A/N: The chapters keep getting longer. I don't know if it's entirely a positive thing. It's too late for this book, and for most of book III, but I think I may need to work on trimming the word count per story chapter, and simply have more chapters. I don't want to exhaust my readers with 5000+ word chapters.
RESOLVE II
7.
Senator Amidala and the Jedi stepped off the transport shuttle that had ferried them from the Temple to the bustling spaceport. Obi-Wan studied the padawans. Dressed in typical civilian middle class clothing they blended in well with the crowd. It fit Anakin like a glove, while it seemed a struggle for Ferus to loosen up from the lifetime of Jedi discipline. He almost looked uncomfortable. But Obi-Wan suspected that had more to do with the mission ahead than with his attire.
"Now remember," Siri said. "You'll likely encounter some unsavoury characters while travelling on a public freighter. Keep a low profile. It's imperative that you don't reveal yourselves to be Jedi."
"Don't worry Master Tachi," Anakin said. "I'll help Ferus blend in."
"And I'll keep Anakin out of trouble," Ferus offered.
"And while you're both looking out for each another," Obi-Wan said, his eyebrows raised to showcase his amusement. "Don't forget that you're supposed to be guarding the Senator with your lives."
Senator Amidala hid her smile behind a hand and turned her face away. Anakin snorted and turned to pick up the luggage. Siri looked on with amusement as Ferus tried to think of something to say in response, but came up short.
With the atmosphere lightened the Jedi said their farewells. Obi-Wan and Siri stood watching as the two padawans, their charge, and the astromech droid disappeared into the crowd. They climbed aboard the shuttle once more, and moments later they were in the air, on their way back to the Jedi Temple.
"I still find it troubling that there is no information on Kamino in the Archives," Siri said once the repulsorcraft was in motion.
"It's not unreasonable to suspect Dooku of having deleted the information before he left the Order," Obi-Wan crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat. "We'll do as Master Yoda said, and go to the centre of gravity's pull. Once there our long-range sensors will detect lifeforms, and that will lead us to the planet."
"Have you ever been out that far?" Siri asked. Going past the Rishi Maze meant they would leave the galaxy entirely.
"No," Obi-Wan said. "This will be the farthest I've ever gone from the core. But who knows, we might travel farther still some day."
"Are we intrepid adventurers now?" Siri asked, her tone subdued.
Obi-Wan picked up on her feelings and considered how to respond. She was worried, that much was clear. He was too. Their padawans were off on their own, and that brought a heaviness to Obi-Wan when he thought about it. A bad feeling that he couldn't explain. And then there was the Kamino mystery they were about to set out to solve.
"What worries you most?" Obi-Wan asked.
Siri turned her head to face him fully. They were seated next to each other, so close the hems of their cloaks almost overlapped. "I worry what will happen if we do end up discovering an army on Kamino."
"It would be better to discover it now, rather than be surprised by it simply showing up on our doorstep one day," Obi-Wan said softly.
"Either way would mean war," Siri said, taking a deep breath. "You don't build an army unless you intend to use it."
"True," Obi-Wan conceded.
"We are peacekeepers and we are few, Obi-Wan," Siri almost whispered. "We cannot fight a war."
Obi-Wan wanted to tell Siri to keep her thoughts in the present, but how could he do that when he struggled with similar visions flashing through his own mind.
The shuttle docked in the Temple hangerbay, and both Jedi immediately disembarked. They headed for the opposite side of the enormous room where two Delta class starfighters stood waiting for them, side-by-side. The requisitions droid recognised and approached them, and after signing the red starfighter over to Obi-Wan, and the blue one over to Siri, it moved off to fulfil another duty.
"The Force is with us," Obi-Wan said simply. Siri's eyes came up to meet his then, and he saw her worry harden into resolve. With a quick nod of her head she stepped up onto the wing of her ship, past the R4 unit socketed inside the astromech port, and into the cockpit.
Obi-Wan turned and climbed into his own cockpit. He did the standard systems check and opened a comm-channel with Siri. "Everything looks good on my end," he said.
"Ready to launch," Siri confirmed. "I'll follow your lead."
Obi-Wan fired up the ion engines and glided smoothly from the hangarbay. Behind him Siri followed closely. Since their mission involved a level of secrecy and Jedi discretion they did not need to check in with Coruscant Space Control. Unusual,but not unheard of.
They soared through the sky, picking up speed and bursting free from the pull of the planet's gravity. Their hyperdrive rings were docked to an orbital defence platform.
"Arfour, send the release codes," Obi-Wan instructed his astromech. Arfour beeped his acknowledgement and a moment later two hyperdrive rings floated down and away from the platform. Both Jedi wasted no time in docking their starfighters to the rings.
"See you on the other side, Obi-Wan," Siri's voice came over comms.
"Siri," Obi-Wan said. "Coming from me this probably won't mean much, but—"
"I swear, Obi-Wan, if you're about to get sentimental I'll—"
"I wouldn't dare," Obi-Wan interrupted, humour lacing every syllable. "I was merely going to tell you not to brood too much during the long jump."
"I leave the brooding to you," Siri scoffed.
"Yes, I am much better at it than you," Obi-Wan said. The almost silent snort of laughter coming through comms was worth the self-depreciation.
"Let's get moving," Siri said. "May the Force be with us."
A moment later Siri's starfighter disappeared as she entered hyperspace. Obi-Wan followed suit, the stars distorting as light and dark bled together in smears of indistinguishable shapes. The Force itself shifted, feeling strange to Obi-Wan's senses, yet somehow clearer.
And so the cold and lonely hyperspace journey began.
Obi-Wan took out his datapad and opened the file containing all his research notes. He'd documented everything he'd discovered since he first confirmed that Dooku was a Sith lord, and the file had grown considerably in recent weeks. He shook his head and instead accessed a historical account of the Sacking of Coruscant. The research he'd done on Sifo-Dyas, Dooku, and everything pertaining to them was not going to offer additional insights until he saw what was happening at Kamino. No, instead he could study how the Sith had attacked in the past. If Dooku and his unknown Sith accomplice were planning an attack, it would not happen in a way anyone would expect without having key pieces of information.
Perhaps history would yield some insight that the present moment could not.
Yet the puzzle box was burning a hole in his pocket.
Obi-Wan breathed out his frustration that the little nuisance of an object would not leave the forefront of his thoughts. He set his datapad aside and took the little cube out of his belt pouch. It was almost as if the little plastoid thing was whispering to him I have a secret.
With subtle use of the Force, that Obi-Wan normally didn't indulge in, he floated the toy above his hand and began moving its pieces without touching it. Jumbling, rearranging, reordering, reshuffling, altering, reorganising, shifting. . . it was becoming rather tedious thinking of all the different words he could use to describe the pointless exercise.
Breaking.
Obi-Wan jerked his fingers apart, and above his hand the little puzzle box's pieces came apart and floated passively, like a debris field around a satellite. Gently the pieces turned, as though hanging by invisible string. They twirled their silent protest at the harsh treatment just received.
Breathing deeply Obi-Wan wondered why he'd yielded to the impulse to tear the puzzle box apart. He should have had better control of himself than that. Needless destruction.
Perhaps not, Obi-Wan thought as he noticed a distinct change in material on one of the floating pieces. He allowed all but that single piece to fall into his lap. Pulling it out of the air he discovered that something small was recessed into the plastoid. A custom-made groove. Obi-Wan slid the small item out and let it rest in the palm of his hand.
It was a datachip.
"By the stars, Tyro," Obi-Wan whispered. "Please tell me you hid whatever you discovered on here."
Obi-Wan picked up his datapad and slotted the datachip into the reader slot. The file opened, and the jolt of anticipation immediately died upon seeing that it was encrypted.
He was no decryption specialist.
Yet the journey through hyperspace would be long, and Obi-Wan had nothing to lose. He set to work.
The freighter stank of sweat and the unwashed.
Ferus was no stranger to public space travel. In the ten years he'd been under Siri Tachi's guidance they'd taken many trips aboard similar vessels. Private cabins were a luxury afforded to the wealthy and famed, and a Jedi craved neither worldly possessions nor adulation.
Anakin and the Senator were sitting by themselves atop their luggage, next to the R2 unit that seemed to be part of the conversation based on the way they often turned to address the little astromech. Ferus stood off to the side, pretending to read a holobook while surveying the occupants of the expansive cabin.
A pair of Rodians briefly gave him pause, but their flighty behaviour was apparently due to their stock of death sticks Ferus had noticed when they accidentally knocked over the small container they carried with them. He found it curious that the box had made it past customs, then let the thought go. His duty was to protect the Senator, not to unmask drug smugglers and expose himself as a Jedi.
Ferus scratched at his neck. The high collar of the civilian shirt chafed. He did not understand why anyone would choose to wear something so uncomfortable. And the shoes. . . the shoes compressed his toes into a point. Why in star's name did people wear such things? At least his well-worn, sturdy nerf-hide boots were packed in the small travelling case that had been assigned to him by the Temple quartermaster. As soon as they reached Naboo he would take off the blasted synth-leather shoes and never so much as look at them again.
He checked his chronometer. They would arrive at Naboo in just under an hour. The day had been far too long for his liking. He wished to do his meditation exercises and run through lightsaber drills. A frown settled on his face when he realised how agitated his thoughts had become, and how much he craved the release provided by physical exertion. Closing his eyes he dropped into a basic meditation in order to find his calm centre once more.
It was his first assignment without his master, and while it should have been a sign of the trust she and the council had in him, it bothered him. His master was on her way past the known edge of the galaxy, and he was on a protection detail alongside a padawan who struggled to adhere to Jedi teachings. To him it still seemed foolish to allow Anakin anywhere near an assignment without Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Yet here they were.
Ferus discarded the thought. He could not question the council's wisdom. There surely was a good reason for their decision, and he had neither their knowledge nor their experience. All he could do was trust that they had made the best decision, and do his duty to the best of his ability.
A loud ping came over the ship's intercom, followed by the amplified voice of a service droid. "We will arrive in the Naboo system in exactly twenty-nine minutes and fifty-one seconds," It said.
Ferus opened his eyes and pushed away from the wall. He walked over to the opposite side of the wide compartment and stopped in front of a vending machine. It dispensed carbonated drinks, caff, eight kinds of fruit juices, flavoured waters, and an assortment of teas. After inserting a credit chip he selected a muja water. The can dropped into the pick-up slot and he bent down quickly to retrieve it.
He sensed the Togorian coming before the large humanoid shoved him hard in the ribs. Ferus could easily have avoided the rough handling of his person, but showing any sort of fighting prowess would draw the wrong kind of attention to him. He stumbled into a stack of dirty plastoid trays, remnants of a meal served hours before.
"Out of my way, human," the Togorian said.
Behind the large feline humanoid Anakin sprang to his feet, his eyes showing Ferus that he was ready, perhaps eager, for a fight. Ferus stood and dusted himself off, and in the motion sent Anakin a subtle hand sign to desist.
Anakin frowned, his chest heaving as he took a deep breath and looked away. After three of the longest seconds Ferus had ever experienced, Anakin took his seat next to the Senator again.
Ferus breathed a sigh of relief and turned to face the Togorian. "My apologies, sir," Ferus said. "It will not happen again."
"Sir?" The Togorian growled. "You think I'm some high and mighty Coruscanti cur?"
Right. Togorians didn't respond to civility the same way most sentient species did. Ferus took a steadying breath, and hoped that his next gambit would not stir the large beast-man into deeper aggression.
"Would you prefer I address you as mongrel?" Ferus said, putting emphasis on the last word and allowing a taunting smile to grace his chiselled features.
For a moment everything stilled. The entire compartment fell into a hush, expecting violence to be unleashed unto the poor sod who decided to insult a Togorian. The tension broke when the Togorian burst out laughing.
"You're a crazy human," the large beast-man said. "But I like you. I'll let you buy me a drink to make up for your disrespect."
Ferus shrugged as though he didn't care one way or the other, then walked up to the vending machine and inserted a couple more credits. He walked away without a word and left the Togorian to select whatever drink he wanted.
With water in hand Ferus walked back to the wall he'd leaned his small luggage case against and sat down. He noticed a few curious onlookers staring at him, but it wasn't long before all lost interest in him and returned to their conversations once more.
His eyes met the Senator's, briefly. She nodded her head at him. Approval.
Ferus cared not for her approval. He'd kept his distance for a reason. Immediately upon seeing for the first time how Anakin interacted with her he knew he would steer clear of anything exceeding the bounds of his duty. Anakin cared for this woman, and considering Anakin's penchant to find fault with everything Ferus did, he did not want to give his fellow padawan a reason to mutiny and throw things into chaos.
Ferus felt like he was walking on a tightrope that could snap at any moment.
The remaining minutes of the journey were uneventful. They arrived at the Theed Spaceport on time and disembarked without haste. Ferus followed a short distance behind Anakin and the Senator. A strategic decision that Master Kenobi had suggested. Keep one Jedi close, keep one in the crowd. Anakin served as close protection, which left Ferus free to scan the crowds and avert danger before it could reach the Senator.
Danger came in many forms. Simply being recognised or admired could spell danger. Ferus had used Force-persuasion on three beings before they'd even entered hyperspace for the first time. Three men had leeringly tried to approach the Senator when they'd left Coruscant, and he'd intercepted all three and used his command of the Force to turn them away. He dared not think about the spectacle it could have created, had he let the men reach the Senator.
Here in Naboo he was less concerned, but no less vigilant. This was a peaceful world, yet a world that had proven it would not stand for lawless actions. Gangs had no presence here, and that brought relief to Ferus while he scanned the crowds as they made their way through customs and into the city centre.
They met the Queen's guard in the back of a quiet alley off the main road, and soon Ferus found himself standing before the new Queen of Naboo as the Senator discussed her own plans with all present. It sounded like she wished to hide out in the secluded countryside.
"What do your Jedi protectors think?" The Queen asked.
Ferus opened his mouth to respond, but Anakin stepped forward and drew all attention to him. Before he could speak the Senator cut in and said, "It is my understanding that Padawan Olin has been put in charge of this assignment."
Swallowing his impatience was an overt struggle for Anakin. Ferus waited until he was certain Anakin would remain silent and in control of himself, then turned his gaze away from his fellow padawan, stepped forward, bowed, and addressed the Queen.
"As a non-native I will take advantage of your knowledge and defer to your combined wisdom," Ferus said, indicating the Senator, the Queen, and the Chief of Security. "But since we cannot say how long this situation will last, may I suggest choosing a location where the Senator will be comfortable for a prolonged period. Without sacrificing security for luxury, of course."
"The Palisades in the countryside will be more than adequate on both fronts," the Senator said.
"It is remote, but easily defensible if it comes down to it. There are also various escape routes, including through the lake to Otoh Gunga," the Security Chief chimed in.
"We'll also provide a Royal Cruiser as a means of quick travel if it is needed," the Queen said.
"Thank you, your highness," Ferus said, then stepped back.
An hour later they arrived at the Palisades. Ferus didn't show any outward reaction to the incredible views, but inwardly he thought it was some of the most beautiful country he had ever seen. The green stretched for miles, and the water was clear as crystal. The natural shrubs that grew around the elegant architecture added to its beauty in a way that made the cold stonework seem almost alive.
Ferus looked forward to meditating in a scene of such serenity.
The drop out of hyperspace brought much needed relief to Siri. She'd spent the majority of the journey in deep meditation. She preferred locomotion to sitting still in all things, and being cooped up in the confines of a starfighter in hyperspace for such long periods of time worked her nerves raw.
Before her loomed a blue planet. She checked her sensors, and with no sign of Obi-Wan yet she decided to wait before approaching the planet.
"Let's start scanning for settlements, Peetoo," Siri addressed the blue R4-P2 unit slotted in the wing of her Delta. It replied with a series of astromech vernacular and then promptly set to its assigned task. Siri keyed in a few commands on the console and the ship dropped away from its hyperdrive ring.
A moment later a blip on her shipboard radar alerted her to the arrival of her counterpart.
"Any troubles?" Obi-Wan's voice chimed over the comlink between ships.
"None yet," Siri said. "I've only just started scanning for settlements."
"We'll soon find them," Obi-Wan said, every syllable laced with stoic confidence. "I can sense countless lifeforms down there."
Siri did not doubt the truth of Obi-Wan's statement for even a moment. She also felt the vibrancy of the pale blue planet before them. It may have been a hydrosphere, a world of vast oceans, but that almost guaranteed that any settlement they found would be highly advanced.
A string of coordinates popped onto the screen of Siri's hud. "Obi-Wan," she said as she transmitted the information over to his ship. "Looks like my R4 unit found a high population city settlement. I'm sending you the coordinates now."
"Received," Obi-Wan said. "Looks like it's in the middle of a torrential storm system."
"How would you like to proceed?" Siri asked. Their starfighters could certainly deal with the adverse weather conditions, but that didn't mean it was free of risk entirely.
"We didn't come here to be thwarted by a little rain," Obi-Wan said, diminishing the storm system in typical understatement. Siri could not stop the grin that spread from ear to ear.
The two starfighters entered the planet's atmosphere side-by-side. When they entered into the cloud cover they were immediately battered by strong winds. Perhaps the greatest risk was the lightning that arced through the clouds, but they somehow managed to dip below the storm system without drawing its devastating power onto themselves.
Flying just above the surface of the roiling ocean they spied the settlement in the distance. Great spires supported enormous discs, stacked in tiers like the high rises on Coruscant. Yet despite that small similarity the sight was completely alien. Siri had never before seen anything like it. Gooseflesh that had nothing to do with the weather spread across her arms. The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
A feeling told her that danger lurked within the elegant structures. But it was an indistinct feeling, and as younglings they had often been warned of such anxieties.
Fear can drive you to believe falsehoods.
Siri accepted her fear, then steeled herself and released it into the Force. Suddenly the warmth she sensed from Obi-Wan was so much brighter. She locked onto his Force presence. He would be her anchor on this unknown world.
They spotted a landing platform and guided their starships to land upon its surface when a calm voice penetrated through their communication systems.
"Unidentified military craft, please state your business."
Siri held her tongue and waited for Obi-Wan to take the reigns. He had always been an eloquent speaker and a great negotiator. He enjoyed play on words and a battle of wits. While Siri could certainly hold her own in a verbal struggle, she preferred battle with a lightsaber or with fists.
"We are Jedi from the Republic and we come in peace to seek an audience with your leader," Obi-Wan said, his voice strong, but not demanding.
There was a moment's pause, then the Kaminoan said, "Please proceed to the landing platform. An emissary will be sent to escort you."
They landed side-by-side. Anticipating the strong winds and rainfall Siri put the hood of her cloak up before opening the cockpit. The cold hit her like a blasterbolt and she sucked in a steadying breath. She fought against the wind as she climbed down from her starfighter. Obi-Wan clambered out of his own ship and they walked to the lit doorway together.
Inside a very tall and slim being stood waiting for them. She was all elegant, long shapes. The white irises of her eyes sat in a sea of iridescent black. Siri noted how unusual and striking the combination was, and it stood out even more against the pearl white of her skin. The Kaminoan had an almost ethereal quality. Her movement was flowing, elegant, and when she spoke it was calm and without haste.
"Welcome to Kamino. I am Taun We," she introduced herself.
Obi-Wan stepped forward and bowed to the tall being. "I am Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi," he introduced himself, then held his open palm out to Siri and said, "And this is my fellow Jedi, Siri Tachi."
Siri bowed as well and said, "Thank you for receiving us so kindly."
"But of course," Taun We said. "We've been expecting you for some time."
Siri did not allow her surprise to manifest physically, but she met Obi-Wan's eyes and in their blue-green depths noted the same astonishment she felt.
"Well," Obi-Wan put on his best diplomatic face. "We're finally here. Shall we?"
"Right this way, masters Jedi," Taun We said. She turned and began leading them deeper into the settlement.
Siri remained on edge as they travelled down the sterile white corridors. Technically Obi-Wan outranked her, so she stayed a little behind him as they kept walking. Normally she would not be quite so deferential towards him. They'd always operated as equals, but she recognised that one wrong utterance could spell a world of trouble for them. And Obi-Wan had practically lived and breathed the Sifo-Dyas and Dooku mystery for nearly three years. She could admit that he was better qualified to take charge here.
"I'm sure you are eager to see the army we have built for you."
Siri's breath caught in her throat. Ahead of her she noticed how Obi-Wan's neck muscles stiffened. He turned his head towards her. Their eyes did not meet, but still she knew he was alarmed. It was clear as day in the Force, and mirrored her own alarm perfectly.
"Yes, quite so," Obi-Wan said, managing to keep the apprehension out of his voice.
"We were beginning to think that the Jedi had changed their minds, but since Master Sifo-Dyas paid for the order in full we waited patiently for his return," Taun We said as they turned down a corridor with transparent walls.
It was a walkway spanning over the width of a large refectory. Down below Siri saw countless men, all wearing the exact same thing, all with the exact same face. Their information had been accurate. The Kaminoans were cloners, and from what Siri could see they were exceptional. But the sight disturbed her more than it impressed her.
These men were bought, Siri realised. They are property and that equates to slavery.
"Of course we altered the clones to be more docile and obedient," Taun We said. Siri realised she had missed part of the conversation. She mutely berated herself for losing her focus and turned her attention back to Obi-Wan and the Kaminoan woman.
"And you said they have been paid for. . . in full?" Obi-Wan asked.
Taun We stopped walking and regarded the Jedi quietly. All of a sudden she seemed hesitant. "You were not aware?" she asked.
"Well, you see," Obi-Wan began. He kept his voice and mannerisms calm and confident. "Master Sifo-Dyas went missing before he could transmit the transaction records to the Jedi Council. Until recently we had no knowledge of what caused his disappearance, or whether he even made it to Kamino."
"I see," Taun We replied. "However, I find myself curious as to why the Jedi Council waited so long to re-establish contact with us. You are the first envoys we have received in ten years."
"In light of Master Sifo-Dyas' disappearance, and the lack of confirmation that he did indeed arrive safely on Kamino, the Jedi Council decided to put the matter on hold until we had more information," Obi-Wan said. "Our forces are spread thin as it is, and they did not want to risk sending another Jedi until we could be certain it was safe to travel this far out."
"A reasonable course of action," Taun We said. "Then I assume you would like to do a thorough inspection of the product before you report back to your council?"
"And if it's possible I also need a copy of the transaction records," Obi-Wan said.
"Of course, master Jedi," Taun We said. "Right this way."
Taun We led them across the bridge to an adjacent hallway where they stepped into a turbolift. Siri's thoughts were scattered. Obi-Wan was doing an admirable job fishing more information out of the Kaminoan woman, but each new piece of intel added another shard of foreboding to her heart.
Siri considered the clones again, and a thought entered her mind as they stepped off the turbolift. "Who was the donor for the clones?" She asked.
"A bounty hunter named Jango Fett," Taun We said.
Obi-Wan's head snapped up in what Siri assumed was terrible realisation. By the Force's grace Taun We did not play witness to Obi-Wan's shock, and Siri found herself wondering where he recognised the name from. She felt his distress in the Force, and she wondered what could be so terrible that it would unsettle him so.
Siri felt him project an image to her through the Force, and when she opened herself to it she almost failed in stifling her surprise.
Jango Fett was one of only two survivors of Galidraan; A battle where Jedi and Mandalorians had slaughtered one another. The Jedi had been victorious, and the Mandalorians almost completely wiped out.
Fett would have had no reason to aid an apparent Jedi quest to create a grand army.
It was all beginning to unravel, and yet they were still far too ignorant of the truth.
Siri and Obi-Wan kept pace with Taun We as she led them deeper still into the settlement.
"I should very much like to meet this Jango Fett," Obi-Wan said.
A/N: Eight more chapters left. It will soon veer completely away from AotC.