CHAPTER 17

The Void Force

Obi-Wan and Anakin had been summoned back from their search. They were heading back to the Temple to pick up Shaak Ti, Kit Fisto, and Master Yoda.

"I don't understant why we are being summoned back," Anakin said to Obi-Wan. "We were so close to finding her. What is this about?"

"When we get to the Temple you can ask Master Yoda," Obi-Wan replied folding his arms and staring out the windshield.

"But he doesn't like me!" Anakin whined. "How are you sure he'll tell me anything?"

Obi-Wan gaved him an annoyed look. "Yoda likes everyone," he said flatly. "That girl acts worse than you and Yoda is worried about her. Just ask him. I'm sure he'll tell you something."

"Why is she coming with?" I demanded as Asajj Ventress stepped into Dooku's starship.

"Because she just is," Dooku replied heading into the control room

I glared at the bald woman. "You'd better not try anything, Sith bitch," I snapped at her.

She stared at me in confusion. "What?"

"I know how you are," I said folding my arms. "You like to go around and spout off crap about Jedi that you think is true." I looked away and imitated her manner. " 'Jedi lie'!" I scoffed in a squeeky voice. "It's a free universe, you stupid bimbo. If they want to believe stuff that contradicts your believes that is their business!"

"They are liars!" she shot back angrily.

"And you're stupid!" I snapped. "Just because your Jedi Master died doesn't mean you can blame and hate them! It's not their fault. Have you ever thought that it might be yours?"

Asajj sputtered but didn't reply.

I looked at Girevous who'd been watching me tell the bitch off. "You have more of a right to hate them," I told him. "But it's also the Republic's fault. They refused to listen too! They are the ones who sent the Jedi in the first place! Blame the Senate! God knows how corrupt it is! Think it over. Take it to the heart you know you still have!"

He glowered at me. "Maybe I should just kill you," he snarled.

I shook my head. An empty threat. If he'd wanted to kill me he would have already.

"Think it over," I told them both. "God knows you both need to. Stop lying to yourselves. You may both think you have no room for feelings but..." I touched them both on their chests with my fingertips. "Inside you both know what you are doing is wrong. You care about something, both of you. That's why you are fighting... on the wrong side!"

I turned from them and began to walk away. "This is Palpatine's fault!" I seethed clenching my fists in anger. "Stupid bastard Sith Lord!"

When Anakin and Obi-Wan arrived at the Temple Shaak Ti, Kit Fisto, and Master Yoda, who was sitting in his little hovercraft thing, climbed onto the ship.

"Master," Anakin said addressing the old Jedi as he boarded. "I would like to know something."

"Yes?" the old Master asked locking eyes with the much younger Jedi.

"Why did you summon us back?" he asked following the Jedi into the ship. "We were still looking that girl. Did you want us to stop? Why did you want us to pick up you, and Master Fisto, and Master Ti?"

Yoda didn't say anything for a moment. He looked around the ship. He held his gaze with the other Jedi's faces for a moment before he replied. "Summoned by Dooku we were."

"Dooku?" Obi-Wan and Anakin exclaimed. (They hadn't seen the message and those who had didn't get it either)
"Know where she is he does. On Geonosis he wants us to meet. If not meet him there we do, kill her he will," Yoda explained.

"Why that-" Anakin growled. "He's using her for bait!"

Yoda nodded. "Suspect that I do."

"Then why are we going?" Anny wanted to know.

Yoda gave him a look. "Want him to kill her do you?" he asked.

"No."

"Then meet him there we must."

"Why five of us?" Obi-Wan asked from the controls.

Yoda frowned. He knew one of them was bound to ask that question eventually. "A special reason for that there is," he replied.

"What?" Shaat Ti asked from the seat she'd sat in.

"Anyone who spoke with her he wants to come."

"We know that," Kit Fisto said leaning against the wall and folding his arms. "But why?"

Yoda shook his head. "Unsure I am," he said. "To kill us maybe... only answer that fits..."

"Yet we're going anyway?" Anakin asked staring at Yoda liked he'd gone crazy.

"The only way this is," he said calmly.

"Why is she so important anway?"

"Void in the Force she is," Yoda told them slowly.

"Void?" Obi-Wan asked looking away from the windshield to stare at Yoda. "What do you mean?"

"Untouched by both sides she is."

Anakin couldn't believe it. "What?"

"Fall to the dark side she cannot. Free in emotions she is. Untouched by both sides this means."

"Untouched?" Anakin asked. "She can't fall to the dark side? Why?"

"Balance."

"Balance?"

"Balanced in the Force she is. Equeal in light and dark this means. Like have no Force at all it is..."

"Yet she does," Shaak Ti cut in. "We all felt it."

Yoda nodded. "Correct," he said leaning forward on his stick (he was no longer in his hovercraft) "Balanced in the Force this means. Twilight or Gray side this is called. Halfway between light and dark. Sunrise and sunset..."

"But how is that possible?" Kit Fisto wanted to know. "There are only two sides to the Force. Nobody can be in between."

Yoda's eyes burned with a strange fire. "She can!" he insisted.

"Why?"

"From Earth she is."

"Earth?" Anakin asked. "What does her having being from Earth have to do with this?"

Yoda's face broke out in a smile. He'd researched the answer a long time ago. "Ways to balance the Force the people from Earth have! Easily to work on both sides they are able to!" he chuckled. "Religon."

The others stared at him. "Religion?" they said in one voice looking at each other in confusion.

"Many religions Earth has. Catholic, Buddist, Muslim, Hindu, Shinto, Gothic, Wicka, Satanist, Hebrew, Christian!" he explained.

"What does that have to do with it?" Anakin demanded.

"Everything!" Yoda replied.

"Everything?" Anakin raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"Trust in a Creator they do. Creator higher than the Force!" Yoda once again looked from one Jedi to another. "Good and evil. Religion. Puts a balance on the Force it does."

All the Jedi looked at each other a moment. They all tried to figure out what it ment. Finally Obi-Wan asked. "How do you know this, Master?"

"Learned it I did."

"From who?"

"An Earth Jedi named Adrian Lureno."

"Master Lureno?" Kit asked remembering the name. "I read that he left the Order over five hundred years ago."

Yoda nodded. "Corret that is. Void in the Force he was too."

"So what now?" Shaak Ti asked. "So know we know why Stephanie is the way she is how are we going to get her back to make sure?"

"By her."

"Her?"

"Able to manipulate both sides easily she can. Befriend them she might have.. When we arrive find out we will."

"And what if she did?" Anakin wanted to know.

Yoda shook his head not really wanting to answer but knowing he had to. "Fall to the dark side she cannot..." he hesitated. ".. but let her shift sides we cannot.,"

A/N

Just to let you know, I made up the whole thing about Earth religions. I thought it would sound good but now I'm not so sure...