Thank you for the positive feedback, everybody! I'm glad to see some familiar faces (well, names anyway) along with the new reviewers. I hope you'll stick around and read the rest of the story. I thought I would post again to get it moving along a bit, but I'm afraid I probably won't be able to update as often as I did with "Order 66" (though it shouldn't be too long in between posts). As for the length of this one, I'm not sure how long it will be…I normally just stop whenever I'm done writing, it's not really planned out for any specific length. Anywho, without further ado, here's the second chapter…

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.

CHAPTER 2

Discovery


Aayla Secura kept a watchful eye on her surroundings while she steered her tauntaun through the raging blizzard that whipped around them. She remained ready and alert, knowing full well that the fierce storms and bone-chilling temperatures were not the only dangers that awaited a traveler on the Hoth plains.

Protecting yourself from the freezing environment was only one of the many priorities one had to focus on whilst traveling the dangerous land.

Despite standing over two meters in height, the vicious and feared wampa ice creature was nonetheless a stealthy predator. Its physiology was so well adapted at conserving heat that it didn't even show up on most life-form sensors – its species having escaped detection for years as a result.

The menacing beasts had white fur that served as the perfect camouflage, and the howling winds of Hoth were deafening enough to mask their approach from their prey. These attributes drew galactic big game hunters from the furthest reaches of the galaxy…hunters that favored the risk and prestige that came along with claiming a wampa trophy. The hunger for a new challenge had cost many trackers their lives.

Though the wampas lived in caves carved from the natural ice, they would often venture out before dusk to hunt – dragging their victims to their dwellings and suspending them from the icy ceilings until they were ready to feast. Never hunting when hungry, they preferred live meat whenever possible. As such, they would try to keep their prey alive and preserve it for as long as they could. Aayla could only hope that the creatures had already returned to their homes for the evening, but the Jedi stationed on the frozen world had been plagued by savage attacks during scouting duties ever since their initial arrival, even at late hours. Luckily, there had been no casualties and none of them had become meals as of yet. In the Twi'lek's opinion, their past encounters had ended reasonably well.

She was suddenly stirred from her thoughts when she spotted something lying in the snow just ahead of her. Not able to see beyond the white haze of the blizzard, she strained her eyes to get a better look and slowed her tauntaun as she led it towards the bulky form that rested on the ground before her. Pulling back on the reins that she held firmly in her hands, she hastened to climb down from her tauntauns back and tightly wrapped her arms around herself in a futile attempt to fend off the cold. Carefully stepping over to the dead animal that lay sprawled out at her feet, her spirits sank when she recognized it…


Varykino had always been beautiful. Surrounded by a shimmering lake and rising mountains, the island lodge had served as a soothing sanctuary for former Senator Padme Amidala ever since the earliest days of her childhood. Restlessly placing her arms upon the elegant railing in front of her, the Naboo woman allowed fond memories of her past to fill her thoughts as she peered out at the enchanting display of sparkling water from her vantage point on the Lake Retreat's balustrade. Following her marriage to the love of her life two short years earlier, she and her Jedi husband had taken up a permanent residence at the family getaway. They had made it their home and – like the treasured memories from her past that would never be forgotten – she cherished the new memories that she and Anakin had created during their time together.

The retired politician happily smiled to herself when she replayed the magical evening of their wedding over in her mind. However, it vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. Her heart ached at the thought of Anakin not being with her to celebrate their approaching two-year anniversary. Though he had spent most of his time living peacefully on Naboo, he had recently been summoned to Coruscant to consult with the Jedi Council and discuss 'official Jedi business'. He had been sent on a mission to the distant planet of Hoth soon after. The routine assignment was initially expected to last only a few days, but he had been gone for nearly a month now and Padme was growing increasingly lonely due to the absence of his warm and comforting presence. Without him, she was left with a great void in her life.

Letting a heavy sigh escape her lips, she fought to bury the constant yearning that threatened to consume her soul and silently prayed that her husband was still safe. She had received a few recorded messages from him over the weeks, but knew nothing of what was transpiring on the frozen world of Hoth. He had given no details in the transmissions, only words of love and assurances that his duties would not keep him from Naboo for much longer…that he would be coming home as soon as he could.

Doing her best to push the troubling thoughts aside, Padme lost herself in images and memories of a much simpler time. A time of innocence, a time of joy…a time when she didn't have a care in the world. She could remember swimming out to the neighboring island just across the lake and admiring the intricately designed vases and necklaces that had been made from the native sands by an elderly crafter. The aging man had been kind and generous, often giving his sculptures to the Naberrie family as gifts to mark the changing of seasons. She had spent countless hours staring deep into the glass when she was younger, mesmerized by the shapes and curves that gave the jewelry the appearance of rippling water. They were truly captivating works of art – several of the old gifts still decorating the spacious terrace of the Lake Retreat.

"Oh, there you are, Miss Padme."

"Did you need something, Threepio?" Padme asked as she casually turned around to face the familiar golden figure of her worrisome protocol droid.

"We were instructed to alert you once we had finished preparing the guest quarters," he cheerily replied. "You will be pleased to know that me and Artoo have everything in order."

Padme grinned when the small astromech droid emerged from behind his fussy counterpart, slightly nudging his leg as he took his place beside him.

"Yes, Artoo, she knows you helped," Threepio stated after the blue and white droid gave a series of anxious chirps and whistles in his direction. "Miss Padme is entirely aware of how resourceful you can be."

"Thank you both," Padme interjected, instantly putting an end to their bickering. "Sabe should be arriving tomorrow morning. You two can shut down for the night if you would like, I won't be needing anything else until then…"

"Come along, Artoo," Threepio said as the two droids obediently sauntered back inside, once again leaving Padme alone on the veranda with nothing other than her thoughts to occupy her time.


Darkness. Obi-Wan Kenobi could see nothing but darkness and the unsettling glint of the durasteel walls that stretched along either side of him – the same walls that had surrounded him for the last few uneventful hours. Thus far, the wizened Master had yet to have found anything within the deep hatch that he and his old apprentice had stumbled upon…he could only assume that the other Jedi was having just as much luck as he was.

Raising the glowing blade of his lightsaber in front of his face, Obi-Wan squinted his eyes to better penetrate the black nothingness of the corroder as he peered straight ahead at the seemingly endless path that awaited him. He slowed his pace when he detected a strong presence not far from his place in the enormous cavern, growing more tangible and prominent as he cautiously drew closer. He released a sigh of relief once he finally recognized the Force signature and a tall frame stepped out of the shadows. His former padawan emerged from the darkness with a slightly disgruntled expression, the hilt of his deactivated lightsaber clutched tightly in his right hand.

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan blurted out. "How in blazes did this happen? Where did you come from?"

"The same place you did," the younger Jedi replied. "Apparently we have been walking in circles."

"Yes, it would seem we have lost ourselves," Obi-Wan agreed, lowering his weapon to his side and thoughtfully stroking his bearded chin. "This is not good at all. Have you found anything?"

"Nothing of importance," was Anakin's blunt response. "Not a single door or passage. If I didn't know any better, I would think we have been placed in some kind of maze. It is beyond me what purpose this could possibly serve…"

Hastily snatching his polished lightsaber from its place on his hip, Anakin suddenly ignited its blue-white blade and whirled around to look behind him.

"I feel it too," Obi-Wan remarked, quickly following suit and lifting his own weapon in a defensive position once again. He could feel a powerful surge in the Force just as Anakin had. It was so strong that it felt as though it was beckoning him, but there was no doubt in his mind that whatever it was, it posed a threat to both of them. The Force called for him to protect himself and it had never led him astray before. "Do you see anything?"

Just then, a short distance away, a crimson blade burst to life and illuminated the walls around them. They both braced themselves as the light of the humming weapon cast an eerie glow over the concealing cloak of a hooded figure. It remained where it was, but crouched low in a menacing stance and was clearly prepared to strike.

Obi-Wan furrowed a brow. "I believe we may have found what we were searching for. Any suggestions?"

"It's only one, we should have minimal trouble in incapacitating it," Anakin retorted, not diverting his gaze from the mysterious figure. "However, I'm all ears if you have any other ideas you would wish to share."

"I'm afraid not," Obi-Wan warily replied. His eyes widened a moment later when several more red lightsaber blades appeared as if out of nowhere, revealing a group of hooded warriors behind the first. "Oh dear…"

"Let me guess, Master," Anakin commented with a wry grin. "You have a bad feeling about this?"

Without warning, the numerous figures sprang forward to attack – some charging on the ground while others flipped through the air for an overhead assault. Red and blue clashed as the pair of Jedi returned their blows and swiftly countered the advances of the swarming enemy.

Jumping to the side when one of the approaching figures lunged at him, Anakin expertly planted his foot off of the nearest wall and vaulted through the air, cutting his adversary down while he gracefully whirled above him in midair. He sliced through the torso of a second figure once his feet landed back on the ground. Then, somersaulting back as another blade was stabbed into the floor directly in front of him, he shoved his next attacker back using the assistance of the Force and hurriedly turned to check on Obi-Wan's progress. He glanced over just in time to spot the elder Jedi Master as he spun around in a full-circle, effortlessly taking out two of the cloaked figures in a perfectly executed offensive maneuver.

"Master, we – "

Before he could finish his sentence, Anakin suddenly sensed something moving behind him and instinctively dove aside just as a crimson blade grazed the fabric of the cold-resistant garbs that covered his shoulder. Obi-Wan didn't skip a beat and threw his own lightsaber through the air – skillfully hitting his mark and instantly dispatching the last standing attacker as it made contact and pierced its chest. The figure that had lashed out at Anakin dropped to its knees before completely collapsing in a lifeless heap.

"Thanks," Anakin muttered, moving to the fallen figures side and retrieving the lightsaber hilt from its chest. He handed the device back to Obi-Wan as he joined him and knelt down to inspect the mysterious assailant. "They definitely aren't the Sith. We never could have taken out a group of Sith Lord's that easily."

"I am inclined to agree," Obi-Wan replied. "But that leaves us with one very important question…who are they?"

Tugging on the figures dark cloak, Anakin rolled it onto its back and stared into its pale face as its hood fell back. It appeared to be a human male – most likely around his age, he guessed – with black markings painted across its cheeks.

"What are these symbols?" Anakin asked, pointing to indicate the foreign markings.

"I am not familiar with them," Obi-Wan admitted as he leaned forward to study them closer. "Perhaps the Council will be able to shed some light on the subject."

"I would like to know where they acquired these crystals," Anakin immediately retorted, activating the deceased attackers lightsaber and intently observing its scintillating blade.

Unlike the elegant armament of the Jedi Order, the cloaked figures had brandished the blood-red lightsaber blades of the Sith. The weapons obviously contained the same Adegan crystals that the sworn enemies of the Jedi had used before becoming extinct, though they were extremely difficult to locate. Only the Sith had possessed the distinct jewels, and only the Sith had built and constructed their weapons with the rare power sources as the culmination of their training. To carry a lightsaber was an example of incredible skill and confidence, dexterity and attunement to the Force…to wield the crimson blade of a Sith Lord meant that these gifts would be applied to conquest and the atrocities of the dark side.

"None of this makes sense," Obi-Wan pondered aloud. "Perhaps…"

Anakin flicked the switch to the weapon off and extinguished its blade as he turned his full attention to his old Master. "Perhaps what, Obi-Wan?"

"Could it be that they were merely training?"

"Training?" Anakin questioned. "I'm not sure I follow."

"Tell me, what could they possibly be gaining from hiding here?" Obi-Wan asked in puzzlement, rising back to his feet and folding his arms across his chest. "Maybe they wanted to be left alone to ready themselves."

"You mean a training facility?" Anakin inquired while he stood as well.

"You are too late!"

The two Jedi Masters swiftly spun around and ignited their lightsabers when an angry shout met their ears.

"The golden age is upon us, Jedi," one of the cloaked figures declared as it picked itself up from the floor and rose to its full height.

Before another word could be said, it quickly activated its lightsaber and spun it around in its hand, impaling itself with the deadly blade. Obi-Wan and Anakin watched in stunned silence as it crumbled back to the ground. They both deactivated their weapons when it remained there, silent and unmoving.

"That was…unexpected," Obi-Wan remarked, skeptically glancing around at the other motionless bodies to make sure that the rest of them were truly dead.


Mace Windu stood stoically with his hands clasped behind his back while Master Yoda sat to his side, eyes shut in quiet contemplation. The flickering image of Stass Allie patiently waited for the diminutive Jedi to respond. Her face revealed a great deal of trepidation and sadness, but she still managed to maintain most of her usual proud and noble demeanor.

She had contacted the Temple in Coruscant shortly after Aayla Secura's departure from their base on Hoth. Much to Allie's dismay, the Twi'lek Master had left to seek out Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker – two of the Order's most revered heroes – after they had vanished from their surveillance grid. The distressing news of Allie's unavoidable responsibility and obligation to lock the outpost for the night was deeply bothering her. The decision had left three Jedi Masters outdoors to combat the bitter climates of the frozen world and she was not taking the consequences of her actions lightly…if something were to happen to them, she would never be able to forgive herself. Their fate would forever be on her head.

"The right thing, you did, Master Allie," Yoda finally spoke up. "In the best interest of those under your command, you acted. Trust, we will, in the Force to bring them back safely."

Stass respectfully bowed. "Yes, Master."

"Let us know if anything should change," Mace added as he returned the gesture and the transmission came to an end. Then, taking a moment to consider what they had just been told, his attention eventually settled on Master Yoda. "This is most disturbing. Do you suspect foul play?"

"Discover in time, we will," Yoda solemnly answered. "Unclear, their paths are."

Nervous and on edge, Mace slowly made his way over to the massive window to the Council chambers that overlooked the city-planet of Coruscant. He watched the busy streams of traffic pass by for a long moment before sighing in exasperation.

"We will need to contact Naboo and inform the Senator…"