The Marked One
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars; this is merely a fanfiction.
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Naboo is an interesting place, far more than anyone realizes. From the beautiful architecture of Theed, to its rolling green plains and hills, to its lush swamps and underwater chasms.
Naboo is known for its culture.
It is known for its natural beauties.
It is known for its exotic wildlife.
To the untrained observer, an offworlder perhaps, Naboo is harmless. But the planet harbors some dark secrets.
Suppose such an offworlder did arrive. Say, an Imperial spy following a rogue Jedi who may have been involved in a violent insurgency on Onderon. Say the Imperial spy, too caught up in his own pride, thought that he knew all there was to know of Naboo.
Say he underestimates Naboo.
Say this Imperial spy, in order not attract the attention of his Jedi quarry, lands his starfighter in the deep swamps. His boots swish in the thick marshes, as he makes his way through. He sets up camp, throwing up a camouflaged tarp over a makeshift shelter.
He then goes to secure the perimeter of his camp.
That's when he sees the half-eaten carcasses.
These aren't carcasses of random animals. These are sentient beings.
Gungans.
And their bodies - er, well, what's left of them - are arranged symbolically, in a sinister pattern. As though they weren't just eaten.
They were ritualistically sacrificed.
But say this spy isn't too easily intimidated. Whatever slaughtered these Gungans - madman or otherwise - they are no match for the superior skills of an Imperial spy.
So the spy shrugs it off, secure in his own skills.
He finishes securing the perimeter, then returns to his camp. Tomorrow, he will venture further out, monitor the activities of the Jedi, and then return to camp to figure out the best way to strike.
He ignores the feeling as though he is being watched.
As he sleeps under his tarp, his sensors quietly beeping in rhythm with snores, he is suddenly awoken by the sounds of screaming. A horrible, bloodcurdling screeching of pure agony. He peers out from under his tarp. The sound comes from everywhere and nowhere at once. He shivers, then pulls the tarp closed, embracing the security of being closed in.
He tries to block out the screaming, and just as suddenly as it begins, it ends. Nothing but the simple creaking of wildlife. His nerves slightly wracked, the spy settles back into his sleeping bag, and dozes back off to sleep.
A sensor goes off.
Cursing under his breath, the spy pulls up a holopad, which gives him the readouts of each sensor. The northeast one has been knocked out.
Then the northwest.
His southern two sensors pick something up. Something moving.
Something sentient.
Then the last two sensors go out.
The spy, his former confidence beginning to fade, pulls out his blaster. He slowly pulls the tarp open, and gingerly sets foot outside.
There is nothing there.
He slowly, methodically, heads for the nearest sensor to examine it.
He stops, hearing a rustling. It comes from above, deep in the wet canopy of trees. He looks up, and opens his mouth in a scream.
The scream never comes.
He is grabbed by a pair of long, wiry arms, and pulled upwards into the trees. The canopy rustles and shakes violently.
And so, we leave the scene, waving a farewell to our Imperial agent friend, knowing, with a sick realization in our stomachs, that he is soon to join the macabre display of half-eaten corpses.
Soon to become a puppet, the vines his puppet strings, in this bizarre, unknown realm of Naboo ...
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"I AM NOT RUNNING US HOCKNEYED HALF-WAY ACROSS THE GALAXY ON A WILD GUNDARK CHASE FOR A DEAD JEDI BASED ON A VISION YOU HAD LATE AT NIGHT!"
Starkiller winced as Kota tore into him. Juno sat in the corner of the Nubian suite, smirking at the lecture the young Jedi was receiving.
"But General Kota -."
"No buts, boy."
Starkiller folded his arms. "Say my vision was right. Say Anakin Skywalker is still alive. He could be the Rebellion's only hope!"
"And say it was wrong," Kota rebutted. "Say he's dead, and we abandon the Rebellion for this search when they need us most?!"
"We won't be abandoning them!" Starkiller held out his hands in a placating motion. "We can use this quest as a means!" He counted them off his fingers. "We can gather supplies, weapons, allies!"
"Allies that'll scatter the second that Death Star makes its first public appearance!"
Starkiller turned desperately to the smirking blonde in the corner. "Juno ... back me up here!"
Juno shrugged as she thumbed through her holopad. "Leave me out of this one ..."
"I'm telling you, Kota - this is for real!"
"I'll tell you what's real," Kota snapped, roughly poking the younger man in the shoulder. "A galaxy on the verge of war. Two all-powerful Sith Lords. Not to mention your doppleganger out there doing Vader's dirty work. Some mysterious shadowy figure out there conspiring against both the Rebellion and Empire with an army of Mandalorians. And did I mention the Death Star? Because I really can't afford to forget about the Death Star! You know, moon-sized space station? Can blow up entire planets?"
"Anakin Skywalker can fix all that! You know of the prophecy -."
"Don't talk to me about prophecy, boy! I've had enough! I'll never understand why the Jedi set so much store by that blasted prophecy, while at the same time telling us that the future is always in motion!"
"He had the highest midichlorian count in history! He was conceived by the Force -."
"And? Did that help him during the Jedi Purges? Was any of that of any use when Vader's blade finally found its mark?"
Starkiller shook his head. "There's no proof he died ..."
Kota waved his arms in exasperation. "Because Vader probably didn't leave a body to be found! Even the Imperial records list him as dead!"
"Well of course they would," Starkiller smirked. "The Emperor wouldn't want it to be known that the only one who could defeat him was still alive. He'd want to demoralize any Jedi that survived Order 66. If any surviving Jedi got wind he were alive, Skywalker would become an icon that they could all rally around." He placed his hand on Kota's shoulder. "And the Rebellion needs a leader - a hero - an icon - now, more than ever!"
Kota snorted. "You are that icon! Or did you forget the Rebellion carries your family crest as its symbol?"
"I haven't forgotten. But Skywalker represents everything I'm not. I bowed the knee to Darth Vader himself, and I served him with all my heart and all my soul. But not Anakin Skywalker. Not the Chosen One. He was never a servant of the dark, like I was. He's a bright shining light in the darkness, one that never wavers. He can be that icon, that leader."
"But say you're right." Kota was rubbing his eyes in exhaustion. "Say he's alive. Why hasn't he shown himself? Where is he? Why hasn't he come to the Rebellion's aide?"
"Maybe he's training! Or maybe he's unable to! Something may be keeping him back, keeping him from returning from the Outer Rim!" Starkiller went over to a table, pulling out his own holopad. "I've been reading up on the Clone Wars. Following Anakin's history. The trail goes cold at Coruscant. According to Imperial records, he died during the raid on the Jedi Temple by the 501st."
"We're not going anywhere near Coruscant," Kota spat. "Oh no, not the Imperial citadel."
Starkiller slouched in his chair. "I wish ... someone out there has to know what really happened to him."
There was a silence in the room.
Finally, Kota spoke.
"Maris ..."
Starkiller perked up. "Maris Brood?"
"Her boyfriend's an informant for the Rebellion, remember? If anyone would have any intel, it'd be him."
"You can contact her?"
"I'll try. I'll have Kaden hack the Nubian network, so their relays can't pick up our transmission. Gotta keep that Commander Panaka off our scent. That is, assuming Kaden hasn't jumped ship already."
Starkiller couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. "So does this mean the mission is on?"
"No," spat Kota. "It just means that it's a lead that I'm going to follow, just to prove to you that it's not worth it. Once you get the idea out of your head that Anakin Skywalker is still alive, then we can get back to the idea of helping the Rebellion stop the Empire once and for all."
And with a flick of his cape, Kota was gone.
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Commander Panaka sat in his control room, filing over several reports, when a Nubian Royal Guard approached and saluted. "Communique from Onderon, sir. Captain Bostuco requests to speak with you."
Panaka nodded as he stood up. "Patch her through."
The old commander stood in the straight posture of a true Imperial officer, back straight, heels clicked. In a moment, the shimmering blue hologram of Captain Bostuco appeared before him.
Panaka inclined his head ever so slightly. "Captain Bostuco. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Bostuco grinned. "It is my understanding that Pooja Naberrie has arrived safely on Naboo?"
"Indeed. It was a relief to see her safe and sound after all the excitement. I trust order has been restored to Onderon?"
"Lord Vader has left a personal garrison. And ... a promotion is coming my way soon enough." Her face gleamed with triumph. Then it instantly turned expressionless. "Representative Naberrie has arrived with ... comrades?"
Panaka squinted his eyes. "Yes. Is there a point to all this?"
"Her comrades ... they are Rebel sympathizers, Commander."
I knew it, Panaka thought to himself. But to Bostuco he said, "And what proof do you have of this?"
"They were personally involved in the chaos that unfolded on my planet. Two of them are Jedi Knights ... Rahm Kota. The other one is merely known as Starkiller."
"You are well informed," Panaka replied. "And Pooja Naberrie has thrown her lot in with them?"
"That I am not certain. She surely has leanings towards the Rebellion, but I cannot ascertain whether she knowingly has conspired with them."
Panaka raised a fist. "I will get to the bottom of this. Rest assured, Captain."
"Do not underestimate them," Bostuco warned. "These two Jedi cut through hordes of Mandalorians and stormtroopers as if they were stuffed toys."
"Rest assured, Captain," Panaka replied. "I know firsthand what Jedi are capable of. I thank you for this information."
Captain Bostuco nodded, before her image flickered and went out.
Panaka made a fist. So, he had two Jedi. And Representative Naberrie may very well be a Rebel sympathizer. Here was his chance to be promoted to Moff of the entire Chommel sector. Two Jedi, right in the palm of his hand.
The only question was how to wrap his fingers around them.
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"Skywalker ... Skywalker ... hmmm. Haven't heard that name in a long time. Not since ... Master Shaak Ti." Maris Brood's voice trailed away. Her blue holoimage flickered before Kota's eyes.
Kota nodded. "Go on."
Maris shrugged. "Well, Master Shaak Ti didn't tell me much more than you already know."
"But what about your boyfriend?"
Maris couldn't contain herself. "Ah ... well that's a different story! You see, there are a couple gaps in Skywalker's life that need filling in. For example, just before he fought in the Battle of Geonosis, he was assigned to protect Senator Amidala from assassination attempts. But ... for the couple days between his arrival on Naboo and the Battle of Geonosis, there's no accounting for him. He and Amidala left Naboo, and from there, it's anyone's guess."
Kota stroked his beard. "I hadn't heard that he'd left Naboo during that time ..."
"Well of course. The Jedi Council didn't know. And, well General ... Palpatine's made it illegal to pry into the lives of any Jedi. A law punishable by death."
"And since when has that ever stopped us?"
"I like how you think, General," Maris chuckled. "I'll get my boyfriend to do some digging. I'll report his findings asap."
"Thank you Maris. That will be all."
Maris bowed, and her image vanished, leaving Kota alone in his musings.
So Skywalker's life had some gaps that needed filling in. Maybe Starkiller was on to something after all ...
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I'm seeing two Junos.
Captain Eclipse hung over the sink in the penthouse suite, her vision swimming. What is happening to me?
She waited until her vision returned, and she staggered out of the restroom. I need to sit down. She collapsed into the nearest chair, her mouth open, struggling for air.
"Juno?"
She perked up. The actress in her caused her to straighten her body, and her eyes focused on Starkiller who looked increasingly concerned.
"Starkiller. Any updates from Kota?"
"Forget about that." He kneeled down in front of her, concern spread across his face. "Juno, you need to see a doctor. Find out what's wrong with you!"
"Oh Starkiller, we've been over this! I'll be fine!"
"I'm not so sure!"
Juno pushed his arm away from her, and she stood up and headed for the door. "I don't want to fight again ..."
"Where are you going?"
"To help Proxy and Wedge with some repairs on the Rogue Shadow. Kaden was supposed to be with them, but he probably ditched them to go hit on some of the Queen's handmaidens."
"Juno ..."
She left through the door, and Starkiller collapsed into the chair, his face buried in his hands. Please, Kota. I need this - I need you to help me find Anakin Skywalker.
There was a buzz at the door. Starkiller crossed the room, pressing a button, allowing the door to slide open. "Juno, I-."
It wasn't Juno. It was Pooja. "Hey, Starkiller."
He inclined his head. "Representative."
She put her hands on her hips. "Aren't we past such formalities by now?"
"What do you need?"
"Actually," she pushed her way past him into the room. "I came to help you."
"Help me?" He scoffed. "How?"
She rapped her knuckles annoyingly on his forehead. "Your visions! What, you think I left last night, at the mausoleum? I watched from outside."
"You spied on me?"
"I was just interested to see if you would get another one of those crazy visions." She sighed. "I saw you talking to Master Jinn last night. At first I thought I was crazy, but then I figured, hey, this is the Force we're talking about here. It works in mysterious ways."
"Okay. So how can you help me?"
Pooja shrugged. "Well, you're searching for Anakin Skywalker, right?"
"Right."
"The way I see it, these visions you have of his life ... they might lead you to some clues to find him. And I know a place that was very meaningful to him. A place that he was sure to leave a strong emotional impact."
"I'm not following."
Pooja rubbed her sinuses. "If Anakin really fell in love with my Aunt Padme, it only makes sense for you to visit the place they spent a lot of time with each other."
"Which would be ...?" He motioned for her to continue.
She grinned. "The Lake Country. More specifically, the Lake House."
"Lake House?"
"Yeah, that's where they stayed on assignment. That's where he was supposed to protect her from assassins. Right before the Battle of Geonosis."
Starkiller's heart thudded in his chest. "And you can take me there?"
"I can procure an airspeeder in ten minutes."
"Then do it. I need to see this place. I need to find more clues."
"Alright. Meet you in ten!"
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Kaden wandered the halls of the Royal Palace aimlessly. Bored with staying in the penthouse suite, bored with helping Wedge and Proxy work on the Rogue Shadow, he decided to see if he could work his ... uh ... masculine charms on some of the Queen's handmaidens.
Oh, and just in luck! He caught a glimpse of a yellow and orange robe whipping around the corner. Shrugging, he followed.
At the end of the corridor, the hooded handmaiden motioned to him with her index finger. She giggled, and Kaden fixed his shirt and smoothed out his lekku. The handmaiden giggled, motioning for him to follow her to a hidden alcove.
Kaden grinned cheesily. This was his lucky day. Looking from left to right, he followed the handmaiden behind the alcove.
The handmaiden stood in the alcove, head lowered, giggling. "Well hello, gorgeous," Kaden said. Smooth pick-up line man, he mentally congratulated himself. "You have a name?"
The handmaiden pressed her fingers to her lips, giggling, turning away.
"Oh, bashful are we?" Kaden moved for her. "That's okay, I find shyness very, very alluring." He took a step forward. "Why don't we lower that hood so I can see that pretty face?"
She giggled again. Kaden seductively grasped her hood, lowering it -.
The man underneath the hood did not look to pleased.
Neither did Kaden. "What the -?"
The man in the handmaiden's robe grabbed Kaden by the wrists, pinning his arm behind his back, slamming him facefirst into the wall. "Hey, what the -!"
The man spoke into a comlink. "I've got one of them!"
"Get off me! What are you going to do?" Terror filled Kaden's eyes. "Oh no! You're not going to have your way with me?!"
The man looked horrified. "What? No!"
That's when they heard the clap of boots. Several Naboo Royal Guards appeared, weapons drawn. They parted to make way, and Commander Panaka strode up, smiling like the cat that got the cream.
The man disguised as the handmaiden nodded. "I've got him, sir."
Panaka motioned with his hand, and Kaden was let go.
"What's the meaning of this?" the Twilek sputtered. "I am a personal guest of Representative - ooomph!"
Panaka kneed him in the gut. "Rebel scum."
Kaden looked up, wheezing, eyes wide. "Wha -? Rebel ... Sir, I have not, nor have I ever - ooomph!"
He was backhanded across the face. The Commander's hand left a cut. Panaka stood over him, his face a mask of anger. "You helped two Jedi on Onderon. You brought them here."
"I ... I ..."
Panaka's hand slithered around Kaden's throat. "You will help us set a trap for them."
"I ... no, please ..."
Panaka's fingers constricted around Kaden's throat. "The Palace is too well guarded. The Queen is in the lap of Representative Naberrie. We need to get them away from the Palace. You will lead them into the open."
"No. I -."
"They consider you a friend, is that correct?"
"I ... mean, not really friends. We've more or less just been ... exposed ... to each other."
Panaka grinned. "But that blonde pilot?And his other comrades ... the Jedi cares for them."
"No! Not at all!"
"I can see through you, you Rebel scum! The rest of my men are already converging on them. The Jedi will come to save them."
"What are you planning?"
Panaka grinned. "The swamp. It would reasonable for the Queen to believe that you and the others wanted to visit the sight where Queen Amidala won over the loyalty of the Gungans. It would be reasonable to believe there was an ... accident. That you and the Jedi all faced a serious catastrophe in the marshes."
"You ..."
"We'll lure the Jedi to the swamp, and we'll put him and the old man down like gundarks."
Panaka turned, nodding to the other Royal Guards, who converged on Kaden and began inflicting shocks on him with their stun-guns.
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Wedge and Proxy were fixing up the Rogue Shadow in one of the Royal Palace's many hangars. Juno had come, feeling slightly better. The sickness comes and goes, she thought as she handed Wedge a tool. Antilles was lying underneath the ship, grease slicking down his arm.
"Pass me the hydrospanner," Wedge requested.
Juno held out her hand to the droid next to her. "Proxy, pass me the hydrospanner."
Nothing happened. "Proxy?"
She looked up to see a dozen members of the Naboo Royal Guards surrounding them. Wedge slid out from underneath, still lying on his back. "What's going on?"
The answer came in the form of a boot stomping on his face.
He saw stars, and then darkness took him.
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Pooja had landed her airspeed at the edges of the lake. From there, a canoe carried her and Starkiller to the Naberrie estate. The two dislodged, and made their way across the balcony overlooking the lake.
Starkiller whistled. "Nice place."
"I inherited it. I come here to do most of my thinking." She looked over at him. "Anything yet?"
"Nope."
They leaned over the railing. Pooja pointed to another island in the distance. "My Aunt Padme used to love this place. She used to swim to that island all the time. When my sister and I got older, we used to go have beach parties over there."
"Whoopdie-doo."
Pooja chuckled. "You didn't do anything fun like that during your childhood?"
Starkiller raised an eyebrow. Memories of his childhood with Darth Vader danced through his head. "Erm ... yeah."
"I wish I could remember Aunt Padme more clearly. Each day, her face gets harder and harder to picture. If I didn't have holovids of her, I'd have forgotten what she looks like."
Starkiller looked away. "I can hardly remember my father ..."
Pooja looked at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry. Did he die when you were young?"
"... Yes."
"Oh. Forgive me. Here I am rattling on about my family, and you didn't even know yours. Who raised you, if I may ask?"
Haunting memories of that black mask surfaced, and Starkiller turned away.
"Your childhood was that bad, huh? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry -."
"Yes you did." He turned to her. "It's only natural. You're curious. But please ... the only person's past I'm concerned with right now is Anakin Skywalker's."
Pooja waved her arm around the entire property. "Well ... feel free to explore. Maybe some visions will pop up."
"That's the plan." And Starkiller strode past her, stretching out with his feelings.
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"Hey. Wake up." A dull kick to his ribs, and Wedge awoke with a start. His vision swam in and out of focus, and he tried to lift his arms. They were bound. His eyes came into focus, and adjusted to his surroundings.
The Naboo swamps.
He looked over at the body next to him. Juno was unconscious, her breathing ragged and shallow. Next to him, Proxy sat on a rock, head down, circuits whirring.
"Here's a friend," came a rough voice. A body, wrists bound, was thrown at them.
Kaden.
"Look, can't we work this out?" the Twilek protested.
Wedge analyzed the situation. They were bound, in a makeshift camp, surrounded by bogs and dark foliage. Several members of the Naboo Royal Guards sat on rocks. One of them was whittling away with a fusion torch.
To his right was Commander Panaka, engaging another officer in polite conversation. They laughed, and then Panaka's face became stone serious when he saw that Wedge was awake. He sauntered his way over.
"Why are you doing this?" Wedge demanded.
Panaka cocked his head. "That should be obvious. As I've already explained to your Twilek pal over here, you're the bait to draw out the Jedi."
Wedge feigned confusion. "Jedi? What are you -?"
"Save us the headache of your false confusion. I have my sources, and the Twilek as much as told me he was a Jedi."
Wedge shook his head in disgust. "The Jedi helped this planet! They liberated it decades ago from the Trade Federation! If anything -."
"Don't you talk to me of the Jedi!" Fury rose from within Panaka. "I was there. I was with Master Jinn and his Padawan, Kenobi. I witnessed it firsthand."
"But then -."
"Don't you understand?" Panaka continued. "I admired them. At first I thought they were crazy, spiriting the Queen away, amassing Gungan armies. But I saw them in action. They helped save my planet. And that is why I can never forgive them."
Wedge cocked his head questioningly.
Panaka continued on. "Your confusion is understandable. It took me a while to come to terms with everything. The Jedi turned against us. Only years later, when they rose up against the Republic, did I see what they were. The valiant defenders of the ideals of the Republic ... no, they were working with the Separatists the whole time. And even before that ... Master Jinn must've been working alongside the Trade Federation during the invasion. It's the only explanation! They were playing both sides!"
"How can you possibly believe that?"
"How can you possibly believe not? Why do you still have such faith in them? Those two Jedi are using you. Using you to help topple the peace our Emperor has brought to the galaxy!"
Wedge was indignant. "Peace? Peace?! He's brought tyranny! Everyone lives in terror of him. And Vader - he uses a lightsaber you know. And what does that make him?"
"Lord Vader was the one who hunted down and slaughtered all the traitors." Panaka exhaled. "I refuse to argue with you anymore. Your Jedi friend will come for you. And when he does, he'll have fallen right into our trap."
"And how do you hope to defeat a Jedi in combat?"
"I don't." Panaka grinned, before he held up a gleaming tiny object to the light. It was small, and had a sharp tip, which glinted in the rays that shined through the dense foliage. "Do you know what this is?"
Wedge shook his head.
"This, my friend, is a Kamino saberdart." He began pointing out different features of the tiny projectile. "The base has a tiny fluid reservoir containing a small amount of toxin. Now this toxin may be small, but one shot of it can bring down a ronto. My men will be ready, hiding in those trees, waiting for him to enter the clearing. All I need is one shot. One good shot, and your Jedi friend will be down for the count. I then hand you over to my superiors to be executed for treason. I'll be Moff of the Chommel sector before the week is over."
Wedge sat upright, struggling with his bindings. "And how do you know Starkiller will come?"
Panaka grinned. "Jedi can sense when their friends are in pain, correct?" He nodded to several of his officers, who stood up, and approached Wedge, Kaden and Juno with shocksticks.
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After an hour of pointless wandering around the Lake House, Starkiller decided that maybe meditating would help get his thoughts in order. So, he sat cross-legged on the railing of the balcony overlooking the lake. Pooja leaned on the railing next to him, watching the red sunset streak across the blue skies.
"Anything yet?" she asked.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Well this is boring."
"You don't have to stay."
"I am not leaving you alone in my house!"
"Your talking isn't helping me concentrate!"
"Sorry."
Still nothing. Starkiller swung his legs back over onto the balcony and jumped down, next to Pooja. He began heading inside. "I'm beginning to think this whole thing was a waste of time ..."
"Hey, at least we tried."
"I'll be in the refresher."
"Be sure to wash your hands!"
Starkiller didn't respond. Hmm, usually he had a snappy comeback to her playful banter. Shrugging, Pooja followed him into the sitting room. She gasped.
"Starkiller!"
He was leaning against the wall, his eyes wide. "Juno! JUNO!"
"What's wrong with Juno?! What's happening?!" The panic in Pooja's voice was obvious.
Starkiller turned, heading back for the docked boat. "She's in trouble! I have to go to her!"
"Well I'm coming too!"
"No! No offense, but you'll be a liability!"
Pooja scoffed, putting her hands on her hips. "Uh, in case you didn't notice during that whole Onderon affair, I can take care of myself!"
"I don't have time to argue!"
"Good! Because I'm coming, you can't stop me, so deal with it!"
"Argh! Fine!"
He stormed out towards where the boat was docked that would take them back to the airship.
And that's when it happened again.
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Anakin Skywalker is standing on the balcony of the Lake House at sunrise, deep in thought. Padme approaches him, looking radiant in the morning sun. She realizes Anakin is lost in his musings, and so she turns away.
"Don't go."
She stops in midstep, and turns back to him. "I don't want to disturb you."
"Your presence is soothing."
There is an awkward pause.
Padme breaks it, uncertain. "You had a nightmare again last night."
"Jedi don't have nightmares."
"I heard you."
"I saw my mother. I saw her as clearly as I see you now. She is suffering, Padme. They're killing her! She is in pain ... I know I'm disobeying my mandate to protect you, Senator. I know I will be punished and possibly thrown out of the Jedi Order. But I have to go! I have to help her! I'm sorry, Padme. I don't have a choice."
"I'll go with you. That way you can continue to protect me, and you won't be disobeying your mandate."
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Pooja was nearly reeling. "Well that was a new one ..."
"You saw it too?"
Pooja shrugged. "No time! Your friends are in danger, let's go!"
Starkiller nodded. "Right."
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Wedge sat with Juno, Kaden and Proxy, bruised, battered and beaten. They'd been given a reprieve by Panaka, and now they waited for the inevitable. Wedge supposed that they were going to be gagged soon, so that when Starkiller showed up, they couldn't warn him.
So, he decided to take advantage of being able to talk. He crawled closer to Juno, who looked as though she were slipping in and out of consciousness.
She gazed at him from glazed over eyes. "I ... sure hope ... you have a plan ..." she panted.
Wedge looked over at two of the Nubian security guards. They were locked in conversation. "I think I might."
"Do tell ..."
"One of those guards has a fusion torch. We could use it to burn away these bindings."
"Not bad. So how do we get it?"
"That ... I haven't quite worked out yet."
They sat in silence, as the two Nubian security officers continued their conversation. It was midway through the chat, that Wedge's ears pricked up.
"I sure do hope the Jedi shows up soon," the one guard was saying. He was looking around, looking alarmed. "Before sunset at least."
"Why? What's the big deal?" The other guard was nonchalant.
"Haven't you heard the rumors?"
"What rumors?"
The first officer leaned forward. "The Marked One."
"The who?"
"Do you not keep up with news? Haven't you heard about that missing Imperial agent that arrived the other day? His sensors went off, and he just ... vanished."
"Maybe a predator ...?"
"No, no. This is something more. Those brave enough to venture deep into the Uncharted Regions of the swamp will begin to find ... unusual things."
"Such as?"
"Weird stone carvings. But that's not the worst of it."
"What is?"
The first officer leaned forward. "The bodies."
"B-bodies?"
"Animals, Gungan, human - you name it. Slaughtered. Eaten. Eaten alive. Their remains strung up from the vines in weird positions and patterns. Strung up like puppets."
"What's doing it?"
"What I told you - the Marked One."
"Who's that?"
"The Marked One was once a Gungan. A deeply devout, religious priest. But one day, he was caught worshiping the Forbidden Name. A Gungan deity so foul, so wicked, so corrupt, that the Gungans have made it illegal to utter his name. The Forbidden Name requires blood - living sacrifices, which is so antithetical to the Gungans. And The Marked One was sacrificing alright. Gungan children, which he would lure with threats, or promises of treats. You must understand, death is too good a punishment for such a one. A Gungan who sacrifices to the Forbidden Name is becomes a Marked One. He is branded on the chest and on the face with a symbol of absolute contempt. And chained up, deep in the darkest chambers of Otoh Gunga."
"So what's the problem then?"
"He escaped. Now he continues his foul religion, sacrificing animals, unwary Gungans, and even humans to the Forbidden Name. Brave Gungan soldiers have gone after him. None have ever returned. They say he has been imbued with all the supernatural powers of the Forbidden Name. They say he cannot be killed."
"Spooky."
Spooky indeed, Wedge thought.
Panaka stood up. "Cut the chatter. He's nearly here. Places everyone."
Wedge struggled as a gag was placed in his mouth, and over the mouths of Juno and Kaden. Proxy's vocabulator was merely switched off.
Panaka disappeared into the shadows as the sun fully set, eclipsing them all in night. There was the sound of shuffling as the Naboo officers ascended the trees, hiding in the branches.
They took aim as two figures entered the clearing.
Starkiller entered cautiously, his two deactivated lightsabers at the ready. Pooja had her blaster leveled, ready to fry the first thing that moved. Starkiller's eyes softened. "Juno ..."
There were his friends, bound and gagged. Starkiller moved for them, but was stopped by Pooja's hand.
"Wait ... something's not right."
Starkiller nodded. "I agree."
In the trees above, one of the Nubian officers took aim with his rifle. Starkiller was almost in his crosshairs.
Almost.
Just a little more ...
There!
His index finger squeezed the trigger, ready to fire.
He was PULLED into the trees, which began rustling. His screaming echoed throughout the entire clearing.
Pooja raised her blaster, and Starkiller's lightsabers were on in a flash.
Whatever it was was fast.
It moved to the next two officers, grabbing them from above, pulling them higher into the leafy canopy.
Their screams of pain and terror rocked everyone to the core.
Panaka and the remaining two officers leaped down into the clearing. They saw rustling along the trees, something stalking them along the perimeter of the clearing. It rustled the branches on all sides, letting the inhabitants of the clearing know it could grab them at any time.
The two shaking officers raised their pistols, firing with wanton abandon. Panaka was screaming. "No! No! Forget about it! The Jedi, grab the Jedi first!"
Two horribly mangled and mauled bodies in Nubian uniforms dropped, suspended by vines. The two officers screamed and ran into the swamp. "Cowards!" Panaka shouted after them.
That was one second before whatever it was grabbed Panaka. The Commander struggled in his grip, and was YANKED off his feet, dragged into the darkness.
Starkiller rushed towards Wedge, Juno, Kaden and Proxy. With several quick, blue blurs, he slashed through their bindings. They removed their gags, and switched Proxy's vocabulator back on. "Oh, my heavens," he mumbled.
Starkiller motioned with his lightsaber. "We have an airspeeder on the edge of the swamp! Stay together! Move!"
They slashed their way through the foliage.
Behind them, they heard rustling.
Kaden screamed in horror as a black shape leaped from branch to branch with mind-numbing speed.
"MOVE!" Starkiller yelled.
Kaden turned, and slipped down a hill, into a thick pile of goopy mud.
The black figure stopped short, deciding where it was going to go. It leaped down the trees, down the hill where Kaden had slipped.
Starkiller grabbed Pooja. "Give Wedge your spare blaster. You two get Juno and Proxy to that airspeeder! Go!"
"You're going after Kaden?"
"He better be thankful for this!"
Starkiller gave Juno a quick peck on the lips, then rushed down the ravine after Kaden and the mysterious black figure.
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Kaden stood up, looking down at his mud-covered outfit. "Aaaw, this was Corellian silk!"
That's when a horrible noise rode the air. It sounded ritualistic, almost like a foul hymn.
The figure in black appeared on a tree branch. Kaden screamed and ran, tearing through the trees, going left, going right, no idea where he was going. He turned back to see if he was being pursued -.
- and ran smack into something. He screamed and began batting at it like a girl. "Get off me, get off me!"
"Hey, take it easy!"
It was one of the fleeing Nubian officers that had kidnapped them. Kaden continued screaming at the sight of him. The Nubian officer smacked him across the face. "Shut up, you want to draw it to us?!"
"What is it?"
"Oh, Karr was right. The Marked One."
They heard the chanting again, and they looked to see a figure leaping through the trees. Kaden looked at the Nubian officer. They both screamed and ran together through the swamps.
That is, till they reached a cliff face. The Nubian officer held out an arm to keep Kaden from going over.
"On the count of three," he said.
Kaden was horrified. "You're not serious ..."
"One ..."
"Oh, by the Force!"
"Two ..."
"I'm too handsome to die!"
"Three!"
The officer pushed Kaden over the edge, before leaping after him. They landed hard in a pond, Kaden belly-flopping right into the surface. The undercurrent sucked them down, but with quick kicking motions they reached the surface. Dripping wet, they waded their way out, deep into the bogs and marshes.
They panted to catch their breath.
"Do you ... think ... we lost it?" Kaden breathed.
"I think so," the officer replied. He stood up ...
... and was grabbed from above. His screaming careened through the night as something from above tore into him. Kaden screeched as a black figure dropped down, advancing on him!
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Fighting his way through the natural predators of the Naboo swamp, Starkiller followed his instincts. He heard chanting in the distance and saw ... incense?
He passed some strangely arranged boulders, and noted the weird carvings on them. He came to a ledge, and squatted next to a rock, peering down.
Below him was almost an ampitheater. An altar with burning incense. And there, chained between thin trees were - none other than Kaden and a semi-conscious Panaka. Both their mouths were gagged once again, and Kaden's eyes were wide with terror.
The figure below, the black figure; it was dancing around a bonfire. The light gleaming off its body - it was a Gungan. A thin, wiry Gungan with torn clothing. But what made this Gungan most unique - the scars on its chest and face. As though branded with a hot iron.
The Marked One finished his bizarre dancing; he reached into a holster, and pulled out a long, serrated knife. Kaden's eyes grew wider at the sight of it and he began screeching behind his gag.
The creature approached Kaden, the serrated blade ready, and with nimble fingers undid Kaden's shirt. The Twilek struggled, as the serrated blade was placed square over one of his hearts.
There was a blast of Force energy, and The Marked One was thrown clean off its feet. He let out a guttural growl, scrabbling to his feet. Starkiller stood there, both lightsabers blazing. "Let them go."
The Marked One pointed at him, and to Starkiller's amazement, spoke in Galactic Basic. "Yousa no be here! Thissen be hallow ground!"
"I don't know what devil you serve, but I will not allow you to harm another living thing."
"Tis commanded by da guds!"
"Which ones? Because I've never heard of Gungans worshipping what you serve!" He angled his blade at The Marked One. "Let them go now!"
The Marked One tossed aside his knife, before pulling out a Gungan personal deflector shield, with a bizarre, pointed spear. Starkiller lunged, twirling both his blades. The Marked One deflected his attack with his shield, before lashing out with his lance. Starkiller was quick - but The Marked One moved with a quickness that baffled him. He was being energized by something.
The lance found its mark, slicing along Starkiller's rib, tearing into fat. Starkiller cried out, but concealed the pain. The two combatants circled each other, before engaging in combat again. The Gungan blocked and dodged each of Starkiller's attacks, even his most complicated combos.
The Marked One spun in midair, and as he came down, his foot connected with Starkiller's skull. The Jedi staggered back. How am I getting beaten by a savage?
The Marked One rushed again, stringing his attacks together with such finesse, that it was all Starkiller could do to keep his distance. It looked as though the Gungan was engaged in a fierce, yet sadly beautiful, dance.
They spun around the fire, Starkiller unable to get past his defenses. The Marked One caught him again with his spear, this time in the ankle. Starkiller limped around, using the Force to rip bits of wood from the trees, hurling it at The Marked One.
The Marked One tossed aside his shield and spear, and, to Starkiller's very amazement, caught the projectiles in midair with the Force, before tossing them aside.
He's a Force-user! Well that explains a lot! The Marked One had fallen so far in his devotion to the Forbidden Name, had committed such atrocities in these swamps, that the Dark Side of the Force had claimed him lock, stock and barrel. Now the Dark Side energized, giving him the ability to perform seemingly supernatural feats of acrobatics.
Fueling his legend.
Starkiller couldn't get over it. No matter what he threw at this savage Gungan, he was able to dish it back out.
Time for a little innovation.
Starkiller deactivated both his blades, before stretching both arms out, unleashing Force Lightning at his foe.
The Marked One responded by summoning his personal shield, allowing it to absorb the energy, sparing him from being fried alive. The lightning coursed through the shield, running along the metal handle.
The Marked One leaped forward, catching Starkiller across the face once again with his foot. Starkiller staggered, falling flat on his rear. The Marked One landed next to him, slamming him facefirst with the metal handle of his shield. The lightning that had been channeled through the shield was transferred into Starkiller, frying him.
Starkiller screamed as his own lightning was redirected into him.
Panting, The Marked One summoned his spear, angling the tip right at the fleshy underside of the Jedi's neck. He raised the spear, ready to puncture right through Starkiller's jugular.
Reacting on pure instinct, Starkiller summoned the serrated knife the Gungan had planned to use on Kaden earlier, pulling it through him. The Marked One stiffened as the serrated blade pierced right through his stomach. He staggered in pain, yet unwavering.
But the momentary distraction was all Starkiller needed. He Force Pushed The Marked One - and the Gungan landed right in the bonfire. He screamed and writhed, but the flames had claimed him, and soon, he was all but silent.
Starkiller stood up, bruised, bloodied and battered. He limped over to Kaden and Panaka, pulling off Kaden's gag.
"You do care about me!" Kaden misted over.
"Don't read too much into it," Starkiller grinned. "We need someone to slice through security systems." He put his finger on his chin thoughtfully. "And clean out the refresher from time to time."
Kaden wrinkled his nose. "Well don't just stand there, let me down!"
"Alright, don't get your lekku in a knot!"
"Tangled lekku's are a serious problem among the Twilek! Now get me down!"
Starkiller chuckled as he undid Kaden's bonds.
Behind him, a figure rose up.
A figure covered from head to toe in flames.
"Behind you!"
Starkiller heard Kaden's warning, but also felt the tremor in the Force. He turned around in sheer amazement as The Marked One, fully engulfed in flames staggered towards them.
Kaden gaped. "I-immortal ..."
The Marked One held out his flaming hand, palm pointed at Starkiller, attempting to use the Force to crush the life from this impudent young Jedi.
The flames proved too much.
The Marked One's knees hit the swampy ground, followed by his head. Starkiller and Kaden watched his prone form continue to burn away.
"No," Starkiller finally stated. "Very much a mortal. An instrument twisted by the Dark Side, but a mortal."
And Starkiller felt such loss, from a creature so horribly twisted inside. It was a loss, that a Force-sensitive had become such a mockery of the Gungan race.
All because of the Dark Side.
And in that fleeting moment, Starkiller felt a pang of pity for those tainted by the darkness. Even his former master.
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Panaka was still unconscious when Starkiller emerged from the swamp with Kaden. He held the unconscious commander in his arms.
"What should we do with him?" inquired Wedge as Starkiller approached Pooja's airship.
"He was a good man once," Starkiller said. "The Dark Side taints all it touches. We return him to Theed, allow him to recover."
"... and?"
Starkiller looked from Pujo to Juno. "I think I may have a lead."
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Starkiller was back in the penthouse, quickly gathering up supplies. They had to leave Naboo, and they had to leave Naboo fast. If Panaka regained consciousness anytime soon ...
The door to the penthouse slid open, revealing ... Kota!
Starkiller stared at the old Jedi, who was stretching.
"Where. Have. You. Been. General?"
Kota shrugged. "Wha? I was taking a nap with my lady love!"
"Lady love?"
Kota held up a bottle of Tarisian ale.
Starkiller rubbed his temples in frustration. "So let me get this straight. While I was busy fighting off a demented Gungan in a swamp, and saving Imperial officers trying to capture me ... you were off somewhere with a bottle getting drunk?"
"You were where fighting what now?"
"Nevermind, General. I have a lead on Anakin Skywalker!"
"Not so fast! I really think we need to get off Naboo. That Panaka guy is beginning to suspect us -."
Starkiller shot him a warning glare.
Kota looked at the clock on the wall, then down at the bottle of Tarisian ale in his hand. "How long was I out for this time?"
Starkiller gathered the last of his supplies. "We're going to Tatooine."
Kota stopped short. "T-Tatooine?"
"Yeah."
"Well that's a coincidence."
"What is?"
Kota shook his head. "I just spoke with Maris again. Her boyfriend's intel ... apparently between the time Skywalker was here on Naboo, and the Battle of Geonosis, he paid a visit to Tatooine. Was asking around for Shmi Skywalker. His mother."
It was Starkiller's turn to stop short. "The vision."
"The what now?"
"I had another vision. Skywalker with Senator Amidala. He was having nightmares about his mother and wanted to go to Tatooine to see her."
"Whoa." Kota held out a hand. "That is unusual."
"Starting to believe me?"
"Now don't start that business, boy! I'm not saying I believe. I'm just saying it's a coincidence. But if it means that much to ya', I'll come along for the ride."
Starkiller grinned, patting the old man on the shoulder. "Thanks, General."
"Now don't go all mushy on me, boy. Besides, Tatooine's cantinas have the best spiced Corellian ale this side of the Outer Rim."
Starkiller chuckled as he followed Kota out the door.
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Juno was waiting at the landing ramp for Starkiller and Kota. Starkiller gently kissed her on the lips. "Everything ready?"
"The Rogue Shadow is primed and ready to go. What coordinates should I set?"
"We're going to Tatooine."
"The sandball? Are you sure about this?"
Starkiller looked deep into Juno's eyes. His nightmares about her dying plagued him. "Of course I am."
Juno sighed. "Fine by me, I guess. Kaden, Wedge and Proxy are already onboard. Let's get a move on."
Starkiller began ascending the landing ramp.
"Starkiller!"
He whirled around to see Pooja, dressed in traveling clothes and nearly half a dozen bags of luggage, rushing towards him.
"Representative Naberrie ... what do you think you're doing?"
"What, you thought you were leaving without me?"
"Yes."
"Think again! You guys aren't getting rid of me that easily!"
Starkiller could barely contain his annoyance. "We barely have room as it is!"
"I'll take the cargo hold!"
"For the love of-."
"Listen!" Pooja jammed her finger into Starkiller's collarbone. "You're looking for information on Anakin Skywalker. Well I want info on my aunt! You think I buy the 'official' story of her death! I'm going to get to the bottom of it, and you're going to help me!"
"Like fun I am!"
Juno intervened, grinning from ear to ear. "Hey, the testosterone levels on the Rogue Shadow are high enough. Frankly, I could use some female companionship!"
"Thank you," Pooja replied. "Let's get a move on!"
Another voice cut through the hangar. "Have you all forgotten about me?"
They whirled around to see Zarbina approaching, covered in several shawls and scarfs. Starkiller was purely astounded. "And where have you been all this time?"
"Drinking with General Kota," Zarbina replied. "He can be quite charming when inebriated."
"Fine!" Starkiller threw his hands up into the air. "Let's just bring the entire galaxy with us! We can fly around in our ship, solving mysteries, playing music, drinking Tarisian ale! It'll be a great big party!"
"Sounds good to me," Pooja answered and, linking arms with both Zarbina and Juno, they strode up the landing ramp.
Starkiller shook his head in frustration. "Females ..."
He followed them aboard.
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