The Review Guest - Everyone is stepping into the unknown and all are a bit anxious about it.

Phantom-jedi1 - His ancestors had some ties to the Jedi, but this is going to be a struggle for Bail right now. Everything is changing, but outer appearances in the Senate look no different.

Radical Dreamer 57 - The Force was right in telling them they could trust Bail, that's for certain. As far as other senators going forward, the Jedi are going to find that being so isolated for so long will work against them. Ironically, they will have a lot of fear about stepping out to help the galaxy.

Chapter 52

Qui-Gon kneeled on the floor in the center of the room. Sight was deceptive, human senses flawed. The Force was his only hope against this opponent. He gave up his conscious mind, reaching outside himself. The prairies of Dantooine, long blades of lavender dancing in the radiant sunlight, miniature forests of tall grass teemed with life, wild and free. Luminous beings walked the hallways of the Jedi training center, bright spots of Light. A group of younglings sat in this very room, small vessels full of eager, restless energy. One small boy sat among them, his presence burning like the sun itself. All were filled with the air he breathed, the precious Living Force, his strength. It was a part of him – part of the hair tied behind his neck, the blood that flowed through his veins, the heart that beat in his chest. He was a tool of the Force in mind and body.

He heard the rhythmic tapping of a walking stick behind him. "Ready are you, Qui-Gon?"

"Yes, Master Yoda."

The first attack came from nowhere. Qui-Gon's blade blocked the strike, and then the ancient Jedi master's presence was just an echo in the Force until it showed up on Qui-Gon's other side. Their blades crossed again, emerald against emerald. Yoda was a blur, moving with speed only accomplished through an extended lifetime, intimate with the Force. Qui-Gon turned to meet strike after strike as the Jedi master danced around him, clawed feet brushing the ground for only seconds at a time before springing the small body up into gravity-defying leaps and flips. Many masters described sparring with Master Yoda as more like batting at a swarm of gnats than actually fighting.

For Qui-Gon, it was a test of his connection to the Force. Some would say he reacted as a form of combat, countering strike after strike, never forming a cohesive plan. But, it was his way, to be where the Force directed him to be, in the moment, never thinking ahead. He could sense the difference in others, even his own apprentice. Obi-Wan described it as the Force showing a place to end, and him working his way there, seeing each move as it unfolded in front of him. Qui-Gon presumed that might be how it was for Yoda as well.

Apparently, the Force had chosen for this duel to end with Qui-Gon on the ground. That is where he found himself, disarmed, flat on his back, feeling every one of his years. He had asked for this, he reminded himself.

"Are you okay, Qui-Gon?"

The Jedi master opened his eyes, looking up at an inquisitive, yet very worried, Anakin Skywalker.

"Yes, fine," he answered.

"Wizard," Anakin whispered in quiet wonder as Qui-Gon sat up. "When you said you were sparring Master Yoda … I thought for sure you would …" The boy blushed, glancing over to the small master as he tried to recover. "I mean, I know Master Yoda knows a lot about the Force …"

"Trust not what you see, Young One. Deceptive, appearances can be," Master Yoda chided gently before turning to the group of children. "Dismissed you are younglings. Meet again for another demonstration tomorrow."

"You too, Anakin," Qui-Gon added. "I have matters I need to discuss with Master Yoda."

"Will Mom and I see you for dinner?" Anakin asked, half pleading.

"Yes, of course."

The answer earned him a lopsided grin before the boy scurried out the training room door.

"Miss you when you return to Coruscant, Young Skywalker will," Yoda observed.

"I know, but I sometimes wonder if I am a distraction to his training here. He needs your guidance right now to ground him in the Light."

"Yes, when he is older, teach him your unorthodox ways you may," Yoda quietly teased.

Qui-Gon let out a laugh. "If you consider following the Force unorthodox, then I suppose I will."

"Recovered well you have," Yoda said, lips pursed thoughtfully. "Ready to return are you?"

Another deep chuckle rumbled in Qui-Gon's throat. "If I stay much longer, I will lose my job." Yoda pinned him down with a disapproving stare, and Qui-Gon's expression turned more serious. "I admit that I will miss being here. It was my home for many years until I joined the Kenobi family on Aksu. But now, my place is back on Coruscant. I have been away from Obi-Wan too long."

"Good to see Obi-Wan again it will be. Much to discuss we have."

Yoda had spoken little of the last vision he and Obi-Wan had shared. Qui-Gon had only heard of the horrors seen through Obi-Wan's quiet, haunting words. Images grotesque and powerful enough to drive Obi-Wan to the Temple late at night to face whatever darkness waited.

Since Naboo, there had been a sense of deepening sobriety among those in the Order. The Sith were back and everything was changing. Already, several Jedi families had answered Queen Amidala's invitation for Jedi to expand their presence into Naboo. And then there was the matter of the upcoming conference with representatives from Naboo, Corellia, and Alderaan. Never before had those with the power to threaten the Order been allowed, even invited, to set foot on Dantooine. Of course, they were being escorted by Jedi, the nav computers to be erased once the trip was completed, but it added to a sense of vulnerability among the Jedi ranks.

"Thoughts, so many thoughts," Yoda chided at Qui-Gon's pensive silence. "Keep them all trapped in that mind, will you?"

A smirk tugged at Qui-Gon's lips. Some things never changed. "There are still some who think we should have accepted Queen Amidala's offer to hold the meeting on Naboo."

"Ask much of these politicians already we do. The risk … ours to take it should be."

"I wanted to take Anakin to Naboo to escort Queen Amidala. They grew close during their time on Tatooine."

Yoda let out a sigh that made Qui-Gon smile. The aged Jedi master was quickly becoming quite protective over the young Chosen One "Entertain him with thoughts of other places you will, Qui-Gon. Craves enough excitement and adventure already he does."

"Were Obi-Wan and I any different as boys?"

"No, flawed the males of your species are. Run ahead in battle without your padawan you do. And Obi-Wan, rushing off to face Sith in the middle of the night."

"Perhaps Obi-Wan will benefit from some extra tutelage from you while on Dantooine, as I did." Qui-Gon rose to his feet, stretching as he stood. "I need to get ready to go."

"Take Young Skywalker you may."

Chancellor Palpatine settled into the high-backed chair in his private offices, having just dismissed the Senate for a lengthy recess. A recess was necessary, and he was pleased to see many of the senators returning to their homeworlds for the time. A month after Telos withdrawing from the Republic and still, the hallways were filled with hushed whispers of panic, accusations, tension. The timing was not right for full-fledged dissent … yet. Time away from urgent matters was needed. The senators needed to return to their governors and constituents to have their egos stroked. Minds filled once again with ideas of self-importance and greed would lull them back to complacency. Yes, a recess was exactly what was needed.

Palpatine also needed time to consider problems, not of a galactic nature. He pulled up a file on his monitor, grimacing at the face that stared back at him. Kenobi. At least Acutus' wayward venture into the Jedi Temple had confirmed one important truth. But, how many Jedi did Aksu harbor? How large the threat? It was unlikely Kenobi was working alone, self-taught in the ways of the Force. Jedi needed mentors. He called up another file of an older man. Qui-Gon Jinn, the one who had raised the young senator. It was curious that he had been unable to find any background on the history professor before his education on Aksu, but not too curious. The galaxy was large enough to hide if needed.

The Chancellor opened another file. A beautiful blonde woman stared back at him. Siri Tachi Kenobi, the adopted daughter of an attorney who studied and practiced with Kenobi's birth father. Another file … Byram Tallis, Obi-Wan's aide, nephew to Qui-Gon Jinn. His wife, Auren, was the one Palpatine had sensed using the Force to calm her crying daughter. How far did the web extend? Another file. Mace Windu. The man had a distinguished record and a love for order. The Senate had to be driving him mad. His wife, Jun Windu, a medical doctor, also distinguished in her own right. She recently had accepted a teaching position at the Medical University on Coruscant. Two children, Tao and Yung. Yes, how far did the web extend?

Palpatine laid his head back against the chair, eyes sliding shut as he welcomed the rush of Darkside energy that toppled over him. It was never in short supply on Coruscant, fostered by greed, deception, hate … the decay of society in general. The Republic was destroying itself even without the Sith, but if he allowed it to follow its own course, there would be nothing to salvage. It was time for Acutus to capably take the first step.

Storm clouds hung heavy over Thani, the capital of Telos. The sky was a foreboding mix of grays that mirrored Crion Marojni's own emotional despair. A sleek ship settled down onto the landing platform sending a shudder through the Telosian governor's spine. His son had come home, which never was good news. The day the Sith – he now knew their name - had come and taken Xanatos had assured him the governorship of Telos, but the cost had been steep. As a child, his son had scared him. As an adult, Xanatos defined fear itself.

The landing platform lowered, and a densely cowled figure began his downward descent … a specter, not human. Crion approached to greet him. Xanatos bowed, the necessary show of respect a senator should have for the governor he served. It was all show. Crion clasped his son's hand. "Welcome home, Senator … Son." He smiled with pride he did not feel. There was nothing to be proud of in the monster before him.

"I am glad to be home," Xanatos replied, cold eyes bearing into him. "Come, let's adjourn to your offices. We have much to catch up on."

"Of course."

The offices were full of aides and staff scurrying about to various tasks. "Tell them you will be out for a while, perhaps the rest of the day," Xanatos whispered as they approached. "You will be in your private offices in the residence, and should not be disturbed unless it's an emergency."

"I have appointments …"

Something flashed in his son's eyes, killing the words on his lips. He knew not to question any further and made the necessary arrangements.

The pair made their way to the residential wing, quickly finding the office space there. Xanatos locked the door with the wave of his hand, sealing Crion into a prison. No, it was his personal hell presided over by a demon that was his own flesh and blood.

"You don't seem happy to see me, Father," Xanatos pouted, dropping all pretenses.

"You've created quite a mess. Some warning would have been appreciated before I started getting calls from governors of ally planets asking why we chose to cede from the Repu…"

The movement was swift, gloved hand around his neck, his head connecting harshly with the wall. He began to shake, his feet flailing as they struggled to find the floor. Xanatos regarded him with a predatory stare, lips spreading into a feral smile. Crion believed that his son truly delighted in his fear.

"You seem to have forgotten your place." Xanatos dropped him to the floor, before taking a seat behind Crion's own desk and motioning to one of the guest chairs. "You will not question my master's plans, Governor Marojni. We have not failed you yet, have we?"

"No."

"It seems I will be taking a greater role in the day-to-day governing of the planet. I need the necessary title and clearances to be one of your advisors." Xanatos shoved a datapad across the desk. "You will deliver this speech, explaining why we are no longer part of the Republic. When the people have gotten used to the change in our galactic status, you will move to bring me on as your Vice Governor."

"I already have a Vice Governor…"

Xanatos' eyes flashed red as he leaned across the desk. "Vice Governor Toben will feel a need - compelled to step down in a few months," he sneered, daring Crion to further challenge him.

"I see," Crion said, backing down. The last time he had resisted the Sith plan had laid him up in the infirmary for three weeks.

"What's wrong Father? Isn't this what you always wanted?" Xanatos mockingly crooned. "Ruling with me by your side? Together we will usher in a new era for Telos, and for the Republic."

Crion's future flashed before his eyes in one instant. The convenient accident he was sure to have when the Sith considered him no longer useful terrified him. And then Xanatos, the grieving son, would continue on in his father's footsteps, no one suspecting it had been the plan all along.