Author's Note: I hope everyone had a Happy Holidays! Here is the next chapter of this year-and-one-half long project. I just realized this yesterday and can't believe I am still writing. This is by far the farthest I have ever gotten in a story and I want to thank each and every one of you for helping me get this far through your support. You keep me motivated!
Disclaimer: Star Wars is owned by Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. The following work is not intended to add to, promote or distort this series. This is a work of fanfiction, and the author does not profit in posting. This is simply a writing exercise written for fun.
Lighthearted conversation had accompanied the women as they departed from the senate hall, plotting mischievously like teenage girls. The swarms of speeders were not recognized as Padme made her covert call across the stars, Leia and Ahsoka both eager and reserved on the idea as she did. Yet the small form of Mina Bonteri was encouraging. She seemed both friendly and honorable, even to Leia's political sense. Mon had always insisted she had a keen eye for true promoters of freedom.
By the time they'd reached the apartment, travel arrangements had been secured and the three were well apprised of the expectations necessary to complete this particular adventure. Even the ever pessimistic Threepio was jovial at the prospect of the success of their plans, leaving with Ahsoka to secure passports to Mandalore.
While they waited, Leia once more instructed her mother in the ways of a lightsaber duel, noting that she learned quite fast. "I am impressed." The 'younger-older' woman commented as she pushed at Padme's stances a little in inspection, "For having very little connection with the Force, you sure learn fast."
Raising her brows, Padme stepped out of her stance and eyed Leia, "What do you mean 'little connection?' I was of the understanding that only Jedi could commune with the Force." Shrugging, Leia crossed her arms over her chest, inspecting her mother once more.
"Well, everyone one has some connection," Leia explained, "Jedi have it more than others, but that doesn't mean you aren't apart of that vast 'network.' Maybe being around father has sharpened that connection a little." As Padme nodded in agreement, though clearly still showing reservations in her face, Leia stepped into her own stance. With practice saber drawn, Leia took a deep breath and opened herself up to the Force, finding her footing in that vast network.
Padme responded with her own version of the stance, still a little wobbly, but by and far more trained than a few days before. Both waited patiently for that feeling to wash over them, the feeling of comfort with what they were about to do that Padme now recognized as her faint connection to the Force. She was especially surprised to find that it was growing each time she practiced with Leia.
When the moment came where an overwhelming presence seemed to pull them towards one another, both women charged. Padme, who understood she was practicing solely to defend herself, brought the blade to a defensive position, while Leia played the attacker. She was proud when she caught the diagonal cut of her daughter's blade in an opposing angle, one in which her greater height had the advantage. But Leia wasn't done.
Instead, she jumped back, forcing a horizontal strike her way, which Padme dodged with her own spin, her blade guarding her just enough. She was grateful that all of her security training mixed so well into these Jedi forms, making it easier to move into the stances.
Leia continued her assault, now weaving in Djem So moves she knew from her brother. While in the back of her mind, she hoped and prayed her father would remain free of the darkness, she knew better than to leave her beloved mother unarmed against Anakin's primary form. The aggressive strikes swooped down from left to right as Leia took large, well rooted steps onto the tile, feeling more and more comfortable with moves that once felt too foreign to be her own.
And Padme blocked each and every strike. She understood that Leia was holding back, moving much slower than she was capable of, to help build Padme up into a capable warrior. Yet, she didn't care. This was meant to help her connect with her family, one that would be very deeply rooted in Jedi doctrine, especially her more and more estranged husband.
But she allowed her thoughts to dwell on him a tad too long, losing her concentration and eventually her footing when Leia kneed her in the gut. She knew the move was coming, yet did not react soon enough to side step her.
She fell down, her breath caught as she clutched her stomach in a moan. "That smarts."
Leia chuckled, offering her a hand up, "Well, it wasn't smart to be daydreaming during a match." She countered, crossing her arms over her chest. More would have been said had Ahsoka not returned with Threepio. As both women eyed the young Togruta with hope, the blue eyed warrior grinned brightly.
Then she waved three badges their way, "We're all set to go."
One cab ride later left the three eager travelers in the private landing pad for Padme's prized, and yet borrowed, ship. Her reflective star skiff was a thing to marvel at every time they saw it, leaving both Leia and Ahsoka jaw dropped when they boarded it. "I still can't believe the queen lets you borrow this whenever you want." Ahsoka commented as she started up the ramp.
With a smile, Padme reminded her, "Well, I was once a queen, and I do like this ship a lot."
"Well, no wonder." Ahsoka retorted a little snidely, gently showcasing her enjoyment of this sister roll. "Such a shame we have to leave it behind with Threepio before boarding our ship to Mandalore."
Leia was about to board her mother's ship when she felt a horrible feeling in her stomach. Father! She reached out, sensing a coldness in him from afar that was oh so familiar. She froze on the entry ramp, turning back to the senate tower with pain in her heart.
"Leia?" Padme called, "Is something wrong?" She nodded slowly, her expression torn as she fought with what to do. Luke was not here, and she could not be in two places at once.
"We cannot leave." She informed the woman, her Togruta friend staring back curiously from behind her, "I sense a great darkness brewing in father; I am afraid to leave him alone."
Placing a gentle hand on Leia's shoulder, Padme assured her, "Anakin goes through phases. Sometimes he feels he has the weight of the galaxy on his shoulder and that makes him a bit... moody... not to mention his hard past still troubles him. But he will bounce back."
"Yes!" Ahsoka cheered beside her, "Master Anakin is the toughest man I know, and we haven't sensed that darkness in him yet. I don't think we have to worry." Leia turned to them both, conflict in her heart. She was her mother's only shield. But she was also the only one there who truly understood what her father would become at the end of his dark metamorphosis... and she knew in her heart that she never wanted to see Darth Vader again.
But if mother dies... she realized, that won't be an issue.
Threepio came towards the ramp of the ship a little jittery, muttering on about how they were cleared for take-off as the three women stood idly by. "Ah, Mistress Leia," he suddenly called out, "Are you planning on leaving us? Should I summon the taxi back?"
Leia thought a moment before responding, "Yes, Threepio." she ordered, "Thank you." The moment the words spilled from her lips, the foreboding feeling faded, showing her once again that her trusting in the Force was a wise decision.
Padme's jaw was dropped as Leia pulled her lightsaber from her belt and set it in her hands. "Between Threepio and Ahsoka, I am not too worried about you." She assured her mother, "But I am worried about father."
Smiling wide as she clutched the hilt of the blade to her chest, Padme shed a tear and nodded, "If you believe this is what you must do, then follow your heart." She cheered her daughter on, "You are right... I will be fine. I suppose I was just looking forward to having an adventure between us girls."
"Thank you mother." Leia grinned as she hugged Padme, she then did the same for Ahsoka, "'Auntie Snips.'" She joked, bringing and eye-roll to the teenager's face. "I am counting on you."
"I won't let you down..." She paused a moment, "'Sky-girl.'" Her decided nick name brought a familiar smirk to Leia's face as she exited the ramp, pulling her hood over her face. Threepio's haled cab arrived shortly after, but Leia held him up simply to watch her mother fly off into the sunset.
I hope I'm doing the right thing. She prayed to the Force, feeling no comfort or direction in its response.
Seating herself in the cab of the speeder, the droid driver inquired, "Where to?"
She thought a moment. "The Jedi temple." She quickly decided, realizing that she needed a new lightsaber. Taking a deep breath, the Senator-Padawan calmed herself. She didn't expect talks with her father to progress very far, but she hoped desperately to reach him.
Before it is too late.
Obi-Wan Kenobi was uncertain as to why his thoughts were being pulled towards Mandalore, but he did not doubt them. Quinlan had made an excellent point in assuring him that following this calling would likely guide them straight into Darklighter's path. The sight of the planet was both breathtaking and foreboding: he knew who lived here.
And he never knew what to expect from her.
The familiar, durasteel and stone walls of the vast capital city did little to calm or comfort him. Despite the fact that the transports and airways were well hidden between the buildings of the city, Obi-Wan could sense the populous hard at work while the sun remained high in the sky. Yet, even amongst these familiar scenes, something about the world seemed off. It was as though his ears heard the whisperings of two very faint and yet powerful voices. One the chantings of a small child. The other the ramblings of a worn ancient. Their combined voices brought a strong headache to his brow, making him lean forward to put pressure on the pains as Quinlan guided them towards the official landing site granted to them.
"You okay?" The pilot inquired, glancing at Obi-Wan through his thick dreads. The red-headed warrior nodded, letting lose a sigh as he finally shut the two voices out. A moment later, his migraine was irritated from the slight collision of the landing gear and the ground. He didn't even hear Quinlan's inquiry before waving him off and following him out the ramp door.
It hardly surprised him that a welcoming party awaited the landing of his ship, with the system's duchess at the forefront. Quinlan had commed them prior, announcing their arrival.
Duchess Satine stood in her regal garb, making her appear more like a blooming flower than that of a human being. Regardless, the sight of her did take his breath away. She wasn't the only one he'd loved in his life, but she was most definitely the one he'd loved most.
"Satine." He greeted, "I trust you've met Quinlan Vos." The wild man bowed to her respectfully, grinning.
"Of course," She replied regally, "It is good to see you again, Master Vos." She then turned, "Tell me, what would bring you here to Mandalore without prior announcement... It is a little unnerving." Chuckling, Obi-Wan nodded with understanding.
"We are tracking a rogue Jedi," he informed her, "And the Force has guided us here to find him."
Stopping mid-step, Satine turned to them with a raised brow, "I imagine I would have heard of a Jedi landing in my system, especially since we are in neutral space."
Quinlan was the one to explain that to her, "He has not yet arrived, Duchess, we are simply here to set up and capture him." She nodded in understanding, a distasteful expression upon her face.
Soon her concerns were voiced, "This wouldn't be Ahsoka Tano, would it?" She inquired, noticing that both Jedi were surprised to hear the name mentioned, "As she recently requested a covert landing permit to my world, which I gladly approved of." Quinlan gave Obi-Wan a puzzled look, to which the red-headed master merely shrugged.
"I wasn't aware of her having a mission here." He informed the blond dutchess, noticing that her eyes narrowed in suspicion, "Though I am not her master and would not know all that is asked of her."Satine merely stared at him in suspicion before moving further down the ornate hall. As Quilan sighed, Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and proceeded onward. Satine's reaction hardly surprised him, as with her following comment.
"I am not sure if I am comfortable setting a trap here on Mandalore." She admitted as they entered into a grand hall, "It could send the wrong message to those I represent, and, worse, to the Confederacy."
"We fully intend to keep our operations quiet." Obi-Wan assured her, "So long as your staff agree to do the same. Our quarry will be here in a few days."
Taking a seat on her throne, Satine nodded with a small smile, "I suppose we can arrange something then." Both men nodded to her in gratitude, bowing slightly after. "Will you gentlemen care to join me in my daily proceedings? It may serve to better mask your purpose here before you start to set your little trap." She suggested, signaling that a few of her staff bring them chairs to sit beside her, "It would be interesting to hear your opinions of the various topics this day."
"We would be honored." Obi-Wan replied, only to be cut off by his associate.
"Sitting still is not something I am particularly good at." Quinlan admitted shyly, "If it would please you, m'lady, I would very much like to explore the citadel. I hear many remarkable things about Mandalore's many cities." Satine smiled at the man.
"I would most certainly be pleased." She decreed, "Your thoughts on my citadel's infrastructure are most welcome, Master Vos." He bowed once more, a big grin on his face, before turning about and strutting out the door.
Obi-Wan then marched up the steps, taking a seat beside Satine's throne. He sat forward, stroking his beard as the proceedings began, starting with a report from the city captain. The discussion, while interesting, hardly involved much from Obi-Wan, save for a few suggestions in allocating resources, and sped through quickly. Satine seemed to enjoy his involvement.
"I forget the wisdom of a Jedi, sometimes." She informed him with a childish grin, "It is often hidden behind their blazing lightsabers."
Obi-Wan was already armed for that quip, "Much like a politician's sharp tongue, I'm afraid."
"Indeed." Satine teased, turning her attention back to the next individual entering her forum. When Obi-Wan's eyes fell on that man, however, he froze. Clad in regal attire stood a dark haired with a well manicured mustache. His hazel eyes hovered over towards Obi-Wan, but betrayed nothing, not fear or shock. Not even in the Force.
Images of a cantina on Tatooine came to mind; drugs, pain... And the face of that man.
Obi-Wan was torn on what to do. Should he call his attacker out? Or should he wait patiently to see what he can learn first? The Force guided him to do the latter.
"Ah! Doctor Bradiway!" Satine greeted him with the widest of smiles, "My dear, dear friend, what brings you before my council on this day?"
Bowing low, and astounding Obi-Wan in how his mustache did not move in the action (so much so he felt himself tug at his own uncomfortably), the man retorted with a gruff voice, "Merely here asking for a grant from our fair government." he began, "I have recently turned up new information on how to protect our youth from the intensive damages of the chemical side-effects of warfare. My only needs are finances for such an exploit."
Intrigued, Satine sat forward, "Define chemical side-effects of warfare? It is my understanding that the use of hazardous gases and toxins have been deemed illegal on both fronts, especially after that Blue Shadow Virus incident some time ago and the attack on Bail Organa in the Senate."
Bradiway smiled and nodded, "Indeed. My goal is to improve recovery for what is considered non-hazardous weapons. A simple knockout gas can still do great damage to a young child's lungs, and some injuries cannot be healed by Bacta. It is my hope to continue my research on an alternative method of healing children affected by the war on both sides. Even debris in fighting can be detrimental to their lungs if exposed for a prolonged period of time. And, again, Bacta does have its limits."
Satine sat back and considered this request, turning to Obi-Wan thoughtfully, "This could certainly be a good investment, what say you Master-Jedi?"
Turning back to the man, Obi-Wan nodded, "I could see many uses for such a treatment with some of our Padawans caught in conflict, but is this cure specific to children or can adults also benefit?"
Bradiway nodded, "Adults certainly could use this technology, provided it is brought to completion."
Satine grinned as she watched Obi-Wan sit back in contemplation, returning her gaze to her old friend, "Then please, submit your full proposal to the council. We shall have your answer to you within the week." Bradiway grinned and bowed.
"Thank you, Duchess Kryz." And he wandered towards the door.
"And don't be a stranger, old friend." Satine called after him. The man turned and waved to her, smiling wide, but now Obi-Wan could see the worry in his eye.
"Interesting friend." Obi-Wan commented as Satine sat back, "Have you known him long?"
Turning to Obi-Wan with a quizzical look in her eye, she informed him, "Longer than you, actually." But when she saw the critical expression on Kenobi's face, her expression turned to worry. "Why?"
Glancing around them as the next presenter entered the room, Obi-Wan suggested to her, "Perhaps we'd best wait to discuss this." Somberly, Satine nodded.
Gerali had moved him into a dark, cavernous hole in the ground, one near the base of the mountains that had once seemed so far away. Yet Luke had sprinted there faster than even his speeder could have handled, feeling lighter on his feet than he ever had before. He sighed and fell to the ground, exhausted from the run, yet it didn't seem that Gerali was finished with him yet.
Still attuned to the World Voice, Luke pushed himself from the ground, now hearing the chantings of something quite ominous. And while the Force he was used to screamed at him to get out of there, Advorosia's voice demanded that he stay put. Something he had no choice but to oblige to.
His purple eyes scanned the ceiling, spotting the morbid shapes of twisted shadows merged with corpse-like figures. His nose could smell the carnage they'd wrought, their vile smell most pungent in the limited space. "Shaetin." Luke muttered to himself, fighting with the aching of his body to stand tall and face these creatures. Yet, Gerali offered him nothing, no response nor advice.
Instead, he faded into shadows and ushered himself out with the winds of the cave.
The moment he was gone, Luke braced himself, his glowing eyes once again illuminating the creatures on the ceiling. It had become apparent that Gerali had been shielding him from them, for this time they noticed his light. With a ferocious hiss that a Nexu would run from in terror, the five ghosts fell from the ceiling of the cave, their bodies like black fire as they descended upon Luke. Unprepared for their fighting, Luke found himself clawed and burned from head to toe by these creatures, their growls now louder as their red eyes floated about him as though body-less.
Frustrated with the pain, Luke wrought himself free of the black embers and leaped onto the ceiling himself, securing his feet to the stone by gripping the various rock formations descending from it. Confused and in pain, Luke opened himself up more to Advorosia, which now filled him with desperation to eliminate the predators before him. With a slight flip, the man fell onto the fire, filled conviction he set himself ablaze in a light that matched the flames of his enemies. While the fire burned the dark embers away, several shadows attempted to escape.
Though their paths were soon blocked by a young, blond man with orange and purple eyes. "Where are you going?" He asked the two shadows before filling the cave with burning light.
A moment later, Luke fell to his knees, gasping for air. He sensed the approach of one more shadow, but knew this one to be a friend. "Why did you bring me here?" Luke demanded of him. He did not get to hear the answer before he fainted.
Temple security had long improved over the course of the past month, since Master Skywalker's disappearance. Even the cover of night didn't seem to matter, as spotlights rained down on the ruins from all directions. The masters apparently wanted this space secure.
That didn't matter to the Padawans, however, as they were determined to find a solution in the mystery of the missing Skywalkers. Especially their loyal friends Lucika and Minaka Tano.
In many ways, they felt this was their fault. If they had not requested help in saving their brother, Luke and Leia would still be here. They even felt wrong in including the other Padawans, in case they fell into similar fate.
But Mina was certain her plan would work... So long as all the other Padawans were there to distract all the masters.
So they crept along the perimeter of the facility, each group of three entering the temple at different locations, trying carefully not to set off the alarms. Mina and Luci worked best together, so they stayed together. Their third was a Wookie by the name of Waaza.
Slowly they moved down the hall, entering the old Jedi archive. They found alerts and red warning beams plastered all over the room, and moved carefully past them. Luci stood guard over the older two while they took out their investigative equipment and scanned the area. Two small probe droids began circling the space as the Padawans moseyed about, moving things to help the readings where they could.
When readings came up dead, Mina turned to the Force, which guided her down those hidden steps. Luci, curious more than anything, followed after her while Waaza attempted to hack into the investigative equipment left behind by those still trying to find the Skywalkers. Mina was glad he'd come along, as he was a technical genius.
Mina had reached the bottom of the staircase, with Luci at her heels when she began to feel something pull at her. She felt her brother. "Zion!" She gasped silently, pushing back a tear to remain neutral and focused.
"He was here." Luci sighed, stepping in front of her towards an old table, "He tried to hurt Master Skywalker and Princess Leia... But why?" Mina shrugged. She didn't understand it herself and she didn't want to upset her little sister with theories, however dark they might be.
Instead, she attempted to follow her limited teachings and reached into the Force. She felt herself be pulled towards the far wall, near two peculiar holes. Only she wasn't reaching for those holes. No, instead she found a loose brick beside one of them and pulled.
To her surprise, an odd, silver sphere rolled out of the small hole into her hand. She stared at it, the device being quite intricate, yet difficult to discern. There were no buttons on it, nor any indication on how to use the orb. "What is it?" Luci inquired, taking the orb from her sister as Mina followed yet another instinctive pull.
She found another brick to be loose, pulling it free of the wall only to have yet another orb roll free from the space. This one was clad in gold, yet similarly built to the first sphere. Both orbs seemed to contain both Master Luke and Princess Leia's presence, and if she felt deeper, her brother's could be detected as well, alongside several dark signatures. She sighed, praying to the living Force for all of their safety.
"I think they used these to hurt our masters." Mina suggested, bringing a frown to her sister's face, "Zion too... He's with them, wherever they are."
Mina felt a tug at her side, only to see Luci holding her tightly, sobbing into her robes quietly. "Poor Zion." She cried out, "Poor Princess Leia." Reassuringly, Mina placed a gentle hand on her sisters montrals, almost like a human would brush hair aside for a crying child. She didn't know what to do for her sister's hurts... she still wasn't sure what to do about her own.
As she was contemplating that, a roar from Waaza alerted her to the presence of the masters. While a clammer rose in the chamber above, Mina took the first orb from her sister, staring at them intently. Should I give these to the masters? She wondered to herself, Or wait until I can find someone more trusting?
While lamps filled the room, Mina made her choice, burying the orbs in the only safe place she could think of... her brassiere. Pulling her cloak closer to her body to hide her physical alteration, she signaled that Luci should lead the way up the stairs and shield her. Their march felt like a death walk, and the brightness of the lamps like the end of the road.
Author's Note: Wow, balancing so many places at once is quite a bit of fun. I tried to amp up describing places a little bit more, as I noticed those details were a bit thin in previous chapters. The action too. I would love to hear what you think: can you picture these places in your head? Are these fights break enough from discussion for you? :)
I'm kind of excited about these Lights. It has been a lot of fun inventing them, even if they are... well... a bad-good power. As I said before, I made the assumption that most of you have already seen the Clone Wars TV series/read a lot of Star Wars Legends books and comics and know all the background information, so I wanted to include something new to keep it interesting. Thank you to those of you who have given me feedback regarding these ideas, as they have been both helpful and encouraging.
Anyways... In case you were wondering, I already saw episode VII and LOVED IT! If you feel the need to talk to someone about the movie, yet don't want to spoil it for those around you or online, feel free to PM me. I had so much fun watching it, I had to see it twice and I am sure I am not the only one.
Happy New Year!