Star Wars: Infinities – The Apprentice

Chapter 6

By: Christopher W. Blaine (darth_yoshi@yahoo.com)

DISCLAIMER: The characters and situations contained in this story are used without permission for non-profit entertainment purposes only and are ©2002 by George Lucas. This story (pertaining to this chapter and all subsequent chapters) is ©2002 by Christopher W. Blaine and may not be reproduced in any form, except hard printouts for personal enjoyment, without the express permission of the author.

 "They say that he confronted Lord Vader and then fainted," Mace said from outside the observation window. Master Ovos nodded and rubbed at the stubble on his chin. "Lord Vader has graciously declined to press charges. It is only for that reason that your apprentice has not been cast from the Order." There was subtle anger in Mace's tone. A torrent was building. "What was he thinking, reaching for his weapon? A Jedi does not solve conflict with a weapon! Is this what you have taught him?"

"Don't raise your voice to me, Mace Windu! How many of your padawan's have gone on to be feared for their swordsmanship? The Council continues to push my padawan and he is reacting poorly to anything and everything! This is as much your fault as it is mine." The two masters stared at each other for a few seconds, failing to notice how the other Jedi and padawans in the medical wing were beating a hasty retreat out of earshot.

"It is your radical ideas about the ends justifying the means that have put this young man in the infirmary! You were warned when Kal Tithos…"

Frie Ovos hesitated, his right hand clenched in a fist. It trembled and he pulled the Force towards him and let it sink deep within his mind, calming the rage that was building. "Kal died because he was outnumbered…because the Council saw fit not to provide him with aid in his mission. He was a new Knight, inexperienced in the ways of the galaxy…"

Mace leaned in close. "You always blame the Council. You. Qui-Gon. Dooku. Is this the new generation of Jedi Masters? Is this the legacy that we will leave the galaxy?"

"Masters," a calm voice said from behind them. Both men moved to face the threat and saw it was another Jedi. This one was tall with a painted face and long dark hair. "I beg for a moment of your time," Quinlan Vos said quietly.

Both Jedi Masters took deep breaths. Mace, being the senior, spoke for them both. "Thank you, Quinlan Vos; our behavior is beneath your attempt to allow us to save our honor. Obviously, we are both distressed."

Ovos nodded. "Indeed. I must apologize. As Ferrin's master, his failure is my failure."

Quinlan nodded and pulled back his robes to reveal two lightsabers. He pulled one from his belt. "As you know, I have the natural ability to read memories from objects. This is Ferrin's lightsaber, an extension of himself through the Force. I took the liberty of reading it, to see how much at fault he was." He paused for a moment and his gaze took on a menacing look. Quinlan was a great Jedi, but one that often skirted along the edges of the dark side. It was the sole reason he had not been nominated for the Council. "There is more at work here then we first guessed. I fear that we are being duped."

"How so?" Mace asked.

Quinlan explained and when he was finished, Mace ran to the Council chamber.

Mace Windu stood in the center of the Council Chamber. Assembled were not only the members of the Jedi Council, but many of the senior Jedi Knights who were currently assigned duties within the Jedi Temple. Only on the most important occasions had they all been squeezed into the large room. Even with its large circumference, it was standing room only as the master Jedi spoke to them.

"We have been deceived in a way that we thought only possible in our nightmares. We have been under attack for over a decade and have not even known it." There were some murmurs and he politely waited for the Jedi to quiet down. "Many of you know that Padawan Apprentice Ferrin Durron was taken to the infirmary earlier today after an encounter with Lord Vader of Tatooine. Master Vos has used his abilities to find out what actually happened in the encounter from Ferrin's own lightsaber.

"Against our code, thankfully, young Ferrin attempted to guide the mind of Lord Vader to accept an invitation to come here to the Temple to discuss an assassination plot we have recently discovered against him. The mind guidance was met with substantial resistance. Based on Ferrin's condition and Master Vos's investigation, we now know why this occurred."

Master Yoda broke the solemn news to the Jedi. "Dark Lord of the Sith is this Vader, strong in the dark side is he."

There were a couple of gasps and some disbelieving comments before Mace called for silence. "Haven't any of you noticed how on edge we all have been? How easy we are to argue? The general malaise that has fallen over us in recent weeks? It is because the dark side is here!"

"You said that we have been under attack for a decade, yet Vader has only been here for a few weeks," one Jedi said aloud. "While I do not believe that Master Vos is wrong, this Vader is far too young to have been a threat to us for this long."

"No! Threat he has always been, this one. Much fear in him then, much rage in him now!" Yoda said, slowly walking towards the center. "Anakin Skywalker is this man, this Lord Vader."

Again, there was a ripple effect as Jedi after Jedi whispered the name of the child who was thought to be the prophesized "bringer of balance to the Force." Ki Adi Mundo stood up from his seat. "We must inform the Chancellor immediately and bring a halt to the investigation! This is the evidence we need!"

"What evidence? We have no way of verifying Lord Vader's identity," another Jedi Master called out. "The senate is against us, some of them calling for our immediate arrest!"

"We believe that there is another Dark Lord in hiding on the planet," Mace said aloud, interrupting the debate. "Remember how the Sith operate: always there are two."

"No! Not always," Master Yoda said, closing his eyes. Whether by chance or through the Force, the lights dimmed slightly as if there were a sudden power drain. "Long ago, many were the Sith. Many Dark Lords, much suffering. Into hiding the Sith went, the Jedi too preoccupied to pursue them."

"We had evidence of their return ten years ago and we did not pursue the matter fully, most likely because there is Dark Lord here blocking our perceptions," Mace added. "Vader…Anakin is not alone!"

There was a dull roar as the Jedi conversed and debated among themselves, which was quickly silenced by the sound of blaster fire being deflected from a lightsaber. The door to the chamber flew open and two padawans tumbled in, their weapons deactivated by some of the Jedi Masters before they could do harm.

Mace immediately moved towards the doors when Commander Zsinj and a squad of security men entered, weapons smoking at the barrels. He regarded Mace with a sneer. "By order of the Chancellor, I am here to place the entire Jedi Council under arrest."

"On what charge?" Mace said, his hand wavering over the hilt of his lightsaber.

"Treason, sedition and espionage. Our investigations have revealed that the Jedi have paid for a million man clone army in direct violation of the charter between the Republic and the Jedi!"

Lord Vader waited patiently, seated on the center dias next to Padme as Chancellor Palpatine addressed the assembled senators. For what may have been the very first time, the senate chamber was free of whispered conversations as the Republic leader had them entranced with his words.

"My fellow law makers, this is more than a sad day, this is more than a dark day, this is perhaps the bleakest day in the history of the Republic. For generations, the Jedi have stood with the Republic, guarding it from forces beyond comprehension, maintaining the peace and bringing justice when required. For that, we have elevated the Jedi to precipices high above the towering spires of Coruscant."

He looked down, visibly pained as if each word he spoke was pulling a little of his life away. After a few seconds he looked back up and cleared his throat. "As most of you know, I received a formal request several weeks ago from the distinguished senator from Naboo. All of you know that she has been here on Coruscant to lobby for maintaining our national defense forces at their current levels. You are also aware that I oppose that viewpoint. However, she made a formal request, which was seconded by Senator Binks, to look into the disappearance of one Anakin Skywalker."

The Chancellor pressed a button and a hologram appeared in the air above him, displaying a carefully edited collection of fighter gun-cam footage from the Battle of Naboo. "Though young in years, Anakin Skywalker almost single-handedly defeated the invading forces of the Trade Federation when they attacked my home world ten years ago." There was no protest as the Trade Federation delegation was not present and had not been for several weeks. "Anakin was turned over to the Jedi because he displayed great talent in their Force. Within a matter of days of his return to Coruscant, Anakin Skywalker seemingly disappeared.

"In our investigation, we not only learned of the final fate of Anakin, but we also discovered treachery of the lowest order. A betrayal that stings the hearts and dulls the senses." He paused and the hologram changed to thousands of troops in white battle armor standing in ranks. "Around the same time Anakin Skywalker disappeared, the Jedi contracted a world outside the Republic to begin creating a million man clone army. As of today, it is one-quarter finished."

There were gasps and an occasional shout of "I told you so" in an alien tongue. Palpatine held up his hands, requesting silence and he was rewarded almost immediately. "I have had the Jedi Council detained so that we can determine what purpose such an army would have. I can tell you this, however, that even at 25% strength, it would be more than a match for any resistance any single system could put up.

"Furthermore, we have been informed by such reputable firms as Kuat and Seinar that they have been approached by 'questionable' persons inquiring about building warships and fighters. We are also looking into these matters."

Before Palpatine could speak again, Bail Organna stood up from the Alderaanian box. A small droid floated down automatically and extended a microphone for the senator to speak into. "Chancellor Palpatine, if I may speak?" he asked.

The Chancellor nodded. "The chair recognizes the esteemed senator from Alderaan."

Bail inclined his head in appreciation before speaking. "Fellow senators, all of you are aware of Alderaan's support for the Jedi and in this matter we stand behind them. I find all of this too contrived to believe. How is it that the Jedi could amass the funds necessary to pay for the creation of such a large army? They are a religious institution that survives on the generosity of others!"

Lord Vader stood up and whispered into the Chancellor's ear. The Chancellor looked at him with surprise and then nodded slowly, stepping away from the podium, surrendering it to the handsome delegate from Tatooine. "If I may be so bold as to answer…"

"Point of order!" shouted the Devronian senator. "Lord Vader is not a member of this body! He is only a spectator…aaaggh!" The Devronian grabbed his throat and went into a coughing spasm. So harsh was his cough that he was forced to sit down to try and regain his breath.

"If I could continue without interruption," Vader said coldly and a shiver went down the spine of every sentient being present. "I know well of the complicity of the Jedi. They coerce young mothers to surrender their children, to use them as they wish, spouting the need to keep a balance to the Force. They make false promises and debate among themselves high in their temple on how best to provide advice to the Republic.

"How do I know this, you ask? The Chancellor told you that his investigations had revealed the truth about Anakin Skywalker…the young man that was entrusted into the care of the Jedi and then subsequently disappeared. The truth is that I am he, I am Anakin Skywalker."

There was a murmur and then a sharp gasp. Vader turned to see that Padme had fainted and was now being helped back to her seat by two of the Chancellor's guardsmen. There was a momentary wave of sadness that washed over Vader as he realized that the sudden realization may have been too much for her. He reached out with the Force, but found his access to her blocked. The plan comes first, Lord Vader a voice said to him from the shadows of his mind.

Vader returned his attention to the senators. "I was brought to Coruscant ten years ago to be trained as a Jedi. My mother was told that I would be cared for, that my future was assured. My mother was lied to. Master Yoda, whom Senator Organna holds in such high regard, looked me square in the eye and told me I was not fit to be one of them!

"I was thrown away, not sent back to my mother…to my home, but tossed into whatever orphanage the Jedi saw fit to entrust with my care. They never gave me a second thought until the investigation began." His voice was rising as he poured his anger into his words. He gripped the podium with both hands so hard that they turned white. "Now we find out that they have been building an army…for what purpose I ask you? Certainly it cannot be for anything good!What can this army be for?"

The representative from Charmath stood. "Yes! This can only be for one reason! The Jedi mean to take control of the government!"

Bail Organna raged back at his fellow senate member. "No! This is a mistake! We do not have the proof!"

"What more proof do you require, Senator Organna? Your Jedi have been playing the Republic for fools since the Great Sith War. They have been the ones who have controlled the history, subtly influencing the government for a thousand years, waiting for the time to strike. They steal children in the night; they collect revenues and do not report them…"

An aide to the Chancellor approached Lord Vader and whispered into his ear and he visibly took on a pale color. Slowly, he turned back. "I am afraid I must cut this short. My planet is under attack by forces of the Trade Federation and the Hutts; forces that would not even been available had the Jedi not influenced this body to be so lenient against the Trade Federation when they attacked Naboo!"

"That has nothing to do with this!" Bail called. "The Jedi did not influence us…"

"How can we be so sure?" Padme said as she stepped up to Vader. Though shaken, there was strong resolve in her voice. "The Jedi were employed as impartial judges for the senate trial, and look what happened! I, too, am beginning to wonder about the true motives of the Jedi Council."

She stepped a little more forward, reaching down to take Vader's hand. She squeezed and he felt her Force mingling with his. It was not as powerful as his, not even remotely close, but he felt it all the same. "I knew Qui-Gon Jin and found him to be an honorable man who disagreed with the Council. He told me that the Council, Master Yoda in particular, feared that Anakin would be beyond their control. I ask you to look at this man and consider everything he has done to try and secure peace for his planet! Is this a man that should be feared? This is a man we should try and emulate for despite being lied to and ripped from his home with empty promises, he stands before us to preach peace."

"Yes! Peace through order, just as Chancellor Palpatine has been saying all along. All of you have criticizing his moves to strengthen the Republic military in order to prevent the kind of bloodshed that will occur on my home world if we do nothing. We have no defenses!" Vader called out, smashing a fist onto the podium.

Bail Organna shook his head. "Alderaan has no defenses and we call for peaceful negotiations…"

"Have you ever been a slave, Senator?" Vader asked, ice forming in his tone. "Do you have work gangs on your planet?"

Organna turned away, realizing that his moment to seize the situation had passed. "No…"

"Then to hell with your negotiations!" Vader bellowed.

"I agree. This is too much. A completely defenseless planet is under attack for nothing more than wanting to be part of the Republic. There must be a way to help them," Padme called out to the assemblage.

"We could confiscate the Jedi clone troops!" one senator called out.

"We have no right!" another said.

"Emergency powers! Grant the Chancellor emergency powers to end this threat and to handle the Jedi!"

"Yes," Padme said, turning to Palpatine. "Chancellor, I was blind before, but now I realize what you said is true. When you cannot trust those who said they would protect you, then you must protect yourself." She turned to the senate. "I hereby make a motion to grant Chancellor Palpatine emergency war powers as prescribed in the Republic charter!"

The only opposition was that between senators vying to be the ones to second it. Within five minutes it was done and Padme turned to Vader. "I'm sorry…why didn't you tell me?"

"I had to show you I wasn't a danger, that they were wrong about me," he replied, picking her chin up with his fingers.

The dull roar disappeared as Palpatine took center stage, promising to return the Republic to normal once the crisis was over. Padme did not hear the words, so lost in Vader's eyes she could only hear him. "Are you a Jedi now?" she asked.

"No…I am of the Sith," he said and he felt her shudder. He held her gaze though and explained. "The Sith took me in and raised me, provided me with a home. It is the Sith that liberated Tatooine and it is the Sith that fight there now. The Sith never lied to me."

"But they are evil, Anakin," she said, tears in her eyes.

"Am I evil? Do I not throw myself in support of a united Republic? Do I not want peace and justice…equal justice?"

"But if you are so dedicated to them, what can there be left for me?" she asked.

He moved closer and kissed her lightly. "The Sith can have my body, but only you can possess my heart."