Wrapping up the loose ends here as we proceed toward the payoff. Thanks to new followers: Count Mallet, d3m0s
Chapter 43: Review and Reconciliation
Felucia, Shaak's home, 0 ABY, 9 months, 22 days, 6 hours
Grand Master of the Order Shaak Ti arose early the next morning, with a full schedule ahead of her for the day. Newly arrived rebel pilot and general, Hera Syndulla, had arrived at her home hoping to have a few minutes of her time. Frehya opened the door and spoke to her first.
"Good morning, General Syndulla. How might we be of service?"
Hera paused a second. "Knight Lumoxa, good morning to you too. Could I perhaps get a few minutes of the Grand Master's time? I know she is quite busy these days."
"I think she might be amenable to that. Please have a seat." Frehya stood aside and gestured to a chair in Shaak's main room.
Shaak heard the stirring from her bedroom and soon emerged, wearing a pale blue gown. She rubbed her eyes for a second, then came over and sat on her normal chair and faced Hera. With a smile, she asked:
"Hera Syndulla. What may I do for you?"
"Greetings, Master Ti. It has been a long time since we met and much has happened."
Shaak looked upward for a second. "Yes. I heard about Knight Jarrus. You have my condolences. How goes it otherwise?"
Hera looked Shaak in the eye. "Ahsoka says you want me – and us – to fly Imperial star fighters in the upcoming battle. Might I ask why?"
Shaak's expression – which was essentially blank – didn't change. "Did she explain any of our strategy to you?"
"Not so much. I kind of figured you were going to sneak up on them, but how did you get those ships in the first place?"
Shaak tossed her head back and laughed, as all three of her lekku jiggled wildly. "I like you, Syndulla. Always got your head in the game." Shaak paused, for effect, then added, "It just so happens we have an 'in' with the firm that makes them."
Hera looked confused for a minute. "Wait a minute … I thought we helped shut down their factory on Lothal when Pryce ordered the fuel tanks destroyed."
Shaak smiled. "You are referring to the incident where your friend Kanan sacrificed himself to save you … Hera, by any chance, did your travels in the past few years ever take you to Lianna?"
Hera shook her head and looked a bit confused.
Shaak continued. "Perhaps you may have heard of the Santhe-Sienar Corporation … if not, they are the firm that makes all the TIE ships, plus many other Imperial prototypes."
"So, Grand Master, do we have a contract with them?" Hera was starting to get curious.
"We do. Not only that, the lady who runs that company is now our good friend, Valles Santhe."
"Really? Interesting. Does the Emperor know that his favorite weapon maker is working with the rebels?"
Shaak chuckled. "There are many things Palpatine doesn't know."
"Can you tell me?"
"Sure. You will find out soon enough." Shaak then gave Hera an outline of the rebel strategy including her plan to defeat the Emperor.
Hera was astonished. "You will become the Empress? Ahsoka didn't say anything about that."
"My dear General Syndulla. My Empire will be quite different from the current one. I do not wish to rule, only to serve. And only long enough to establish a new governing framework for the Galaxy."
Hera whistled softly. "Grand Master, I mean no disrespect."
"None taken," Shaak chuckled, then paused. "But I sense you have something else on your mind this morning."
Hera nodded. "Yes. I do. After our last encounter with Thrawn on Lothal, our team member, Ezra, disappeared. I have been unable to locate him."
Shaak stroked her chin for a second, as if pondering the question. "We will try to learn more. Do you recall, Hera, when I visited your group on Atollon? I warned young Bridger about the dangers of getting too close to the Dark Side. Palpatine would very much like to recruit him and then turn him against us … but it is too late for him now. The forces I have arrayed will prove his undoing. And then I shall take over."
"I hope you are correct, Grand Master Ti."
Felucia, Temple vault, 0 ABY, 9 months, 22 days, 10 hours
Later that morning, Shaak put on one of her black robes and went alone to her underground temple of knowledge in the Felucian woods. She started to notice a nip in the air as the temperature had dropped. It seemed the climate adjustment of Felucia was proceeding as planned. Very good. Once I assume power, I will have Frehya start the settlement plans as we had discussed.
As Shaak descended into the Temple, she made sure she was alone and then sealed the entrance so that she would not be disturbed. Taking a seat, she quickly engaged the Imperial Palace system and started to play a few bars of the Shostakovich Waltz No. 2, which could soon be heard in the Imperial Throne Room. As soon as the Emperor heard it, he quickly ordered everyone to leave the room, including his personal guards. He tried to remain calm, but then felt a profound disturbance in the Force.
"Good evening, Sabla Mandu … I see you are serenading me again," Palpatine spoke in his usual scratchy voice.
Shaak then answered in her most pleasant and lilting tone. "Kind sir. I believe we shall be meeting soon. I think you shall be most pleasantly surprised." She nodded as she said this, as if to keep her mood jovial.
"I look forward to it. I am beginning to see we have much in common." Palpatine had detected a strong Dark Side presence starting to emanate, somehow, from somewhere within the palace. This discovery somehow was not troubling to him, indeed, it seemed a kindred spirit had paid him a visit.
"Indeed we do, Sheev … Please await my next communication." Shaak then switched the music to play the first few bars of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, commonly referred to as The Fates. The dramatic music reached the Emperor to his core and was most satisfying to him. As the last notes hung in the air, Shaak stopped the transmission, and thought, Music often says so much more than words could ever hope to convey. Yes, Sheev, we shall meet.
Palpatine then was left with a number of questions. But he could think of no one that could give him much help. Dr. Cylo was certainly of no use, and of course, he was starting to think Darth Vader was not coming back. Indeed, he still had almost no idea where Vader had disappeared. Maybe it didn't matter any more, he thought. It is time to have a new apprentice, one more powerful than any before, and this one will be female. The woman is often so much deadlier than the male. Clear and precise she is. No wasted energy. And an all-encompassing desire. The most powerful Sith ever she will be. Sabla Mandu – I await thee with relish …
Felucia, Vader's home, 0 ABY, 9 months, 22 days, 15 hours
Later that afternoon, Leia caught up with Luke at the bunkhouse.
"Hey brother … are you doing anything?"
He shook his head. "Was about to go practice some sabre forms in the full mirror in the Assembly Hall training section."
Leia laughed. "You are really driven. How's it going with Hedala?"
Luke smiled. "Nice. I think I love her. She's so …"
"Blonde?" Leia teased.
"Maybe …" he said slowly, with a wink. "What's up, sis?"
"Our father was hoping to spend some time with us – together, as a family."
Luke thought it over for a second. "I wonder what's on his mind …"
They walked out together and grabbed a speeder from the lot and then rode over to Vader's recently constructed home.
As they dismounted, and walked to the entrance, Vader detected their presence and opened the door from a distance via the Force.
"Welcome my daughter," he spoke. "Welcome my son."
Luke shook his hand, while Leia curtsied. "What can we do for you," she asked.
Vader took a breath cycle. "You can first start explaining to me all you know about your lives since you were born. About how you were raised and where you grew up."
As Luke and Leia both recounted their tales of life on Tatooine and Alderaan, it became clear to Vader that they really had little more idea about their origins than what had been explained to them by Ahsoka and Shaak. Vader then started recalling his relationship with Padme.
"So, what kind of woman was our mother?" Luke asked, while Leia nodded.
Vader seemed to sigh. It was harder for him than he had thought it would be to remember those days.
"Your mother was … just … incredible," he said wistfully. "Such a beautiful lady, a true queen. She believed in justice and doing what was right for the Galaxy. We had to marry in secret because the Jedi … wouldn't allow it otherwise."
Leia sighed as well. "I just have almost nothing of hers to remember her by. I did some research about her life on Naboo. She was so beautiful, you are right. How did she pass away? I still haven't grasped that."
Vader took at least two breath cycles. This part was the hardest.
"The Emperor had told me that I had killed her," he said at length.
Luke and Leia both gasped, but Vader held up his hand, as if to stop them so he could finish what he wanted to say.
"But I could never really believe that."
He went on to explain about the events of that fateful day. About him telling Mace Windu that the Chancellor was a Sith lord. About their attempts to arrest him, and then his interference that saved Palpatine's life – but cost Windu his (or so it seemed). Then his transformation into Darth Vader, whereupon Order 66 was issued and then he went off to enforce it, and all that followed.
Luke sat mesmerized. "I can't believe it. Father … you killed young children?"
Leia joined in. "And that's what happened to the Jedi? The clones shot them?!"
Vader shook his head sadly. "It's all true. And likely even more that I did not witness. I can still remember going to Mustafar and killing all of the Separatist leadership and their squeals of terror."
"What happened to Count Dooku, Father?" Leia asked. "There's so little information available."
"Dead … by my hand. He had attacked and disabled Obi-Wan. Then the Chancellor ordered me to finish him. I didn't yet know it was really Darth Sidious and that he was Dooku's master all along."
"Then what happened on Mustafar?" Luke inquired.
"Padme and Obi-Wan came in her ship to try to stop me. I asked her to join me. I told her we would rule together, but she didn't want to hear that. I lost my temper and started to choke her, but Obi-Wan stopped me. All I remember is she was still alive. She and I both knew she was pregnant. We had been so happy together before that horrible day."
Vader was visibly shaken by having to recount all of it. He had tried hard to suppress these memories but now they came flooding back. He shook his head again, and took another long breath. Luke and Leia could now feel his pain, due to their Force sensitivity. Leia, in particular, who looked at him and felt she was about to start crying. Luke took her hand in an attempt to soothe her.
Vader went on. "After that, my rage was out of control. I wanted to kill Obi-Wan, the one who trained me, considered me as a brother … but I had lost it. We started to battle – it seemed to go on forever – but finally, I made a fateful mistake. I tried to leap over him but he cut me. Sliced both my legs and my other arm, and I started having trouble breathing. The next thing I remember was awakening on an operating table – I don't know how much later it was."
There was a silence in the room, only broken by Vader's breathing. Luke finally spoke. "Father, I can only imagine how much pain you were in. Those things you did. It's unspeakable …"
Vader nodded. "Yes. I have no excuses. I will live with the pain, always. My only hope is that I can come to be a father to both of you. You are all I have to live for now."
Leia interjected. "No! Ahsoka cares about you as well. And I know Master Shaak is starting to trust you … we want to see you get better."
Vader again shook his head. "Lady Tano … Ahsoka … I tried to kill her, too. Fortunately she got away. I was happy to see that later. You are correct, she seems to still care about me. But it can never be the same again."
Both Luke and Leia rose and walked over to their father's side. They each took a hand and looked at him as if to console him. "Let's go forward together, Father." Leia urged. "We will help you." Luke said calmly.
For the first time, Darth Vader – Anakin Skywalker once more, at least in spirit – started to feel a sense of absolution. If his children could be there for him, maybe all was not lost, and he could fight alongside them with pride and help to defeat the evil that had done all of this to him.
Felucia, Ahsoka's home, 0 ABY, 9 months, 22 days, 21 hours
That night, Ahsoka and Tri'ku were having a quiet dinner at her home. She had cooked a small roast portion of some local Felucian game animal, which she served with a salad of mixed greens and some spicy canned fish she had brought from Vaynai. The two began to talk about their upcoming wedding and also the revelations about Ahsoka's blood family members living on Shili. As she opened a bottle of imported Corp-Sec wine, he smiled at her.
"My love … you are becoming so good at this stuff. A regular homemaker, in addition to Master of the Order."
She chuckled. "Hardly a problem, my dear. Cooking and serving is fun. There's a challenge to doing it right."
Tri'ku sipped the wine, checked the label, and nodded in approval. "You know, that planet is a rather well-kept secret. When we have a chance, I'd like for us to visit there and stay at a small inn in the wine country. The simple virtues of an honest country life make for some good times." He said with a sigh.
She looked sweetly at Tri'ku. "I'd love it, dear."
"OK … so we will have the wedding after Shaak takes office?"
"I don't see how we can do it before. Besides, it gives us plenty of time to plan."
"Well, it gives me time to go to Almania and invite some old friends – and family. Have we settled on a venue?"
"I'd love to do it on Lianna, at Valles's palace – the one we fell in love with."
"You think she would be OK with that?"
"I don't see why not. As long as we give her plenty of time to prepare for us. Maybe she could be my maid of honor."
"Not Maris?"
"My stars. No … she'd be petrified. I'm still holding out hope she would agree to be a bridesmaid. People seem to misunderstand my relationship with her. Maris is rather an acquired taste."
Tri'ku laughed. "And I thought it was just me …"
They continued to laugh and chat while consuming their dinner. After they had finished, Ahsoka brought the bottle of wine into the den area of her home. She then refilled both of their glasses, as they sat down together and started to cuddle.
"So, Tri," she glanced at Tri'ku. "Are you taking up a role in the battle we are planning?"
He started to say something, then thought better of it, and simply asked, "What's the real plan here?"
"I'm not 100% sure, actually. I do know that we are going to send our forces in and then start taking out Star Destroyers."
"Then what? How many?" Tri'ku then added, "You know, I find it almost incredible that they haven't yet figured out how to stop you from doing that."
Ahsoka chuckled, then shook her head slightly. "I'm not really sure why. They have known they had a problem now for a long time. I guess … maybe … they still don't know how we do it."
She drank a swig from her wine glass. "Anyway, after that happens, we expect the Emperor himself to be drawn out – at some point."
Tri'ku nodded. "So then the real game begins. Palpatine vs. Shaak. Do you feel she can win it?"
"I have to." She took a deep breath. "But Mother seems so confident, I can't doubt her."
"Well … having her take over the Empire would truly be a game-changer. I have no idea – at all – how that might work."
"Don't underestimate her. She's had twenty years to put this together. I'm more than sure she has ideas on how things will be run." Another pause. "Tri – do you like Mother?"
He thought about it for a second, then nodded slowly. "Sure. She's clearly wise, and compassionate. And I would do whatever she asked when it comes to helping her set up the government. What do you think your role will be?"
Ahsoka also thought deeply, then drank some more wine. "Wow. You know, I'm really not sure. Mother has not set any expectations, other than vaguely telling me I would be some type of Imperial Crown Princess."
Tri'ku whistled at that. "Ha … So, we're going to live on Coruscant?"
Ahsoka threw up her hands. "I don't know! We're just going to go with the flow. I think we may be getting a bit ahead of ourselves here, don't you?"
He nodded, then smirked. "Better pour me another glass …"
Felucia, Assembly Hall, 0 ABY, 10 months, 20 days, 20 hours
Another month passed. Ceremonies were held at the Assembly Hall for Hedala Fardi, who had finally earned her Knighthood, and for Maris Brood, now officially a Master at long last. Everyone wanted to celebrate with Maris, who finally relaxed and basked in the adoration and love from her fellow Members of the Order. Maris had always been respected – and somewhat feared – as she was a stern taskmaster, but her essential decency and fairness to the members had made her loved as well.
For Hedala, it was a dream come true, as now she would have great respect. She and Luke sat together, quietly holding hands, while the celebration for Maris went on. Many toasts were raised for the new Master and many humorous remarks made. During the party, Frehya came up to them:
"Hey, Dala, major congratulations. Guess we've both made the big time now as Knights."
"Freh! Thank you … yep. Seems like only yesterday we were on Ahsoka's ship, practicing with wooden sabres. Now we can have our own homes on Felucia."
"That's right. Of course I prefer to stay with Master Shaak. She really likes having me around to look after her."
Hedala beamed at her. "Yeah, she can't do without you. But, hey, do you ever miss the old times when we were coming up?
"I will never forget them. The trips we took together, like on Tatooine, when we went into Jabba the Hutt's lair together and Shaak basically incapacitated that entire gang of bad guys in one move."
Luke whistled when he heard that. "Oh, I wish I'd been there to see that. I suppose I was out working on the vaporators."
Hedala smiled at him. "It was right then and there that I knew we were working for a total bad ass. It really made me want to be a Knight – and now I am one."
Luke raised his mug of ale. "To Hedala!" He then thought, now it's my turn to make it.
As they were talking, Maris came over to them.
"Congratulations, Hedala. An honor well earned."
She smiled at Maris. "I wouldn't have made it without you, Master Maris. You never let me slack off even once."
Maris turned to Frehya, then put a hand on her shoulder. "Knight Lumoxa, can you come by my place bright and early tomorrow? It's time for you to build your new sabre. Shaak wants you to go pink …"
Frehya smiled. "Mm … all the cool kids get pink sabres, huh?"
Maris actually laughed. "I don't know why, but that's actually funny."
Hedala joined in. "You don't get named a Master every day. Congrats to you, too, Maris."
Shaak eventually made her way over to the foursome. She smiled, shook hands with Maris and Hedala, and noted, "So happy to see you both get these honors. I know just how hard you worked. Hedala, you were just a bright-eyed kid when you first arrived here three years ago, and look at you now. Maris, what can I say? It's just been an honor to have you by my side all these years. And we've still got so far to go."
Felucia, the Crystal Cave, 0 ABY, 10 months, 21 days, 10 hours
The next morning, Frehya arrived at Maris's home and they went off together in Maris's personal speeder.
"Now that I'm a Master, I should be getting an upgrade," she noted. "First thing I want is a cooler so I can have an ale when I want one."
Frehya chuckled at that. "Now, that's what I call priorities …"
They rode for almost an hour, then Maris stopped at an unassuming spot in the woods.
"We're here, Freh."
"How did you know where to find this?"
"It's in the nav system on my speeder."
They got out, and soon Maris raised her arms and a slight rumbling could be heard. The new Master drew one of her sabres, ignited it, and held it out in front of her. She then recited some words in the Togruti tongue, whereupon the rumbling stopped and a portal opened before them.
Maris then led Frehya into the ground and as they descended, reddish and pinkish lights started to flicker along the path they were on. Eventually, they came to what appeared to be some type of cavern. Frehya was trying to determine how far down they were but she lost track. All she knew was that it had become quite a bit cooler than on the surface of the planet above.
"Okay, friend, we're here. Time for you find your crystal."
Frehya remarked, "First time I've done this. How does it work?"
Maris chuckled. "Usually, this is done by a new Padawan. But this pit is only for advanced members of the Order, per Shaak's direction. The crystals here are unique. Master Shaak seeded this pit over twelve years ago, and now there are many to choose from."
Frehya started looking around the expanse. As she stepped into different areas of the cavern, faint lights would switch on for her. She had studied the process a while back. Traditionally a Jedi initiate would be expected to find the crystal that "called out" to her or him and then would retrieve it. So Frehya stopped and then started to meditate and let the Force guide her.
Maris had taken a seat and was waiting patiently. As she waited, she reflected upon her relationship with Knight Lumoxa. This gal has always been so patient. I remember beating her up pretty bad when we started but she was so out of shape. Even so, she got tough and her ability with the Force was always there. Shaak used to ask me about Freh, was she going to make it. I of course said yes. I came to respect her. She's smart, she learns fast, and she always learns different ways to do things. I really hope I get to work with her when we go to Coruscant. As Empress's Hand, I know I will need a ton of help. So much to study …
After a few minutes, Frehya felt she had found what she was looking for. She had ranged deep into the cavern and had located a gleaming pink object about the size of her thumb. Once she was sure, she reached out with the Force and carefully dislodged it from its birthplace and then it flew to her as if on command, landing in her open palm. The crystal seemed to be almost singing to her as she felt a high-pitched sound emanating from it. This isn't like anything I've read about on the holocron, she noted to herself.
Maris came over to join her. "Let me see it." Frehya held it up to Maris's eyes. The Zabrak squinted at it for a bit, then concentrated. "Yeah, that's it. Soon you will be well acquainted." She stuck her hand out to Frehya. "Congrats, friend. Now you're ready. Let's get back," she urged.
Soon they were back up on the surface and were getting into the speeder as the cavern entrance sealed itself shut and then retracted itself into the ground and had disappeared. An hour later, they had returned. On the way, Maris mentioned that it was time for Frehya to construct her new, more powerful sabre, one that could be set at a higher level than most others and could simply overpower that of most opponents. "Only the best for the Order," Maris said with a nod. Frehya knew what she had to do next, and headed for the Temple to get the holocron on sabre construction for her use in this task.
In hyperspace going to Dagobah, 0 ABY, 10 months, 22 days
Later that day, Shaak spoke privately with Ahsoka and mentioned she would be taking a solo trip elsewhere in the Galaxy.
"Should I be worried, Mother?"
Shaak scoffed and snorted. "Darling, you're in charge while I'm gone. I will return in about three rotations. When I do, we will be making final prep for the battle. Things are almost in place."
"Very well, Mother. I guess everything is about to change."
Shaak hugged her and then boarded the Intrepid V. The course was set for the distant southern Outer Rim world of Dagobah, a full 24-hour ride. As she jumped to hyperspace, she put her R5 unit astromech in charge of the ship and went off for an extended meditation and sleep session. During the time she was incommunicado, her mind started cycling through every area of importance, as she essentially reviewed the past twenty years following Order 66 and her escape from Coruscant on the fateful day later known as Empire Day. Her plans involved a meeting with Yoda, to whom she had sent word for him to be expecting her in-person visit, and then a short trip over to Endor, where the new battle station was beginning construction. There she would be meeting Valles Santhe, who promised her a tour and a full consultation.
Her thoughts covered many areas:
So now it is time. How much I have looked forward to this day. Soon there will be a change of the guard, so to speak. I am under no misconception about how difficult this will be. There are so many moving parts to this equation. I won't have much room for error. The new powers. Yoda told me to beware, but I feel I have a handle on it now. I don't need to smash Palpatine any longer. What I'm about to do might be far worse – if I were in his position. Now the new Malachor. It is close to being ready. No one will recognize it now. But to govern this Galaxy, I will need several bases of operation. Palaces, thrones, gardens, and much more. Valles will take care of everything. The bankers on Muunilinst. They stand to do quite well under my reign. We will now control the galactic financial system and it will be time to make it work for everyone. Frehya checked our balances … we have several hundred trillion credits. Finance first, then governmental organization, then appropriations. The fleet. I will need to devise a loyalty test, then we can administer it to all of the top command. Some will be fine officers that have the best interests of the Galaxy at heart. Others? It will be a case by case basis. How to tie this all together? A new Constitution? Perhaps. Mothma has some ideas, but so do others. I will need to take the time to sort them out but I have some bedrock requirements. I know it will be necessary to project strength at first. They will know I am not just some caretaker. So much to do. How to get it done? Only with organization.
As Shaak finished her meditation, she smiled and felt pleased. Her plan was coming together wonderfully. She drifted off into a deep sleep and awoke some twelve hours later. Finally she had arrived at Dagobah, but only after an exercise session and then a full meal, followed by some stimulating herbal beverage. Then she donned a soft black silk dress as this planet had a similar climate to Felucia. She was ready.
Dagobah, Sluis Sector, Southern Outer Rim, 0 ABY, 10 months, 23 days
The Intrepid V conducted a scan of the planet and picked up Yoda's Force signature, one that he had taken pains to disguise. But he had given Shaak the proper direction, and soon she was landing. As she disembarked, she saw Yoda, his face showing signs of strain. After all, it had been over twenty years since they were together, having communicated via hologram during the interim. They walked up to each other, and embraced.
"Would you care to come aboard my ship?" Shaak asked him.
"Care to, I would," he replied. "First, a walk, let us take."
As they took a few steps together, Yoda stopped and took a good look at her.
"Shaak, my friend. Well, you look."
She laughed. "I am growing anxious. Much I have to do. Master, it has been such a long time. This planet … is it treating you well?"
He snorted with derision at that. "Best that can be expected, it is. But sense, I do, that stay here much longer, I will not."
"Ah, so you have foreseen it … the vision?" Shaak asked.
"Seen it I have, Grand Master. Empress you will be."
"How do you feel about that, Master?"
"Proud, I am. My student, once you were. Remember, I do, the day you came from Shili. Great promise, this child, she has … said that, I did."
"I promise to always remember the things I was taught, Master. It is time now to put right this Galaxy, don't you think?"
"High time, it is. But what of your plans for Sidious?"
"I think you will approve, Master. I plan to take him back to a more, shall I say … innocent time."
Yoda stopped again, to look her over carefully. He reached up to take her outstretched hand, which he elegantly kissed. "A Togruta gesture of respect – give you, I do. How wise you have become – and still so young." He shook his head in mock wonder. She started to laugh at that, smiling wide at him. He added, "Sidious the child, you say …"
She nodded, continuing to smile. "I think it the only humane solution. There was a time, was there not?"
Yoda laughed out loud. "Come, my friend. Show me this elegant vessel you have constructed."
They walked back together, then up the ramp onto the Intrepid. They sat down together, and she offered him some of the cold herbal beverage that Anakin was so fond of. Yoda graciously accepted it, then drank.
"A fine mixture, this is." He noted, as almost immediately the Force entered his consciousness. She proceeded to give him a tour of the ship. He thought it was "most functional" and well-suited to be her private vessel. Yoda seemed to be skirting around two major questions – what type of government was Shaak planning and what of the Order, was it truly a replacement for the Jedi? She decided to draw him out a little.
"So, Master … would you like to come to Felucia and meet the Order? We have made such progress."
He snorted a bit at the suggestion, but spoke softly. "Grand Master, like that very much, I would. However …" He took another drink of the herbs, then turned to face her. "Your prerogatives, judge them, I would not. The Order, your creation it is. Your vision for the Galaxy – most interested in it, I continue to be."
Shaak nodded, then looked him in the eye. "Master. Then you have confidence in my direction? I am beginning to feel somewhat embarrassed. Someone has to question me. Ahsoka remains the only one who does."
Yoda laughed softly. "Master Tano. Proud of her, I am." He stopped for a second, and seemed to look through the viewport of the ship, as they had reached the bridge. "A wise counsel, she will be for you. If something is not right, Ahsoka, see it she will. The Galaxy, in good hands, it will be."
Shaak chuckled, then looked at him with admiration. "You always have a way of putting things. A great diplomat you must have been – and still are – if only they would listen. Do you not feel that?"
He laughed again. "Getting people to listen, the hardest task it is sometimes. Better than I, you will be, friend Shaak. The final word, on all things, you must have. If seek the role of power, you do." He paused for a few seconds, as she waited for him to continue. "Mistakes … made them in the past, we did. The Jedi, suited we were not, for the political and military roles. When it began … the Clone War … great misgivings I had."
She nodded. "As did I, Master. But I felt at the time that my opinion was not desired."
Yoda winced as he looked at her. "Regrets, I have over that. When we would meet in the Council, quiet you usually were. Shaak … your mind, sharp it is. Your judgment, most sound. Your proposal, studied it I have. And the lessons from the Old Republic, learned them, you have." He turned to her again. "My friend, at your disposal, I remain."
Shaak reached over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder, then turned to him with a loving smile. "I could not ask for more. Master, your advice I will need going forward. Can I count on you to always be honest with me?"
Yoda smiled and returned her gesture, as Shaak reached both her hands toward him. They clasped and began an interchange of energy and warmth. She felt renewed, as did he. As they released each others' grip, they smiled again. She broke the silence.
"Dear Yoda, I am very glad I made this journey. I believe we understand each other. The mistakes of the past are reconciled and I will not dwell on them. I know I can go forward now. I will be seeing you soon, then. Shall I provide you a ship?"
Yoda nodded. "In a few rotations … join you, I will. This planet …" He stretched his hands toward the viewport as if to take in the expanse of Dagobah. "Served its purpose for me, it has."
"Very well," Shaak said as she grinned. She walked him down the ramp from the Intrepid. "I will send an Imperial shuttle here in four days. We all look forward to seeing you."
As Yoda waved her farewell, she returned the gesture, and then her ship lifted off. She instructed her astromech to set the course for Endor and then retired to her master suite to meditate, feeling most satisfied. Almost there, she thought.
(to be continued …)
