Perspective

Chapter V

Eela had been on Tatooine for five days, and the planet was starting to intimidate her.

More specifically, the feeling of darkness covering everything. It wasn't natural, and it was interfering with her senses. Obi-Wan felt similarly, and privately Eela thought that he wanted to get the mission off Tatooine as soon as possible. He didn't say anything, but he didn't have to. They were all feeling it.

But so far, even after five days, they had still found very little. They had searched all of Mos Eisley (including the ruin Eela had laid her eyes on all those days ago) but had found nothing. They had travelled to neighboring settlements and found nothing.

At least until yesterday. After splitting up, Eela had travelled several miles to Mos Espa. There she had picked up the scent of a darksider, and she tracked him to a shop selling spaceship parts and the like. After overhearing a very interesting conversation with a Toydarian, she had attempted to follow the darksider, but lost touch. After contacting Master Koon, she travelled back to their ship.

The following morning, as the twin suns were starting to appear over the horizon, the three Jedi arrived in the city, and Eela had a bad feeling. As if the force were warning her something was going to go wrong.

On the brisk walk to Watto's shop, she asked Master Koon about it, but he only said, "I agree it may be risky, but this is the only lead we have. We have to confirm and investigate what you heard yesterday."

The morning was growing very warm as the suns rose, and as they neared Watto's shop, the bad feeling Eela felt was only getting worse. They couldn't go in Watto's shop. Something bad would happen.

"Dex, it's good to see you up and well!"

Dex Keen, Jedi Master and member of the High Council, glanced behind him to see Syra Prize, his former padawan, walking towards him through the large walkways of the Jedi Temple.

Syra was a medium-height human, with shoulder-length silver hair, and a mischievous face. Her brown eyes were smiling, standing out against her pale skin.

"Syra," he said, happy to see her, "I haven't seen you for awhile. How are you?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You're asking me that? When did you get released from the medical wing?"

Dex's eyes clouded. His injuries were still painful, although much less than a week ago, just after he was brought in. He was very lucky to be alive, and he knew it. "The day before yesterday," he said, "Although I'm on strict instructions to take it easy for the few days."

Chatting on like this, they walked through the temple, catching up on recent events. It was nice to talk with her – she had known him a long time, as he had been teaching her the ways of the force from when she was just thirteen. Now she was a fully fledged Jedi Knight, they saw less of each other, but they remained good friends all the same.

Her comm beeped. Glancing at it, her face turned grim. "What is it?" asked Dex, sensing something off.

"I've got to go to the Council in a couple of hours," she groaned, "What- oh ok."

"What is it?" He was on the Council, but had no idea what it was about.

"Reports," she said, just as his comm beeped.

"I've got to go," he said, "Take care."

She nodded. "Say hi to Eela for me."

He nodded. He knew Eela was on Tatooine, and had a bad feeling about it, but he could not place what. Master Koon and Kenobi were with her though, so she would be alright.

Five pairs of eyes were watching the Jedi as they entered Watto's shop. Four of them prepared to make their move.

Plo Koon too was feeling an increasing sense of danger heading into the store. He could feel that Eela felt the same, and that Obi-Wan too was apprehensive. But they had to follow up what Eela had overheard. It was the only lead they had.

There was little light in the shop – what there was came spilling in from outside, as lighting the end of the counter. They could see half-finished droids, a collection of wires...it appeared to be a place which sold second-hand junk.

They were greeted by an old, blue Toydarian, his wings flapping non-stop. "Watto?" asked the Jedi Master.

"That's me," answered the creature, "What would you like?"

"We aren't here to buy anything," Plo Koon told him, "We want to ask about one of yesterday's customers."

A hearty laughter echoed throughout the room, sending chills down the spines of the Jedi. Not Watto's laughter – no, Plo Koon recognised that laughter, and he knew Obi-Wan also did when he ignited his lightsaber.

"It doesn't matter what you're here for, my friends," Dooku said, stepping out from the the shadows off to Plo Koon's right, "You're not going to get it."

Plo drew his blue blade as well, turning to face the Sith Lord, "You're hopelessly outnumbered Dooku."

Obi-Wan and Plo Koon spread out, Plo Koon moving to Dooku's right, and Obi-Wan to Dooku's left. Eela stayed where she was, but ignited her green lightsaber. If it was only Dooku here, why was the force screaming danger to her? Plo Koon was right – he was outnumbered.

It's a trap.

"I think not," Dooku, answered, smiling in triumph, igniting his red blade.

From the shadows surrounding them, four red lightsabers ignited, surrounding them. Eela whirled around, backing towards her fellow Jedi. Plo Koon and Obi-Wan too took a step back, partially turning to get a look at their opposition.

There were two tall, almost identical men. They wore the same, long black Sith robes, both held a red lightsaber, and had the same, long dark hair. Their skin was pale, essentially a grey-white. With burning red eyes and lithe bodies, they looked deadlier than Obi-Wan remembered Darth Maul being.

They had flanked the three Jedi, which had falling back into a triangle, and the last two red lightsabers were carried by Asajj Ventress, a smug grin coating her bald head. Watto was nowhere to be seen.

Eela had had a bad feeling about coming here. But she hadn't tried to stop them. Gripping her lightsaber, she tried to mentally prepare herself for fighting the darksiders, trying not to focus on the fact it was her fault.

But who were they? Why were they here? She had never seen – or even heard of – anyone like them before. And weren't there only meant to be two Sith at a time anyway? She didn't know. Trying to keep panic at bay, she refocused her thoughts into any possible way out. But there were none she could see, unless another unknown came into play.

If only her Master were here now.

But Master Keen was back at the temple, recovering from his injuries. She tried to reach him through their force bond, but Tatooine was a long way from Coruscant. He could probably feel her worry, but not much else.

"Now, Master Jedi," Dooku gloated, "You can either cooperate, and come with us, unharmed, or try and fight, and die. It is your choice."

The meeting was growing long, and Master Keen was getting weary. He mentally shook himself. What's going on? I never lose focus.

It was true. Dex had almost always been able to keep sharp in Council meetings, even the longest and most boring ones, and this one was neither. Am I ok? It had only been an hour and a half.

The day was getting on – that much was true. He had a bad feeling about Eela...but he had to focus on now. Eela would be fine.

"Master Keen?"

Glancing up out of his thoughts, he apologised. "Sorry I- I zoned out, it won't happen again. I apologise."

"Feeling ok, are you?" asked Master Yoda.

"Yes," he reassured (himself) the Grandmaster. "What is happening?"

"We think we have a lead on Seron Rin," explained Master Windu, "Master Ti discovered that he was tasked with taking a weapons package to Lok perhaps a month ago. Her source told her he would meet someone when he arrived at a location on the planet pinpointed by a set of coordinates. We are debating whether to send someone to help her."

Dex nodded, shivering at the thought of the bounty hunter. Was this to do with why Syra was coming in later? He wished he had been paying attention.

"We do not have many Jedi to spare," The hologram of Shaak said, "I should be able to do this myself."

"Regarding Seron Rin, we can't afford to take any risks," Master Mundi explained. Looking at Dex, he said, "Especially after what happened last time."

Darkness. The sound of running feet and heavy breathing. His own.

"Who are you sending?"

"We have a couple of options," Mace Windu explained, "As we are all aware, both Master Keen and Master Prize are extremely able when it comes to tracking, although Dex is injured."

His favourite green eyes, a scream of pain.

He inwardly shivered. He remembered last time he went after Seron Rin. He didn't want to go again.

Everything was going wrong. It wasn't meant to happen like this.

"Why don't we send Syra Prize?" Someone asked.

"Dex!" His favourite voice, full of agony.

What was going on? That had all happened years ago, and he had put it behind him.

He couldn't let this happen. He had to do something.

He couldn't let this happen. Not again. Not after what happened last time. He had a duty to do.

"I will go," he voiced. When everyone looked at him in surprise, he said "I have to go. I have experience with him before. And as Master Windu said, I'm extremely able when it comes to tracking."

"Injured, you are, Master Keen," Yoda told him. "Foolish, it would be, especially when available, Master Prize is." He didn't add the other reason it would be foolish.

"Oh Dex...foolish as the rest of them..."

His eyes flashed. "I have to go. I'm almost recovered. Master Prize can come too." When Master Windu tried interrupting, he said, "I have unfinished business with Seron Rin. I've got to make up for what happened last time."

He watched the Jedi approach Watto's shop in anticipation. He knew the Sith were there, waiting for the Jedi to walk into their trap, where they could not escape.

Should he warn them? They were outnumbered, and surely wouldn't be able to escape. But there were potential repurcussions he did not want to face.

Seron Rin was positioned opposite Watto's shop, on the roof of a local bar, crouching out of view. He wanted to leave – the thought of the Jedi finding him was not one he wanted to entertain. He did not want to fight them, and to cooperate with them could lead to them discovering who he was. He wasn't ready to face his past.

You can't leave them. They used to be your friends – you can't do that. Not again.

But a part of him still needed to help them. The same part which had saved the lives of numerous Jedi throughout the war.

But he had never found himself in a situation like this before. The Jedi beforehand had always been endangered by droids, something easy to blast from a distance. Conscious, powerful Sith Lords? A bit more difficult. He could face them, but it was a bit harder to eliminate the danger and run.

Especially when there were four of them.

Furthermore, one of the Jedi would recognise him, and want to kill him. The girl, whom he had treated to more pain than she deserved. Now, he regretted what he had done, but knew he had to stay out her way. If she remembered...but she wouldn't. He had seen to that.

This is your chance to compensate for what you've done.

Compensation? When had anyone spared a thought for their actions against him?

You're not like those who hurt you. You're better than them. Show it!

What a joke. At one time, he may have been – a long time ago – but now he was lower than the scum of the galaxy.

He had to leave. The force would decide the outcome. The Jedi were bound to sense something – they couldn't be taken fully unawares. The force would warn them. Would it?

You can't leave them! His conscience – or his past – screamed at him, trying to make him do the right thing.

As he mentally wrestled himself, the Jedi disappeared inside.

"Who are your friends?" Plo Koon asked Count Dooku, venom apparent in his voice, "I don't believe we've met." He knew they could not go to where the Sith would take them. They would never leave. But at the same time, they were outnumbered. And Eela was just a padawan.

He had to buy time. He didn't know what for, but he had to try.

You can't win. Now despair was seeping in. Great.

Buy time for what? They're not going to get bored and go to sleep.

Something.

"More powerful than you could ever be," Dooku answered with a grim smile, "I don't want to kill you, Master Koon. Please see sense and come with us in peace."

"Just like you didn't want to take Anakin's arm?" asked Obi-Wan, "Sure."

There had to be a way out.

There is a way out, Plo, whispered the voice inside his head, You just need my help.

No. The dark side would just play into their hands. He would be no better than Dooku.

What's the harm? You can forget about me for the rest of your life afterwards.

It was tempting, but no. If he was going to die, he was going to die a Jedi.

Plo Koon raised his lightsaber.

As soon as the meeting was over, Dex rushed to his quarters and collapsed on his bed, under an onslought of memories, pain and nightmares he thought he had put behind him.

A hand slipping from a rock. "Dex!" the scream echoed between the cliffs.

A pair of blue eyes attatched to a face, a purple lightsaber flashing through a never-ending hurricane of blaster fire.

His favourite auburn hair, his favourite laugh, cool and refreshing and beautiful as a Shilerrian waterfall.

An explosion, the sudden disappearance of his force signature.

The flash of a mismatched pair of eyes, the blue, and purple-green irises staring hard.

Another scream. His name. He turned, in time to see her disappear forever.

A scream of pain. "Master, help us..."

Dex! Dex, wake up!

"Dex! Dex, wake up!"

His eyes snapped open and his body slowed its writhing movements, until he just lay there, panting, staring up at his former padawan. "What happened?"

"You tell me," the worried voice of Syra Prize said, "You were shaking like crazy."

"Eela's in trouble," he panted, sitting up. He didn't know how he knew. He just did. "We have to go to Tatooine."

"You cannot win," Dooku laughed, "You would be foolish to try fighting."

"It is never foolish to fight the dark side," sneered Obi-Wan, gripping his lightsaber, readying himself, "Only the weak succumb to it."

Dooku just laughed, raising his own lightsaber, preparing to kill the Jedi. The other two Sith raised their blades, preparing to slaughter the Jedi.

Obi-Wan struck first, attempting a jab to the stomach of one of the twins – at least, they seemed like it – but it was deflected easily, his blade being knocked to the side, and he found himself forced to defensive, having to block an overhead strike. Plo Koon lunged at Dooku moments later, his blade flashing. Dooku blocked easily, and Plo found himself having to defend from the other twin.

Ventress leapt at Eela, and Eela rolled aside, looking to find room to move and gain advantage, but Ventress was already there when she came up, launching a series of successive strikes, driving the young padawan back.

It was hopeless. In her peripheral vision, Eela saw a flash of red and knew Obi-Wan was out the fight. She wanted to check on him, but she had to use all her concentration to keep Ventress's red blades at bay, trying to force an opening. But now the twin was looking to attack her as well, and she knew she couldn't hold on much longer. Ventress she could just about handle. Not him as well.

Plo Koon too was struggling to hold off both Dooku and the second twin. He had been able to hold his own for a time, using the force to throw one into a wall so he could attack the other, but he was tiring. Whilst his defence was still solid, blocking strike after strike after strike, he was being forced back.

They would all die here, unless something was done, and no one would know what happened. Then no Jedi would be aware that the Sith were far more numerous than the Council realised. He had to do something.

Eela, go. I'll hold them off! Tell the Council!

She jumped back, momentarily freeing herself from the fight, panting. She glanced at Plo Koon, who was moving towards them, sparring expertly with the other two. She couldn't leave them!

Eela, the Order has to know! Go NOW!

The first twin leapt at her, and she managed to slow him with a force push, but he blocked it enough to not go backwards. She knew she was outmatched. Master Koon was right.

She turned and ran, leaving her friends to die.