THE GENTLY SPARROW

The Gently Sparrow was a waste-hauler, running garbage, toxic waste and broken machinery from Coruscant to Hedna. At the moment, it was hurtling through hyperspace, returning to the Republics capitol to fill its cargohold with another million tonnes of waste. The captain sat with his feet up on the controls of the cockpit, letting the addictive spice of a stim-spike slowly fill his lungs. It was a good job, running waste and garbage; no pirates to worry about, no law-enforcers that went through your personal belonings in search for contraband. It was a quiet job, no great rewards, it payed the bills and it did not involve people shooting at him. The captain figured that was what had attracted the attention of his special guest onboard; a waste-hauler caused to trouble, never ran into any trouble and never ever was suspected of any foul play at all.

XXX XXX

"I am sorry, my lord" the nabooan valet of House Palpatine said, his holographic image depicting him with his head lowered out of respect. "But I felt I could not ignore a transmission from the queen herself."

"You did right to convey her transmission, Varié" Palpatine said, receiving the hologram of his personal aide in the close confines of the quarters offered by the less than luxurious vessel.

"I made sure that it was bounced off the antenna of your skyhook" Varié Lougera pointed out as he lifted his eyes from the floor. "Anyone trying to trace it will think you received the transmission there, as you instructed. I have seen no indication so far that the encryption has failed or been compromised."

"Good, very good" Palpatine nodded. "In the meantime, instruct my friends to join me as soon as I return to Coruscant. This terrible incident, this vile blockade, must be adressed properly. Only with our friends in the senate will we be able to force the Federation to obey the law. As soon as you have any further news about Valorums trip to Cato Neimoidia, let me know."

"Of course, baron" the aide said and bowed his head, and moments later the transmission ended.

Palpatine was alone in the dark room, a room that offered little other than a bed and a chair, a light in the ceiling and small table. His two droids stood guard over by the sealed door. Baron Palpatine tapped his cane against the floor as he fell into deep contemplation. Slowly, a smile grew on his lips, a smile that soon was wide and put his teeth on display. "It has begun."

THE JEDI TEMPLE ON CORUSCANT

"Grand Masters" Mace Windu said as he adressed the members of the High Council in their council-chamber, located at the very top of the great temples central spire. The view offered of Coruscant from this far up was truly astounding. "I must share with you a vision. I regret to inform you that I believe there is a plot in motion to destroy the Jedi."

The members of the High Council seemed skeptical, more so than troubled.

Depa Billaba, Grand Master of the Mystic disciplin, was perhaps more than simply sceptical. "Master Windu, are you certain of this? Perhaps you sense a plot against a single Jedi rather than our entire order."

"It does seem farfetched that there would be a plot against the entire order" Eeth Koth, the zabrak and first among Magisters, said. "One might aswell try and destroy the Republic as destroy the Jedi."

"Mandalore, tried did" Grand Master Yaddle, the five centuries old kermil, pointed out.

"Tried and failed" Depa Billaba countered. "The outcome of that conflict was inevitable."

The nautilan on the council, Grand Master Kit Fisto, was next to speak in response to Billabas reasoning. "It may have been inevitable, but it did not stop the Mandalorians from trying. We should not reject this vision experienced by Master Windu."

"Master Windu" Plo Koon of the Healer disciplin said through his breathing-apparatus, his voice deep and commanding, "can you describe this plot?"

Windu nodded. "It will begin with a tragedy, staged by a lone enemy of great power. The deaths of thousands will shift the scales and set in motion the plans that will haunt us all. And it will happen soon."

"Clouded this vision is" Grand Master Yoda, the second kermil on the council, said and closed his eyes and focused on the words of Master Windu. "Veiled by the Dark Side" the grand master of the Consular disciplin muttered, "but truth there is. Master Windu, the future has seen."

"Strange that I have not" Grand Master Billaba commented. "Interpreting the will of the Force usually is the province of the Mystic disciplin."

"True it is" Yoda said and nodded. "But the Dark Side, this vision revealed. And the province of the Watchers, the Dark Side is."

Plo Koon did agree with the Grand Master of the Consular disciplin. "We should not ignore this threat. I suggest we contact Grand Master Kota immediately and instruct him to order his Rangers to seek out this dire menace operating in the shadows."

"I agree" Saesee Tiin, the iktotchi on the council said, his features as ever locked in what could only be described as recentment.

Depa Billaba sighed. "What we should do is locate Grand Master Sifo-Dyas. His fate is unknown to us and I find that disturbing. And if Master Windu is correct, then we are in need of a Grand Master from the Watchers disciplin, in order to seek out this threat in league with the Dark Side."

"All the more reason to contact Grand Master Kota, I believe" Mace Windu suggested to the council.

Yoda simply nodded. "Indeed, Master Windu."

LOTHAL

Lothal was a planet of farmlands, of homesteads, ranches and praries. Great herds of beasts graced the grasslands and farmers plowed their fields. Communities were simple, efficient and without extravaganz. The people who lived here were hardworking, honest and simple folk who toiled the land and took care of their livestock, supporting a hundred other worlds with food.

The Eta-class shuttle, its wings folded up next to the dorsal wing, stood on its landing-gears up on a ridge covered in grass. From its position, one had a perfect view over the dozen or so farms located in the shallow valley bellow. Jedi knight Qui-Gon Jinn pulled his robes tighter around him as the winds grew in strength, the flat plains unable to restrain the winds and gales.

"What was her name again?" Qui-Gon asked the man joining him by the shuttle.

"Dalia Bridger" the old chaplain said. "Her older brother has a connection to the Force as well, but it is hidden deep within. There is great hope that his offspring, should he have any, will be worthy of recruitment."

"I shall mention it as we return to Coruscant" the jedi knight said.

"In the meantime we will keep an eye on him, and their mother" the chaplain added.

A small farmstead was located at the base of the grassy ridge and the family living there stood huddled in tears as their youngest, a mere infant, was carried away by a young man wearing the robes of a Jedi, accompanied by a redpainted R4 droid. Qui-Gons padawan kept his composure while the baby screamed and cried, needing the comfort of its mother, but Qui-Gon could sense that his apprentice had difficulty being comfortable about taking the child. As the padawan came up to his master, Qui-Gon moved his hand over the babys face and instantly calmed it by gentle persuasion with the help of the Force.

"It needs to be done" Qui-Gon said as the baby smiled at the padawan.

"I know, master."

"Control your feelings, Obi-Wan. This is the final test before the trials. Retrieving a prospect and being calm, passive, is a true indication that you are ready."

Obi-Wan Kenobi nodded and found inner peace and had complete control over his emotions as they boarded their shuttle, droid in tow. The chaplain headed for the family to offer comfort and guidance; indeed, having failed his training many decades before, he now served the Jedi Order by searching for future recruits and prospects across the Republic. One of his most important duties in his role as chaplain, was to ease the suffering of the family who would lose a child for the greater good, to offer them the comfort of the will of the Force, to offer guidance and insight. It was a difficult task to say the least.

Qui-Gon sat down by the controls while his padawan fed the baby with nutrient-fluids in the back of the vessel, and the Jedi knight had the shuttle take off and head for space. Behind them, they left a distraught family who had to give up a child, a daughter, for the good of the Old Republic. For the good of peace and justice. For the Jedi.

XXX XXX

Hours later, the shuttle was hurtling through hyperspace, the phenomena of travelling through a tunnel of pure blue energy filling the entire view from the cockpit. Qui-Gon appeared the true father-figure as he walked over to his sleeping padawan, the child in his arms still, and removed the nutrients-bottle from his apprentice hand. Returning it to its proper place, the jedi master carefully lifted the sleeping baby from Obi-Wans embrace and gently put it down in small sleeping-pod where it would rest more safely and secure.

Qui-Gon glanced at the baby and his padawan and smiled with a sigh, and then headed for the cockpit and took his seat by the communications-console, situated behind the pilots chair. Retrieving from his belt a small keycard, Qui-Gon studied the transmit-matrix as he held it up before him. Eventually he decided to use it and secured it in the proper socket on the communications-console and activated the signal. Once the lights were flashing, he sat back, closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Two hours later, Qui-Gon woke up as an incoming signal was registered on the console. He double-checked the nature of the signal and recognized it, made a gesture with his hand and using the Force the jedi master activated the dial that sealed the airlock between the cockpit and the habitat-compartment. Once he was on his own, he let the signal through and the consoles holo-projector activated and created a blue holographic image of an eldery mans head, face covered by a well looked after beard.

"Qui-Gon, it has been too long, old friend."

"Master Dooku" the jedi said, smiling at his old tutor and masters holographic transmission.

"Please, you surpassed my teachings long ago. And I left the Order many years ago at that. No need to be so formal, Qui-Gon."

"The bond between master and padawan is strong" Qui-Gon smiled.

"That it is" Dooku nodded. "How is your own young apprentice? I remember him being a prodogy as a youngling, before I decided to leave the Order."

Qui-Gon chuckled and nodded. "He is wreckless, with a longing for excitement, always with one eye on the horizon, the future. I constantly have to remind him to pay focus on the present, to listen to the living Force."

Dooku grinned as his former apprentice described his padawan to him. "A Ranger, I suspect."

"Actually, no. Sentinel" Qui-Gon said. "Headstrong, eager and quick to judge and quicker still to trust his instincts."

Dooku seemed pleased by this. "Good! The Order needs more Jedi of that calibre. Too many Scholars, Mystics and..."

"And Consulars?" Qui-Gon said with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Dooku did not deny it. "I have always been of the opinion that the Order spends too many hours discussing rather than acting. The only way to rid the Republic of corruption is through action, not lengthy sessions of debate. The galaxy needs a strong and firm hand, the galaxy needs jedi that are involved, not umpires at the sidelines."

"Power corrupts as surely as greed" Qui-Gon pointed out. "A jedi should not seek power."

"No he should not" Dooku agreed. "But like it or not, the jedi are powerful. And have it in their power to bring peace and order to the galaxy. But instead, Yoda and the High Council will have us sit idle as the Old Republic crumbles before us. To do nothing as the corruption grows in strength each year. That is not leadership, Qui-Gon. That is indifference. And I suspect that you share my hesitation towards the current situation in the galaxy."

"I do" Qui-Gon said with a sigh. "As a Consular, I come face to face with alot of the corruption that has crippled our society. It has been allowed to take root for too long. We can not rid the galaxy from it, Im affraid. We have failed."

Dooku stroked his beard as he considered his options. "What if I told you that there is a way."

Qui-Gon seemed hesitant. "How?"

"I have gained the trust of the Trade Federation" Dooku explained. "They have made me one of their counts and I am the personal advisor to the monarch himself."

Qui-Gon found it odd to say the least. "The Trade Federation? I would think they are the source to much of the problems in the Republic and the galaxy."

"Greed can be a powerful ally" Dooku reminded his old apprentice. "Through them, I will make sure that the Republic gets the chancellor it needs. The chancellor we all need." Dooku smiled at his former padawan, "I can not deny that I could use your help, old friend. Together, we could create a new republic that we could be proud of. A republic of strong leaders and lasting peace. I have forseen it, Qui-Gon. Join me and we will succeed."

Qui-Gon hesitated. "I sense conflict in you, master" he said. "Are you alright?"

"Such is life outside of the Order. Almost unavoidable. But I have my emotions under control and I am free to engage the enemies of the Republic as I see fit. Not constrained by Yoda and the council."

"I must confess that I don't always see eye to eye with the council" Qui-Gon admitted. "They are so eager in preserving the peace, that they completely ignore upholding justice. The Republic is no longer a pursuit to create a safe galaxy, only to maintain the status-quo."

"Then join with me, Qui-Gon" Dooku urged the Jedi knight. "Together we can end the corruption that has ravaged the Republic. Together we could create a prosperous and secure society."

"With the help of the Federation?" Qui-Gon asked, not entirely convinced.

Dooku nodded. "They have the resources and the contacts I need. I will put their wealth and influence to good use and place a chancellor of my choosing to lead the senate. A strong chancellor with integrity and dignity. A chancellor capable of creating a new republic, one of law and order and stability." Dooku paused, but Qui-Gon did not voice his own thoughts, something that told the former Jedi that he had managed to reach through to his old padawan. "Your thoughts betray you, old friend. Your feelings dwell on the child your apprentice will bring back to the Order."

"It is an unfortunate necessity" Qui-Gon said, trying to sound as confident as ever.

"Abducting children from their families?" Dooku asked, clearly of a different opinion. "Is that what you truly want to do? Protect traditions that allows the kidnapping of infants? You don't have to destroy families, Qui-Gon. I could not stand it and nor should you. Join me, Qui-Gon, and together we will change the galaxy."

"I will consider it" Qui-Gon eventually said, smiling at his old masters tenacity, "as soon as Obi-Wan passes the trials. But I make no promises."

Dooku grinned. "Again your thoughts betray you, my padawan."