Chapter 1

The Galactic Republic's cruiser dropped out of hyperspace at last, giving Kikyo her first look at Naboo, or rather, at the menacing cloud of Trade Federation battleships that surrounded it. Like fat white maggots, they spread through space, blocking all access to the planet. Kikyo was not impressed. In the decades she had been a Jedi Knight, she had seen many battleships. The ships were unimportant. What mattered were the beings they carried.

The view screen lit. Leaning forward, Kikyo peered over the cruiser captain's shoulder. The screen showed a young man with curly blue hair and gray-blue eyes.

"Probably the Trade Federation Viceroy," spoke Kikyo's apprentice, Edward Elric. "I wonder if he greets incoming ships personally or only ambassadors?"

"Captain," Kikyo said aloud. "Tell them we wish to board at once."

"Yes, sir." The captain looked back at her view screen. "With all due respect, the ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately," she told the young man.

"Why absolutely," replied Viceroy Shinji Matou. "Nothing would please me more than to have the Chancellor's ambassadors. And as you happen to know, our blockade is perfectly legal. Tell the ambassadors that I look forward to our negotiations." The view screen went black.

The main Trade Federation battleship loomed ahead. Kikyo closed her eyes, carefully testing the feel of the Force. She could sense the Viceroy was nervous. It's what she had expected from someone of his type. And yet, something else hovered ominously on the edge of her perception, something she could not quite identify.

The impression faded as the cruiser settled to the floor of the battleship's docking bay. Kikyo opened her eyes. Whatever she had sensed, it was gone. Now she had more immediate duties to attend to.

Rising, Kikyo motioned to Edward. Edward's face was stern, as befitting an important mission, and Kikyo sighed. Not for the first time, she wondered what Master Arturia had been thinking all those years ago when she brought Kikyo and Edward Elric together as Master and Padawan apprentice. Edward Elric had great skills, no question of that, but sometimes he was so intense.

Kikyo smiled slightly. Master Arturia always saw farther than anyone else. Perhaps she had thought that an earnest young apprentice would be as good as Kikyo and Kikyo would be for the apprentice. It would be like Arturia to balance Edward's headstrong nature and by the book methods against Kikyo's patience and unconventional ways. She would have to ask Arturia about it, after Edward passed the trials and became a full Jedi Knight. It was to be soon, though she hadn't said anything about it to Edward yet.

As she came down the exit ramp, Kikyo saw a protocol droid waiting below. Edward's eyebrows rose and he gave Kikyo a quick and questioning look. Kikyo nodded in reassurance. She knew Shinji's type as the cowardly types who were happy doing business from a distance and trying to get the courage to meet them in person.

The droid led them to a large room equipped with a round conference table. One entire wall was made of windows, providing a spectacular view of the planet Naboo and the fleet of battleships surrounding it.

"Not exactly what I call the best background for peace talks," Kikyo quipped.

"I hope you are honored, sirs. Please, make yourselves comfortable," the protocol droid said. "My master will be with you shortly." Bowing, it left.

Edward put back the hood of his cloak, revealing his golden colored hair and eyes with a single braid dangling over his shoulder. He was shorter than Kikyo, which was something you did not want to say to him as he had a temper if someone insulted his height. Kikyo was still young looking with dark raven hair with a ponytail. Both of them wore tunics of the Jedi Order.

Edward stared out the window at the battle fleet. "I have a bad feeling about this," he said finally.

"I don't sense anything," Kikyo said. The faint disturbance she had felt earlier had vanished completely. But though Edward was only young and not yet a full Jedi Knight, he had great sensitivity to the Force. Kikyo had learned to respect her apprentice's instincts. "Is this a new problem you are sensing."

Edward scratched his head. "I don't know, Master. I don't sense the disturbance here. It's somewhere else where I just can't grasp it. Don't know what it could mean exactly."

"Don't center on your anxiety, Edward," Kikyo warned. "For now, focus on the moment here and now where it belongs."

"Master Arturia says I should be mindful of the future."

"Yes, but the future can always change based on what you decide," Kikyo said gently. "However, you must leave the fate of the future to the cosmic Force and focus only now on the living Force, which is this moment. Be mindful and trust the Force, my young Padawan."

Edward's preoccupied expression held a moment longer. Then he nodded. "Yes, Master."

The two Jedi stood silent, looking out at the fleet. After a time, Edward said, "How do you think Shinji Matou will deal with the Chancellor's demands?"

"I wouldn't worry too much about it," Kikyo assured Edward. "I've dealt with these Federation types before and know them enough to be cowards. If I'm correct, the negotiations on these matters will be short." But as she spoke, she wondered. Shinji Matou was taking a long time to arrive. She shook her head. Staring at the Trade Federation's fleet disturbed her thoughts. Deliberately, she turned away. Taking a seat at the table, she began to calm her mind.

After a moment, Edward joined her. "Does it really take them this long to greet us?" he asked, voicing Kikyo's unease.

"No," Kikyo said. She paused, concentrating. "However, I'm sensing an unusual amount of fear. And I don't think it's towards this trade dispute. The fear is towards something or someone."

Shinji Matou, the Trade Federation Viceroy, had been nervous since the blockade began. He had been frightened ever since the Republic cruiser entered the Naboo star system. Now, standing on the bridge of his battleship and facing the communication hologram of Madara Uchiha, he was quite frankly terrified.

Nobody knew the existence of Madara Uchiha. When Shinji first met Madara, the man claimed to be a Sith Lord, a group of powerful dark side Force wielders that existed long ago until they were wiped out by the Jedi thousands of years ago. Shinji at first thought he was joking until Madara demonstrated his power, which frightened him and had him on his knees.

Madara Uchiha was a shadowy evil figure. He was mysterious and powerful. He had long black wild hair with malevolent red eyes and wore ancient Sith Armor on him. Shinji knew better than to cross Madara or else face his wrath, which is the last thing he wanted.

Beside him, Rustyrose stammered objections and explanations to the Sith Lord's hologram. "The ambassadors are Jedi!" Rustyrose finished. "We'd be out of our minds to challenge them."

The holographic image of Madara shifted. "You seem more worried about these Jedi than you are about me, Rustyrose," came the soft, menacing voice. "I am amused."

Rustyrose seems to shrink. Madara turned towards Shinji. "Shinji! I don't want this stunted slime in my sight again. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my Lord," Shinji said, and glared at Rustyrose until he ran off the bridge. If he thought facing the Jedi was mad, he was insane to think he can speak to a Sith Lord like that. He was lucky to get away with his life.

"The arrival of the Jedi was unexpected. Nor did I anticipate that the Chancellor would get them involved. It seems we have no choice in the matter." Madara went on as if nothing had happened. "We must accelerate our plans immediately. Viceroy, begins landing your troops."

Shinji stared, completely taken aback. Thousands of battle droids stood ready in the holds of his battleships, but he hadn't expected to actually have to use them. "My Lord… are you sure that is legal?" Shinji asked tentatively.

"I will make it legal," Madara said flatly.

Shinji shivered. Madara's tone left no room for doubts or questions. If Madara could make this invasion legal, there's no telling what else he is capable of.

"And what about the Jedi?" Shinji asked.

"The Chancellor was a fool to involve the Jedi in this affair. Do not allow them to interfere with our plans. Kill them. Leave no traces of them behind," Madara said.

"Yes, my Lord. As you wish," Shinji stammered automatically. In truth, Shinji knew what severe consequences would await him if he was involved in killing the Jedi. He swallowed hard and knew that if he refused Madara's orders, he'd be angry and face his wrath. And facing Madara Uchiha was terrible enough for him.

The figure chuckled, as if Madara knew what Shinji had been thinking. The hologram faded out. Shinji took a deep breath of relief, then turned to the ship's interior controls. A touch of a button switched the main screen to a view of the docking bay where the Republic cruiser sat. Another button brought a gun to bear on the cruiser. Shinji barely hesitated before he pushed the button down. The gun fired, and the Republic cruiser exploded.

"That was easy enough," Shinji muttered to himself. "Now for the Jedi."

Kikyo felt the deaths of the cruiser's crew at once. Immediately, she sprang to her feet, igniting her green Lightsaber. She noted with approval that Edward also sensed the disturbance in the Force and reacted quickly. Together they scanned the room, weapons ready. No threat appeared, only the protocol droid dithering over its spilled drinks.

Kikyo nodded at Edward and they turned off their Lightsabers. In the quiet, Kikyo heard a faint hissing.

"Gas!" she told Edward. They both took a deep breath and held it. They would have to fight their way out quickly, or be overcome.

Characters Appearance:

Kikyo (Inuyasha)

Shinji Matou (Fate)

Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Rustyrose (Fairy Tail)

Madara Uchiha (Naruto)