Star Wars 2.0

Episode 1: The Secret of Naboo

Chapter 5

Yoda sat cross-legged atop his cushioned stool before his holo-communicator. Three light-blue figures stood atop it, their voices tinned and broken from the lightyears that existed between them. Their projections were nearly the size of Yoda, and he could look straight into their eyes without straining his neck as they spoke.

The figures were projections of Qui-jin and Anakin together in the city of Theed, and of Obi-Wan with his R2 unit somewhere else on Naboo. Yoda got right to the point, telling them the shocking news that Palpatine was responsible for the hidden army that Obi-Wan had discovered. Even more strange was how lacsidazical he was about it. In seeing the surprise of his fellow Jedi, Yoda even wondered at his own subdued outrage. He had clearly been planning this secret army for years behind everyone's backs. But Palpatine's informality had been infectious, and Yoda felt he had gone along with it more easily than he usually would.

Obi-Wan was particularly upset by the news, and was the one to remind Yoda what a serious matter this was. "At least one of us must remain on this planet and monitor the situation," Obi-Wan said.

"Yes," Yoda said, almost as if reminding himself of the gravity of this situation. "That should be you, my apprentice. The queen and her staff have met with Qui-jin and Anakin. Expecting their departure, they will be. And remaining will be conspicuous. But already in hiding are you, Master Obi-Wan."

The heads of both Obi-Wan and Anakin jolted at Yoda's last words. Referring to an apprentice as a "master" was an important moment. It meant he either was, or was soon to be, declared a full-fledged Jedi Knight. Neither padawan had been expecting this, especially considering the fact that Anakin had been more highly praised recently by the Jedi Council for his actions and accomplishments.

Qui-jin was not surprised by the implied promotion, and went on with the conversation. "What does Senator Palpatine plan to do with this army?"

"Prepared, he wishes to be, for such eventualities as the one unfolding on Oresys."

"So he'll be sending them to deal with the Neimoidian?"

"Counselled against such a rash move have I until determined we are as to what their full intentions are." Qui-jin nodded agreeably while Yoda continued, "You and your padawan shall return to Coruscant. There shall you await the results of the Senate investigation of Oresys."

Anakin looked ready to jump forward with a question, but Qui-jin beat him to it, "The Senate is going to Oresys?"

Nodding, Yoda answered, "Senator Organa is leading a committee to investigate the claims of the Jedi."

Now all three tried to speak at once, but Obi-Wan beat them to it. "Investigate the claims? You mean our claims!"

Yoda furrowed his brows at Obi-Wan and said, "Careful must you be, my padawan, for anger and pride lead to the dark side."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said, recognizing the implication of referring to him once again as a "padawan."

"Surely the Jedi are sending someone to escort the senators," Qui-jin said. "If the Sith are still there, they could be walking right into a trap."

Yoda sighed. "Expressly forbidden, the Jedi are, from going to Oresys, or anywhere within Neimoidian space."

Obi-Wan was indignant, but he said through gritted teeth, "They attacked us."

"Truth and emotion, often are these difficult to reconcile," Yoda said.

Qui-jin nodded reverently and began, "We will return…"

But Anakin stepped forward past his master who stared at him indignantly and blurted, "Master Yoda, if the Sith truly are there, the presence of the council will at the very least cause them to leave, and we will be unable to trace them. We should send someone covertly to investigate; and to protect the senators should something happen."

Yoda nodded, though the wrinkles of worry on his face implied that it was despite himself. He then said, "Agreed. Last chance, this may be, to learn of their plans. Discretely, you must go, to Oresys. Let not the senators know you are there, but keep eyes on the events, and seek out the hidden Sith. Senator Palpatine has a way to smuggle you onto the world. From there, alone will you be, and cut off."

Qui-jin and Anakin bowed, the latter more energetically than the former. Yoda's holographic image faded away into nothing before them, leaving only the white platform of the holo-projector in the lounge of their ship. Qui-jin's eyes were shooting daggers at his padawan, though Anakin made a point not to notice. He strode away toward the front of the ship saying, "I'll inform the pilot."

"You have made a bad habit of contradicting me," Qui-jin scolded.

"Master?" Anakin asked, turning to Qui-jin with only a hint of surprise.

Qui-jin's face was flushed red, and he was visibly repressing anger as he said, "It is not your place to second guess your superiors in the Jedi order."

"But it is, Master Qui-jin," Anakin said. "When a grievous mistake is about to be made, it is important for any member to make it known to avoid disaster. You taught me that."

Qui-jin took in a deep, frustrated breath. His words had come back to haunt him more than once. He had been pugnacious in his younger years as well; often finding alternative solutions that others in the Jedi Council had not considered. It had been his greatest asset, and his deepest flaw. Tosho Shiro had warned him that karma would one day catch up with him, and now Qui-jin heeded those words as his apprentice excused himself again to get the ship ready to fly.

Owen Skywalker stepped down the ramp of his freighter and turned toward the hangar crew unloading his ship. They were a mixture of local Neimoidians, their worker droids, and a foreign, imported race of beings with four tusks launching out of their mouths. The hangar itself was typical of the architecture on Oresys; cut out of the rock and half underground, the over-ground portion made of sturdy materials that created tall towers. It was a world of stark differences. Mountainous towers overshadowed tiny hovels; hot days gave way to freezing nights; mild plains turned to dense woods and then to rocky hillocks in as many miles. It was not a world Owen preferred to visit, but they paid well, especially today.

The crew's foreman approached him from the side with the electro-clipboard with which he would make the payment. It was such a tidy sum, Owen wondered what could be so valuable they would pay such an amount. The mystery was made all the more curious by the fact that the containers had been sealed with defense mechanisms, and part of the job required Owen to avoid Republic patrol ships.

So as Owen signed off on the funds transfer, he asked, "What's so valuable to you fellas?"

"None of your concern, smuggler," the foreman insisted, yanking the clipboard away. And just because Owen asked, the foreman marched over to the containers to make sure the seals hadn't yet been broken.

They weren't. Owen knew better than to risk being stiffed, or being turned into a stiff, by opening his clients' containers. However, he had looked. While his ship was on autopilot and Owen was sleeping, he had been awoken by a strange feeling that gave him goosebumps upon opening his eyes. He couldn't tell what it had been, but he knew that his intuition was telling something. And he had learned long ago that his intuition was a bit more than just a strong feeling brought on by suspicion.

This hunch had led him to the smuggling cargo hold, a series of panels in the wall behind his circuitry boards. A strong sense was drawing him toward it, like the air wavering before him. He at last gave into the Force, and allowed it to take over his will. At that moment he saw through the wall, the circuitry, the hidden compartments and finally into the crates. There he saw pieces of robots packed tightly inside, like a pile of bodies all folded together.

When he had snapped out of his vision, he had first wondered why anyone would feel the need to smuggle droid parts. Then it had occurred to him; the parts he had seen were not just any droid, they were combat droids, crab droids, among other powerful monstrosities. The Neimoidian were preparing for war, but with whom Owen had no idea.

Normally, he would not care about internal politics, but something about this felt different. It was that same intuition that was never wrong, and that led to sleepless nights. There was something more insidious about what they were preparing for, something that would continue to toy with Owen's anxiety. He did not feel that he had to know what the Neimoidian were preparing for, but he had to know why his mind couldn't let it go.

And so he paid and arranged for a completely maintenance overhaul of the ship, top to bottom. It would take at least a full day, so he would have time to search the area to see what was putting pressure on his already beleaguered mind.

The city of Theed straddled the edge of a dramatic cliff with mighty waterfalls dropping off all sides, like long strands of hair rolling off a shoulder. The resultant mist provided an enigmatic veil through which the lucent city resembled an oil painting.

What mattered most to Obi-Wan at the moment was the thick greenery of the woods which surrounded the city, and some of the tall hills upon which he could look over the valleys; for it was within this cover he was able to remain concealed along with his R2 unit while they kept watch over one side of town.

Obi-Wan did his last sweep with his range-finding binoculars, spying on the roads leading in and out of town, and the public squares and private allies where he might spot something suspicious. Nothing but the usual events of a town preparing for rest. And so, too, would it be time for the Jedi padawan, soon to be a knight, to get some rest in his makeshift hovel and leave the searching to his droid, who would be far superior at reconnaissance during the night.

He could see that the droid had already begun its sentry duty before Obi-Wan could give it orders. This little domed robot had a keen awareness of its surroundings and its duty within them. So Obi-Wan decided to test it. "You're well-travelled, are you not?"

The droid turned its attention, and the lit dome that resembled its eye, toward Obi-Wan, who continued, "I'd be willing to bet you've run across Twilek trans-jazz five-bar along the way."

The droid turned its blue and silver dome away from its companion and pointed its projector down toward the ground. It shot out a beam of light which formed into a three-dimensional hologram, much more visible at twilight than during the day, of a dancer with an exotic instrument slow dancing as a smooth, rolling tune emerged like a whisper out of R2D2's speakers. The droid multitasked by pointing its sensors toward the town, searching for any out of the ordinary activity that might warrant re-awakening the human.

Pleased with the droid and satisfied that all was well, Obi-Wan Kenobi folded his arms in the meditative stance he learned at the Jedi academy, and a smile melted across his face as he dropped into slumber with the sound of his favorite music mixing with the rhythmic noises of the woods.