Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam SEED or Star Wars. Bandai and Lucas Films own them both, respectively.
For all my faithful readers (in short to all who love this story): I have been toying with the idea of altering it for quite some time, but I just can't figure out if I should or not. When I flipped a quarter, the stupid thing ended up under my bed and it took me three days to see if I got heads or tails. Deciding that Lady Luck has decided I opt for the third option. I have begun early work on a revised edition that will be posted as soon as "Kira's Last Act" is finished.
Note: I'm also way behind and I'm searching for all forms of constructive feedback for all my stories I have up and running.
"Kira's Last Act"
Chapter 5: "The Tale of A Jedi"
Abandon Jedi Academy, Khoonda Plains, Dantooine
A Year and Seven Months earlier
An Imperial transport shuttle settled nicely on the landing pad. The pilot was very relieved to be ditching this cargo. He absolutely hated carrying female Sith Appetencies. His co-pilot and cargo master were the same, but they knew there was a fifty percent chance of seeing this particular woman again, hopefully, not so Sith-like.
The woman exited the shuttle and was meant by a young boy in brown robes. She knew immediately that he was a Jedi and prepared to duel him, but stopped at the sound of hundreds of blasters being leveled at her. Raising his hands, the "Stormtroopers" replaced their weapons. The duel began at once. It had only one move, a finishing move that landed the woman on her back, crying out in agony.
"Take her to med-bay," the boy said as he left.
One of the Stormtroopers replied with a proud and strong, "Yes Sir!"
The woman was gently taken to the nearest med-bay. She would live, to face her trial and possible path of redemption. Yet, there was one lingering problem. The young man that had defeated her; had also defeated and killed her uncle, a high ranked Sith Master, whose rank was second only to Darth Vader.
Though at the moment, the young man continued to walk through the slowly being restored Jedi Academy. It had been such a simple ruse to reclaim this ancient complex and then begin to refurbish it. The plan had been made simpler when a group of warships had entered Imperial space. To the surprise of all, they were the last of the once mighty war machine created by the Mandalorians. By extending a hand holding an olive branch and forging an alliance that would benefit both, thus the young man gained a base on Dxun, a moon of Onderon, as well as the whole planet and the uninterrupted use of the several other remaining Jedi Conclaves that were either ancient and abandoned or recently built, but largely unfinished.
The best thing was the ruse itself. Not even Darth Vader had suspected anything. The emperor was also in the dark, for once. The energies from years of warfare had touched so many of these places that the left over energies practically blinded the Sith and their Dark Jedi. Yet, it was this place on Dantooine that had been the best of their achievements. A training ground where both hopeful would-be Sith and Dark Jedi and those that do not want to become either would be sent to train, but when they arrived, instead of Sith Lords and Sith teachings, they found a Jedi Council and Jedi teachings.
They had naturally had problems with the hopefuls and wanna-be's, but they became Jedi Padawans and then they started to become Jedi Knights, instilled with the beliefs of the Jedi, but also with the new rules, including the rule that allowed marriage. The young man still remembered that fateful day, 20 standard years ago. It was after that, that the remaining surviving elder Jedi Knights and the two of the four surviving Jedi Masters enacted the new rules, especially the marriage rule after reviewing all the cases they had in the history of the Jedi and the most recent one, they found that something seemed to happen to a number of the married Jedi and found that in most cases, the non-Jedi spouse had something befall them, but the Force had given the Jedi spouse a warning, but it had been misinterpret or worse hidden from the Council. They found that in fact, the Council had lost their cool and compassion. They had basically, over-reacted to a minor problem, which in turn spawned worse problems, the most notable had been two Jedi only known as Revan and Exile. A male and female pair that had become lovers and gone to fight in the Mandalorian Wars, which the Jedi Council of the time, about 4,000 standard years earlier, had been overly cautious and, quite frankly in the young man's opinion, paranoid.
From reviewing the Council's actions, compared to Revan and Exile, they found, that indeed, the Council had been wrong in many decisions and the results those decisions and over-reacting to the Exile's return, had lead directly to the Jedi Civil War, fought not even before two standard years had passed after the victory over the Mandalorians at Malachor V.
Through the years of poor guidance and constant over-reacting of the previous Councils saddened the two Jedi Masters, they found that half of the time a fallen Jedi would appear and save the Republic and/or restore the Jedi Order. The other half was always children of Jedi Knights. They had to wonder why it was always fallen Jedi or their children. Neither wanted to find out, but did so anyways. They noted that each time, the Jedi Councils and the Knights they lead had a tendency to bite off more than it could chew. The most disastrous was the disbanding of the Republic Military and NOT going after the major crime organizations. The young man could not believe that those two factors had a hand in the near destruction of the Jedi Order, again!
He continued to walk, until he came to the Jedi Council Chamber. The guards saluted smartly and a secretary at the desk next to the entry announced him. He entered to meet with the other Jedi Masters, they had after all recreated the Council from what had been left, but it only came up to three other new Jedi Masters and the two old ones. The total was only six Jedi Masters.
"What do have to report brother?" one of the Masters asked.
He was tall, 6'4", but had slim shoulders, as was his figure, he resembled a woman more than a man, but he had everything a man had and nothing of the female gender. He had short graying hair with noticeable white streaks. His tan skin though was still as strong a shade of tan as his early days. The young man nodded to him, acknowledging him by locking with the man's brown orbs.
"Oh, just the usual and like always, I defeated her in one swift move," he said, with a rather annoyed tone, indicating how much he hated his job.
"It cannot be helped half the time, but does she know?" asked one of the two surviving Masters present.
"Most likely, more than likely," the young man replied.
"I hate this!" a female Master, with soft white skin and bright red hair with bright blue eyes that contrasted with her skin said.
"It does not sit well with any of us, but that is the way of things, for now," the first Master replied.
"On a brighter note, at least we got those Rebel Alliance fightercraft designs," another young Master said.
She was one of the first Jedi that the young man had meet, so long ago.
"Master Raath, please do not speak like that," another chided.
"I like it," the young man spoke bluntly, earning a chuckle from the two Elder Masters.
"It brings light where we have only seen shadows, but also means that your mission is about to begin, are you sure there is time?" asked the Chief Council Master.
"Yes, I do believe so Master Windu."
The personal office of Supreme Commander Patrick Zala
4 days after Andrew Waltfeld had a 'guest' in his headquarters
A man wearing dark robes stared through the hologram communication device at the man sitting in the chair. His salt and pepper hair and dark purple with black cloak connected by a gold chain looked back. The holo-communicator's blue and white light was the only illumination and bathed the whole room rather eerily. The seated man's medals and rank badges added to the feeling of misery of the room. As the two spoke, a woman in black robes stood off to one side of the office of Patrick Zala, Commander of all of ZAFT and head of the National Defense Committee.
"You took good care of young Yamato, but continually failing to destroy the ship is not good."
"How was I to know that all was going to happen? I thought that was supposed to be her job?" Councilman Zala jerked his thumb at the woman.
"True, it was supposed to be her job, but even we cannot see all. Most of those who joined with the deserters would have been useful to us, but alas."
"Am I interrupting something, Mr. Zala, Emperor Palpatine?" a young man entered.
The woman reacted at once; she had not even sensed the boy until he had just spoken. She was in an undignified heap with-in a split second. The boy pushed back his hood and revealed violet, clear eyes and brown hair.
"YOU!"
"I thought you were dead," Zala said calmly, moving his hand discreetly towards a button.
"Doubt bother, most of the ZAFT troops in this building are sleeping very peacefully."
The boy then turned and used the Force to left the woman up and he just walked out of the office, meeting with other Jedi and some soldiers. They left and no one noticed them.
"Kira Yamato," Zala said almost as though he had meant the architect of his demise, which he had only meet the person who would drive one of the last nails into his coffin.
Archangel, starboard crew quarters
2321 hrs local standard time, the night before the Battle of Tanabiya
The crew of the Archangel was resting peacefully. There hadn't been any major battles what so ever in the last few days. There had been some skirmishes, but nothing much to worry about. Everyone was either asleep or those that had drawn the short straws had night shift, but the corridors were just about deserted. Just about deserted, because of those who got the munchies and those who were visiting others when they should be asleep, such as one Alex Dino and one Cagalli Yula.
Then there was a young man in OMNI Enforcer Volunteer Blue. He walked through the ship, feeling each and every bit of energy coming from the ship. He could tell that the mighty ship of war was had a life all its own. He could feel the energy course through his being and bring a sense of calm to all those around. The ship signal hope and peace, but also holy retribution to any who disturb that. He soon found the quarters he was looking for. He entered so quietly and gently that the little green and yellow bird and a round pink ball did not know he was there even as he deactivated them.
He then turned his attention to the two sleeping young ladies, one with red hair and the other with pink. He applied gentle pressure to the redhead's pressure point along her neck, putting her into a deep, dream filled slumber that would last until morning or if he repeated the process. Then he turned his attention to the girl with pink hair. She was looking as though she was seeing a ghost. He applied a little more pressure to the redhead, ensuring that she didn't wake up until late afternoon.
With that done, he took the couple of steps to cross from one bed to the other and sat down next to the young girl with pink hair and blue eyes that he seemed to lose himself in. He then captured her lips in a gentle kiss that he had longed to give her. She responded in kind, knowing him to be real and to be beside her. The two fell into the ways of love. The two didn't even make a sound and did not stop until just before dawn. The man departed, course set for the battle that day.
Battle of Tanabiya
The dark evil looking mobile suit faced off against its opponent. Its frozen crimson fire that constituted its beam saber giving an evil feel of a sword dipped in blood. It was painted an unheard of shade black, which made the GAT-X207 Blitz look like someone had painted it white. The crimson markings looked like the color of a deep ocean of blood had been created to create this custom crimson color. It had a head similar to the G-Weapons, but it was twisted to appear sinister and to give the sense of deep horror and fear, but standing across from it was one mobile suit that anyone could recall, the GAT-X105 Strike.
The Strike reappeared with its heroically color scheme. A red and predominate blue torso with white arms and legs, red feet, red and yellow shield with white trim. Its gold and white horns shown in the sun as bright as the day it had first been made. The Strike's amber eyes sparked to life and shown through its helmeted-like head giving the impression of a legendary samurai from days long ago and prepared to meet the ultimate evil head on. It's violet frozen flame ready to meet its opponent's blood crimson.
The pilot of the dark colored mobile suit let out a laugh, so evil, that even his allies felt a terrible chill.
"KIRA YAMATO! I always knew you would come to rescue these weak fodder!"
"Kiss off! I knew you would be attacking my people since Geonesis!"
"You knew that far back, but did nothing!"
"I informed the whole of Jedi Council of what had transpired. I told them of the power, the pain, as best I could and Master Yoda said it sounded like a heavy cannon from a Capital-Class Ship."
"But not WHO!"
"I was ready though by that time. Or have you forgotten that not all of the Clones followed Order 66."
"DAMN YOU KIRA YAMATO!"
"I've been getting that a lot from ZAFT, OMNI, and the Empire."
"AHH! Now feel the power of the Dark Death!"
"The Strike is far better! Darth Malice!"
The two mobile suits charged one another, but did not strike at each other; they began to circle, looking for the opening that would win the fight. Tense seconds past, before Malice last his temper and charged the Strike. He made wild slashes at the Strike, but Kira had far more mobile suit experience and was a naturally skilled mobile suit pilot. Then Kira lashed back, using his shield as a ram.
Archangel
On the bridge, the hatch to the bridge opened and admitted Lacus Clyne. She walked to the front of the bridge and watched as the two mobile suits went at it. She flinched slightly when the Dark Death landed a hard kick and then a slash on the torso of the Strike, but she knew that the Strike was better, it avoided the deadly slash attack and countered with a thrust that cut the left shoulder armor off the Dark Death.
"Crewman Clyne, please return to your station," Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Natarle Badgiruel requested.
"I want to stay… I want to watch Kira win," Lacus Clyne replied.
"We all know that is the Strike, but with all due respect, Lieutenant Yamato is dead Ms. Clyne," Captain (Acting) Murrue Ramius said, sadness gripping her.
"He isn't dead, who else handles the Strike with such an innate skill and so closely guards all life on the battlefield," Lacus replied.
Then the amber eyes of the Strike caught the baby blues of Lacus Clyne. She could feel that she was staring into the violet eyes of her beloved. The Strike nodded, returning its attention to its opponent. As it did so, everyone heard a voice that many thought they would never hear again.
"Darth Malice! You must die here this day for the crimes you have committed! For your hand in the Bloody Valentine, the Slaughter of Victoria, the Endymion Crater, and many more crimes in Earth space, but also those in Republic space!"
"Condemn me if you will, but unlike you I am not a slave of the Force or anyone!"
"No you make the Force and anyone else your slave! I will not allow you or the others to continue! FYI, I was granted the rank of Master of the Jedi Council by Master Windu."
"WINDU? MACE WINDU IS DEAD! THE EMPEROR KILLED HIM ON COURESENT!"
"He survived the fall thanks to a few Republic Commandoes."
"YOU JEDI ARE NOTHING BUT TROUBLE! NOW DIE!"
"No, your evil shall die this day."
The two continued to fight back and forth, neither giving ground as the bridge crew watched. To hear Kira's voice again was the most uplifting experience anyone could have. To hear Kira speak again was what everyone wanted to hear over the radio, but they wanted to hear him speak in person, to them. He was the heart and soul of the mighty Archangel's crew.
Far removed from the battlefield that had once been an industrial district, on the distant planet of Dagobah, Jedi Master Yoda felt the power of the young man and knew right away that the Jedi Order still lived, but had been adapted to survive the new challenges that now face it and will be facing it.
On Dantooine, the others of the New Jedi Council sensed the great battle. Kira and Malice were throwing their whole being into that fight and then some, or rather a lot.
On the Echani worlds, same with the worlds of the Mirluka, and others that could sense or feel the waves of the battle. The battle was titanic between these two skilled Force Users. All knew that the true war for a planet far removed from the Empire was now involved. The final battle would echo like that of Malachor V fought 4,000 years ago.
On Couresent, Emperor Palpatine could feel young Yamato fight the older Malice to a stand still. He could also since that Malice's daughter was on the planet of his most feared enemy.
Deep in space, the Rebel Alliance members who could since the battle, chief among them being Luke Skywalker, told of the battle. Luke felt as the battle ebbed and flowed. He wondered a loud, "how could Master Yoda not know of a Jedi Council still in existence?"
Back on the great battlefield and Malice and Kira traded blows with one another as the battle turned against the Imperial forces. Waltfeld had rallied the ZAFT troops and launched an offensive against the Imperial troops. The Desert Dawn fighters found a few weak points in the Imperial Armored Corps. MBTs and the began to reduce them to scrap as the remaining ZAFT mobile suits rallied and began to challenge the Imperial Walkers and win with tank and infantry support.
Recon Satellites belonging to all the powers were soon streaming live feed to all the powers of Earth-space. They watched as Kira darted away from Malice for a second and turned a full fighter wing of the 641st Legion in fireballs before going straight back at the Sith Apprentice Master. Lord Uzumi Nara Athha watched as one Earth Forces fighter pilot stepped from her down machine only to be surrounded by the white armored orange-shouldered Imperial soldiers.
"Cagalli," he said softly as he watched what would have been his daughter's final moments, except a burst of energy fighter from green armored soldiers gunned down the would be execution squads.
Two men appeared in black robes, igniting hand held red beam sabers, but then two people in brown robes with blue and silver beam sabers cut down the two after a very brief fight. Then the camera sighted on the Dark Death and the Strike.
Back on the battlefield, Kira and Malice went into the final motion that would see who died and who lived.
Kira lashed out with a thrusting jump attack.
Malice barely parried and was on the defensive.
Kira did a triple slash attack that melted away some of the torso armor and left a slight gash in the left arm of the Dark Death.
Malice found an opening and countered, creating a small gash across the left side of the Strike. He quickly followed it up with a rapid slash attack and drawing a second beam saber, he combined them to form a double-edged beam saber.
Kira was undaunted and counter not with his beam saber, but with his shield, knocking the Dark Death off balance and quickly removing the other shoulder armor, but he had been countered.
Darth Malice managed to cut half the of the Strike's shield off just above the handle. He pressed his attack with wild slashes and uncoordinated thrusts as the Strike backed off, but then countered.
Kira managed to cut away part of the Dark Death's head, but lost his main camera and half the Strike's horns, but in a quick move, possible only by the most skilled of mobile suit pilots, Kira did a back handed slash followed by tossing the rest of his shield.
Malice blocked both attacks, but then felt the Dark Death fall to one knee. He checked for the reason why and found one of the Armor Schneider imbedded in his left leg at the knee on the outside, destroying vital connections and servos. The Dark Death was mortally wounded and he knew it.
Kira circled, hoping that Malice would just surrender. He didn't want to kill, if he could avoid it.
Malice made one more desperate lunge at the Strike, melting torso and leg armor and holing a hole into the left arm of the Strike, but missing anything important. It would be his final move.
"I will kill you Kira Yamato and set this world ablaze with hate!" Darth Mirth yelled at the young Jedi Knight.
"No, it shall be you who dies this day and the light shall be may ally," Kira, responded, jumping the Strike high into the sky and placing the Sun to his back and in the eyes of his enemy.
"AHHH! I can't see! Coward!" the Sith yelled.
"Because of your evil ways, you cannot stand in the brilliance of the light!" Kira shouted, bringing his beam saber in a downward slashing arc that cut the Malice in two.
"Brother! I have failed to avenge you, but my daughter shall avenge us!" was all the Sith said before his mobile suit exploded in a blinding light, little knowing that his daughter stood next to his hated enemy.
Sorry for the long delay, here's this chapter, sorry no previews.
I'll like to inform all of those who like this story that the next update will be some time into the future. I have way TOO many stories going and I need to at least update half of them to current date. So sorry if the next update is in, as one person stated, another five months. Thank you for your patients. Please read and review all my stories if you will, thank you.