Chapter 22

Judgment, disgust, and displeasure radiate through the Force. The last time Qui-Gon saw the Jedi Masters, they all were composed and under control. However, now most of them appear to be on the edge, something which the Jedi have rarely ever seen from them before. Their concern among those three various emotions is also evident, making him wonder what in the name of the Force has been happening on Coruscant for the past few days.

The Maverick wouldn't say that there haven't been debates before between him and the Council, but he can tell this is something different. Why are they regarding him with such tension as if he is someone who they must be cautious of and has to observe at all cost?

"Masters, Obi-Wan was successful in defeating the Sith Assassin," the Maverick Jedi announces, a smile of slight pride behind his bearded lips.

While he and his Padawan haven't seen eye to eye as of late, the Maverick Jedi would not deny the fact that he is proud of Obi-Wan. What his Padawan has done is a commendable act even though it has ended in death, something which the Jedi have vowed so long ago to avoid.

"We have no doubt of that," Master Tiin responds, some tone of anger forming in his throat at the mention of that comment for some reason. "It is unfortunate that these are not good news as much as you believe it to be, Master Jinn. We have lost someone who could have been a perfect Jedi Knight and have led this Order to wonders if he became Grandmaster someday."

Qui-Gon frowns, masking his shock behind the confusion of what the Jedi Master is talking about. While they do have arguments plenty of times, the Maverick wouldn't shy away call them friends. Sure, that admission is not something Qui-Gon would ever be able to admit, especially since Windu is one of many who disagreed with his views on the Force and his personal beliefs, but that doesn't mean he didn't have a source of respect for him.

"Perhaps your rebelliousness against the Jedi Order have came to be our biggest downfall. Kenobi has fallen to the dark side and is now a Sith just like Vader. He has bowed before the Sith, meaning he would defend him even should we ever attempt to apprehend him."

His expression is a noticeable symbol of surprise at that comment of Obi-Wan. There is no possibility that Vader could have ever corrupted someone like Obi-Wan, even if the Council is correct about Vader being a Sith Lord.

"Wh-what?"

Master Windu frowns, placing his hand onto his chin, before replying infuriatingly. "I ask you, Master Jinn, in your battle with the Assassin, was Kenobi by any means different?"

"I-I don't know," Qui-Gon admits, feeling a pang of concern flushing through him, for the first time in a long time stumbling over his words. "I was knocked unconscious by means that I do not understand. The next I was awaken, Obi-Wan was triumphant and the Sith defeated. I can only presume Obi-Wan has been left with no choice but to finally bring an end to the threat."

Ki-Adi-Mundi sighs, as if regretful. "It is as we feared. Kenobi have fallen to the corruptions of Vader, killing the Sith out of being given little choice. Due to allowing rebellion to be within our Order, we have failed of the beacons of the light and led them down to the dark side. We cannot allow any other Jedi get under influence of someone like Vader, and unfortunately we would have to restrain Obi-Wan and bring him to Jedi custody."

"Restrain him and lock him away?" Qui-Gon sounds horrified, his eyes glaring fiercely into the eyes of every member of the Jedi Council. He cannot bear the thought of Obi-Wan just falling under his supervision, nor can he allow him to be locked away as if he is a wild dog. He wouldn't just give up on Obi-Wan. "You are just going to lock him away like an animal, forgetting all he has done for each and everyone of us, forgetting that he was the one who destroyed the Sith before he could have posed a legitimate threat against the Jedi Order. Even if you are correct, this Order is forgetting that the true embodiment of the Jedi is not a gang. You should be trying to save him from the darkness and offer proper guidance."

"We are not a gang," Tiin retorts sharply. "We have lost one of our own to this madman who you defended days prior! You have no authority to speak to us like this, in fact your opinion is completely irrelevant. It is a inconvenience, but when Kenobi gets off of Naboo and return to Coruscant, he would be brought to our custody."

The thought of Obi-Wan being left behind in a cell is not only disgusting for the Maverick Jedi to think of, but it is a deep betrayal of everything that defines the Jedi Order. The Council is willing to betray their own Code of allowing individuality and destroy their code of being keepers of the peace. They are the opposition to their own code when it does not benefit them.

"And what about the Chosen One? The boy?" Qui-Gon grumbles, knowing that he would never allow Obi-Wan to be left in a cell, and the Council knows this as well undoubtedly."

"Be returned to Tatooine, he will. Both him and his mother would be under Jedi's heavy supervision." Yoda replies as if accepting of this course of action and completely disregarding the power Anakin could have, as well as the ability to care about those who have been through so much pain but yet manage to keep a smile on his lips despite it all.

"What?!" Qui-Gon snarls, rage cracking through his expression as at last the exterior breaks through. "You are planning not only to imprison my apprentice but also turn down a boy with immense potential and possibly have him fall into the Sith! How arrogant have all of you have become?! You are failing your own code if you would ever send fragile individuals such as Anakin and his mother over to the slavers back! We all know they wouldn't last not being slaves on that planet."

"It is the will of the Force that Skywalker does not be trained," Windu adds angrily. "He is under the influence of Vader, like a shadow of him. What power he has could be the end of the Order and the end of us all. Your confidence in him would doom us all in the end, Qui-Gon, and that is something that we cannot allow."

Conflict briefly builds up within Qui-Gon Jinn. He could never in good conscience allow something to happen to Anakin and his mother. A small voice in the back of his mind reminds him: 'Would you have freed him and his mother if Anakin was not a being of considerable power?'

The voice causes the Maverick to grimace. He realizes that he wouldn't have cared for either slave were they common beings who had no benefit to the future of the Jedi. If Anakin's power haven't been considerable, if the boy hadn't warranted his attention, Qui-Gon may have just as quickly ignored him just like the Jedi ignored those innocent slaves for centuries.

Vader's hatred for the Order's ways, his distaste for their codes, and every word he says ring the truth. Not only did Qui-Gon ignore it at the time, he still believed the Council would have done the right thing, would have trained Anakin, and made those years of suffering and pain to be worth it to some degree so their training of him would help him become a true embodiment of the Force.

Now, all those hopes have been for nothing.

"No," Qui-Gon says slowly, his eyes flashing darkly once more, the withering gaze far more intense. He has been under control for far too long, but now he has snapped. The Jedi Order would only fail. He would have no choice but to leave and train the Chosen One to become the Force User he is meant to be.

So with the defiance that only his Master would have been proud of, Qui-Gon stands straighter, stand straighter than all of them, including himself, could have ever expected, at last rising against the Jedi Order who have fallen far. He may have to fight them even if it goes against his nature, just to defend his Padawan, the boy, and his mother.

The Jedi Master is unable to stand their incapability of understanding any longer. While he and his former Padawan may have their differences, he would never allow his apprentice to be jailed as if he is an animal that is too dangerous to be left freely.

"I would train him if you will not. Perhaps it is a good thing Anakin will not learn under this Order. This Order who have grown corrupted as much as the Hutt Clans in the Outer Rim." That reply gives mixed reactions; some are stunned but silent whereas others only grow ever the more disgusted, their eyes staring daggers into him. Qui-Gon is not deterred by their reaction, instead is emboldened by their glares, knowing that they would never change their mind since it has been already chosen the moment Anakin's age was told to them. To them, Anakin and his mother are nothing but insignificant beings and so are the slaves of the Outer Rim.

Something Qui-Gon shall not take anymore. Witnessing what was happening on that planet where the weak struggled for survival made him realize that so many others are living in pain whereas those who got lucky were preserved in a life of peace without second care from the Jedi.

"You are nothing but fools who care for no one but yourselves and your precious little Order that cares for controlling the galaxy." In a rare moment of something out of character for the Jedi Master, he at last snaps, not able to take the distrust targeted at himself, Obi-Wan, an innocent boy, and a former slave mother. "You yourselves have became the very thing you have swore to destroy, willing to return recently freed individuals back to their Masters, where they would surely be beaten to submission or killed for their resistance! Not only would I allow you not to pass your biased teachings off to Anakin but you would not hurt Obi-Wan and make the same mistake you made with Xanatos!"

"You have no choice in this, Qui-Gon," Tiin grunts, gazing at him with a fuming expression Qui-Gon is certain he would have been decimated into pieces if expressions were able to kill. "Your membership and involvement in the Order has been brought into question. You have failed not only two of your students but three of them which makes us wonder if it is your apprentice's or the way you train them. Perhaps explosion would be the best decision for you."

"No," a voice behind Qui-Gon replies, and they all turn to see Vader storming in front of them, his eyes flashing with disappointment. "Instead of listening and learning, you old fools, none of you are able to see through your Order's flaws, most of all including you, Grandmaster Yoda. You are the one who is responsible for the rise of the Sith in the first place, the one who is responsible for bringing shame for the Jedi Order."

Behind him looms the shadow of Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon takes a second to examine him, reaching out through their bond and judging him through the Force. After a moment, Obi-Wan accepts, and indeed the dark side is there, stronger than the Jedi Master could have ever anticipated, but there is still conflict within him as well as the light that has been Obi-Wan Kenobi for so long.

"Walk before us again, you do, to mock our ways." While there is no hostility in Master Yaddle's voice, she is obviously far from pleased.

"Of course he is," Master Windu sneers. "He has control of an entire planet and could easily form them against our Order. We should have apprehended him prior."

"You could have tried," Vader replies, his voice sounding menacing, a flicker of threat present in his tone. "But you would have all failed. I have managed to defeat the entire of your Council with the Force itself, let alone none of you would be able to fight me and win. You don't hold control over this, Jedi."

"While we may not hold any sort of authority over you, Vader, you seem to forget Kenobi and Jinn are still members of our Order-"

"Not anymore," Obi-Wan's voice comes out as a hiss, something that is genuinely unlike the Jedi Padawan beforehand, his eyes flickering darkly almost into golden orbs. "I have seen and heard enough. You each wish to destroy me as a person and who I am. I am no longer your pawn that you would have once been able to bend to your will and brainwashed."

"What happened to you, Kenobi?" Koth asks, turning his attention towards the seemingly fallen Jedi, no doubt attempting to keep this meeting from spiraling out of control. Has this tyrant managed to corrupt you? Have you become the very thing you swore to destroy?"

"Vader have only made me see the truth at last," Obi-Wan responds, his voice still coldly detached but his expression betrays him. "That Sith would have destroyed us all if he was allowed to live, and I would have been too weak to kill him if I did not take a major step to put an end to a threat to the Jedi. You yourselves say, Masters, that we are meant to uphold peace and freedom but where was this attitude when the actual threat was before us? Vader was never the threat, but in your hubris, you are incapable of seeing even that, and I cannot bear it any longer."

"You have become a disciple of Vader along with your Master-" Rancisis says bitterly, at last choosing to take the initiative to speak when he has been silent the whole time. "We have no choice but to detain you perhaps permanently. What you know about our Order and what you have proven to be now is all the signs we need."

"Listen here, Jedi."

And the immediate Force fills the chambers, reaching that of Coruscant, causing each of them to clutch their heads. Even Qui-Gon finds himself taking a step backward at the intoxicating darkness, but Obi-Wan hardly even moves, his eyes slowly becoming crystal golden, the two pairs appearing rather amused and pleased at the darkness that spelled out him.

"You would not restrain Obi-Wan nor Qui-Gon here, for they are under my jurisdiction. They are not your pawns. They have seen the truth within your Order at last and you would not block my efforts to save the galaxy. If you have a problem, it would be a shame if the Republic wish to hear that you do not respect those who disagree with your Order."

"You are-" Rancisis replies, "blackmailing us?"

"No," Vader replies, his voice as clear as ice, an emotionless expression across his face going unseen by all. "I am merely warning you what would happen if you choose to disturb us. Obi-Wan is no longer your slave and Qui-Gon has the right to choose whether to remain in your Order or not. The life of the Jedi should not be decided but a choice."

"You have no authority to decide what we do to those among our Order," the Korun Master replies, glaring at him as if he is observing a challenge, a challenge that may still be orchestrated by the Jedi Master himself. "We decide our mandates and how we shall proceed with the future of our own."

Vader grins. "The Queen could be easily informed about these new turns of events and she is already angry with your Order's failure of competence as it is, and could also recruit the planets who are fond supporters of Naboo to call against the Jedi Order. I believe that the galaxy would be interested in investigating that secret prism that you have."

"You place us in a peculiar position, Vader," Mundi responds, monotone despite himself, not willing to allow his personal feelings against the Force User to themselves itself despite how frustrated he is currently.

Vader's aura now radiates satisfaction, knowing that he could easily place the entirety of the Jedi Order into question with his words alone. If they choose to act against him in a bold rebellion, they would only be viewed in a darker light by the civilians across the galaxy.

"No, I place you with the choice of allowing your egos to be laid to rest or the Jedi Order being doubted by the people of the galaxy. If you wish to avoid being called in for questioning and investigated, never trusted by the Republic again, you would leave Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and the boy be." Vader counters, eyes glistening with the warning obvious, sparkles of coldness in the orbs that appear devoid of life. "Good day, Masters of the Council."

And he deactivates the holo communicator with one wave of his hand, leaving the three Force Users in the room alone.

"It shames me to see that only blackmail and taunts is the only tactic that could work against the Jedi Order," Qui-Gon replies, his head tilting downwards, sadness flickering in his eyes. "How can they do all of this and threaten the stability of the Jedi Order that they operate and run themselves?"

Obi-Wan's eyes, which are still crimson, appear to only lighten at that, a response coming on his lips. "Because they don't care about what could become of their Order as long as they can pass off their misguided beliefs to children and instill them like slaves, Master."

"Vader," Qui-Gon says almost desperately, "what have you done to Obi-Wan? I don't want to believe you have corrupted him."

"I haven't," Vader replies, placing a hand on the older man's shoulder, his eyes flashing with sympathy. "I have only shown him the power to be able to beat someone truly dangerous against the galaxy and that we would never have to concern ourselves with."

"What?" Qui-Gon's eyes go from Vader to Obi-Wan.

Vader follows suit, eyes landing on that of Obi-Wan. "Do you wish to tell him or do I?"

"Master," Obi-Wan replies reluctantly, his darkened face soon coming into the light, "I have used the dark side to defeat the Assassin to save you from your untimely death."

The Jedi Master is speechless, to say the least. Never could he imagine Obi-Wan to have sunk so low into the dark side and doesn't appear to even regret his actions, his once convictions and beliefs all being but a pathetic sham as true ferently link through the Force.

"Vader has shown me a possible future, where you would perish. I could not allow it. I was not going to let you die no matter what." Obi-Wan responds, his voice noticeably becoming calmer, in that thick Coruscanti accent it always has been. "Under utilization of the dark side and with Vader's assistance, I gutted the Sith Assassin and saved you from your death. While my actions are surely regrettable at best, I would admittedly do nothing to take it back."

Qui-Gon arches an eyebrow towards Vader. "It would have been easier to fight the Sith yourself instead of leaving my student with conflicting emotions right now."

"I was needed with the Queen just as I was required before the explosion of the palace so I could save some more lives," Vader responds, obviously amused by the expression across of the Maverick Jedi, having seen before with Obi-Wan decades ago, reminding him how much the two mirrored each other. "You and Obi-Wan was the only one operational as of the moment to assist and defeat the Sith while I led the Queen and her entourage. I could have passed off my influence to you, but I have little doubt that you would have still failed. Unlike you, Obi-Wan here was the one who the Force was surrounding in that mass confrontation. It was always his destiny to defeat someone like the Assassin and eventually kill him or otherwise-"

There is no denying the pause within Vader, a slight grimace forming for some reason that escapes the Jedi-if they could still be called that- but they do not question it.

"Be killed. In many destinies, in many fates, they would do battles of all things. In some, Obi-Wan is victorious. In others, the Sith is. But the Force have always willed them to fight until the bitter end. Now is the end of their battle in their first and final battle, but there is no doubt that Obi-Wan would encounter many rivals in his life and would have to be successful or die. We can pass off our knowledge to him, like we would have to do with Skywalker and many others, but we cannot support them through every battle that they ever come across. I can still even teach you, Qui-Gon."

"I would not become a Sith, but I do wish to see what you have to learn," Qui-Gon admits after a minute. Whether Vader is a Sith or not, there is no denying the light that is radiating through them, coming in contact with the dark and appearing to be in perfect balance, and while he may have shown his student the dark side as of now, Vader hasn't been lying as of far and appear to keep true to his word though the Jedi would have to always keep a closer eye on him.

"I would not make you become one unless you truly desire it," Vader responds. "I am not even making Obi-Wan be one either, but rather adapting to the darkness so he would know the benefits as well as what it could do to a person should they delve too deep. Not to worry, he would not fall, not completely, but he would have to know the risks of the power of the dark side and eventually come to understand them. His emotions have hardly been expressed his whole life as well as yours hardly have been. You have to allow him independence."

Obi-Wan's eyes land on that of his Master's orbs, almost a challenge of some sort in those golden orbs. "I would not disappoint you, Master, neither of you. I may have touched the dark side but I want you to know that it is me who is under control, not the other way around. There is no possible way I would go on to bring further harm to someone."

"Vader," a voice whispers.

Vader reverts his attention to the direction of the spoken individual, noticing his younger self emerging behind the shadows, his form looking like it has been through better days, pain coursing in his blue eyes. There are undeniable amounts of sweat coursing down his face which admittedly makes even Vader concerned as Skywalker has always been a unique case.

"I have felt so many screams. It was as if I was nearby and watching them like I was watching a Podrace. What should I do?" Anakin questions, his body inconceivably forming up into a shiver, a little drop of vomit on the bottom side of his right lip, showing that this indeed did affect the boy in the long run which also deepens the conviction about the Council being entirely right.

Anakin is not Jedi material.

For all his power, Anakin Skywalker would have never been a perfect Jedi in the eyes of the Jedi. They would as soon as be disgusted with what he could do before truly understanding him, exploiting his feelings wrongfully as they have done with past students even though those said students don't notice it, before leading him down a very dark road, the same mistake they would make if Vader allowed them to teach the Skywalker of this time.

Vader plants both hands on Anakin's shoulders, the boy noticeably not tensing up as he had done with Qui-Gon and even Obi-Wan when they touched him. There is just something about Vader that makes Anakin feel a lot safer whenever he's around him, the calls that he has wanted so badly onto Tatooine seemingly to finally be answered, a person who could never hurt him no matter what.

"That is because you are feeling the Force."

"The Force?" Anakin repeats, listening intently but keeping his emotions in check.

"The Force is running through you like a needle being implanted in your arm. You would feel calls, sensations, voices even though you fail to truly understand them. They are complicated to sense at times, but you would feel them as the Force is not only around you but born within you, signifying what you could become should you accomplish your true potential." Vader replies, running his hands through the hair of Anakin tenderly.

"I saw Padmé... she was scared and hurt," Anakin replies, sounding ever more terrified about that prospect. "I'm worried about her. Where is she?"

"She is safe as of now," he replies, having placed her and her handmaidens in a concealed location away from even the Jedi since he has assumed the position of command now that most of her guards are dead, "but in hiding, while the matter is currently being investigated through and inspected as prior to my command."

"Where?" Qui-Gon takes the initiative to query. While he doesn't believe Vader would turn against him, he would not entrust someone like him with the protection of an important Queen.

"Unfortunately, that information cannot be disclosed as of now but she is safe," Vader responds, amused once more. "Now is the time to act. I have feared that the Jedi would begin war with me, but I can see now through their dogmatic and blinded beliefs that they could not accept change, not unless their Order is destroyed and reborn in a better light. The Jedi would no doubt be intended to haunt us down until we are brought back to Coruscant."

"You wish to begin his training..." Qui-Gon presumes correctly.

"Yes, the Jedi would wish for him to be escorted back to Tatooine," Vader responds. "I would have to order for Ms. Skywalker to be brought off Coruscant without us being detected, meaning I would have to exploit the means of bounty hunters who would be commanded to bring her to me alive and unharmed."

"What would happen to me now?" While the boy is slightly relieved that Vader will arrange for his mother to be brought to him, the Jedi wouldn't have cared if she was abandoned in a life of slavery on Tatooine, there is also a devotion to Vader that is even more than his promise to Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and even Padmé.

Vader can sense it. The boy wants the taste of power, to be able to revel in that power that could liberate those who would ever hurt him or his mother, or anyone else he loves. He wants the power to be able to exterminate slavery and whatever evil there is on Tatooine, and anyone who gets in his way would be helpless to prevent him from doing so.

"I would not allow for you to be a Force User against your choosing but allow you to embrace your destiny. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon wants the same for their own destiny, and your path shall not be told for you, but instead would be one of your choosing. Whatever you wish to learn, I would teach you, for I know both of the Jedi and the Sith - the light and dark." Vader replies, knowing that the Force serves his younger self, not as much as it does to him exactly yet, but one such example is by keeping Anakin safe from the pain Tatooine brought.

"I-I do not know."

The boy is dramatically lacking training, but Vader is planning not to spread that nonsense they have spread to him during his own learning to be a Jedi so long ago. The biased teachings of the Jedi and the outright coldness of the Sith without mention of the horrible things that the Jedi have also done so long ago. This boy, even if he wishes to be a Sith and not a Jedi, would be allowed to learn about the pros and cons of both warring sides, and no one would stop Vader from doing so.

"Shall we get started?" Vader replies, gripping the hilt from under his belt and igniting it, revealing the red blade that once belonged to Darth Maul.

Anakin's eyes briefly revel in the crimson blade belonging to Darth Maul. He has been a slave for too long, but now is the time to make his own decision as odd as it is.

The blade is reflecting off of his cheek, and Anakin is being granted a chance to whether join the owner of the blade or become someone among an Order which would enslave him and abuse him as the slavers have abused them. Given Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan both have been cast aside, a bitter voice in the back of his mind reminds him how long it would be before the Jedi do precisely the same with him.

Anakin grasps hold of the blade and holds it.

For decades, Vader has had a fair number of acolytes, apprentices of both light and dark. Ahsoka was not one among them but she was more of his sister, a disciple of the light that was deployed by the Jedi among the Order, all created to ground him and assure he doesn't sway from the Order further than he already has.

While Vader cares about her unconditionally, Ahsoka was just a lucky Padawan in a time of war. She logically should have perished at the beginning of the war by Grievous or by the merciless Confederacy droids. Even if she is still an apprentice of the Chosen One of this timeline, he highly doubts her fate would be the same as it was during the different versions of the Clone Wars.

The other apprentices and acolytes haven't come close to matching Ahsoka in her potential; Antinnis Tremayne, Halmere, Lanu Pasiq, Gwellib Ap-Llewfo, Tao, Kharys, Vost Tyne, Hethrir, Rillao, Lumiya, and Flint have never come close to match Ahsoka in her prime. There was only one - that of Galen Marek aka Starkiller, an apprentice of Darth Vader, and could have been a perfect embodiment of the dark side were he not betrayed by Vader and killed by Sidious.

A sudden spike flashes through Vader, filling him with a determination that he would not fail this time. He will not fail with Anakin or Obi-Wan of the alternative timeline which differences he is still adapting to, where a different Empire may yet rise despite how he has anticipated embracing combat with Sidious of all things when this is over but even that has been derailed. This is making him wonder why the Force would wish for him to make such a change in this timeline.

Palpatine is not the threat and Plagueis's ambitions are perhaps different than that of his former Sith Master. No doubt the end goal is the same but his ascension to power would doubtlessly be completely different.

On top of this, Anakin would receive completely different training and Obi-Wan would never be the same Jedi Master Vader known from his timeline.

Vader is prepared for the differences within this timeline but knows that he would have to be cautious of both the Jedi and Plagueis' plans for the future.

"Shmi Skywalker..."

Due to the surgery, the nearly middle-aged woman is quite exhausted, but thankfully she is quite capable of hearing. Imagine her surprise when instead of waking to a doctor, she awakens to individuals harboring robes similar to that of the Jedi that have insisted on the freedom of her son. She would never know as much about the Jedi especially since they are disconnected from the common world it appears and that makes her worry about what her son will become. Would he become a dispassionate person severed from his home?

Severed from her?

They didn't seem to care about her and the fact that she has a slave chip that could explode anywhere. It was Padmé, using whatever funds she received as whatever she is, who paid for her surgery, and while the removal still pains the part of the body that the surgery has proceeded on, the doctor reassured her that it wouldn't last.

"Since we do not know where you would have to be relocated to on this planet, unfortunately it is decided you would be escorted back to Tatooine."

What?!

Absolutely terror and dread fill her soul, making her realize with a start that she would be dragged back to Tatooine with no choice and would have to live under servitude! But this time, all are different; her son wouldn't be with her no matter if she wants it or not, and she would never perhaps see him again.

"What?" Shmi murmurs. "Where is my son?"

The Jedi's face didn't dim, not in the slightest, appearing uncaring of her dilemma, something which she have never imagined from them. "Anakin Skywalker has been rejected from the Jedi Order and we have no idea where he is. He is possibly a threat against our Order, meaning that he would have to be detained or his life may have to be forfeited if only to prevent a threat against the Jedi Order. You would also be observed for our suspicions that the boy would come to you."

Shmi is unable to help that the Jedi would be using her against her son whether she wants it or not. This chillingly reminds her of the slavers, wishing to use Anakin's mechanical skills and other many traits against him like he was their puppet, exploiting her in many possible ways to use the boy as they wish.

"My son is just a boy!" Shmi screeches, her voice sounding desperate. "He would not pose any threat! Not the one that you do to us! Why have we came here if all you each cared for was villainizing that of my son and even me?! I had thought you all would have been like Qui-Gon - wise, gentle, kind - but I was wrong. You are not the Jedi I have expected from, but instead cold, emotionless individuals, no better than the slaves."

"We are not slaves," the Jedi counters angrily. "We are under full authority to do whatever we wish as long as it is lawful and is attuned to the Jedi Order. As you are currently not given an home and would only serve as someone who may lure the threat to our prime world, we would have to see it fit that you are escorted somewhere secured such as Tatooine where we would be able to bring Vader to custody."

"You selfless bastard!"

"Come on, let's-"

Immediately, sounds of explosions make themselves known followed by the ever painful sounds of blaster bolts that she recognized on Tatooine, sounds of the lightsabers that she remembered seeing and hearing on Tatooine, and screams making themselves known.

The Jedi within the room activate their lightsabers, standing around each other simultaneously, admittedly making them look quite an intimidating duo.

She can hear blaster bolts and a scream outside, filling her with terror. The door hisses open mere seconds later. Instead of someone storming in and shooting like a madman, footsteps make themselves known, tension building up from within the room and making each of the Jedi clenches up their hands around the hilts of their weapons.

"I am here for Shmi Skywalker."

The cause of this much destruction enters the room, revealing a blue armored individual with a helmet over his head, two custom-fit WESTAR-34 blaster pistols, along with other weapons across his body.

"Who are you?"

Appearing to toy with the pistols in his hands, he says with quite some satisfaction.

"Your death."

Immediately opening fire, he forces each of them to crouch for cover. Most of the bolts are blocked with the others being dodged and ducked from the Jedi, causing Shmi to frantically move when she accidentally flips over behind the bed and is forced to watch behind her cover, not certain why this bounty hunter - she can tell he is with her own experience from Tatooine - is interested in her. Perhaps he craves her death as given commands by someone.

Hopefully, Anakin wouldn't discover about her death especially since they are emotionally close.

One of the bolts finally catches one of the Jedi in the thigh and causes him to drop onto the floor. Before he is given the chance to recover, two blaster bolts, at last, put an end to him. While death is something she is used to, she hates it so much.

The other Jedi is brasher, appearing angry with the death of her companion, and swings her blade towards the bounty hunter who dodges to the right, reaching up and grasping hold of her hands, several joints snapping and making a cry of pain fill the room when he grasps her jaw and break it.

The final Jedi who have just spoken to Shmi prior propels all within the room towards the bounty hunter who is only walking up calmly, shrugging off each of the attacks thrown at him ranging from desks to medical tools, all crashing into the fierce hunter who is hardly affected.

At last, razor blades emerge from within his gauntlets, as he falls into battle position, blaster pistols being completely disregarded for the moment.

The Jedi begins a fierce duel with the bounty hunter, backing him up for a second, his hand gripping the blade of his lightsaber tighter and tighter each moment, showing no mercy whatsoever even when it appears that he would defeat this bounty hunter, given an immediate stab catches him in the shoulder blade, kicking him back after a moment and gripping his lightsaber.

The bounty hunter drops to both knees, allowing the Jedi to be given enough time, and aims his lightsaber at the throat of the armored individual.

"Surrender or your life would be ended."

The hunter chuckles. "You think I would be that easy."

It isn't long before the Jedi Killer recovers, striking a lot deadlier, forcing the Jedi to sidestep each of the blows and send his own strikes, attempting to gain the advantage when at last his chest is pierced through, his head being chopped off the next moment.

"Come out," the hunter declares, pointing his blaster in her direction behind the cover, moving slowly. She already knows that attempting to resist is foolish especially since this armored figure has already gunned down Jedi who have been spoken in many matters of the Force.

Shmi whimpers before revealing herself, her hands raised in the air helplessly.

"Please don't kill me." The thought of death terrifies her but she is more petrified at the thought of Anakin's face when he finds out that she is dead.

Or-

'Or worse. They'll drag me back to Tatooine.'

"My client hasn't ordered your termination contrary to what this may look like, lady. As long as you obey my commands, you would remain safely unharmed, at least before you are brought to my client. Whatever happens to you next is of no concern to me."

A Jedi from behind who is still alive limpsino their direction, raising his lightsaber and about to decapitate his head off when the bounty hunter snaps his blaster upwards and shoots through the temple of the individual, thus putting an end to him immediately as he collapses onto the floor, a hole through the area where he has just been harmed.

"I would not follow you if I do not know what's going on," Shmi replies, attempting to remain defiant despite the situation.

"I have been ordered to keep my reasoning here exclusive from even you. Just because I have been given orders to bring you to my client alive and unharmed doesn't mean you would have to be conscious for me to fulfill my task."

That is the last she hears before she is consumed by a blanket of darkness.

Nute Gunray sleeps in his cell, heavily secured by the Senatorian Guard since his arrival to Coruscant. The forces that were at his back on Naboo were quickly terminated, his trial soon would decide his fate if he would be allowed to roam about the galaxy once more, be executed, or be given a life sentence.

The reason why he is fatigued is the Jedi's interrogation of him, searching through his head, determined to discover their questions, while he screams, receiving no mercy, something which is not what the Jedi was described to be. All the Masters in the Council have been there, cornering him and they have received their answers. They have discovered Sidious's plans... have discovered what has been done to Naboo...

Speaking of which, Lord Sidious appears to not make any ploy yet to evacuate him.

Regaining his energy after a long moment, Gunray manages to stand up, moving over to the dish that has been left in his cell, washing his hands while staring at himself in the mirror, the prison jumpsuit that has been forced onto him the moment he has been dragged back to Coruscant making him feel fury at what happened.

He didn't dwell long as he walks back to the bench. After another hour, Gunray can see silhouettes outside of his cell. Nute Gunray glares at the Jedi as they enter his cell.

"Now is the time for you to be brought to the Jedi Temple, Viceroy Gunray," the Jedi at the front declares. Senate Guards push past the Jedi to the Viceroy and grasp his shoulder, forcing them behind his back before following behind the Jedi onto a speeder.

'All my plans ruined, Naboo freed from my upcoming leadership, and the Trade Federation in utter destruction.'

Those are his thoughts as he stares as he is forced along every time he slows a step, his hands clenched up into fists, his eyes flashing with distaste. The Queen of Naboo, the only individual that was able to outdo him, will pay for locking him up here as would Naboo and eventually the Republic when he escaped. They should have killed him when they had the chance, but he would escape from this imprisonment that they have forced onto him.

As soon as they reach outside of the Senate, Gunray's hands are released, his cuffs onto the floor with a thud. Seconds later, the Jedi activate their lightsabers just as the Senate Guards aim their blasters, appearing oblivious but willing to carry out their orders if need be.

Is Sidious sending someone to rescue him? Has he come himself? Or have the mysterious Sith that has assisted him on Naboo returned to bring him before his Master once more? Or is there something else going on that is beyond the viceroy's understanding?

The first guard is raised into the air, their throat snapping immediately by a dark figure who emerges from the shadows before all of the blaster bolts that fly at them are deflected back into the Senate Guards. The Jedi rushes to engage the dark figure, their lightsabers singing into the air at the dark figure who merely blocks all of their strikes before chopping them down like the garbage they were in brief five seconds.

Gunray is expecting to see Lord Sidious or the other Sith, but he is shocked once what he finds is something else. In front of him... is someone clouded by darkness, a tall figure which definitely isn't human, hovering above him. From his research from his many years of observing animals and places outside ofNeimoidians's biography, he can tell it is a Muun, but this one is different from those that have been described.

The... thing has rings of golden orbs similar to that of the servant back on Naboo but appears far more carcinogenic. Around him, the dead bodies appear to only add to his terrorizing form, its mouth being masked, the monster's lightsaber similarly clipped to his belt to the Jedi. Who is this thing?

"Nute Gunray," the dark humanoid announces, its voice sensing immediate chills up the spine of the viceroy quite similar to the Sith Lords on Naboo that have been behind the attack of Naboo, to begin with, "Lord Sidious is dead, murdered by the Jedi. In his final words, he has assigned me to be the one to continue his legacy, and that means bringing about the war to the Republic, granting you with Naboo in the process at the end. Unfortunately, the Jedi are the ones preventing your ascension and would continue to do so until they are dead."

"It is the Jedi who have entrapped me," Gunray snarls, tasting satisfaction in his throat at the thought of their demise, a universe without the Jedi stopping him and where that damn Queen of Naboo pay for imprisoning him. "Now they have killed the one who would have brought peace to the galaxy, but with your help, they shall pay for what they have done by assisting that feeble Queen in freeing Naboo. I also want Vader dead."

"Vader," the humanoid replies, its golden eyes looking condescending in the eyes of the viceroy, "is our ally. He would not intervene with our plans unless we involve him in and make him unnecessarily an enemy which would only hinder us."

"He is the one who trapped me in here!" Gunray shouts, pointing an index finger at the humanoid. "Him and that whore of a Queen is a threat to my power and a threat to Lord Sidious!"

"Lord Sidious is no more," the humanoid counters, sounding slightly more mocking now. "Either you could accept this or be trapped here where the Republic would believe you are involved."

Ironically, one of the bodies on the floor twitched, appearing to be still alive but that wouldn't be long given the pool of blood he is surrounded in.

Gunray cannot help but feel the words given by the Sith are a threat, a warning as to what would happen if he refuses to acknowledge this one as his superior as he did with Sidious. This figure and Vader are allies which is an odd prospect to be sure given that Vader is the one who ensured he was trapped in this kriffing cell.

But Gunray knows that he would have to acknowledge this figure as his Master. Even though he hates Vader as much as Naboo's Queen and wants revenge, he knows that he has little choice but to listen now. The Sith's powers are not to be denied.

"And if you are wrong? If Vader is a threat."

Said humanoid's eyes narrow. "I already have that particular base covered."