the answer in that moment.
"Why, stay and fight laddy! We dwarves don't run from a fight, we stand our ground and show you the folly of your underestimation of us merely for our sizes!" Anakin let out a deep laugh as he grabbed Gimli's shoulder in an affectionate and friendly manner as Obi-Wan shook his head as well.
"I trust you Gimli really, and don't worry I'll be sure to never underestimate you. I have after all seen you fight. Oh what was it he said about sprinting dwarves master?" Obi-Wan cupped his chin.
"Hmm, ah yes! Very short over short distances Anakin." Obi-Wan said with a smile and chuckle as Anakin went along and Gimli growled.
"Oh come on Gimli," Anakin said as he reined in his laughter though his grin couldn't be stopped so easily. "I'm only teasing ya, I know you can kick some orc backside quite easily, isn't that right master?"
"Oh quite, you're a natural warrior Gimli." Obi-Wan said with full seriousness as he bowed, and Gimli nodded with a grunt of approval.
"Well that's better. You two ought to learn to respect we dwarves! Good to see you're getting the hang of it." He said and the Jedi exchanged a knowing look with smiles.
"Ah, better see where Aragorn, Legolas and Gandalf went off to eh?" The two Jedi nodded and they followed the dwarf out of the hall where the guard from earlier, or Háma was beginning his speech to the people of Edoras to vacate and make for this Helms Deep place.
The three of them caught up the other three where Gandalf spoke up in obvious frustration, and looked all dressed and ready to go as he briskly made for the stables.
"Helms Deep!" He said in agitation.
"They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight! Who will defend them if not their king?" Gimli agreed and entered into the conversation as if he had been there they entire time.
"I concur. Fleeing will only strengthen the moral and will of the enemy." Anakin spoke up and the others looked to him and Gimli with varying degrees of agreement or disagreement.
"He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helms Deep has saved them in the past." Aragorn spoke in an understanding manner, while Obi-Wan nodded in full agreement and Anakin merely rolled his blue eyes again as they entered fully into the stables. As Gimli and Legolas hung back slightly Aragorn and the two Jedi followed Gandalf fully in.
"There is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre. Théoden has a strong will but I fear fro him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses have to hold."
"They will hold." Aragorn replied with an air of assuredness about him as Gandalf slightly smiled but turned to the ever quiet Jedi. "Your two being here helps our situation some. I think that Saruman doesn't quite understand the threat you two pose, and that leaves us a slight advantage. When it comes to what is to come I need to be able to count on your two doing everything you can to hold that fortress."
"Don't you worry Gandalf. I'll make sure to do my part." Anakin said with a hardened look in his eyes and a curt nod, whereas Obi-Wan nodded in agreement before agreeing. "I feel confident we can and will do what we can my friend, don't worry about us one bit, we'll do everything by your and Aragorn's lead." Obi-Wan replied respectfully and both Gandalf and Aragorn looked pleased and thankful as Anakin nodded once more in agreement.
Gandalf turned the, still smiling, as he stroked Shadowfax. "The Grey Pilgrim…that's what they used to call me. Three-hundred lives of men I've walked this earth, and now I have not time." The white wizard mused slightly ruefully. "With luck, my search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east." Aragorn opened the stall gate then. "Go." Without another word the wizard sped past them all and Gimli and Legolas all but jumped out of the way of the speeding horse with the wizard upon him as a sense of foreboding fell upon them with what was to come.
"What of this Helms Deep place Aragorn?" Anakin asked as they stood as a group once more. "Is it safe, or open?"
"It's a fortress built up against a wall of mountains. A long wall, and main deep that leads into a system of caves. The Deeping wall is long and good for defense using bows, but if breached it is easily overrun I fear, and as Gandalf spoke there is no known way to escape it if breached. The most we can hope for is holding the line until he arrives with aid." The northern ranger responded as he seemed to be thinking the whole thing over in his head already.
"Oh dear. That does sound like a nest of Gundarks." Obi-Wan commented dryly as he stroked his beard. "Does anyone on this world yet have explosives?" he asked as Aragorn narrowed his eyes in confusion, and Gimli also looked confused.
"Uh, I'm going to guess not. Okay, how about this, do any of you know of a way the Uruk-Hai can penetrate the fortress?"
"Ladders, battering ram, any other scaling tools I would assume." Aragorn said.
"What of long ranged warfare? Cant we use the wall to our advantage?" Anakin asked and on instinct looked to Legolas. The elf nodded but seemed unsure even now.
"The Rohirrim are not know for their prowess in archery. Horses and cavalry are their specialty. Besides that, the Uruks will be scaling the walls on their ladders and forcing melee engagement to end what could be an easy victory on our part with arrows." Legolas went on and everyone seemed thoughtful as the town bustled with activity outside.
"Hmm, well. Me and Anakin can lighten the load when it comes to ladders." Obi-Wan offered and Anakin turned to him with a cocked brow.
"Really?"
"Yes really, Anakin. Think about it." obi-Wan retorted, and Anakin still didn't seem to get it, and the Jedi master sighed. "The Force Anakin. We give the archers more time to fire their arrows the longer and better a chance we have of holding the warriors back. Baring in mind we don't know their long range capabilities that is. They will be rushing to get their ladders up so the siege can begin right?" Anakin and the other three nodded.
"Well the my old apprentice, we merely put a bit of work into it, and we can use the Force to keep those ladders from reaching the wall, and those that do, we cut the Uruks that climb down, and use the force to send the ladder back to the army as projectiles, and I'm assuming these things will be heavy and menacing looking." Obi-Wan said matter-of-factly as he recalled the obvious evil looking style of the Uruks from Amon Hen.
Aragorn nodded and seemed to get a glint of hope in his eyes that wasn't there before. "Are you sure you can do this with these powers of yours?"
"Most certainly Aragorn. With the Force anything is possible. When things get too hot, and the ladders become inevitable, at least we will have bought you time, and we can act as melee specialists. No offense to you and the people of this planet once more Aragorn, but your weapons and armor are hardly a match for the lightsaber. Especially where Anakin is concerned you can post us somewhere and we will stem the tide by ourselves if need be. That's not to say we cant get overrun, but we can hold the line for as long as possible." Obi-Wan went on with his stratagem, and Anakin sent him a smirk.
"Being the bait once more master?" Obi-Wan made chuckled. "As always my old padawan." Anakin laughed and the others seemed to gain smiles from both them and their new small bit of hope for the coming battle.
"Alright," Aragorn spoke again. "Let's help get these villagers up and moving. We need to get from here to Helms Deep in a few days time, and they will no doubt want to bring more than they need." Everyone nodded in agreement and went about duties to get the city vacated.
Yoda sat alone in his meditation chamber as night fell upon Coruscant. The very muffled sounds of the city-world outside leaving an oddly calming effect on him as he sat with eyes closed and hands clasped together as he reached into the Force and listened to what it had to say to him. As always the Force was shrouded in a grey-going black fog that represented the ever growing and looming dark side that threatened to encase all life in the Galaxy, as the war and the Sith more and more sought to cut off the Jedi from even simply looking into the Force for guidance. Yet there it was, a bright but small and even muddled kernel of raw, and bursting power. Anakin Skywalker. Even with the Force Yoda couldn't simply look for the presence and know where he were. He could use the Force to track the Jedi manually, but Yoda knew he was needed here, and the Force did tell him to hold out hope for the young knight.
Unlike his dear and close friend Mace, Yoda while at first very hesitant about allowing Anakin into the order he felt the power and potential in the boy. Yoda may not have been the greatest of teachers, he knew this because of Dooku alone, but Yoda had always felt as though he let young Skywalker down at times. His emotions were wild, his temperament all over the place, he was arrogant, always rushing things, and impatient with the ways of the order and questioned them all the time. Yet, he was a prodigy. He helped those who cannot help themselves without needing a reason why, hence his impatience, and he genuinely cared for many people. Especially then downtrodden, poor, and slaves of the galaxy, and he 'hated,' the separatists, and some could calm him a republic patriot but Yoda knew that wasn't it.
No, the small green master knew it had more to do with the ideals of the Republic and not the admittedly rabble filled and often times flaccid leadership of the senate. The Chancellor also held an odd fascination with Anakin, and it was something he found distressing. Not only did he agree with Mace that Palpatine was becoming more suspicious, and needed to be watched more, but Yoda knew that the Chancellor was at every step of the way using his influence on Anakin to twist and undo all Jedi teachings imparted upon the boy. It was enough at times to cause this eight-hundred-plus year old master get ever slightly agitated. Why? Well because Yoda saw more than what others did in the boy. He saw great potential, and the most powerful Jedi in all history. Anakin Skywalker had the power, all he lacked was the strict moral code of the Jedi, and at times Yoda wondered if perhaps they were all of them too hard on him.
Yoda was knocked form his musings and the Force as a call came to his personal in room holo-comm. Looking to it he saw that it was coming from senator Padmé Amidala. Curious as it was that the woman was wishing to speak with him at this hour of night he answered it. The visage of the beautiful Naboo senator appeared and as ever Yoda smiled a kindly small smile and bowed his head.
"Greetings senator. Unexpected your call is, late the hour is, but glad to hear from you nonetheless I am." She looked slightly relieved at that before answering.
"Thank you master Yoda. I'm sorry to be calling to you so late into the night, but I needed to ask you directly, and get away from the ramblings and fear mongering of the media." Yoda made a small 'hmm,' noise as he figured what she wanted to hear. It was something else the Jedi master had his suspicions on concerning Skywalker, but he didn't want to think about it right now.
"Fear you do, for the safety of young knight Skywalker, and master Kenobi?" The woman's dark eyes seemed to look far away as she looked slightly flustered at Yoda's as ever keen ability to make people feel off balance without trying.
"Yes master Yoda…..I know that it may sound strange that I am calling in to you personally but he is a dear frien-"
"Worry about him you need not, and worry about bothering me also you need not do." Yoda interjected in a kindly but adamant manner before letting loose a small chuckle at the senators slightly taken aback look. It quickly turned to a friendly smile however as she nodded. "Thank you for saying that master Yoda."
"Your thanks, necessary it is not. Always happy to speak with you, I am." Yoda said before getting a bit more serious with the woman who seemed more flustered and just….off than usual, and the master couldn't put his finger on how or why.
"Looked deeply into the force I and other masters have. Felt the presence of both master Kenobi and knight Skywalker we did. Alive we firmly and adamantly believe them to be. Lost they are, in the Outer-Rim. Admittedly, lost perhaps, near General Grievous I shall say." He informed and she seemed very much upset by that thought and Yoda smiled what he hoped was a reassuring one.
"Please senator, fear for him and master Kenobi you should not. Safe and in good health we believe them to be, but perhaps in danger they could be if too close to Grievous they are, but if in that kind of danger these two, used to it, and quite adaptable they are." Padmé looked down as if in thought, but Yoda felt there was a double meaning as to why she looked intently lower, but again the reason why was lost on him.
"Feeling well, are you senator?" She snapped back up to look at Yoda before nodding slowly.
"Yes, thank you master Yoda I'm fine. Just…worried, and I am once again sorry I put this off on you."
"Apologies, unnecessary they are senator. A good friend to many, young Skywalker is. In and outside the order they are, and the first to ask my stance on him and master Kenobi's situation you are not. Happy I am to put your mind at ease." She smiled faintly and attempted to laugh off her worry, but Yoda saw passed it, but decided to say nothing.
"Please senator, rest you must. Worry I do for your health, seem ill you do."
She sighed but nodded as she pushed s stray lock of hair from her face.
"Very well master Yoda. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about Ana…I mean knight Skywalker." Yoda inclined his head.
"A problem it is not. If need to talk you do, available I am. Sleep well senator. And may the Force be with you."
"With you as well master Yoda." She said politely and disconnected their transmission, and Yoda sighed as those creeping ideas about why the senator was worried made their way into his mind, but he was quick to throw them off. For Yoda, if true his assumptions were, then a lot more complicated Anakin's situation could be. So, he decided to once more meditate.
Meanwhile as Yoda did that a soft hand laid itself, near trembling, down upon an ever growing stomach. As Padmé Amidala Naberrie Skywalker, smiled sadly down to her ever obviously pregnant belly. "You hear that? Daddy's alive." She whispered to her unborn child as she hardly felt comforted by Yoda, but surely the Jedi master knew what he was talking about right? "He'll come back…you'll see." She said more to herself than her child as she felt an ever so light kick, and beamed a smile. It quickly however faded to a frown as she stared out the view pane of her 500 Republica residence and looked to the faintly starry nightline of Coruscant.
"Where are you Ani?" Was the last thing she said before silently, and emotionally pain-filled entering into a fitful sleep.
"Hold on there, I got it!" Anakin said as he rushed over to a small and elderly woman heaving probably too much of her belongings onto a cart.
"Oh thank you, young man."
"No problem." He said with a grin as he used the Force to lift a small bag of most likely grain onto the cart, and the old woman stopped dead in her tracks and watched the display of power, as her mouth nearly dropped to the floor.
"By Eru! How are you doing that?!" She cried and caught others attention as many others soon dropped and stopped what they were doing to look on as Anakin, as always, caught the attention of a crowd.
"I really don't want to get into the details all over again, but uh, oh yeah! Did you hear about the two men who, 'fell from the heavens?'"
"Oh my yes, it has everyone in a stir. Gossip being what it is I don't pay much mind to it…..oh my." It was then that it dawned on her the rumors were true.
"Y…you are one of those men?"
"Sure am!" Anakin said with a grin as he used the Force to lift her whole cart and place it down gently again, and all the gather people began whispering and muttering in awe, or a few in fear.
"See, this is the Force, me and my master, my best friend really, can use this Force to do all sorts of grand things. And, now we're both gonna make sure all of you get to this Helms Deep place safe and sound, and hopefully keep the enemy from hurting you guys. You have my word that I and my friend will do our best. Besides Gandalf vouched for us, and that has to amount to something right?" He asked with a grin and many people nodded or sounded agreeing in tone of whisper and Anakin gave a curt and self-pleased nod. "Good. No I suggest everyone continue on packing We're getting out of here soon, and some are already on the move." The blonde Jedi pointed out toward the gate as some quick and less baggage prone peoples began piling in front of the city gates, ready to begin moving on the kings orders as Théoden atop his steed surveyed the people and waited for them.
It wasn't long before they all began moving and vacating the city, Anakin rode Devlin with Obi-Wan either behind him or beside him, or he walked and obi-Wan rode as the pace was slower than the ride to Edoras, but as they moved on Anakin got the distinct sense that a long and grueling fight was ahead. Only one thought came to him when that occurred.
"I got a bad feeling about this." he sighed, as he looked back to the long line of Rohirrim civilians, and thus the trek to Helms Deep began.
Saruman the white stood before Orthanc as he watched his lead Wargrider, Sharku direct his fellow wargriders out of the pits of Isengard after Grima informed him of just how vulnerable the peasant Rohirrim would be on their rode to Helms Deep. It would be easy enough to at the very least lower the man pool from these brigands and overly-horse attached lowly men.
"My lord Saruman!" Called the voice of the woman lord Sauron sent to him with her odd but deadly effective machines of war. She was wearing her dark hood atop her head, as her blazing golden yellow eyes glowed bright.
"I understand that you are sending a cavalry party to hunt down and cause a little death and mayhem to the people of Rohan?"
"Indeed. The wargriders will at the least engage some of the horse loving fools they call soldiers."
Vica nodded. "Very good, but may I bring up a flaw with your plan?" The wizard raised his brows but nodded his consent.
"You may remember that there are Jedi with them most likely, and they will be able to engage and defeat your riders with ease. You may actually lose more then you gain from this attack."
"You suggest then, that I do nothing?" He asked in mild annoyance as he gripped his staff. However the woman merely cocked a grin, one of her near crazed ones at that.
"No, no, no, not at all my lord! Instead I wish to send with your riders a little gift for the Jedi. they have fought them in the past, and many times lost."
"Your droids while effective are far too slow to keep up with the riders my dear." Saruman retorted, but she shook her head her blonde braid swinging with her.
"You have underestimated the Confederacy once more my lord. May I introduce another unit of the army?" She asked but already pressed a button along her wrist attached droid command device, and from her one ship, came barreling out in great speed six seemingly balls of metal, and the wizard once more cocked his brow in confusion.
"These are what we call droidekas or destroyer droids, and they can do this." She pressed another activation button and the balls morphed into three legged almost insect looking creatures with two hands point into two long tubes. She pressed another and the, like the B2 units fired off into the air.
"You see they can fire rapidly, but that's not why they kill Jedi better than a B1 or B2, not even their mobility. Rather it is this…" She trailed off as she then activated the droids into a shield. She quickly activated her saber, and slammed it into the shield of the droid with no puncturing success and the white wizard then looked greatly impressed and nodded happily.
"Ah, now I see….. Very well, if they can keep up with the wargriders, then you are free to send you, 'droidekas,' with them and hopefully rid me of these two nuisances."
"I think they'll at least, as you said lower the man pool for these lowly humans you call Rohirrim." Vica said as she too thought the people of this country to be quite below galactic standards of human.
So when the wargriders went racing from Isengard with swords held high into the air and their beasts howling and growling. Trailing them in a triangle formation were six balls of death and terror that never wavered behind. As they all became coming harbingers of death for the Rohirrim.
Authors Note: Man I just managed to get this one done before I need sleep, so please really excuse or point out any and all grammatical errors. I thank you all who have since posted reviews or Favorited or followed the story it really means a lot to me that so many people are giving this story interest. I never dreamed of seeing over a hundred people passing through my story at least one chapter, in a single day no less! Nonetheless, I hope you guys like the small bit of Star Wars universe i finally got in as everyone is going nuts without Obi-Wan, Anakin, and yes even Grievous. Please review, or follow my story if you like it, or even if you don't but keep those types of comments to constructive criticisms which I always take to heart. Flames are nothing to me, like water on rock. ;)
As usual guys please enjoy and leave some feedback, cause oh boy Helms Deep is fast approaching! :D