Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.
CHAPTER 8
Epiphany
The distinct echo of Yoda's gimer stick tapping against the marble floors of the Jedi Temple resounded through its expansive halls, filling the otherwise silent area while the aging Master steadily toddled towards his destination. He had scheduled a meeting with former Senator Amidala after she had requested an audience with him earlier in the day and he had every intention of keeping the appointment. The strong-willed politician from Naboo had long been a friend and ally not only to the Republic, but to the Jedi as well. Not only that, she was the wife of none other than Anakin Skywalker, which was no doubt the reason behind her wanting to speak with him.
The diminutive Jedi huffed as he continued on his way…he knew that the retired representative of the Galactic Senate was going to want answers that he could not answer. The fact of the matter was that young Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi had gone missing on the hellish planet of Korriban. The only information that he could supply the headstrong Senator with on the subject was that Mace Windu and Aayla Secura had gone to assist the other two Jedi, but had found nothing besides their abandoned starfighters since their arrival to the deserted homeworld of the Sith.
Much to his chagrin, the disconcerting visions that Yoda had warned Master Windu of were coming to fruition. The critical events that had built up to Skywalker and Kenobi's untimely disappearance had all occurred without his knowledge that they would eventually lead to the disturbing future that he had foreseen.
It was fortunate that Mace had realized what was happening upon hearing news of Obi-Wan and Anakin's terrible development. Yoda had told his fellow Jedi Master that both Obi-Wan and his old apprentice would soon be faced with great obstacles – obstacles that they would need help to overcome. The dark side was growing within the galaxy once again, though not nearly as prominent as it had been with Darth Sidious…yet. However, this new presence was just as elusive as the treacherous Sith Lord had been while disguising himself as the resolute Supreme Chancellor and beloved leader of the Old Republic. He could only hope that this enemy was nowhere near as deceitful as Palpatine had been and it would reveal itself before more damage could be done to the united systems that the Republic consisted of.
Yoda's gaze fell on two elegantly dressed women and one golden protocol droid that teetered just behind them while they strode down the hallway in his direction, their steps determined and purposeful. A wistful smile found its way onto his withered features as they drew near.
"Lost patience, have you?" Yoda smirked, fondly regarding his visitors. "No longer as expeditious as I once was, am I. Another testament of my advanced age, it is."
"I apologize for barging in like this, Master Yoda, but I am eager to find out what is happening with Anakin and Obi-Wan," Padme replied. "The Jedi have been overly secretive about disclosing their whereabouts."
"Tell you of their situation in person, I wanted to," Yoda somberly retorted.
"Situation?" Sabe intervened from beside her friend. "What situation?"
Yoda took a deep breath before responding. "Heard of Korriban, have you?"
"Korriban," Padme repeated the name in recognition while she furrowed her brow in deep concentration. "I am somewhat familiar with it. Anakin has mentioned it before, but I don't know much beyond the fact that the Sith originated there."
"To Korriban, Skywalker and Master Kenobi have gone," Yoda continued, detecting the Senators surprise and fear at the startling information through his unique connection with the Force. "Sent there in search of The Falard, they were."
"And…" Sabe said expectantly, speaking for Padme after noticing that her friend seemed to be slightly flustered by the news.
"Lost contact, we have," Yoda replied. "Sent to help, Masters Windu and Secura were. Report back, they will, once Anakin and Obi-Wan have been found."
"Oh dear," Threepio blurted out while he listened from a close distance.
"How long ago did you lose contact?" Padme anxiously questioned.
"Recent, it was," Yoda answered.
Padme's expression grew wary. "What are they doing to find them?"
"Everything, Senator," Yoda confidently stated. "Stop, we will not, until they are found and brought back to Coruscant."
"Padme," Sabe whispered as she softly nudged the retired politician with her elbow, receiving a reluctant glance from the other woman in return.
Catching the brief exchange, Yoda rested his hands atop his worn walking stick and patiently looked between his two guests. "Something to tell me, have you?"
Padme cleared her throat and cast Sabe one more glance before turning back to the waiting Jedi Master, hesitating for a short moment before proceeding.
"As a matter of fact, I do. Last night I had…a dream of sorts," she began, instantly grabbing the Masters full attention. "As you know, I am not Force sensitive, so it obviously wasn't a vision, but…it also wasn't any normal dream. Sabe found me walking in my sleep after I had already wandered out of my room. I remember thinking that it was morning, but it was still dark out when she found me. It was just before she woke me that…I saw an image of Anakin and a creature that had taken his life. Master Yoda, I don't believe it was a hallucination or some figment of my imagination. I believe that it was a warning."
"Similar encounters, many Jedi have had," Yoda immediately confirmed. "Concealed in darkness, was this creature? Its identity hidden beneath a hood, perhaps?"
"Yes, it was," Padme answered as her eyes widened in recollection. "What does this mean, Master Yoda? Why would I be having these encounters?"
"A strong presence in the Force, your bond with Skywalker has given you," Yoda retorted. "Difficult to separate your signatures, it sometimes is. A target, it has made you…"
"What do you mean 'a target'?" Sabe asked defensively, suddenly concerned for her friends' safety.
"Attempting to disrupt the Jedi, this being is," Yoda said calmly as he shook his head in unrest. "Trying to infiltrate our minds in order to inflict confusion and panic, it is. With you, it has the same intentions, Senator. Allow it to create fear, you cannot. Allow it to succeed in consuming your thoughts, you cannot."
"I'm afraid I still don't understand," Padme admitted. "What would this being have to gain by attacking me?"
"Undetermined, its motives are," Yoda replied while his eyelids slid shut. "Clouded by the dark side, it is. Impossible to tell."
Slowly exhaling and opening his eyes, the small Jedi moved to resume his walk, the two women and their nervous droid following in tow. Once he was afforded some spare time, Yoda would be sure to meditate on their current predicament and look further into Senator Amidala's involvement in the mysterious beings ultimate plot.
Korriban looked no better close up than it did from afar. The landscape was a wasteland of dead and dying wildlife, the air itself stale and bitter as its chilling breezes nipped at Aayla's Secura's exposed skin. Just as she had suspected, she and Master Windu had discovered that it was indeed R2-D2 who had been transmitting to them from the planets barren surface. Shortly after they had set down on the ancient gravesite of the Sith, they had found two unoccupied starfighters; those of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. While leaving Obi-Wan's R4 astromech droid and their own behind, they had set out to find the missing Jedi Masters with Artoo as their guide. Aayla and Mace had been extremely disappointed when the excitable droid had led them to a vicinity littered with the corpses of several fallen figures – all of which dawned dark robes and markings on their faces – but they had not been discouraged from continuing their search. Each of the figures had been skewered or cut down, the lacerations and deep injuries on their bodies indicating those that could be easily identified as wounds sustained from lightsabers. The residue of the conflict could still be felt lingering in the air around them.
"I think it would be safe to say that these warriors were introduced to Obi-Wan and Anakin's lightsaber blades," Aayla dryly remarked.
"It would appear so," Mace agreed.
"Artoo, scan the area for any active signs of life. See if you can't track down who or whatever was here and find out where the survivors went," Aayla instructed while she surveyed the unsettling scene before her. "If there were any survivors, that is."
"There were survivors," Mace reassured his companion. "I can still feel something nearby."
Aayla cautiously studied their surroundings. "Let us hope that it can't feel us."
A series of low whistles and chirps emitted from Artoo after a long wait. Unfortunately, his scans had come up with no results. That meant that the trail went cold from where they stood, leaving them with nothing to go by but their eyes, their intuition…the guidance and direction of the Force. But the Force was tainted on this world – altered and impaired by the pure energy of the dark side that flowed like a torrent of waves, washing over and lashing out at the light, drowning everything in its path as it engulfed all life that it came into contact with. The Force was not natural on Korriban. It was so plagued and poisoned by the corruption of the dark side that it felt an impossible feat to cleanse it of its deteriorating disease, that it could never be salvaged, it could never be saved from the clutches of the Sith's past existence and occupation on its cursed soil.
"Search for clues," Mace said as he crouched down, intently inspecting the ground in front of him. It had obviously been trampled by various entities during the skirmish that had taken place. "Footprints leading away from the battle site, trails…anything that might be able to send us in the right direction. As of now, we have no leads. We need something to set us on the right course or we will be walking blind."
"Take a look around, Artoo," Aayla ordered as she herself moved to investigate.
Artoo beeped an affirmative before conducting his own search. The three of them had only been wafting through the area for a few standard minutes when Aayla and Mace suddenly shot upright, straightening their backs as a familiar Force signature called out to them like a homing beacon.
"It's Obi-Wan," Mace stated first.
"Where is he?" Aayla asked, holding a hand up to her temple while she did her best to locate the missing Jedi Master.
"He is being moved," Mace replied as he did the same. "He is being transported off planet. We must return to our ships and pursue him."
"They could be luring us into a trap, Master," Aayla warned.
"Trap or no trap, that is Obi-Wan and he needs our help," Mace retorted, urgently hastening through the dead bodies at his feet and starting back in the direction from which they had come. "Quickly, we don't have much time!"
Without delay, Aayla followed suit with Artoo hot on her heels…
After their meeting with Master Yoda back at the Jedi Temple, Padme and Sabe had taken an air taxi to 500 Republica. Even though Padme hadn't visited Coruscant much since she had stepped down from her Senatorial duties, she had kept her apartment in the building as a place to take up residence in on the rare occasions that she did return. After all, Anakin was a Jedi Master and he still had to check in with the Temple on a regular basis. From time to time, she would join him on his trips back to the city-planet to catch up with old friends and acquaintances that she had served alongside. And despite her not having any official stand in the Senate any longer, her voice still carried a great weight among its representatives and delegates. Deep down, she knew that she would always have a spark for politics. She had spent most of her life speaking for people who could not speak for themselves and she remained just as passionate in her beliefs that peace would prevail – that liberty and justice would flourish – as she had been before she had ever even taken her place on the throne of Naboo so many years earlier.
Rummaging through a wide range of datapads, she had wasted no time in pulling up whatever historical documents she could about the Sith's ancient homeworld, Korriban, in hopes of learning more about its cultures and the dangers it presented to its inhabitants. She had put Sabe to work as well.
"Find anything useful yet?" the former chief handmaiden of the Theed Royal Palace asked.
"Not yet," Padme replied distantly, too enthralled in the datapads that she was skimming through to tear her gaze away. "These records don't give many details. They give information about the magocratic dictatorship of the Sith, but nothing about the planet itself."
"And what exactly are you looking for?" Sabe inquired.
Padme released a heavy sigh as her shoulders sagged in exhaustion. "I don't know. I just…I can't explain why, but I feel that we are overlooking something important."
"You're too stressed out, Padme," Sabe replied soothingly. "Maybe you should try and get some rest. We can pick up where we left off in – "
"Wait!" Padme suddenly exclaimed, lifting one of the many scattered datapads close enough to her eyes that it almost touched her face. She quickly read through the strings of writing, her lips twitching in fascination while she did so. "I found something."
With her interest peaked, Sabe leaned over to peer down at the datapad from where she sat. "What is it?"
"It says here that spice miners and smugglers have been known to operate on Korriban from time to time," Padme answered. "According to this, the Horuset system has been all but deserted since the Sith's rule, and illegal traders have occasionally relied on the location to stay under the radar while managing their payments and goods. The latest case was discovered…almost seven years ago."
"How does that help us?"
"It talks about hidden routes and passages that were used by the crime rings," Padme explained as she continued to read, an aggravated frown plastered on her face. "But it doesn't say where they are."
"Surely the Jedi will know," Sabe speculated.
"These are the same records that the Jedi have in their possession," Padme sighed. "Their Archives mostly contain history on the Sith themselves, not Korriban. Master Yoda told me as much."
Sabe's forehead creased in obvious unease and concern. "Just what are you thinking, Padme?"
A knowing smirk soon replaced the retired Senators frown. "Are you hungry?"
Trailing behind Padme while she bobbed and weaved through the crowds that filled the walkways of Coco Town, Sabe glanced around at the various businesses and dilapidated establishments that lined its dirtied streets. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of walking, her friend stopped at the entrance of one of the local restaurants and gazed up at the sign that hung above its main doors.
"Dex's Diner?" Sabe pondered aloud.
"Trust me," was the other woman's blunt response.
Without another word, Padme pushed her way into the eatery and Sabe rushed after her. Once inside, she was pleasantly surprised. Though quaint and outdated, the small café was much nicer and cleaner than the kind of place that she had expected to waltz into. The environment was warm and the setting was nostalgic – reminiscent of older styles that most newer cantinas and diners had abandoned long ago. The bars and tables were occupied with what could only be described as common folk. Hard-working laborers and ordinary Coruscanti patrons sipped at cups of freshly brewed Jawa juice and ardees while others ate full meals, many of them sharing in gossip and idle chatter.
Stepping up to the main counter, the two women were immediately greeted by a whirring and wheeled WA-7 droid.
"Welcome to Dex's Diner, would you like a table?"
"Actually, I was hoping to speak with Dex," Padme spoke up. "I am a close friend of a friend."
"Dex, you got company," the droid called back over its shoulder before drifting away to tend to the other customers.
Emerging from the back kitchens, one of the cooks casually approached the counter while he wiped his multiple hands with a washcloth. Padme knew that he was Dexter Jettster the second she saw him. Obi-Wan had often mentioned the burly Besalisk when recalling what he had referred to as 'interesting' incidents from his past.
"Well, what can I do for you ladies?" he asked politely.
"We are friends of Obi-Wan Kenobi's," Padme replied. "We were hoping you might be able to help us."
The husky Besalisk heartily laughed as he slapped one of his numerous hands on the counter in front of him, briskly walking around it to join his visitors on the other side. "How is ol' Obi-Wan? Hasn't been around for a while. Of course, the life of a Jedi Master is a busy one."
"He is…on an assignment right now," Padme said, hesitating uncomfortably.
If he noticed her pause, Dex didn't acknowledge it. He gestured towards a vacant table and ushered his guests to its empty seats, plopping himself down opposite Padme and Sabe as they slid into one of the sides.
"So, how can I help?" he questioned once they were all seated. "Any friends of Obi-Wan's are friends of mine."
"We were wondering if you know anything about a planet called Korriban," Padme started, keeping her voice low to avoid being overheard by eavesdroppers.
"Korriban?" Dex whispered back as his eyes widened like saucers. "Listen, gal, there are some things you are better off not knowin' about. Korriban being one of 'em."
"It is imperative that we learn everything we can about it," Padme firmly countered.
"Might I ask why two lovely ladies such as yourselves would be interested in such a dreadful destination?" Dex retorted while his stare turned skeptical and scrutinizing.
"My husband is stranded there," Padme said, determination lacing her every word. "Anakin Skywalker."
"Anakin Skywalker!" Dex gasped. "Stars' end, what has he gotten himself into?"
"Trouble," Sabe remarked.
"Please, tell us what you know," Padme pressed on, her expression desperate and imploring.
"This may take some time," he warned.
Padme's eyes remained locked on the Besalisk. "We're in no rush."
Running one of his massive hands over his contorted face, Dex Jettster let out an exasperated sigh and heavily slouched in his seat.
"Obi-Wan is gonna owe me one for this…"
