In this chapter, we start to see things from the perspective of some of the Imperials, but I want to start this one with a sentiment that (hopefully) most of us can share. Shaak Ti also does some serious reflecting. Enjoy …
Chapter 14: Reflections in the Light – and the Dark
Vaynai, 1 BBY 6 months, 0 days, 9 hours
Two weeks passed. Ahsoka Tano found herself on Vaynai – a place she was coming to greatly enjoy, as it always seemed to relax her – walking along the beach in her bathing suit, thinking about her life and the universe and what really mattered to her, when somehow this tune came into her head:
If it's magic – then why can't it be everlasting
Like the stars that always shine, like the poets' endless rhyme
Like the galaxies in time.
If it's pleasing – then why can't it be never leaving
Like the day that never fails, like on seashores there are shells
Like the time that always tells.
It holds the key to every heart throughout the universe
It fills you up without a bite and quenches every thirst.
If it's special – then with it why aren't we as careful
As making sure we dress in style, posing pictures with a smile
Keeping danger from a child.
If it's magic – why can't we make it everlasting
Like the lifetime of the sun, it will leave no heart undone
For there's enough for everyone …
(copyright 1976, Stevie Wonder, BMI, all rights reserved)
A beautiful sentiment, she thought. If only we could all feel this way. The thing was, most of us did, and it was only the evil few who insisted on ruining things for everyone else. But why? Was this too the Will of the Force? So much I have to learn, it seems.
Over the time since her afternoon spent with Tri'ku Je'har, much had happened in her world. The Almanian leadership discussed the Death Star pictures and what they might do about them. The consensus was nearly unanimous – keep as low a profile as possible and keep the Empire as far away as possible. It was pointed out that their friends in the Corp-Sec usually would see to that. Shaak had indeed come to Almania and had a private audience with the President and his top advisors. When they learned that she was their honored guest (and honorary citizen) Ahsoka's mother and mentor, they were most happy to meet with her. While Shaak knew they were unprepared to actually fight on the side of the rebellion, she told them how they could help in other ways, primarily by passing along information through private channels that she was starting to set up in various places around the galaxy, with a growing network of contacts.
Coruscant, Imperial Palace, 1 BBY 6 months, 0 days, 9 hours
Meanwhile, on Coruscant, Emperor Sheev Palpatine seemed troubled on this morning. It seems there had been an unexplained circumstance in recent weeks and he was at a loss to understand it. As his apprentice Lord Vader happened to be on the planet, the emperor summoned him to the Imperial Palace. When the dark lord entered the throne room of the palace, Palpatine stated: "There has been a disturbance in the Force … Have you felt it?"
"No, my Master. When did this take place?"
He stared at Vader intently. "It was about 18 days prior. An unmistakable presence. One I did not recognize." The emperor's words sounded slurred, as if he were unsure of himself at this particular time. Vader noted the change.
"Was there anything else about it … something unique, and distinct?"
"Yessss," Palpatine replied. "Very distinct. And it was close by. Perhaps from a core world."
"Do you feel it now, Master?"
"It has vanished. But I sense it will come again. I want you to be aware when it does."
Vader bowed his head slightly. "As you wish, my master."
As the Dark Lord exited the room, he started to wonder just how the Emperor expected him to do much about it. But if there was indeed some strange new presence in the Force, he had to find out all he could. At the current time, Vader believed the only Jedi still remaining were Kanan Jarrus and the boy, Ezra – and neither of them gave him much cause for concern. I cannot see how Tano could have survived Malachor – I barely made it out myself. Of course, he also had no clue that Kenobi and Yoda were also still around, let alone his own children – which he also did not realize even existed, as Palpatine had assured him they were killed along with their mother. And Shaak Ti did not even register on his consciousness.
Felucia, Holocron Vault, 1 BBY 6 months, 0 days, 11 hours
While this was taking place, Grand Master of the Order of The Galaxy Shaak Ti was ensconced within her underground holocron library and private study area. Unbeknownst to everyone else on her now private world of Felucia, she also owned a small collection of Sith holocrons, relics, and artifacts. Always better to know one's enemy, was her maxim. She had carefully selected one holocron each from the Jedi and Sith collections and placed them in close proximity. Normally, this would be a dangerous and toxic thing to do, but the Grand Master understood well how these items worked together and had created special reliquaries for just this purpose. As she placed the relevant ark in front of her, she spoke a few words from an ancient volume of Togruta Force knowledge. Shaak had spent much time recovering the priceless heritage of her people and the timeless wisdom of the Force that it represented. There had been great Jedi masters and Sith lords from the Togruta species over the centuries and millennia past – all of whom could seemingly speak to her when she called upon them.
This time, she was able to access recent conversations in the Imperial Palace, because, as known to surviving Jedi such as Obi-Wan Kenobi and herself, the palace had once been the Jedi Temple. Great masters such as Yoda knew of this capability but only Shaak had decided to make regular use of it. The Temple had always contained strong indicators of her presence while she was a member of the Council. None of the other members were aware of the various features she had installed with the help of Jocasta Nu. All too often, the younger Jedi ignored Master Nu's wise and pertinent counsel, and the importance of immersing oneself in the deeper knowledge of the Force and its role in Jedi history. There was much more to being a Jedi than skill with a lightsabre, Shaak noted with a soft chuckle, as she had trained various Padawan of the past. The smart ones paid heed, the others, not so much.
As Shaak found the recent conversation between Palpatine and Vader, she listened carefully. She could almost feel the concern in the Sith lord's voice. Palpatine had come to believe he was the unquestioned master of all he surveyed, and Shaak was quite content to let him believe that. Vader was too young, too undisciplined, to take much time to contemplate and reflect. The man seemed to be running from something, perhaps a painful memory of his abject failures. By serving as Palpatine's lackey he hoped to put that behind him. Regrettable, is it not, Knight Skywalker? Did you ever consider why we denied you – why I denied you – the rank of Master? Windu had been correct, as it became clear, but he too placed too much faith in swordsmanship and not enough in knowledge. You thought you were next in line to be Grand Master, did you not, sir? Shaak had admired many qualities in Mace Windu that others often overlooked. He was disciplined, he had faith in long-standing institutions such as the Galactic Republic, and he usually considered her advice and liked spending time with her and discussing philosophy, but he shied away from the difficult choices. Understanding the true nature of the Sith was of paramount importance in her mind and she now reflected on time well spent. Palpatine, I am creating weapons that you will not see until it is too late. So the Emperor had detected her presence on Corellia. She was just fine with that, knowing that he would never be able to track her to her current location. And so my work continues. With that, the GM put away her reliquary and the sliding panels containing the holocrons withdrew back into the walls, and Shaak rose quietly out of her underground temple and walked the distance back to her home.
Felucia, Shaak's home, 1 BBY 6 months, 0 days, 13 hours
Upon arriving, Maris Brood was waiting patiently to see her. Shaak smiled gently at her, put her arm around the Zabrak and invited her in for some herbal tea and patient reflection.
"Knight Maris, how are you this fine day?" She laughed softly.
Maris nodded and smiled. "I am wonderful, Master Shaak."
She gestured to a chair. "Have a seat, Maris, my always able apprentice."
"What is thy bidding, my master?"
Shaak sipped her beverage first. "It has come to my attention that the Imperials have a certain officer that we must be aware of. A man by the name of Mitth'raw'nuruodo or Thrawn for short. He has recently been promoted to the rank of Grand Admiral. Are you familiar with him?"
"Not really, Master, but I have heard the name. Master Ahsoka has also mentioned him." Maris took a long drink of the beverage and swallowed, followed by an exhaling of her lungs. She immediately felt a surge of insight and listened intently to the GM.
"He has been reported to me by Hera Syndulla as the chief antagonist for the rebel Phoenix Squadron in the Lothal Sector. They have established a base nearby that he is searching for. I had earlier warned Captain Syndulla that it was only a matter of time before their base would be discovered and that they must have a contingency plan. Fortunately, Senators Organa and Bel Iblis paid heed and we are now building a new base near the planet Yavin."
Maris nodded. "Yes, Master, I understand. What of Thrawn though? Do we have a plan for him?"
Shaak replied, "That is what we are working on, my dear Maris."
The GM took another sip and a deep breath, then continued. "I have learned that Palpatine has placed great trust in this individual. I would propose that we engineer a setup deliberately designed to confuse him. He is reportedly quite interested in the art forms of various peoples."
"What can we do with that, Master?"
"The answer may present itself. For the time being, I want you to work with Master Tano and learn all you can about this individual – his history, philosophy, and his relationship with the Emperor and Lord Vader. Keep me up to date."
"You can count on me, Grand Master."
She smiled. "I know that, Knight Brood. One more thing … I want you to decide which of the Padawans you recommend to take the trial to become the next Knight of the Order. I need a name on my desk within the next two rotations. Your career with the Order is now moving forward. Consider this a vote of confidence. You have earned it. That is all …"
Maris rose, bowed deeply and looked at her master with great satisfaction. Shaak was never in the habit of issuing excess praise, so when she gave it, it was something to be proud of.
Vaynai, Beachcomber Hotel, 1 BBY 6 months, 0 days, 13 hours
Ahsoka returned to her suite at the Beachcomber Hotel and Casino and prepared to meet with Chelli Aphra and Sana Starros. She decided to wear something less business-like, but reasonably formal. It was time to wrap up the deal with the Almanians and then she wanted to pursue some of the ideas Chelli had presented her earlier. The most pressing was the placing of trades regarding the suppliers of the equipment used. Ahsoka had decided she wanted to quietly steer Alliance business their way and to take a position beforehand. The two young ladies met her at the entrance. Everyone was dressed tastefully but with lots of color, something appropriate for the resort atmosphere of Vaynai.
When Chelli entered the room, Ahsoka gave her a hug and smiled.
"I've been thinking about our last get-together. You had some ideas I really want to pursue …"
Chelli chuckled. "Somehow, I knew you would …"
"Indeed. Our relationship has really grown. You have proven yourself to me again and again. What I'm looking for now is another deal but with my own funds. Let's go downstairs and I will fill you both in."
As they went into the bar, they took a table with a view of a holo-vid screen. Some type of sporting event – it looked like a pod race from some unknown Corp-Sec planet – was being shown and most of the customers in the bar area were following it with interest. Ahsoka noted that bets on events could be placed from the table via a data pad. A quick scan of a customer's financial access credentials were all that was needed.
While the others were concentrating on the race, Ahsoka opened the discussion.
"Chelli, I want you to procure for me another set of those droid satellites, that I can deploy directly from my ship. You two have earned my confidence and it is time to let you in on a secret – my name is actually Ahsoka Tano. I was a warrior during the Clone Wars and served the Republic. You are still to refer to me as Doctor Ashli Tanner in public, however."
Sana spoke first: "Thank you so much for your confidence in us. It means a lot."
Chelli quickly added, "We won't betray you … So, for your private setup, do you want the same basic spec?"
Ahsoka responded, "Yes – but I want an even greater range of power installed on the lasers. This will give me added flexibility." She took a swig of her ale and continued. "As you know, the Almanians are quite pleased with what we've done for them. As that job is finished, there will be an announcement of the full implementation of the system very soon. Chelli, I want you to invest 500,000 credits into the company – I will supply the funds myself for the open of trading on the exchange tomorrow."
Chelli nodded. "Buy shares in Tirsa Space Development – enough for 500,000 Imperial credits. Would you also like me to purchase calls and warrants?"
Ahsoka nodded. "Exactly. Spread the funds as you see fit. Send me confirmation of all activity as soon as the positions are established."
"Very good, Doctor Tanner. This is a very wise move."
"Chelli, let me know when I can expect delivery of my personal order as well."
"Right away, Ashli. They should give it top priority. You have become their best customer." Aphra laughed at that, and she was soon joined by Sana and Ahsoka. "We seem to be on a roll, Ashli, would you like to place a bet on the next race?" More laughter followed.
Felucia, Shaak's home, 1 BBY 6 months, 0 days, 15 hours
Meanwhile, Shaak had decided to contact Hera directly. When the Captain answered, she was intrigued to hear from the Grand Master. "Captain Syndulla, good to hear your voice. I've got some news for you."
"Good news, I hope, Master Ti." Hera laughed softly.
"Oh, I know you could use some … but this is more of a warning. I want you all to start preparing to pack up your base from the Lothal system. Things are going to get hot … and soon."
Hera sounded startled. "Oh really? How much time do we have, do you think?"
"Not nearly enough. You will be heading for the Yavin system. Precise coordinates will be sent soon. Stand by for details. My apologies for not getting this info to you sooner."
"Thank you for the advance notice, Master Ti."
"My pleasure, Captain. That is all. Shaak out."
As the transmission ended, Shaak thought to herself, At least they can start moving the heavy equipment first. I doubt they had much of a shield generator installed. Thrawn is going to hit them and hit them hard.
Vaynai, Beachcomber Hotel, 1 BBY 5 months, 29 days, 7 hours
The next morning, Ahsoka wired the funds from a former Jedi account that Shaak had provided for her personal use. In return for setting everything up, she decided it would be fair to give Chelli a 10,000-credit stake in the deal. About two hours into the session, the announcement came from Tirsa Space Development, on the planet Tirsa. They had concluded a contract for a major planetary defense system and new orders were coming in fast. Traders were bidding up the price of the stock quickly. Chelli called her back and advised that she take some profits immediately from the short-duration options positions. As this was done, the balance in Ahsoka's trading account was growing fast. By the end of the day, she had tripled her entire position. Life is good, she thought happily. It was time to hit the beach.
Coruscant orbit, aboard ISD Devastator, 1 BBY 5 months, 27 days, 12 hours
Elsewhere in the galaxy, the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Devastator had just come out of hyperspace on an approach to Coruscant. On the bridge stood recently promoted Rear Admiral Rae Sloane, who pondered the situation. She'd received orders to rendezvous with Lord Vader, who had requested her by name. She knew that he'd been observing her career carefully since that day some ten years earlier when her quick thinking had saved him and the Emperor (and everyone aboard) from certain death by direct collision with a star. After she had established orbit above the galactic capital planet, she called for a shuttle to take her to the surface and await Vader's arrival.
After about five minutes, the familiar figure in black appeared and Sloane welcomed him aboard. As they made their way up to the Devastator, Vader wasted no time in getting to the purpose of his trip.
"Admiral, there have been some recent events that have given me cause for concern. The Death Star command reported a recent intrusion by unidentified ship over the base on Scarif … and … my sources have informed me of a recent meeting on Corellia with some members of the Imperial Senate."
Sloane nodded. "I had also learned of this meeting, Lord Vader. It seems one of them was Mon Mothma of Chandrila. Soon after, she transmitted a message of treason against the Empire."
Vader's response was quick. "I am unconcerned with their motley little revolt. We will deal with that in due time. But there was something else that caught my attention."
Sloane glanced at his mask as the breathing apparatus completed an inhale-exhale cycle.
"Set your course for Scarif. We will start from the source. I intend to question those technicians on the Death Star."
The Admiral considered asking him for more details but then thought better of it. He would provide no more than she needed to know. She did wonder, though, what it was about the meeting on Corellia that had aroused his curiosity beyond the rebels' presence.
Once they were underway and had jumped to hyperspace, Vader excused himself and went off alone to meditate and seek answers through the Force. Everything had been proceeding according to plan, certainly, but he thought the attitude of people like Governor Tarkin was just a tad too smug. It was always when you thought things were going well that a problem would crop up. He'd learned that lesson long ago during the Clone Wars … as he thought back, memories of his missions with Ahsoka Tano started to return to him. For a second or two, he had wistful thoughts and wondered what had happened to her back on Malachor, but then he angrily wrenched himself back into the present. Mustn't go there … He knew better than to have those thoughts, but for some reason they came back to him on this trip.
Emperor Palpatine was concerned over something he had felt in the Force. Could it be that Tano still lived? And was she on Corellia? In their last encounter, she had done serious damage to him and he privately considered himself lucky to have gotten away when he did after she had sliced open his mask. He'd had to spend 48 hours in a bacta tank recovering. Yes … her powers have grown considerably since the Clone Wars … she has a new aura about her. He knew he had better learn soon what had happened.
Surely, Tano by herself cannot defeat the Empire, but what if she had help? That former Sith Zabrak, Maul, was still somewhere around the Galaxy as well. He was on Malachor that day and seemed to be working in a team with Tano and that other Padawan, Jarrus. The three of them could be trouble if they were really working together. They'd quickly destroyed the Inquisitors. Tano and Maul had too much power to be destroyed easily.
But Vader knew better than to present these thoughts to the Emperor directly. Palpatine would expect immediate results. He wanted nothing to stand in the way of the Death Star's completion. Much to learn, I have …
To be continued …
