Chapter 5
The Battle of Geonosis had been fierce. Many Jedi died that day. After Dooku's escape and the ambiguous end of the battle there, Cestus found himself back on Coruscant, entering the Council Chambers as Yoda pronounced sadly: "Begun, this Clone War has!"
Cestus stopped in the center of the Chamber but offered no overt courtesy to either Mace Windu, or Yoda but gave a nod of greeting to Obi-Wan. "You asked to see me Masters?" Mace looked up from where Yoda sat and meeting Cestus's eyes said: "I know that the last time you were in this room ended badly for you Cestus but I'm asking you now, will you stand with us and help us in this time of war?"
"I will lend you my aid for now, on one condition Masters." As Mace Windu took a breath to object, Yoda struck him on the thigh with his gimer stick and said: "Ask we do for your aid. Because of this, your condition will be met if possible." As the oldest sitting member of the Jedi Council, Yoda's word was as good as law and Mace closed his mouth.
"I ask that Tala be permanently assigned as my partner if she so wishes and at such time as we decide, we will be allowed to leave the Order together as Jedi, not outcasts, no questions asked." Obi-Wan spoke this time and said with a twinkle in his eye: "Sense in you Qui Gon Jinn's influence I do. Need that you do not." Yoda's derisive snort was answer enough as he said: "Your condition will be met. Important to you she is and too much like her teacher she is. Reinstate you I do to the rank of Master Jedi. Giving Yoda a short bow in thanks Cestus Rau left the Council Chambers to go to war.
Ten Years Later
The Clone Wars raged on. Cestus and Tala saw many campaigns together and the pendulum of battle would sway to and forth many times. One moment favoring the clone armies of the Republic with their Jedi Generals leading them, other times favoring the Separatists. Some battles ended in stalemate with prisoners from both sides being taken, others only after the annihilation of one side or the other.
The Jedi ranks thinned as the war ground on until the two greatest Jedi of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker rescued Supreme Chancellor Palpatine from Count Dooku and General Grievous. That battle ended in the death of Dooku just as Cestus had Foreseen fifteen years before.
As Dooku was on his knees before Anakin Skywalker, who was holding two lightsabers at his neck, he remembered what Cestus had said and knew it to be true when he heard his Master, Darth Sidious say: "Kill him Anakin!" The betrayal he felt was like a bottomless pit as he felt the blades bite into his neck and Count Dooku, Darth Tyrannous, knew no more.
Eight Months Later
Cestus and Tala sat in one of the off-duty recreation rooms aboard their troop ship Studious and enjoyed each other's company just talking. Cestus dropped the flask of water from his hand and sat up straight. "What's wrong love?" asked Tala. "Tala, we have to leave right now. Don't ask any questions just now. The shroud of darkness is about to fall over the Force."
Knowing better than to question her husband of eight years, for they had been married secretly, Tala got up and took Cestus's arm as if going to enjoy a nonchalant stroll to the observation deck. Halfway there, they saw the first company of troops block their path. Cestus said: "Where's Commander Torrel?" This clone commander said: "He's in the brig for disobeying Order 66. All Jedi have been branded as traitors to the Republic and we have orders to shoot on sight."
In the whisper of a moment, Cestus and Tala had drawn their lightsabers and once again, became a team that Separatist droids could fear. On this day, even clones learned fear as they were hacked through by the Jedi Generals who, until that moment, they had been totally loyal to.
It nearly turned into one constant running battle from the crew lounge to the docking bay when Tala decided to take a ventilation shaft instead of the turbolift. Even there, it was a close thing when the anti-intruder sleep gas was triggered in the ventilation ducting just behind them.
Once they reached the docking bay they were relieved to find that almost the entire troop contingent on board was actively searching them out leaving only a few maintenance droids and technicians on duty throughout the cavernous docking bay. Avoiding them was simple enough. Guarding their intended destination though were twelve clone troops scattered equidistant in clusters of three.
Turning to her husband, Tala said: "Once more into the breech my love?" "Where you go, I will follow my wife," said Cestus. With a Burst of Speed, the two Jedi moved into the midst of their opponents. As the last trooper fell, another squad emerged onto the hangar deck from the far end. Through the echo of the bay the squad leader was heard saying: "There they are! Blast them!"
Cestus took a neutral guard stance and said: "Tala, get the ship warmed up and ready to go, also have the navicomputer set and ready to jump to hyperspace. I'll hold these off until you're done. Go!" Deactivating her weapon and jogging up the ramp left Cestus to become one with the Force and turn into an impenetrable shield as blaster fire from the direction of the oncoming squad poured forth. Though it may have only been two minutes to get the shuttle from stand-by to launch ready, it felt to Cestus like a small eternity until he felt a mental prod from Tala to come up the ramp.
As the ramp closed after him, he ran to the cockpit and sat in the copilot's seat as Tala took the ship out and made the first of several hyperspace jumps to throw off any possibility of pursuit. Once the final jump was made, Tala turned to Cestus and said: "What do you think happened Cestus? Why did our troops turn on us like that? What did they mean when they said 'all Jedi are now the enemies of the Republic'?"
Cestus shook his head as he said: "I don't know Tala but I do know that the Force is now shrouded in a darkness the likes of which I've never even heard of. I think it would be best if we disappear ourselves now." Tala nodded her head in understanding and said: "Do you think that if we change our names and appearances we'll be fine?" "The Galaxy is an immense place. We can survive. I know we can," said Cestus.
"I hope we can Cestus. I want to raise our children someplace safe," said Tala. Cestus looked over to his wife in the pilot's seat with unconcealed surprise on his face. She said: "Not yet, but someday."