1
As dusk settled over Coruscant, a gleaming speeder came to rest upon one of the many landing areas of the Jedi Temple. It landed with such precision that anyone watching knew instantly who piloted it. It was Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Master. He had become, in the eyes of the Republic, the unofficial idol of the Jedi Order. If anyone thought Jedi, they thought Anakin.
He opened the cockpit, and slid down the smooth side onto the duracreet surface. Anakin had aged almost ten years since his battle with Darth Sidious, and was no longer a young boy, but a full grown man, and would never allow anyone but Yoda to call him such. Upon his face a beard had grown, spreading from ear to ear. He was a man now.
Behind him came running the young padawan Luke Skywalker. He had grown in some size and almost rivaled his father's tall stature. He was now a young man at the age of fourteen, strong and proud. A lock of curly blonde hair fell down from behind his right ear. This was Luke Skywalker, son of the Chosen one.
As they made their way across the landing pad, they were met with two familiar characters. If seen, they would have almost been a mirror image of one another. Obi-Wan was the first to speak.
"It's been too long, my old friend."
Anakin smiled broadly. "Indeed it has Master."
The two twins hugged tightly, paying no attention to their masters.
"You do realize, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, leading them toward the Temple's transparisteel doors. "That I'm not your Master anymore. You needn't call me that."
"I will always call you Master, Obi-Wan."
They both chuckled, stepping inside.
The Jedi Council had been convened, as it had been for millennia, under the roof of the circular room in the Jedi Temple. Everyone seemed to be quite older, and many upon the Council had changed. Some had died of old age, while others had joined. The force was a forever-moving circle of life, and with it came the revolution and evolution of the Jedi Council. Though it had changed so, Anakin always felt it as his second home. There was no other place in the Galaxy that invoked such emotions of comfort and serenity as the Jedi temple.
Mace Windu took his seat next to the aging Yoda at the helm of the Council. He didn't speak for a few moments, allowing the members to get acquainted with another again. This Council meeting wasn't as grave as they had been in the last few decades.
Finally beginning to speak, he quieted everyone. "This Council has been brought in session by formal request of the Supreme Chancellor. It appears that the rise of drug dealing across the galaxy has been interfering with the Republic as a whole. Now when the Kessel spice runs began, it wasn't a huge deal, and the Republic had no control over it. It never seemed to be more than small cases scattered across the galaxy, but lately an unknown Corellian drug lord has been causing some problems."
Anakin shifted in his seat. "What kind of problems?"
"Let's just say that he has enough money to organize and supply a large army. With such an army, it's a threat to the Republic. It's one thing for Corellia to organize one, but for a single man to do so without proper notification of the Republic is another."
"What kind of scale are we talking about, Master?" Obi-Wan asked.
"One that if not dealt with could very well rival the Clone Wars in intensity."
Padme had not mentioned any of this to Anakin, and frankly, it upset him. He wondered what other problems she had been hiding. The point of it was why she hid this from him. After a few moments, he took refuge in the fact that it was simply held from him to prevent distraction from more important matters.
"Now we know that most of the systems are once again siding with the Republic," Mace continued. "But we still have to think of the many outer rim systems that are not in concurrence with our Government."
"Appears it does," Yoda said from his chair. "That the origin of this problem Corellia is." Anakin noted that Yoda looked frail and weak. Age was finally taking a grip on the legendary Master. For so long Yoda had eluded the clutches of time, standing short and proud for over 800 years, but they were finally catching up to him.
"Thus we are going to send a few Jedi to inspect and silently watch over this new militia. Taking into consideration that we have no idea who heads this spice ring, we are going to send three."
"Pick Skywalker, Kenobi, and Nang-Da for the mission we do."
The three nodded. Anakin glanced over at the human female known as Afe Nang-Da, measuring her through the force. She was one of the most beautiful females he had ever seen. Her face reminded him of Padme, with black hair in thin braids around her shoulders. Afe had been a member of the Jedi Council for only five years, and in that time she had proven herself time and again as a powerful healer and warrior. Her highest achievement was attained after taking down a mandalorian force-adept on Balmorra. Since, she had been a respected Jedi Master, using her decision-making skills well. To the Jedi Council, she was an asset.
Mace Windu crossed his arms. "We look forward to your reports, and can only hope to settle this matter quickly."
With the end of his sentence, the Council session came to a close. No other words were spoken, save between the three Masters designated to leave.
"I'll have my wife provide us with a cruiser," Anakin told Afe. "Considering we have so many going with us."
She nodded. "Before we leave I must check the Jedi archives for information on Corellia's atmosphere."
Both Anakin and Obi-Wan's eyebrows dropped to a scowl of curiousity. She quickly noticed their mental questions.
"I'm highly allergic to most atmospheres. Just like Master Kloon, I must wear an air purifier. The only place in the galaxy clean enough to not wear it is here in this very temple." She hoped that would satiate their questions.
Anakin and Obi-Wan took their leave of Afe and the Temple, making way to inform their padawans of the sudden change in plans.
As Obi-Wan walked next to Anakin, he searched through the force, trying to find some information on their newest mission. Something from the very beginning didn't sound completely right about it. Though he couldn't put his finger on it, he trusted that the feeling didn't come from Supreme Chancellor Amidala. It was something on Corellia. The other Masters were right for sending three to investigate instead of just one. He could only wonder for the rest of the day. Perhaps, he thought. Anakin had some thoughts on it as well.