THE JEDI TEMPLE ON CORUSCANT

The Jedi High Council sat in session, gathered to discuss troubling events; the disapperance of one of the councils members and a growing sense that the Dark Side of the Force was gaining power.

Grand Master Yoda, representing the Consular disciplin on the council, turned to a holographic projection of another council-member. "Grand Master Kota, what news have you?"

The shimmering blue projection looked troubled. "There is no word on the whereabouts of Grand Master Sifo-Dyas I'm afraid. I have recieved updates from nearly all Rangers all across the galaxy, and so far nothing of consequence."

The council-members found it disturbing. The disciplin of Rangers within the Jedi Order specialized in roaming the galaxy in search for plots and plans intent on undermining the stability of the Old Republic. Rangers had the most contacts, capable of retrieving the most reliable information on nearly any subject or situation. And yet, they knew nothing of what might have befallen a grand master of the Jedi who had not been heard from in little over a week.

"Could he be on a pilgrimage?" Plo Koon said, the male Kel Dor recognizable thanks to his facemask. "Perhaps he is on his way to Ahch-To, seeking clarity?"

Yoda nodded and hummed, closing his eyes. "I sense him not. In shadow, his fate is hidden."

"We should then en-devour to seek him out and ascertain the truth" the grand master of the Guardian disciplin, Kit Fisto, suggested rather demandingly, the nautilan jedi eager to volounteer.

"Master Windu" Ki-Adi-Mundi of the Sentinel disciplin said as he turned to the youngest jedi present in the council-chamber. "You are, as Grand Master Sifo-Dyas, of the Watchers disciplin. What are your insights?"

Mace Windu sighed and thought upon the matter. He was not a member of the High Council, not being his discplins grand master. However, with Sifo-Dyas missing, someone had to fill the grand masters seat on the council and the High Council and its members had elected Master Windu to represent the Watchers disciplin for the time being.

Windu eventually shared his thoughts. "Sifo-Dyas has for the past few years been secretive of his actions and suspicious concerning many matters in the Republic. He was especially concerned about matters surrounding the battle of Whills. As a fellow Watcher, I would say that he either grew paranoid because of insights into the Dark Side, or... Or he discovered something troubling. So troubling that he did not dare to trust anyone, not even his fellow jedi."

"Present you were, at battle of Whills, yes?" Yaddle inquired of Windu.

"Indeed I was" Windu nodded.

Plo Koon interlocked his fingers as he adressed his fellow Jedi. "The plot to assassinate the Zygerrian empress, and start a war between the Zygerrian Empire and the Galactic Republic, was deemed to be the creation of members within the Corporate Alliance, seeking to earn profit from such a conflict. Could that assessment have been the wrong conclusion? Perhaps Sifo-Dyas discovered something else?"

"Or he could have gone rogue... or even turned" Saesee Tinn thought aloud, the iktotchi looking grim as he voiced the possibly.

Windu refused such theories. "Sifo-Dyas was a Grand Master of the Jedi Order. He was loyal and well versed in the ways of the Force. He would never betray our trust. I will begin to search for clues to his whereabouts as soon as we are done here."

"Find him we must" Yoda then said to ease the discussion. "A dangerous path, Sifo-Dyas had chosen, why else a grand master of the Jedi Order would disappear I do not know. For his disciplin, too perilous the path was. To his fate discover, another disciplin should be chosen. Master Windu, a Watcher you are and send a Watcher we can not."

Grand Master Rahm Kota's holographic projection was next to speak. "Let me select a Ranger to the task. We will find Sifo-Dyas, I promise the council."

Yaddle of the Scholar disciplin, shook her head at the suggestion. Being of the same species as Grand Master Yoda, her way of speaking was typical of their kind. "On this matter, no use Rangers are to us. No news they have now, no news they will have later. Another disciplin, send we must."

Kota, while not pleased by the verdict, did keep his emotions in control. "Then may I ask that the Jedi chosen to depart on this mission at least has a Ranger as padawan?"

"I think I know whom to send" Ki-Adi-Mundi said and gained everyones attention.

XXX XXX

Satele Shan, Jedi Knight of the Guardian disciplin, entered one of the many chambers dedicated to meditation in the Jedi Temple. She was accompanied by her padawan, a Twi'lek female named Kayo Kai Kahn, who had already been accepted into the Ranger disciplin among the Jedi. In the large chamber they were greeted by Grand Master Ki-Adi-Mundi and Grand Master Saesee Tinn. The two younger jedi bowed low out great respect and then sat down with the two revered and experienced grand masters.

"Jedi Satele" Ki-Adi-Mundi said, a slight smile on his lips as he adressed his old pupil.

"Grand Master" Satele replied, a smile on her lips aswell. "You summoned."

"I did" Ki-Adi-Mundi nodded. "I have an assignment for you. One of great importance."

"Of course" Satele said with a bow of her head.

Ki-Adi-Mundi glanced over at Saesee who replied with a nod. Ki-Adi-Mundi returned his attention to the two younger jedi. "Grand Master Sifo-Dyas has gone missing. His fate is uncertain and we must discover what has happened to him."

"Yes of course, grand master" Satele said, understanding the serious nature of the situation. "Are there any leads at all?"

"None" the iktotchi cut in. "None apart from nine days ago, when Jedi Jentun was the last to speak to Sifo-Dyas."

Ki-Adi-Mundi sighed and nodded. "Sifo-Dyas was, according to Jedi Jentun, on his way on urgent business. We have checked the data-logs and found that the grand master took a transport to Kramalg, a planet some thirty parsecs away from Coruscant. That is the last lead we have. The Rangers have followed up on several leads since then, but nothing has come of it."

"You will go to Kramalg" Saesee muttered, "and start your search with fresh eyes. Succeed where the Rangers have not. Find out what happened on Kramalg and why he went there. Be wary, for the path you will walk will take you to a place where a grand master of our Order was found wanting."

"You are capable, Jedi Satele. The High Council sees this. May the Force be with you" Ki-Adi-Mundi said and offered a nod of respect to his former apprentice.

Satele Shan took a deep breath; she knew that she was about to embark on the most important mission of her life. Looking over at her padawan, it was evident that the young twi'lek felt the same.

THE JUSTICAR

The Justicar was a medium freighter, secretely in the service of the Jedi order and served as the personal transport of Rahm Kota, Grand Master of the Rangers discipline. Its quarren pilot, Logron, sat in the cockpit and conducted systems-diagnostics, illuminated by the spectacular view provided by the phenomenon that was the so called hyperspace-tunnel. Logron, once a youngling training to become a jedi before failing his trials, turned his attention to the controls as a communications-signal connected with the ships computer.

Rahm Kota was going through reports from his fellow Rangers together with Groul, an aqualish serving as the jedis intelligence-officer. The reports included discovering new sensitives and wielders, possible future younglings and prospects, destruction of criminal activities and supporting local authoroties in ending corruption and injustice. As Logron entered, Groul looked up.

"Yes, Logron?"

"We have recieved a transmission from Coruscant" the quarren informed. "From Grand Master Yoda, master" he added and faced Kota directly.

Kota sighed, placed his work to the side and headed for the ships central chamber where the main holographic display was located. Sitting down, Kota allowed the transmission through and shortly after the holo-projector displayed the image of Grand Master Yoda as he was seated in a chair.

"Grand Master Kota."

"Yoda" the simple reply was.

"Upset you are to be denied the search for Grand Master Sifo-Dyas" Yoda said, leaning against his cane.

Kota in turn slowly fell back into his chair to rest his aging spine. "Sifo-Dyas is a good friend. But my emotions never hold sway over my actions."

Yoda nodded. "A credit to the Jedi Order, you truly are, Grand Master. That is why, a task, I have for you."

"Task?" Kota was intrigued, yet suspicious. "Such as?"

Yoda grunted and sighed. "The Dark Side, strange it behaves. For eight-hundred years, it has not in this way acted. Not since the days of Darth Revan."

Kota leaned forward at the mention of the Dark Lord. "Are you saying the Sith have returned?"

"No" Yoda slowly shook his head. "But certain of this, we must be. Need you, I do, to seek out the cause for the Dark Sides behavior."

"Without the Councils approval?" Kota wondered, suspicious of the nature of the transmission.

"Yes" was the simple answer provided by the ancient jedi. "To Kessel I will send you."

Kota knew all too well what that meant, why the spice-mines of that world was of interest to the Order. "Kessel? He is a drunk and a spice-addict. The Watchers have chosen to ignore him, he is not a threat to us."

"But the Mystics, interest in him have" Yoda countered. "His connection, strong is to the Dark Side. Use him you will, and the cause you will find."

"You mean strengthen his connection to the Force? To the Dark Side?" Kota was not comfortable with the idea. "Sacrifice him?"

"For a greater cause, yes" Yoda said and nodded, his face grimly determined. "Unless emotions, your decisions sways, Grand Master."

Kota smiled at Yodas blunt approach. "What about right and wrong? Is it right of us to sacrifice this one man?"

"To preserve the Republic?" Yoda asked. "Yes. Without the Republic, many more than one man, die will. Without a doubt."

"Even though this man has a stronger connection to the Force than most, untrained as he is?" Kota asked. "Is that not to go against the creed?"

"Strong he is in the Force, yes" Yoda acknowledged. "Use this to ensure peace, we will. The creed of the jedi, that is."

Kota closed his eyes and with a sigh found inner peace. "For the Republic" he said as he opened his eyes once more.

"Sworn to protect it, we are" Yoda said. "And protect it we must."

"To Kessel then."

THE FLOWER RIDGES, NABOO

The jedi monastery was located up on a hill, surrounded by the massive ocean of flowers and bushes that covered the rolling hills and ridges of the region. The scenery was breathtaking and was ideal when searching for inner peace and personal calm. As the royal sloop of House Amidala, escorted by two fightercraft of classic naboo design, a thousand birds fled the carpet of bushes and flowers, taking to the skies in flight from danger. As the ships came in for a landing not far from the monastery, a small group of monks walked out to greet their guests.

Captain Panaka of House Amidalas guard was fist to set foot outside of the sloop, before the baroness herself, Queen Amidala, along with her trusted handmaidens, exited the luxuary vessel. The two fighterpilots joined them soon enough; Colonel Temuera and Major Ric Olié.

"Your majesty" the oldest of the monks said and bowed out of respect. "It is a great honor to have you visit our humble monastery. How can the Jedi Order be of assistance?"

Amidala bent her knee ever so slightly in a show of respect for the chaplain that was adressing her. Regaining her posture, she spoke. "I am certain you are aware of the blockade that has been put in place by the Trade Federation."

"That I am, your highness" the chaplain replied, slowly nodding.

"It is an illegal one" the queen continued. "A blockade that will being despair to the people of Naboo. I am here to convey a message to the Jedi Order, if you are willing to allow me to do so. The Federation would not dare interfere with jedi communications, after all."

The chaplain nodded at the reasoning. "They would be foolish to do so" he agreed. "But I can not interfere with simple politics, your majesty." The answer was obviously one that upset the young queen of Naboo. "I am merely here to observe, to keep watch for possible prospects to be recruited by the Order. Politics and diplomacy is not a task I am prepared for, I'm afraid."

Amidala kept her calm. "But this monastery is part of the Jedi Order, and the jedi are sworn to upheld law and order, are they not?"

"True" the aging chaplain admitted. "A task for jedi knights, by the command of the High Council, on behalf of the Senate" he corrected the queen. "We do not run errands for local nobles, enterprises or anyone else. The jedi ensure peace and stability, for the sake of the Republic, your highness. If I am to offer you support, I will do so when instructed to do so by the jedi. No-one else."

"You have the ability to save many people, sir" Amidala pointed out. "If the jedi put pressure on the Federation, we could avoid an armed conflict."

"We could" the chaplain admitted quite casually. "But we might just as easily start one in the future, when the jedi reputation has been tarnished by picking sides here on Naboo. I am sorry, my lady; my hands are tied."

Clearly upset, Amidala did keep her thoughts to herself as she excused herself and boarded her vessel once more. As the nabooans took off and headed back for Theed, the chaplain followed them with his eyes for as long as he could before they disappeared out of view.

"Establish a link with Coruscant" the chaplain told his fellow monks. "I have urgent news for the High Council."