Darth Sidious commanded the attention and fear of everyone.
"All of the pleasantries and greetings shall be over with. More systems will join the CIS with your support, and let me remind you of our commitment to capitalism...Your desires to lower taxes, reduce tariffs, and the abolition of all trade barriers. Signing and agreeing to this treaty and ceasefire will bring you profits beyond your imagination. There will be complete free trade and you all will be ahead of the coming, booming economic wave."
Sidious looked to Nute.
"The Trade Federation will pledge our full support and current funds to expand our vast military while we continue to advance it. When our new battle droids are combined under one hive mind, we shall have the greatest army the galaxy has ever bear witness to! The Republic will never dare contest us again with the GAR. Some funds will go towards the streamlining of trade." Nute spoke, tone level.
"If I may, Viceroy." Said Passel, one of the few who had supported the CIS from the beginning.
"Of course, Passel Argente. We are always interested in hearing from the Corporate Alliance." Rune said, nodding quickly.
The huddled man offered a slight bow to Nute. "The Corporate Alliance will sign the treaty and agree to the ceasefire, but we do have conditions. We are expecting a percentage from the overall sum."
"We are most grateful for your speedy decision making, Magistrate. Finer details can be handled later." Nute said.
Rune recognized the exchange for what it actually was. A play for the benefit of the other, less enthusiastic, people at the table concerning the ceasefire agreement.
Nute was trying to build some momentum to keep the discussion going in the direction he wanted it to go.
That momentum increased as Shu Mai spoke up.
"The Commerce Guild has agreed to move forward in discussing a peace treaty and ceasefire. We did not wish to become openly involved in the talks if possible, but we assume the talks will lead to free trade, so if our appearance will hasten free trade, we shall appear for the talks. We shall continue to support you, but no longer in secret, and fund the droid army with advancements. Half of our current funds will go to the advancement of creating our top secret project, and more like it...Provided the Commerce Guild is compensated."
"It will be done, Shu Mai. Everyone here is putting up considerable funds so our secret projects can be finished." Sidious said.
"I agree in that case." Shu Mai nodded.
Several nods of approval bobbed about the table.
Nute nodded slowly. "That is most astute and great to hear."
He looked to the distinguished chairman of the Banking Clan, and all the other gazes settled on San Hill, as well.
"The InterGalactic Banking Clan will support this truce and ceasefire wholeheartedly, in addition to providing funds for the expansion of our military and advancing it with the Commerce Guild. We will also use funds to streamline trade. However, we do wish to be in exclusive arrangements so we can have our own percentage when it comes to managing our top secret projects."
The dark-robed shape moved, cloaked and hooded, its movements were totally secluded. "What did you just say San Hill?"
Nute found his throat so dry that for a moment he could not speak.
"San Hill is merely worried about the Jedi harassing him or searching him. He was arrested before after all, but we had to force the Republic's hand to release him."
"The Jedi are your concern, San Hill?" Darth Sidious hissed the word.
"Yes, but that is only because the Senate grants them special oversight. Even the Chancellor can't command them in a military fashion."
San Hill found what little courage he had been able to muster for this discussion with Sidious quickly evaporating.
He stared at the black form of the Sith lord in growing terror.
"I understand your concern, but it is uncalled for."
As if unable to endure the answer, San Hill tried to get his point across.
"We dare not go up against Jedi Masters or Jedi Knights ourselves. We can handle senators, we can even handle impressionable Jedi Padawans...But the senior Jedi are a different story. As long as the Republic's Constitution remains in tact, the Jedi will have a degree of autonomy to act without any oversight by even the Chancellor. Even Palpatine cannot stop them if they gather enough momentum."
The dark figure in the hologram turned slightly.
"Are you saying you would rather go up against me, perhaps, San Hill?"
The Chairman of the Banking Clan shifted toward Sidious, starting to sweat.
"Of course not, lord Sidious. But, I dare not try my hand at evading or testing the Jedi's depth of perception. I do not wish to test their military might myself, that is why I have an army."
"The Jedi Order's perception, save for a select few or dozen, goes as far as Master Yoda and Master Windu. I don't wish to bore you with what many consider propaganda. But, if Grievous and Maul were Head of State, or sat on this Council, instead of all of you...Do you understand what I am saying right now."
"Jedi are no real threat." Shu Mai remarked, scoffing.
Hill's hands shook, and he had to clasp them together to still them. "I understand."
He looked to Nute, but the Viceroy was barely able to keep his own face from paling with terror, his headdress almost crushing his skull.
With everyone thoroughly grasped by terror, Darth Sidious continued.
"This turn of events is very fortunate, we all get what we want for the time being. We must accelerate our plans because of this, Viceroy. Listen carefully, because I will only say these things once. The first-do not worry about the Jedi...Maul, Opress, Durge, or one of the commanders, soon to be considered Sith lords, will deal with them."
Nute glanced quickly around the room, looking at everyone trying their best to disappear and not be overwhelmed with pure fear.
There was going to be more than one Sith Lord running around?
Who was going to protect him!?
"As we have planned, key trade points and the main trade points are all clogged with military activity. The chemical and biological warfare has taken a severe toll on the galactic populace. Palpatine has been kind enough to make it easy for us to attain what we want. Our streamlining of trade will put us ahead of the curve."
"What do you suggest?" Nute asked.
"First, the Ewoks will be used for food, carpets, coats, decorations, the advancement of medicine, and anything else that is deemed necessary. The Bothans and Mon Calamari will be used for the advancement of medicine. They will also be slaves. There are other non sentient species that will be sent to Coruscant and other Core Worlds to be farmed, but the Ewoks are to be the prominent ones used for food as well as foodstuffs."
"Ah, my lord...Is that action legal to take against them?"
"It has been made legal. It is the law. It is the constitution. For everyone to survive and rebuild from this devastation known as the Clone Wars, the Ewoks will be used until they are extinct. I will make it treason to help them, interfere, or do anything of the sort with the Ewoks and Bothans. Anyone who tries to make life good for them will be brutally executed along with any Ewoks they tried to help."
"Of course." Nute struggled against a tremor.
"You will make a network from Endor, and expand it outwards so that the Ewoks are flung far and wide, as well as the Bothans. We will have that whole expanse of space. Bespin will make a good transition point from Endor to the other reaches of the galaxy."
"Yes, of course. We will work on getting an invasion force into that system to begin observing Bespin before we take that world." Nute took a quick breath, realizing everything was coming together.
"And our military?" Shu Mai asked.
Darth Sidious grew darker, his face lowering further into shadows.
"The Supreme Chancellor has been kind enough to give us a very huge sum off the books, along with a larger sum once this ceasefire is signed. Remember, if you all have certain conditions, it would be wise for you all to let them be known during these talks...I will ensure Palpatine is open minded."
"What of our research with pyronium and bota?"
"We will focus on pyronium with the Ewoks and certain life support systems they will have to wear once certain torture methods and experiments begin. Bota will be studied, extracted, and studied once more. It will not be available. We will test out transforming part of our military into half organics using some knowledge Count Dooku was so kind to provide us from Rhen Var. We will be using Ewoks, Bothans, Hutts, Mon Calamari, and others as test subjects. Many Ewok will die and not make it through the experimentation. Make sure to get many to replace the ones that die offering no data."
"Yes, my lord." Nute Gunray answered.
Po Nudo spoke up for the first time since the meeting started. "I am not expected to pay for those smelly, filthy tree rats."
"It would be unpalatable to pay for even a finger of one of those furry, disgusting cannibals." Shu Mai remarked.
"Naturally, I am not expecting any single one of you to pay. That is what we will force others to do. The Ewoks will stabilize and soon stimulate the galactic economy as it recovers. You will control all of the funds from this curve." Sidious replied calmly.
"Good." Po Nudo nodded.
San Hill stared at Sidious, then turned to Poggle as if he were willing him to concede.
"We will send two billion Ewoks to Geonosis to be experimented on and turned into food, as well as carpets and decorations in the factories. If they die in the process of experimentation, we will get more. I was told there are one hundred and fifty billion total. We will also invest time and funds on Endor to make underground factories where we can turn the Ewoks into foodstuffs." Sy Myrth said.
"An additional ten billion will be sent to Hoth, Bespin, Ison, Anoat, and Mustafar to be experimented on, brutalized, tortured, flayed, and injected with many poisons and venom. If they are not processed into food, they will be farmed, and their fur will be used. Hoth and Mustafar will be the planets where torture is specifically engineered for the Ewoks and where we will use them as bait to get other creatures." Rute Gunray added.
"We will set up half way points for the Republic when they request Ewoks, and other species native to the Rim for consumption and other uses. Endor is in close proximity to a host of worlds, and most of them are outside of the Republic and within our sphere of influence." San Hill added on.
"It can be arranged. Endor and Geonosis are relatively close to each other and we have the room to store and experiment on the Ewoks. Bespin, Ison, and Anoat can be places where experiments on Ewoks are performed and where they are turned to food, and their furs are used. We shall choose the worlds which will act as torture centers for the Ewoks and others carefully, but for now, we are speaking of the Ewoks." Poggle The Lesser declared, nodding for emphasis.
Sidious shifted, but remained silent.
"We will get all of the necessary viruses, diseases, poisons, and venom that will be injected and administered to the Ewoks. In addition we will gather the creatures that will bite, consume, or attack them so we can study the venom. We'll need a billion right away, since they are three feet at the most and only one hundred and ten pounds. They will die from low dosages and the larger creatures will swallow them whole by the dozens." Rune Hakko said.
"And, let us no forget about the planet's resources and the magma. We shall strip the world of everything we can in order to make a profit. We will send three billion Ewoks to the planet of Abafar for starters since they're popular there thanks to Ewok jerky. Once sales surpass our estimates we will send another billion to that world, and have nearby worlds act as torture camps where the Ewoks are transported to and fro. They can also be farmed close by or transported for a small fee." Shu Mai added.
"Even renowned chefs will purchase a surplus of Ewoks. They will be very popular as food, but we can use their fur as well to make hats, coats, and things of that nature." Rute stated, nodding amicably.
"That is a good idea, especially if someone is exploring a frozen or cold world. They could also be used as decorations, like wall displays or rugs for certain people. They would make popular slaves and pets, but they aren't to bolster that aspect of the economy. That is where Bothans and other species come into play." Shu Mai agreed.
"What of our friends on Trandosha?" Sidious ventured.
"They requested five billion Ewoks and their young up front to hunt, and two billion more right after, and one billion after that, when they are all done or want to flood their hunting grounds to keep everything plentiful...They could even use those tree rats to bolster their own world and economy." Wat Tomblar answered, adjusting his vocabulator.
"That means...Twenty billion Ewoks in total will be shipped from Endor to Geonosis, Hoth, Bespin, Ison, Mustafar, Trandosha, and Polis Massa. In addition another three billion Ewoks will be sent to Yalara, Trandosha, Anoth, Dosuun, Sump, Zonju V, and Keresia." Rune stated.
"Yes. This is more than agreeable. We can use the Ewoks to make everything from foodstuffs all the way to carpets and wall decorations. Our hold on the economy will be solidified in more ways than one." San Hill nodded.
"The process will be streamlined. Once other resources are transported besides the Ewoks we will have an entire army of transports and support craft to offer assistance." Poggle seconded.
"Twenty billion Ewoks will be used to jump start and stabilize the economy in our favor while providing nourishment for a starved galaxy. Moving forward with this decision, we shall put the Republic in a strangle hold even more with these peace talks. Palpatine will be pressured and the Separatist government will be legitimized and ratified as a separate government in the view of everyone in the galaxy. We could even consider it to be superior and use that propaganda to further our own ends. Endor will be what catapults us, we shall leave it a barren rock, and the Ewoks will eventually go extinct supporting our ends. We all get what we want by doing this."
Wat Tomblar gently cleared his throat. "We will also create viruses and diseases specifically geared for the Ewoks. All of them will cause those rodents agony and misery, they will wish for death, but it will never come."
"Good. I will contact you all once Jabba the Hutt is lacerated and Tatooine is under my control. We will dismantle the Republic to its foundations...Starting with using those slugs' wealth and treasures to create a currency...A currency everyone in the galaxy and everywhere in the galaxy will use."
"What of the Jedi?" San Hill pressed.
"Since you are so concerned you will lay the bait and quarry...How do you feel about causing a ruckus at the Jedi Temple, San Hill?"
"He doesn't know how or when to shut up. He is perfect to frazzle them." Wat Tomblar commented.
There were a few nods, but the hologram of Sidious was already gone.
Rune Hakko stared at the space it left behind, then turned his gaze to the floor, feeling true terror take hold of him like it did nearly twenty years ago.
Peace is a lie. There is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory my chains are broken.
There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no death; there is the force.
Padme's first lessons began every morning, at the feet of the gatekeeper, and it was always something about philosophy.
"The tenets of the Sith and Jedi are more than just words to be memorized by these groups. They learn them and understand them. The codes lead them, to what they believe, to be the true power of the force. The power of the dark side. The power of the light side."
Ever since her training began Padme had heard the code of the Sith and the code of the Jedi multiple times, and the words were still fresh. They swirled through her mind, bubbling into her conscious thoughts as she tried to absorb the deeper meaning behind them.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
She knew this tenet to be true, at least.
Her entire life was proof of that.
"You are a very talented and splendid apprentice. You have never been trained in the ways of the force prior to Ventress going to Naboo, but you've called upon it many times before this point."
"I'm a quick learner and make a difference when it counts." Padme agreed.
"Yes, and you are very strong in the force. But, the same can be said of all who have been trained through the tens of thousands of years."
Not sure how to respond, Padme decided the wisest course of action was to stay silent.
"What do you know of the Jedi Temple on this world? Do you know anything about Sith Academies?" The gatekeeper finally asked.
"Nothing really. I know students at any of these temples and academies are taught to use the force in a one sided manner. They are taught the secrets of the dark side by other Sith lords or are taught the secrets of the light side by Jedi Masters. I know there have been many Temples and Academies, no single one is special."
"Not quite." The gatekeeper corrected.
Padme blinked, waiting for the gatekeeper to continue.
"It is true we have had other training facilities spread across the galaxy, places where individuals with promise are taught to control and hone their abilities. But, each facility has always been unique, and where individual students are sent depends on how much potential is in them."
Padme tilted her head, eyes narrowing as she thought the words over.
"Those with a limited ability in the Jedi are sent to Agricultural Corps. Those with a limited ability in the Sith were usually sent to Honoghr, Gentes, and Gamorr where they were taught to channel their emotions into mindless rage and battle fury."
"Through passion I gain strength. There is no emotion; there is only peace. However, brute strength alone is not enough to bring down certain enemies. Not channeling emotions can hinder the progress of the Jedi, and slow them down in battle. It blinds the Sith, makes them arrogant, and makes them overreach." Padme reasoned.
"Certainly. Those in Sith with greater ability were sent to worlds that allied with their cause to destroy the Republic, other governments, and Jedi Order. Planets far out like Ryloth, Umbara, and Nar Shadaa. These students learned to use the dark side for deception and manipulation. After this training they became unstoppable assassins, capable of drawing on the dark side to kill their targets without ever moving a muscle."
"The Jedi have no stealth fighters?" Padme arched a brow.
"Jedi who are inclined towards combat are Jedi Guardians. They are sent to worlds that are part of the Republic and need urgent help. They go out to planets as far as Ossus and Felucia. Jedi who are more inclined towards reflection become Consulars, and they too are sent out in the greater galaxy to help or remain in the Temple and source knowledge."
"Yet even the Sith were always no match for the Jedi despite all of this, and the Jedi are too rigid in their classifications to allow anything remotely flexible that wouldn't threaten their numbers." Padme said, rubbing her chin in deep thought.
"Precisely. The Sith Academies that were on Dathomir, Yavin, Ryloth, Felucia, Iridonia, Malachor, and other worlds are most similar to the Jedi Temple here. There were apprentices who directly studied under Sith lords. Those who succeeded in their training became adepts, acolytes, or Sith lords who would swell the ranks of their armies and empire."
Padme nodded. "They are the counterparts to the Jedi Knights who stand in the way of their ultimate conquest."
"But, even as the Jedi Knights must answer to the Jedi Masters, and even as Jedi Masters must report to the High Council, the adepts and acolytes answer to the Sith lords, and those Sith lords at times answered to a Council of their own, or one supreme ruler-an Emperor. And, those with the potential to become Sith lords, and only those with this potential were trained on Korriban and Ziost."
The last few months had passed quickly since Padme threw herself into her studies and training. To her surprise, she discovered that her inexperience with the force was the exception rather than the rule. Many of the Jedi had trained for decades, and the Sith while training differently in the past, and now, still trained for decades even if they weren't trained as children.
At first she found this troubling. She was well into her training and she was ahead, but she couldn't help but feel she was behind somehow. In such a competitive, ruthless environment as the galaxy was at this moment, she would be an easy target for every Jedi or the one or two Sith prowling around.
But as she mulled it over longer, she realized she was not as vulnerable as she thought. She alone had been able to manifest the power of the force without any training at all. She used it so often that it felt like breathing, something she almost took for granted.
It had given her advantages over her opponents in verbal spars and seeing through deception. In war and battle it had warned her of danger, and brought her victory in impossible circumstances. And, she had done it all on instinct, with no prior or proper training, without any conscious idea of what she was doing.
Now, for the first time, she was being taught to truly harness her full potential and make use of her abilities.
She didn't have to worry about any of the Jedi or the Sith...If anything, they should be worried about her, because when she completed her training, none would be her equal. Most of her learning came at the feet of the gatekeeper when it didn't come from Cadus himself.
Though she was a novice to it all, Padme found it easy to absorb the knowledge, in particular the knowledge of the long past. In time the full and in depth instruction she got from the gatekeeper and Cadus himself would allow her to catch up to and surpass the other Jedi and Sith around her, and once she got to that level, she wouldn't need to worry about attacks coming from behind.
Until then she would be careful to stay out of the way and not draw too much attention to herself. When she wasn't learning from the gatekeeper, she was in her room studying notes on the datapads she always kept around.
Perhaps it was because she was older than most of the others when they started, or maybe because her years of study had taught her patience and perseverance, she spent several hours each night studying the ancient records. She found them fascinating. Many of the lessons were historical records recounting ancient battles, eyewitness accounts, testimonies, entire holo-recordings, and pointing out the major players.
By itself the information had little practical use, but she could see each individual work for what it actually represented. A tiny piece of a much larger puzzle, a clue to a much greater understanding, and a small sliver of knowledge to a wealth of wisdom.
The datapad and notes supplemented what she learned from.
It gave context to the esoteric and abstract lessons.
Padme felt that in time, the ancient knowledge would be the key to unlocking her full potential, and to saving Naboo from turmoil.
Her understanding of the force slowly took shape. Mystical and infinite in mystery, the force was also natural and essential for all living things. It was the fundamental energy flowing through the galaxy, connecting all living things, including worlds and stars, within it.
The force was energy. A power, that could be harnessed. A power that could be manipulated and controlled with boiling emotions. Through the teachings of the dark side, one learned to seize hold of it, and through the teachings of light side, one learned to let it flow through them.
She practiced her meditations and exercises daily, always under the watchful eye of the gatekeeper. During her time on Naboo she learned to move large objects simply by thinking about it, something she would have thought impossible not long before.
She understood that this was only the beginning.
She was now starting to grasp a great truth on a deep, fundamental level.
According to Sith the strength to survive must come from within. Others will always fail. Friends, family, fellow soldiers...In the end, each person must stand alone. When in need, the Sith look to the self. The dark side nurtures the power of the individual.
According to Jedi the strength to survive came not from within, but from unity of others. Friends, family, fellow soldiers, and even those who didn't fight were always a source of power for the Jedi. Unlike the Sith, the Jedi never stood alone, they looked outside of themselves.
The light side nurtures the power of the unit.
Padme hummed softly, realizing the lesson was going to end soon, and she had other business to attend to within the Senate Rotunda.
"Gatekeeper. The code of the Jedi and Sith are incomplete. They are the opposite of each other on principle alone, but they are incomplete because of this. Everything from their tenets to how they live are flawed and corrupt. What was the Je'daii code?"
"There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no fear, there is power. I am the heart of the force. I am the revealing fire of light. I am the mystery of darkness. In balance with chaos and harmony. Immortal in the force."
Padme nodded, remembering the words, mouthing them, feeling them. These teachings of the Je'daii would make her strong. In studying them, she could unlock her full potential and one day she would be able to follow in their footsteps.
To not sway to the light or dark, but to be in balance.
And, she could look at the Jedi and Sith for what they really were...Aggressive, arrogant, corrupt, and power hungry orders.
"We will finish up this lesson with the staff officer, or ranking system of the Je'daii Order. It starts with Padawan, from there they became a Je'daii Journeyer, and once the Journeyer completed their long quest, they would become a Je'daii Ranger. After demonstrating balance and courage the Je'daii Ranger would become a Je'daii Master, and from there was the highest rank...The Je'daii Temple Master."
Padme latched onto the lesson.
"What was a Je'daii Journeyer? What were their duties?"
"They were tasked with traveling to each of the nine Je'daii Temples of the Je'daii Order on Tython. They would go on and master the skill sets of each Temple as part of their Great Journey. Journeyers were members who successfully trained as a Padawan at the academy of Padawan Kesh, graduated from the academy, and were deemed eligible to study at each of the nine Je'daii Temples of Tython. They would endure the Great Journey in their teens and each Journeyer was expected to travel by foot across the several continents of Tython which separated the Temples in order to meditate as well as learn survival techniques on their quest to become a Je'daii Ranger. Journeyers were to master the disciplines of each Temple, training under the Masters before moving to the next temple."
Padme's eyes twinkled with an intensity.
"And, the next rank?"
"Je'daii Ranger. This was used to refer to anyone who had completed their studies at each of the Great Temples of Tython as a Journeyer and were tasked with traveling the settled worlds as representatives of the Je'daii Order. The term Jedi Knight, used by the Jedi Order, which succeeded the Je'daii Order is basically the same thing. Rangers were members who successfully trained at all nine Temples on Tython and were thus eligible to undertake official missions on behalf of the Order. As representatives of the Je'daii Council, Rangers were the public face of the Order off-world and were stationed across the Settled Worlds to prevent conflicts and war."
Padme looked to at the gatekeeper, who regarded her, having nothing more to add until she spoke.
The Jedi and Sith were both frustrated with the full scope of the teachings of the Je'daii, but those misgivings, seemed a long way from the tragedy that had occurred on Tython.
It seemed a long way from the war that took place between the two sides that couldn't agree. How could one call themselves a master, if they hadn't yet mastered themselves? How could one call themselves a master, if they had yet to humble themselves?
With a gentle poke, Padme turned off the holocron, watching the gatekeeper vanish, and the holocron fold itself back into an upright cube.
Then she just looked out her window into Coruscant's horizon.
She wasn't trying to hear about so called Je'daii "masters" who were never masters in the first place, and the same could be said for the Jedi and Sith. No Sith was a Lord and no Jedi was a Master.
They were corrupt and nothing more.
Jedi and Sith were both evil and out of balance.
But, the problem goes back to the Je'daii Masters that wanted to dive into the darkness and the Je'daii Masters who only wanted to adhere to the light. They couldn't agree which was best, they lost focus of the balance, which was the paramount focus in the first place, and those who triumphed were now, the Jedi Order.
How sad and tragic...
