CHAPTER-15
Aarya sat in the chamber of Sidious. He was talking along with someone. She stared beyond the window into the city-planet of Coruscant. She didn't know what was happening, but something was happening. Sidious then turned towards her after a long time. He walked up to her and touched her shoulder. She turned towards him. Her face bore every sign of innocence. The only person she could trust now was the man who was looking at her. Sidious then sat beside her. He too stared at the city-planet beyond the window.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" he asked slowly. Aarya nodded. She then hugged him suddenly.
"It's okay, everything will change now." He spoke softly. He patted her on her back. She resisted the flow of tears.
Far away in the galaxy, in the planet of Naboo, the queen had managed to make an alliance with the local Gungans. A plan for the retaking of the planet from the Trade Federation was being made.
"We have three Jedi, a Gungan army and a few loyal soldiers." Captain Panaka spoke.
"We need to make do with what we have." The queen spoke.
"How can we fight a huge army of droids with a tiny force?"
"Wesa Gungans can fightsa." The leader of the Gungans replied.
"It's a risky one, milady." The captain commented.
"It's the only plan we have. And moreover I am the biggest weapon we have. The Gungan army shall distract the Federation while a small party will go and bring the fight to their door." The queen declared.
"Have you asked the Jedi?"
"I will now." The queen replied. She then turned towards the Jedi and walked towards them. Jedi master Qui-gon and his apprentice were quarrelling.
"But master…" Obi-wan began.
"Be mindful of the present Obi-wan. The other is to be found. And we need to bring her to the Jedi order." Qui-gon replied.
"That may be true but we must also keep in mind that she is a dark sider. We don't know if she can be turned to the light side or not." Jedi master Dooku spoke.
"No, I don't think she can be turned. I think it is permanent. The boy will be only a light sider. The girl will only be a dark sider. If that is how the force wills it, it has to be so." Qui-gon replied.
"The council won't accept her." Obi-wan spoke.
"They won't. But there is no other option." Qui-gon replied as he turned to the queen who was approaching them. He made a short bow.
"Milady…" he greeted.
"Greetings, Master Jinn, Master Dooku and Obi-wan." The queen greeted. The respective men bowed to her.
"We have come up with a plan. I just wanted your opinions on it." The queen spoke softly.
"Go ahead." Master Dooku spoke.
"We plan to make the Gungan army fight the Droid army. This will serve as a distraction as a small party will lead the fight in the palace. Once we capture Gunray, I will form a new treaty. This will free the planet from the Federation's clutches. Please decide where you all will to place yourself." She spoke softly.
"Master Dooku over here is a good political analyst. Obi-wan and I are good negotiators. Where would you want us to be, milady?" Qui-gon asked softly.
"Please call me Padme, milady sounds slightly wrong. I think it would be good if you three come with us." She replied.
"Very well, Padme." Qui-gon replied. Soon the plan was in place.
The Gungan army attracted the droid army while the party of the queen left to the palace. As soon as they entered the palace landing platform, the royal pilots hopped into their fighters and took off to destroy the headquarters of the droid army. Anakin was made to sit in a fighter with Artoo looking after him. The blast doors were opened and Darth Maul stood there waiting for all of them. Qui-gon, Obi-wan and Dooku ignited their blades. Maul removed his dual bladed hilt and ignited it while facing the Jedi.
"Go with the queen. We'll handle him." Qui-gon told to Dooku. He turned to him and nodded. Before he turned to the queen, Dooku held Qui-gon's hand and said, "Remember, you are and will be my son." Qui-gon nodded and smiled. He then turned to Obi-wan and nodded at him. The master and apprentice fought the Sith while the older master fought alongside the queen.
Maul fought the two Jedi. All he had in his mind was a burning rage. But somewhere in the middle of this rage, was a tiny emotion of mercy; his heart wanted to spare them both. Something told him that they would be important later on. He immediately reprimanded himself. He had to focus on the Jedi. He had to stop the queen. He had to fight on. He had to be ruthless. He pushed the apprentice away while he faced the master. The master radiated a gray side, while the apprentice the light side.
The queen and her party ran towards the royal chamber. As they were in a corridor another type of droid appeared. It activated its shields and stood before all.
"Droidekas." Captain Panaka called out softly. Master Dooku observed for a short while. He then used the force to turn the two Droidekas on each other. Soon they ran to the royal chamber where the Naemodian skinks were. As they ran towards it, a tiny droid group came towards them. They were forced to drop their weapons and surrender to the droids. As they were dragged to the Naemodian, Padme had managed to contact someone on the other end of her comm device. The party was taken inside the chamber. Gunray stood inside grinning. He had captured a Jedi.
"Your tiny rebellion is at end, your majesty." The Naemodian said. He had recognized her by the cold tone in her voice. She indeed was younger without all her office robes. The queen stared at him with her usual cold glare. The Naemodian shuddered. He then turned and instructed the droids. Suddenly, a blaster was fired at his direction; the 'queen' was standing at the doorway.
"I'll never submit to you, Viceroy." She spoke in a cold voice. The Naemodian instructed the droids to go behind her. As soon as the room was clear, the queen pulled out a trigger and managed to corner the Viceroy.
In another part of the same palace, Qui-gon and Obi-wan were fighting Maul. The three were ferocious fighters and were giving each other a good fight. Suddenly Maul kicked Obi-wan to a lower stage as he and Qui-gon fought. Obi-wan got up and followed the fight. Qui-gon and Maul took the fight to the laser gates of the power generator of the palace. Suddenly the gates were closed. Qui-gon was stuck between two gates. Maul was on the other side of the gates. Obi-wan came running and stood on the other side. The master waited patiently while the apprentices were desperate. Maul stood there pacing like a panther waiting to strike. Obi-wan stood there waiting like a wild cat to pounce. Suddenly Maul saw something familiar in the scene. It was the same as it was in his vision. This was the end he was to face. He was to kill the Jedi master and the apprentice was to kill him. All his life was to be ended in a few moves. If he only had options; options to lead a life. He would have taken it. But there were no options, none were there any now. The gates were down and the master jumped at him. Maul defended himself. He knew what would happen now. He saw the gates shut as the apprentice came. The apprentice was only one gate away. Maul and Qui-gon fought each other with a new energy. Suddenly, Qui-gon realized that he had made a mistake. Maul noticed it and stabbed the master in the midsection. Qui-gon heard someone yell his name, it was Obi-wan. Maul then retracted his lightsaber. He then walked up in front of the apprentice. The gate was still on. Maul closed his eyes and reached out to Aarya through their bond.
Aarya was sitting on the floor in the chamber of the Chancellor Palpatine. He too was sitting beside her. The two were staring across at the city-planet. Suddenly Aarya felt a call. She stood up suddenly.
"Maul." She whispered slowly forcing her tears back.
"Aari…" He whispered back. The sheer amount of love and trust the two had been enough to move the heart of the chancellor. He stared at the child as she let the tears flow down her cheeks.
"Will you come back?" she asked.
"I will." Maul whispered as the gates opened. Obi-wan attacked him immediately. Aarya felt the fight from where she was. She felt the familiarity and yet the strangeness lying in the fight. She felt the fear and confidence in Maul. Maul managed to push Obi-wan behind. He then turned towards Aarya and spoke.
"Be true to yourself." He said slowly as Obi-wan readied himself to land a final strike.
"Dad…" Aarya whispered.
"May the force be with you, daughter…" Maul whispered back as he saw Obi-wan's lightsaber cut him in the middle and throw him into the garbage chute. Maul smiled as he fell.
"NO…" Aarya yelled. A sudden cut in the bond which she had with Maul caused her to let out a strong force field, one strong enough to break the shield of Sidious and one which shook Sidious himself. He got up and immediately created another shield. He protected the two and moved to comfort the young child.
Anakin had managed to destroy the droid army's head ship and flew back to the royal landing port. After a few hours, he received the news that he was the apprentice of the Jedi Master Dooku and that Qui-gon, his father figure, was no more. He had to accept what was there as he could choose nothing else.
As one would say, the journey of the force-lings had begun when a part of them was yanked away from them…
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NOTE- Leia Skywalker: Dawn of Change shall be uploaded now as Mended split is over. The releasing date may vary. I'm sorry but I've got exams coming up.