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 26: Bakuran General Zane
In the Chancellor Suite, Palpatine is holding his forehead in the palms of his hand. He was not expecting Master Zane to go public with his information like that. Even through people think they might be rumors, impacting his public face. Even the Senators that were loyal to him seem to lose a little trust of him. How could have he let this happen? He was doing so well until now. He thought he was steps ahead of the Master Zane from a different dimension.
How wrong was he, Master Zane was a step ahead of him with every move he made. Him and his Padawan seem to best his best plans. He was trying to get money for the Separatist to help build what they call an Ultimate Weapon, which secretly he like to called a Death Star, a tool that his Galactic Empire will use to rule the galaxy through fear. This battle station was going to be unlike any others. It has a power to destroy a whole planet.
Right now the Separatist cannot keep spending so much money on that project, because they have also fund for the Clone Wars. Palpatine swing his chair around so he can see the raining view of Coruscant. Times are getting tough, and Palpatine senses that Padme is pregnant with Anakin Skywalker's child, the major key that Palpatine needs to hopefully drive Anakin to the Dark Side.
He will make Anakin Skywalker have nightmares of losing his wife, and with him being the only one to turn to, he will slowly turn Anakin against the Jedi. When Anakin finally, so Anakin will only be loyal to him, he will take Padme's life and the life of the unborn child to seal Anakin's fate.
He hopes he can still use that plan, if not he still got the Clone Troopers and Darth Vader to aid him. He knows the Force is strong with his Sith creation, and there is no way that Darth Vader will ever betray him due to the loyalty to him that was place in his brain as he was being created. If he manages to get Anakin Skywalker, then Darth Vader will be the perfect Assassin for the Empire. An assassin that cannot be beaten, but there might be a danger of having two powerful Force Sensitive besides him at the controls of his Empire. Mainly Darth Vader since he knows the ways of the Sith and the powers of the Dark Side. So in reality their will be 3 Sith Lords in the Empire, which goes against the Rule of Two, which can be very dangerous. Thank again with that loyalty trait in Darth Vader, the Rule of Two will still be good, because Darth Vader would not be able to betray him.
He senses Darth Maul is on Mustafar and was cooking up a plan to kill Dooku, Palpatine himself and to be the Master of the Dark Side. He is guessing it is time for Darth Vader to show what he got.
Palpatine walks into his private office to get in contract with the Sith. He is unaware that the feed on it was being track and recorded by someone on the outside of the building. He went over to the Holoprojection pod and turn on. He sees Darth Vader was on his knees in the hologram. "Rise Darth Vader, I have a mission for you. Apparently one of my former apprentices has become a bit of a problem. You will head out to the Mustafar system, and kill him. Show no mercy. After that you will stay there and train. I figure by the end of next year there will be a group of people of the Separatist heading there, and when the get there you will kill them too." say Palpatine.
Darth Vader's cold Sith yellow and red eyes stares into his Master's eyes. "It will be done, Master. I will head out right now." say Darth Vader. "Good, be warn, this person will be a challenge, he is ruthless, so you must be the same way. Take what you learn from this fight and apply it to the fights you have in the future. If he shows a moment of weakness, kill him. Take any advantage you can get. Do not dare to fail me." say Palpatine as he ends the transmission.
At the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Mark and the other members of the Jedi High Council is receiving a report from Aayla Secura and a Clone Commander. She was on a mission to Bakura to whip out any remaining forces of the Separatist. Apparent there was some Forces on the planet that had infiltrated the government, which made Mark mad, when he hears this.
"Let me get this straight, there was a Force Sensitive within the government that was working for Dooku, and how in the world that I did not sense it." ask Mark leaning forward in his chair. "I could not even sense it from space. You were only in space. It was not that strong. The Clones were able to take him down easy, Master Zane." say Aayla Secura.
As Mark was watching the blue Twi'lek, Mark cannot help but see a vision of her dying in his universe. He sees the Clone Troopers shots her in the back with no remorse. Then when she was done underneath a giant mushroom of Felucia, they shoot her in the back.
Mark rubs his hands on the side of his head as he shakes that vision from his minds. When he did that all the Jedi High Council Members look at him. Yoda kept his eyes on Mark little longer before anyone else did before turning back to the Holographic projection that stands in the middle of the room.
"We must not let Bakura falls to the Separatist forces. If that planet and the government falls to them, they will have almost unlimited supple of credits and trained military units, that have been keeping peace on that planet from other Outer Rim planets for years. Trust me that is something that we do not want." say Mark.
The hologram of Obi-wan looks at Mark. "If Bakura do fall, how large is Bakura's military?" ask Obi-wan. "Well, let just say it is not good. Bakura is has one of the biggest and strongest private military out of all the planets that are currently in the Republic or the Confederacy, besides the Clone Army that is." say Mark.
"What of it wealth?" ask Mace. "You ever heard the saying that Bakuran streets are pave from gold. Well the streets are not pave from gold, but it is very rich that they could afford have everything made out of pure gold." say Mark looking at Mace Windu.
"Fall into Dooku's hand Bakura must not. If it does, means the end of the republic as we know it, could it." say Yoda as he looks around the room. Mark nods to this as he looks back to the holographic projection of Aayla. "I figure that might not be that much left of the Separatist Forces there. Obi-wan, Anakin and mine forces seem to drive most them out. I cannot believe it took us this long to find that out. Just be safe and try your best." say Mark.
"Master Zane, I am for sure my troops I can handle what little resistance here. We are also getting help from the Bakuran Military." say Aayla as a holographic projection of an aging man that looks strongly similar to Mark besides the age and eye color.
"Jedi High Council, General Maxus Zane of the Bakuran Military at your services. As your friend Aayla said, I can guarantee that we will do whatever we can to rid our planet of the Separatist. "say Maxus as he looks around the room. When people heard the name of General Maxus Zane, all eyes turn onto Mark. Mark eyes widen at the sight of his father. In his universe his farther died before the Clone Wars even started.
Seeing his aging farther standing before them in a Hologram projection was a bit of a surprise. Mark knows a lot about his father, and apparently he looks just like the one he know. Maxus is 6ft 2in with short dark brown balding hair that is gray in some places, have a full gray beard that is shaven so it would not hang off his chin that have some stripes of brown color, powerful brown eyes, has a body similar to Mark but with a bit of fat on it. Mark knows his father was born in 85 BBY.
His father is a military genius, one of the best Generals in the Bakuran Military and being the best of them is saying something since their military is top notch. Why Amelia did not say anything about Maxus to him. That is something he will need to find out.
When Maxus eyes went to Mark, he was shocked. "Mark!" say Maxus as he put his hand on his chest over where his heart is, "I thought you was dead." Mark just shrugs his shoulders at this. Apparently his mother did not contact his father about him being alive. Wonder what is going on. He knows one thing, his mother and father was close in the other universe.
"Didn't mother tell you?" ask Mark. "Your mother told me what. I haven't talk to her in ages. Not ever since she let you go off to the Jedi Temple. I do not want to talk about Senator Zane nor do I even care to hear from her." say Maxus in a harsh tone as he looks at Mark.
Mark slides out of his chair when he hears this tone. In his universe his father could only speak proudly of his Amelia. This came to a shocking blow. Besides new people in this universe everything seems to be the same in his universe. He should have known everything would not be the same as his. "Did you even know that she was torture at the hands of Jabba the Hutt?" ask Mark.
"Like I give a damn about her, she give away one of my children away. How can you forgive someone like that! I loved you greatly! Your mother said it hurt her to see you go, but it must not been that bad for as it was for me!" shout Maxus.
Yoda shakes his head and palms his forehead. This was not what he was expecting to happen in this conference. Another reason why attachment should not be have by a Jedi. "May we please get back onto topic here? Nothing do with family problems, this meeting has. On a private server, Master Zane if you wanted to ask your father questions do. Strictly for the use of Jedi, this server is." say Yoda. When Yoda says this, the rest of the council members nodded.
"Sorry Master Yoda." say Mark. "No, wait a second you cannot do this. I am his father you can not just cut off a conversation like that! I want to know why and how my son is alive." demanded Maxus. Mark stands up and looks at his father.
"Do not speak to Master Yoda like that, General. I expected better from a General of a military to respect the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. This meeting was about the mission. Not about our family. Now I advise you to either start talking about the mission, or shut your trap and sit back while Jedi Knight Aayla does it." say Mark.
This caught everyone in the room off guard. "Take a lot from your old man don't you. Standing for those who are in charge." say Maxus. "Yoda was a teacher of me, and I will not have my farther disrespect him. Now let get back to topic." say Mark.
Getting back to topic is what they did. After that little fight over the Holocom, everything went smoothly. After the meeting Yoda explain to Maxus what has happen and how Mark came to be. Maxus also apologize to Yoda who wave it off stating it was not needed and he knows was heat of the moment.
While Yoda was doing this, Mark was heading over to the 500 Republica to talk to his mother. He needs to get things straighten out, before everything gets too confusing for him. Due to all the protesters Mark figure Palpatine is there. As they walk pass each other it was when they first meet in this universe. Master Jedi staring down Master Sith. Two people of opposite sides of the Force glaring at each other as if it was a battle between the two of them. "Master Zane." say Palpatine. "Screw off Palpatine. Not in the mood." say Mark lowly as he walks past him.
Palpatine smiles greatly, something were obviously bothering the Jedi Master from a different dimension, but right now he has no time to worry about it. He has to get back to his suite and do some work on the details of how he is going to get the Republic to become the first Galactic Empire.
Mark walks into the room where Amelia and Padme are sitting talking about something. "Ah, Mark the person we want to see you. We got some disturbing news." say Padme. Amelia nods at this as she looks around the room.
"Not now Senator, I need to talk to my mother." say Mark. Amelia looks up at this; she did not need the Force to know something is up. "What is Mark?" ask Amelia. "You never told me my father was alive. In my universe he died. That would be something good to tell me." say Mark standing in front of the two Senators with his arms cross.
"I thought you knew, I figure you universe might be just like ours seeing everything else is the same, from what I heard." say Amelia. "What happen between you and father?" ask Mark. "Mark, I really do not want to talk about this." say Amelia uncomfortable.
"For me to be able to fit into this universe, I need to know what the Force is going on here." say Mark looking at his mother. "Honey, you must really understand that it really hurts me to talk about it." say Amelia looking from the glaze of her son. She never thought she will have to have this talk.
"Mom, I have a right to know. I might be from another universe but you told me yourself that I am still your son. I still a part of the Zane family that means I have a right to know what is happening with my family." say Mark lower and calmer.
Amelia sighs as she tries to get the strength to tell her son what has happen to their family. The trouble started when Amelia give Mark to the Jedi Order to train his ability with the Force. Maxus, just like in his universe, was defending the planet from some kind of threat that the Hutts try to pull on them. Maxus came home; Amelia told him what she did and he went on the warpath, nearly destroying everything in the home. After that they made up, but a year later Amelia had thoughts about Palpatine Senator of Naboo at the time, and she said something was fishy about him. Apparently Maxus is a strong supporter of Palpatine and even through to this day.
Mark also learns that every time Amelia and Maxus meet they fight with each other and both of them lose their tempers quickly around each other. Even through that happen, Amelia is still very sad about how there relationship ended. It got worst when they heard the death of the Mark Zane they know. Maxus blames Amelia for sending him to the Jedi Order which got him killed.
That was something else that Mark had learned, that his father have a little bit against the Jedi since they took him away, but have enough respect for them because his son was one of them. So much unlike his own universe, where his father was proud to gives his son a chance to be a Jedi, and loved his mother greatly.
By the end conversation, Amelia was in tears and Mark feels guilty having made her go through that. He can sense that the topic send the utmost grief into her system. Still the will to know what happen was too great. He looks down as he rubs the back of his neck.
Mark walks over to her take her hand into his hands. "Mom, I am so sorry, I did not know it was that bad. I am sorry to have made you tell me this." say Mark. "You were right; it was your right to know. You would not hear the truth from your father if you ask him. He would make me look bad while he look like the good person. You father hates my guts." say Amelia lowly as she looks into her son's powerful bright blue eyes.
"Will he been in trouble to the plan?" ask Padme looking at the two Zane in her apartment. "I do not know if he supports Palpatine, then most likely he will hate me." say Mark. "So what are you going to do? You cannot let Palpatine live." say Padme. "Oh, that is not an option. I went my whole life without truly knowing my father. My father died years before the Clone Wars started in my universe. I could life without him in this universe. If he is going to become a problem, then he better stay out of my way." say Mark looking at Padme from his position by his mother.
Mark already stated that there is nothing that would stop him from protecting the Jedi Order and Republic of this universe. He will not let the people who he is trusted to protect down.
"Now what news do you have for me." say Mark remembering that Padme say that they have something. "Palpatine must have another, by the name of Darth Vader. He sent it too the Mustafar system to take care of someone that Palpatine say was an apprentice of his." say Padme. Mark heads snaps at this when he heard the dreaded name that Anakin in his universe had became.
What kind of mockery is Palpatine trying to play now? Does that mean he does not have a need for Anakin Skywalker? No, the Force is telling him different. Mark reaches out into the Force and sense the dark presence he felt on Kamino that was being made. That is impossible, did Palpatine succeeded in make a Clone of a Force Sensitive. Mark sense it is very powerful.
This is something he must prevent happening. There it was an unknown Sith. Mark races down to the Speeder he used to drive to the 500 Republica and took off Speeding through the crowded air traffic of Coruscant to make it to the temple. He did not even tell the Council where he was going when he walk by him. Mark can sense that they know something was up when they saw him.
They did not bother to stop him. He walks into the Hanger Bay that is under the High Council chambers which is on the central tower of the temple. He walks by someone at the control base. "Open the Hanger Doors, I want you to get a Hyper-drive Ring ready for me please." say Mark to a person who works at the temple but not Force Sensitive.
The door of the hanger opens in the grayish light of the raining day of Coruscant open up. Mark rushes to his Starfighter, which already has his droid R4 in. "Ready for a trip R4." say Mark opening the hatch and getting in before he closed it. The Starfighter is red with a golden stripe going up the center.
Mark activates some of the controls of his Starfighter. The engine roars to life. Mark flew out of the tower hanger and up into space. Once in space he sees the Hyper-drive Ring. He pilots his ship into the ring. Then R4 put in the coordinates for Mustafar. Then they were off to the lava planet of Mustafar.