Chapter One
The planet Coruscant. One giant city. A sea of sound and silence. A great mass of light and dark. A congregation of many, many beings. Each one with their own lives. Each one with their own values and principles. Each one clad in the trappings of what has been given to them, or what they have been striving for.
But stripped of its garments, stripped of the metal, dirt, flesh, and all physically tangible elements, the planet is so much more. It is life. It is the urge for existence. It is the Force.
This is Coruscant. Yet another entity, another embodiment of the Force, in the ocean of stars in that time long ago, in a galaxy far away.
The Force flows easily through cracks in the city streets, through the crevices in the hearts of its inhabitants. For where life gathers, the Force is present. A great question is posed: Whether the Force is but a thread in the great tapestry of life, or if life is but a page in the grand story of the Force?
Many have sought to understand this. Some through the body, others through mind and thought, and some through the soul and the emotions and feelings that run through it.
Among them are great orders such as the Baran Do, who seek inner peace through the Force, and who have transcended seeing life in black and white as their more decisive brethren still do.
There are the Jal Shey, who have sought to understand the Force at a mental level, intellectually studying it and gaining great wisdom in the process.
But how can one understand the greater meaning if one simply concentrates on one aspect? The Matukai are an order of Force sensitives who channel the Force through their bodies. Their greatest achievement is finding a balance and a connection between the body and spirit. It is the cornerstone of their philosophy.
And there are others who have learned to wield the Force, so as to survive the sheer beauty and horrors of the universe. The Zeison Sha developed their Force abilities to endure the harsh environment of their home world Yanibar.
But one such order has achieved greatness so undeniable that the mere mention of their name can strike fear or comfort in the hearts of the listeners. They are the Jedi. An order of Force users who live a code of selflessness. They live their lives for others, thinking only of others and how they may aid them. This is why they exist as an order of peacekeepers. For it is their belief that in peace the universe and the many galaxies that comprise it can continue living in harmony and order, prospering and growing in the process. Their Jedi Code exists to protect each and every sentient from what is within us all.
Yet it is a sad truth that the Jedi Code has never been enough to defeat what is within. And those that have touched it cannot turn away from its presence. These beings see power and how it may aid them in fulfilling their purpose in life. Grand quests to protect others transform into paranoia that those they have sought to defend shall betray and overthrow them. Noble efforts to save lives and to prevent death have blinded the kindest of hearts to the truth that death is inevitable and should be rejoiced in for a higher existence is achieved, and that keeping a soul from rest is… unnatural… and evil.
These beings have taken up a single banner in the ages past. They have called themselves the Sith. They believe that strength comes from within, that the self is the truest and greatest power. But in seeking to fulfill their hearts' desires, they turn away from others, and lose sight that everything, even the undeniable power of the self, is but a part in the great plan of life, or the Force if you would prefer. Their Sith Code exists to bring forth the potential from within but sadly believes that peace is a lie, and that passion is the only thing that is truly real. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory my chains are broken. Liberation, yes, but at what cost?
The different and yet obviously contrasting beliefs of these two orders have brought them against each other frequently. So often have been their confrontations when you count life in the seconds of the universe, and so long has their history of war been. So long that it is no longer known how it all began. Or which order came first.
The Jedi claim that the Sith are merely Jedi who have simply broken off from the Code and have embraced that which they used to condemn. But Sith ruins on planets on the far edges of the galaxy, in the farthest regions of the outer rim, in dead places where planets and systems used to reside, beg to differ. Who came first? Who knows? But does it matter? When events of the now constantly reshape the face of the universe.
But back to the greater beings that fly through the cosmos and have lived longer than any of these orders. Coruscant may seem such a daunting planet, but there are other places out there that are just as great in the Force, and have darker existences than the capital of what seems to be a failing Republic.
One of these is but a moon, yet it is a moon where life is drawn to unexplainably. It is Nar Shaddaa, the Smuggler's Moon, the rock that orbits the world of Nal Hutta. In the deep pits where it seems one can find no end, the Force flows out like a tidal wave, ready to swallow any listeners who know not what they listen for. It is here where many lives have been shaped, reshaped, and ended. But in a moment that seems too brief for the great time to take notice of, a life begins that is strong in the Force, and like those that have come before it, it has the potential to change the universe.
The potential to change everything.
- - -
The cloaked figure sat in the cantina. Alone, clad in black, and conveniently seated in one of the corners where the lights of the bar illuminated only half of the table, the figure seemed suspicious. But not enough to get attention. Most of the beings in the bar, on the planet for that matter, were clouded in their own personal mysteries. No one went out of their way to question the livelihood of another, except maybe if they had a blaster among their belongings and intended to use it for their own personal benefit.
The bar was filled with life, slightly repressed in places, crudely exploding in others. A pair of Trandoshans sat in a corner of their own, whispering to each other in their own tongue, obviously seeking to keep their conversation between themselves. A Rodian and a Weequay seemed to be falling into a heated argument, kept controlled only by the rattled Bith bartender. A Quarren sat in his own little stall, very much like the one the cloaked figure was in, isolated from the others by simple white barriers.
The figure looked out the window in the wall beside him. The city was teeming with life. Speeders flew by quickly, stopping only when caught in air traffic. Some of the drivers were honking their horns incessantly, others were openly cursing at their peers throwing vulgar signs with their hands.
The glow from the buildings cast barely enough light to uncover the shadows of the moon's streets down below, far below. Above them, brightly flashing signboards exclaimed to the world that their products were the best, and if one stared long enough, and tried to perceive what was hidden in the shadows, one would see many petty crimes being committed: mugging, mauling, even rape.
Crime ruled this world, this one giant city. Nothing could be done about it; that was just how life was here. Ruled by the Hutts and other organizations such as the Exchange, suffering and pain were everyday occurrences.
The figure picked up his glass from the table with soft, pale fingers and slowly shook it, swirling its contents into a haze. The ice clinked lightly on the glass, a sound barely audible amidst the other noises of the cantina.
"Care for another glass?" The sultry voice of the waitress came. She leaned her weight onto the barrier, her left arm resting on top of it, keeping her balanced. She tipped her head and let it lie on her arm and let what seemed to be two tails on her head slide down the other side.
It was no surprise that she was clad in a dress with no back and sleeves; it exposed her skin for all to see as was usual in worlds like this. Base thoughts ruled the minds of the masses and their more demented lords. It was a surprise though that the rest of the dress was quite modest, velvet and long, and except for the two slits that rose daringly high up her legs, it was quite elegant. Bar's owned by Bith's were usually several steps higher in the civilized ladder: the role of bartender is sacred to their culture, and they treat their bars like priests would their temples.
"No, thank you." Came the response. It was like a whisper, and yet it carried through the air giving her no trouble hearing it.
She let go of the barrier and took a few steps toward the table, her hand coming to rest on the head of a chair and with a look she inquired if she could sit. A nod was her only response and she sat herself down.
Her elbows found their way onto the table and her fingers intertwined themselves, her chin resting on them. Her striking blue eyes stared at the face under the hood, trying to get a better look at what the shadows hid. "What's a nice guy like you doing in a place like this?" Her lips pressed onto her index finger.
"The place is nice," a slight pause, deliberate and controlled, "and the atmosphere a lot kinder than most other bars."
"I know." She smiled and threw her head back; her flesh-colored skin seemed to glow in the yellow light of the cantina. "But a guy like you seems he'd fit better in livelier places."
I will be. Livelier… and yet quieter.
"Really?"
"Yes. I believe so. Would you like me to show you around?" She crossed her left arm over her stomach and rested her elbow on her wrist, her fingers tracing her lips. "I go off duty in a bit."
Maybe I would.
"I'm busy tonight." The figure put the glass down on the table and the ice made a slight tinkle before resuming floating in what was left of the drink.
"That's… too bad." There was a sigh in her voice as if she wasn't used to that kind of response. "I had wanted to…"
"Alana!" The Bith bartender called with a drink shaker in his hand. "Juma juice for table four."
The Twi'lek sighed and smiled a defeated smile at the hooded figure. "It was nice meeting you, stranger." With that, she stood up and slowly strutted toward the bar, and the cloaked figure could see several eyes following her where she went.
I might have wanted to as well but I guess not everyone can be saved…
Slowly rising from his seat, the figure went to the counter and paid his bill. One last look and understanding nods were all that were said between the cloaked figure and the Twi'lek waitress as he stepped out of the cantina door and into the shadows of Nar Shaddaa.
He looked up at the sky and saw no stars for the city lights were far too many and far too bright. But he knew that tonight the stars of some individuals would be snuffed out.
DISCLAIMER & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
(This disclaimer is based off Beautybedamned's disclaimer in her LOTR fic Points of Five, I found it suitable to use a similar format for my own purposes – hey sis! ;p)
All characters belonging to and created by LucasArts referred to or otherwise, are copyright George Lucas and LucasArts – he is the genius who made the Star Wars universe who was blessed by 'the Force' to bring this beautiful place to all of us. Depictions of aforementioned characters, scenes and events taken from Star Wars: Episode 1 are also copyright LucasArts and 20th Century Fox. Moreover, information regarding this universe was taken mostly from the Official Star Wars database, from Wikipedia's Wikicities' Wookiepedia and select Star Wars games. Again, I do not own them, but I wish I did.
However, unnamed or unknown, individual characters who ARE NOT found within the canon are most definitely mine and may not be used without my express permission.
Due to the lack of other sources, I would like to acknowledge the website that provided the Star Wars: Episode 1 screenplay and its contributor, SuperShadow. Even though Mr. Mickey Suttle (SuperShadow) doesn't have one of the cleanest records, his screenplay is quite accurate (with only a few flaws here and there which I personally correct by comparing with the movie dialogue).
Much thanks also to my siblings – my sister/'editor' Noelle aka Beautybedamned, and little brother, Neal (can you say fan? ;p), for reading through what there is of the fic and for their constant support of this endeavor.
Finally, for anything else I may have forgotten, standard disclaimers apply. I'm writing this piece because I love Star Wars and the universe that continues to fascinate me (nevermind my own personal agenda). For any and further questions about the fic, please do not be afraid to email me, the link is on my userpage. I will do my best to reply.