Star Wars: Infinities – The Apprentice
Chapter 9
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.
"Chancellor Palpatine, would you please explain the reasoning behind your tie-breaking vote against the Jedi Council," a reporter asked through their protocol droid translator.
Palpatine pursed his lips and waited for the gathered news people to stop speaking before he answered. He cleared his throat and looked out upon them with a far-away gaze. "When I first assumed this post after the no-confidence vote against my predecessor, I counted the members of the Jedi Council as my allies. Indeed, over the past decade I have sought out their advice numerous times, drawn to them like insects to the flame. There is no shame in this; we all seek out those whose wisdom we admire.
"A year ago, had you approached me and said that the Jedi were up to no good, that they were plotting against this government…quite frankly I would have called you a liar. I would have staked my very reputation on the good and well-meaning intentions of the Jedi. That was before my eyes were opened to world inside the Jedi Temple."
There were no sounds as everyone in the room as everyone from reporter to holocam operator remained transfixed on the Chancellor. The Crimson Guardsmen behind him made no movement and even the very wind itself seemed to take pause to listen to his words. High above the traffic of the everyday comings and goings of the city planet, the news conference was perhaps the most important event since the founding of the Republic itself.
Only minutes before, the Chancellor had announced that after weighing the evidence that had been brought against the members of the Jedi Council, he had been forced to find them guilty of attempting to overthrow the government of the Republic. "The Jedi, it seems, were always careful and knew how to play upon the trust that others put into them. Was it always like this? I pray not; would it not be a true tragedy to find out that so many of the Jedi heroes of our past were actually working towards establishing a theocracy…a government run by the Jedi, for the Jedi? I cannot say with any amount of certainty what is true about the past and what isn't, I can only comment on the here and now and what our hopes for the future shall be."
Palpatine moved away from the podium and a small droid floated down with a voice pick-up so that the chancellor could walk freely on the stage. Many of the reporters had noted in recent weeks that certain rules of decorum and protocol were beginning to be ignored. Palpatine was making more speeches and not all of them involved just standing and reading a statement. Instead, he was now seemingly possessed of a fiery spirit as he began to spread a message of the importance of order and the need to ensure that the Republic remained in the firm control of elected government. He was becoming like the politicians of old who would campaign from planet to planet.
Several times, he had courted the people with speeches about the unworthiness of some members of the Republic and how they had ignored the needs of others. News reports from several worlds told of human/non-human clashes over what was being perceived as "un-patriotic" behavior. Numerous races were being called upon to answer for the actions of a few of their members: the Hutts for the invasion of Tatooine, the Wookies for unwillingness to provide support for the new Republic military and many others.
The Chancellor had called for peace, but at the same time warned that the Republic would not stand for any actions by any member system that threatened the security of the people. The Jedi were simply the latest and harshest example. "The evidence is overwhelming that the Jedi ordered and paid for a vast clone army. The beings responsible for creating the army stated under oath that they were approached by a Jedi Master and paid for with brand new, at the time, Republic currency. Records uncovered in the investigation at the Jedi Temple showed that money was from a loan that the Jedi took out to repair a large academy-like ship. That ship is rusting away in the swamps of the planet Dathomir where even now General Vader leads our forces to defeat Jedi terrorists who have sought refuge there."
He pointed over to the Jedi Temple, clearly visible from the balcony they stood upon. The pyramid-like structure looked dark and foreboding, though it was only a trick of the light. Had this conference taken place at any other time during the day, the effect would have been quite different. "The Jedi have also been involved in the kidnapping and disappearance of several children of Republic citizenship. We have been fortunate that General Vader survived to speak of what happened to him. We may never know the full extent of the Jedi atrocities against our children, as their records are so very incomplete. We believe that the Jedi would simply go to planets to seek out those children they found desirable."
There were gasps and Palpatine shook his head. "Remember the stories we all heard as children about the Jedi coming in the dead of night to take the newborn babes? It was true, but it will happen no longer. I have ordered that all children and persons not jet of a majority age in the Jedi's care immediately be surrendered to Republic authority so that we may determine if charges against the Order itself are necessary. Remember, my decision today is only upon the members of the Jedi Council. As Count Dooku bravely stated, the common Jedi may not have known about the illegal activities, the embezzlement, and the raising of armies that the Council was involved in."
Slowly, he began top walk along the edge of the dais and all eyes were upon him, following his every motion. "That does not mean that they are free from guilt, especially the Jedi Masters. As of today, the special ambassadorial privileges previously granted the Jedi shall be removed. Individual worlds, if they wish, may grant diplomatic immunity to the Jedi, but it will no longer be covered under the Republic charter. All Jedi military officers shall be removed from active service from the Republic military and any individual defense force that employs a Jedi under investigation for crimes against the Republic will no longer be eligible for national funding."
Several jaws dropped and orifices puckered at this revelation. Since the beginning of the Republic, the Jedi had served in many diplomatic and important military positions, honest brokers of the peace and ensuring that conflicts were carried out with a minimum of bloodshed. By removing their ambassador status, the Chancellor had signed the death warrant for many Jedi. Several cultures regarded them as evil and only tolerated them for fear of being ousted from the Republic.
A large human reporter stood up, holding a stylus in the air. Palpatine smiled and acknowledged him. "Chancellor, with all due respect, if the Jedi do not mediate disputes, we could see the entire Republic fall into civil war."
"An interesting notion, but one I'm convinced that the Jedi have forced upon us. If there is a problem that requires action, then I shall act upon it as I see fit. Do you not hear what you are saying? Your words sound the way mine used to be until the truth was revealed. I was elected to serve the people, to protect them and to guide the Republic on its journey to the future. Not the Jedi. The Jedi have not had to answer for anything they have done until now."
There were several nods and one reporter immediately pulled out a subspace communicator and began speaking quickly into it. Several others were typing, writing and tapping in the press conference for immediate publication. History was being made and everyone wanted his or her version to be the first one out.
Palaptine walked to the spot in front of the podium and clasped his hands in front of him. "People of the Republic, today marks the beginning of what I call the New Order."
Bail Organna poured himself another drink and capped the bottle a little too hard. The clang of glass on glass echoed through the room and made several of the other senators jump. Here was gathered the resistance movement to the changes the Chancellor was implementing. All were concentrating on the holo being relayed from the press conference.
"This is a bunch of bantha waste," Sil Sarub, the Sullustan primary senator said, his jowls flapping in excitement. His normally tan features were shot with red. "He's cut most of our defense force contracts and turned them over to Seinar."
"They've been doing a lot of that lately," Garm Bel Iblis retorted with a smirk. "All of the shipyards around Corellia can hardly keep up with the orders they're getting. Several key worlds are getting entire fleets of capital ships shipped to them because that is where Republic bases are being established. All of the worlds have one other thing in common as well."
"Human controlled," Mon Mothma said, brushing back her long red hair. "This is intolerable. Of all of the people… Palpatine? He's always been so outspoken about non-human rights and inter-species peace."
"He fooled us all," Bail said, staggering over to a large couch. Senator Binks had to move quickly to keep from getting sat on. "Damn, how could we have been so blind?"
"What if the charges about the Jedi are true?" Mon Mothma asked.
Garm shrugged. "What difference does it make? Look, I've never been a big fan of the Jedi…they've never been exactly well-loved in my system, but just because they may have been the worst thing since Black Sun doesn't give Palpatine the right to do what he's doing."
"Meesa agree. Thisa not good 'tall. Meesa maybe talk to Palpee-Teen," Binks said.
"I don't think that will help, Jar-Jar," Bail said. "If Padme were here…" The pained look on his face said everything. Mon Mothma looked on him with pity. Bail Organna was by no means an old man, but he was old enough to be Padme Amidala's father. It wasn't a fatherly interest he had in her though and he had confessed to several of his closest friends of his growing attraction to her.
He had come to Coruscant at the same time she had in the hopes to begin courting her. He had met her ten years before when he was a younger man and had been captivated by the maturity she displayed. When she became a senator and started to grow physically, he had discovered he was falling in love with her. All of that had changed when Lord Vader had showed up.
"That little Sith bastard!" Bail yelled as he threw the glass across the room. It hit the soundproof window and dropped into the plush carpet. "It's obvious he's a Sith! For pity's sake, he calls himself Darth Vader…that's the ancient Sith title for a dark lord!"
"What if he is? Maybe the Jedi deserve it after the way they treated him," Jimm Antilles said. The ace reporter for the Coruscant Review had been following the story very closely. Found to have limited Force-ability, he had been refused training because of his age and so had been particularly interested in the Anakin Skywalker story. "I'm as much against a totalitarian government as the next guy, but don't expect me to shed tears because Master Yoda is going to find himself in a penal colony."
"If he's lucky," Bail commented as he stood up and moved again to the bar. Mon Mothma moved to block him. He dodged her and made it without further interruption.
"Getting drunk isn't going to solve anything," she pleaded.
He started to reply but instead began to search through the bottles of various liquors from all over the Republic. She stepped up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. "We need to be strong. So long as we remain united, we are undefeatable."
He almost laughed in her face. She had no idea how ridiculous her statement was.
The jungles of Dathomir were humid and filled with the heady scent of life. Vader inhaled deeply relishing in the way the humid air coated his lungs. Of all of the worlds he had ever been on, none had been like this, so full of life, so primal and savage. The Force was so active on this planet that it was almost like ecstasy.
Darth Maul's mood even seemed slightly more pleasant. "I once visited another world such as this, a world called Dagobah. I was seeking the Kaibur Crystal and was led there by the story of a fallen Jedi." Maul pulled off his tunic and exposed his heavily tattooed chest. So wet was the air that sweat was already glistening on his chest. "Tonight I shall seek out the Nightsisters and broker a deal with them."
"Why do we not just kill them?" Vader asked as he took a few steps back. He removed his tunic as well, revealing the intricate tattoos adorning his abdomen. Unlike his master's, Vader's were purple and blue, done in a pattern that made it look as if a dark tree were sprouting towards his chest. He activated his lightsaber and assumed a fighting stance.
Darth Maul pulled out his double-bladed weapon and ignited it, spinning it in the air above his head. "I see you still fight with a child's weapon, General Vader," he said, grinning.
Vader leapt in the air, flipped and swung at Maul's head. "You hang onto the past too much, General Maul; such a weapon has not been seen since the time of Exar Kunn. An old weapon for an old man."
Maul blocked the blow and struck his apprentice with a Force blow that sent him flying high. Vader called upon the Force himself to allow him to land on the ground gracefully. "We may have need of the Witches of Dathomir in the future; the Jedi are many and we are still too few," Maul said as he raced towards Vader and took him down with flying kick. Vader rolled through the grass and back up onto his feet just as a crimson blade cut through the grass.
Maul continued to press the attack, putting Vader on the defensive. The younger Sith Lord swung his silver blade, knocking the other lightsaber away. He could tell his master was not truly pressing his attack and that made Vader nervous.
His master was up to something.
A roar was let loose from behind Vader, making him cringe physically while Maul simply stopped and smiled. Vader knew that smile; it was the first sign of the battle lust. Vader stumbled forward and turned around to see something that was from the depths of even his nightmares.
Four meters tall the last meter being practically all head, the creature roared again, making the very ground shake. Large nostrils took in massive quantities of air and the eyes looked at the two Sith Lords with an intelligence that was frightening and awe inspiring. It did not attack immediately but observed them.
Vader watched as drool began to puddle on the ground. "What is it?"
Maul deactivated his lightsaber and started pacing back and forth. The creature watched intently. It even seemed to try and grin, to mimic Maul's expression. "They are called rancors. This male has been watching us for an hour."
"You knew?" Vader asked, watching for any sign of attack. He kept his lightsaber close and concentrated on mastering his fear. He started by thinking about his mother and how he had not been able to save her.
"He sees us as trespassers on his territory. He is the master here right now." Maul stopped and crouched. "We will battle him for this territory. We will take this territory for Darth Sideous."
Vader did not crouch but did move to stand next to his master. "Is this so important? How does this serve our purpose?"
"You must learn, Lord Vader, that no matter what…there can be only one master."