Chapter 4 : What I am ?
Author note : I'm once again truly sorry to realise it's been almost two months already since I've posted a new chapter, but I'm glad to see everyone appears quite pleased with the beginning of this sequel : all of your reviews were perfected, I couldn't be more satisfied ! But let's not waste your time, it's time to read !
As instructed by his former master Obi-wan Kenobi, Jedi Master Hcan Ti and his padawan Corran Horn had board one of the golden Cerestan shuttle and left Coruscant for the spaces of Kashyyyk, regions the two of them had many many times watched over to prevent tension and conflict in a subtile way. Hcan remembered how he had stopped a Transdoshan raid, when he was still training with Obi-wan, by faking the content of their shuttles : the Trandoshan had believed it to be a transport full of Wookiees, but had encountered Jedi instead. They had tried to avoid conflict, and several reptilian alien lost their memory with Jedi mindtricks, but too many had decided to fight, and found death. Obi-wan had regretted the loss of lives, but it had been necessary, to protect the peace with the Wookiees.
Today, for the first real time, Hcan and Corran would actually land on Kashyyyk and reveal their presences to the Wookiees and the Republic forces there. Such event would normally be celebrated, because Jedi had always been more than welcomed in any world. Not anymore, especially not today. The Jedi Order had ceased to exist for fourteen long years in the eyes of the galaxy, becoming ghost of the dark times, of corruption and war. How could their return have any other meaning than the rise of another danger? Another Palpatine? If Hcan hadn't been a Jedi, such questions would be in his mind right now. But he was on the other side, he wouldn't be trusted, if not feared because he bore bad news. A dark force was stirring near Kashyyyk, and it was waiting for them.
"What do you think we'll find there, Master?" The Correlian boy with green eyes and brown hair asked, disturbing the reigning silence inside the cockpit.
Hcan laid his pale blue eyes on his apprentice, dressed with a green tunic and dark grey pants, who he was training for now three years. Corran was part of the small group of padawans considered as the best future generation of Jedi. Though in such group, apprentices like the Kenobi children would always be far ahead of the others.
"Chancellor Skywalker informed me that a certain Commander Nyklas was overseeing the defensive operations over Kashyyyk."
"Have you ask the other masters if such name was familiar to them?" The apprentice didn't recall hearing any 'Nyklas' in General Cody or General Rex's old stories. The man would then be rather young, earning his military rank after the Clone Wars.
"According to Anakin Skywalker, this Nyklas was at the Republic Academy during the last war. He seemed to be a discreet man, but is one of the many opposing the Chancellor's politic concerning the slowing production of starships," Hcan replied, reading the datapad that the leader of the Old Guard gave him on Coruscant.
"Well," Corran seemed amused, "I guess they won't organize a welcome party for us."
"Being a Jedi had never been easy, my young padawan."
"I thought trouble would never come," the boy put his arms behind his head, "life on Ceresta was too perfect for us to stay in peace forever."
"I wouldn't mind staying on Ceresta forever," Hcan grinned.
"You hate meditating, Master, even with your wife."
"I guess that's very true," the master chuckled gently, allowing himself to enjoy the mood of his young friend before seriousness would become their only world. And sooner than the Jedi Master could think as something bipped on the shuttle's computer, as the ship escaped hyperspace. Hcan was now used with the Cerestan technology, and he didn't have to look at any screen to understand many ships were on Kashyyyk's orbit.
"Five Star Destroyers ahead, Master," Corran's voice was clearly tainted by surprise. "I've already enable the cloaking device, they won't spot us … Is such large fleet usually under the command of only one Commander?"
"Certainly not, Corran," the Master's right hand went on chin, a bad habit he took from Obi-wan when he was worried. "Avoid the fleet, we will land without informed them."
"But surely the Chancellor warned the Commander," Corran pointed out, already taking the control of the ship and headed toward the green large planet.
"That's exactly why we'll hide ourself. I have a bad feeling about this, we must be cautious, and listen to the Force."
"Yes, Master," the boy nodded, and his focus returned on the flight, carefully yet casually leading the golden shuttle toward their destination.
Thanks to the excellent work done by the engineers of Ceresta, the shuttle was almost as fast as the Corellian freighter, used by so many smugglers in the galaxy since decades, but at least, the ship was a perfect piece of art. Even if a corellian is always very proud of its inheritance, Corran had stopped looking at the "piece of junk" as his friends called them. And as a naturally talented pilot, avoiding a starfleet in such shuttle was a simple joke.
Soon appeared the forestial famous world of the wookiees in front of the Jedi eyes, darkened by the weak lights of the three moons on the skyes, improving the uneasiness felt by Master Hcan before they even entered the atmosphere.
"Master, look!" Corran pointed something on their left, "there is a massive regrouping there."
The Jedi master rose from his seat to have a better view, and witnessed indeed thousands of wookiees gathering toward a landed Star Destroyer. And even under such dark sky, Hcan noticed easily the destroyed and burning landscapes around that place : there had been a battle that neither the Jedi or the Republic had been informed of.
"Land behind that tree," the master ordered his padawan, "and try to avoid any attention. I want to know what's going on by myself."
Executing the command, the boy flew smoothly toward one of the largest trees pointed by his mater and friend, and landed without a sound : hadn't any of them been a Jedi, they wouldn't have felt the shuttle touching ground. Hcan Ti immediately reached out for the exit ramp, grabbing his dark blue robes which he put over his same color Jedi tunic, and waited for his padawan to join him outside.
"We must be careful, I'm not certain we will be welcomed," the master warned, taking his lightsaber's hilt in his left hand. "We will avoid any contact until we met for this Commander Nyklas."
Corran sighed immediately, remembering the old and first teaching of Hcan Ti in such situation. There was three ways, according to him : going through the obstacle, going above, or under it. On Kashyyyk, with the presences of the so many stormtroopers, going trough was out of the question. And under was simply impossible. They had no choice but to climb in the trees and jump from branches to branches.
"Are you ready, Corran?" Hcan nodded, grining as he sensed the understanding of his padawan.
"Yes, let's go."
On the other side of the galaxy, at the edge of the Hutt Space controlled by the famous cartel, another Cerestan shuttle traveled fast toward the planet Makeb, well-known for its rich and rare minerals but also for devastating conflicts which took places millenia before the birth of the two Jedi piloting the golden ship. But there were the only interests someone could have for Makeb, so sending one of the best team of Jedi there could be questionable, if they hadn't been tasked by the Master of the Order himself. And Ferus Ollin, the Jedi who was training Anteres Kenobi, had never argued with the Council since he had been accepted on Ceresta. And he sensed something was awaiting for Anteres there, though he couldn't put a name on it. Honestly, Ferus had never understood how the Force worked around his padawan, or to be more accurate, how Anteres influenced the Force by his mere presence. It was a question that had crossed every Jedi Knight or Master : what would happen to the entire galaxy if the boy came to lose his control over his powers? Obi-wan had claimed, as well as Yoda, impossible to read the boy's future, whereas his sister's, Satele Kenobi, was destined to become a paragon of light, perhaps the next Grand Master of the Order when she would be old enough. She would fight many wars, and guide the Order into those conflicts, only to shine brighter and brighter, next to her adoptive brother Galen Kenobi. But not Anteres. Either he would fall or die was totally unknown. Did Anteres know? Certainly, Ferus was sure of it. But the boy had never blamed his master of his family for keeping in the dark, because he had understood it was for his protection. How could a young Jedi ever wish to continue his training if only emptiness was patiently waiting for him? But even though, the master knew that if Anteres was aware of the impossibility to read his future, he would walk proudly toward his destiny, whatever it could be.
"Master?" Anteres interrupted Ferus' thoughts as the shuttle escaped hyperspace sooner that the Master had expected.
"A problem my young friend?"
"We've been pulled out of hyperspace without warning," the son of the Kenobi explained, "though there is absolutely no reason : there is no planet or asteroid fields in front of us."
"So the interruption of lightspeed wasn't done by the emergency system?" Ferus frowned. Could their shuttle need repair? In such remote area of space, they would have to deal with Hutt, and he clearly didn't want them to see Anteres.
"I knew we should have taken Arfour," Anteres grunted as he came under the main computer of the cockpit, opening the electronic compartment and started to check the many wires. At least the boy was better in mechanic than his master.
"Shall I run a large scan of the system?" Ferus teased the boy as he simply stared at the emptiness of space in front of him. "How far are we from Makeb?"
"We haven't reached the Hutt space yet," Anteres replied, his voice echoing in the compartment. "And there is nothing wrong with the ship."
"No indeed," Anteres heard his master reply with a grave voice : something had definitely happened, and Ferus was now aware of it. So the boy rose quickly and came to check what his master had seen. There, in front of him, all lights had disappeared, no star was noticeable from the cockpit. A black monolith was floating in front of their eyes, toward them.
"Take us out of here, Anteres!" Ferus ordered, his eyes running over the dark form.
"I can't!" the padawan realised with stupor that the ship itself was attracted to the monolith. "We must have been caught in a tractor beam."
"It's worse than that, I'm afraid," the master braced himself as the monolith opened, a bright blinding light came out of the chink, swallowing them and the entire ship inside as the two Jedi lost consciousness instantly.
Anteres was the first to wake up, about five minutes later, according to the clock that had strangely stopped the moment the boy laid his eyes on it. More surprising, the young Jedi realised they had land safely on a beautiful planet : from the cockpit, he stared at infinite green landscape, and seas of purple water. It felt like … a dream, to put it simply. But as a Jedi, he felt the tremendous presence of the Force in such place, so he called for his lightsaber and clipped it on his belt before he went to check if his Master was still breathing. How couldn't he simply know with the Force if Ferus was alive was disturbing, but it surely had to do with the planet.
"Wake up Master," Anteres shook gently the left shoulder of the former apprentice of his mother.
Opening slowly his eyes, Ferus Ollin stared at a deep-in-thought Anteres Kenobi, scanning the area with his brilliant grey-blue eyes as the Force was too overwhelming to distinguish anything. And if Ferus felt completely lost around such presence of the Force, he wondered for a moment if it was worse for his padawan.
"How is the ship, Anteres?" The older master asked, fearing that he knew where they were.
"Out of power, but still intact," the boy showed the stopped clock on the computer board. "Though the general breakdown, the atmosphere outside was analyzed as normal. I'm not sure we'll find any advanced civilisation here, but it's worth a try."
Ferus rose from his seat and sighed heavily, "we don't have another choice, I suppose. But I order you to stay at my side no matter what happen, it is clear?"
Anteres raised an amused eyebrow, "and what if you fall in a trap, and I have to rescue you?"
"You will have all the time to mock when we take off," the master was apparently worried, something Anteres hadn't seen for a while. "For now we are in grave danger."
"You know this place?"
"I hope I'm not correct," Ferus took a deep breath as he headed outside. How much he wished he was wrong, but he recalled the story of Mortis told by Master Kenobi during the Clone Wars. He remembered the now Master of the Order describing the black monolith as a nexus of the Force when light and darkness tried to live together under the careful watch of the ones called 'Force Wielders'. One of the light, one of the dark, and another one, the most powerful, for the balance. But the one keeping balance was dying at the time of the Clone Wars, so it wouldn't be surprising if this Father was now dead. Then the reality struck Ferus instantly : if it was really Mortis, then the Force Wielders had called Anteres to them! But then, was it Mortis? Where was the darkness Obi-wan had talked about if here only pure light was felt?
"Do you see anything?" Anteres called behind him, his hilt on his hand, ready for the worst as he sensed the tension in his master's mind.
"No," Ferus replied defeated. At least he could feel Anteres behind him, he wouldn't lose him.
"Is there something you seek, Sir?" a childish and frightened voice said right in front of him, though no body was there. In a reflex, Ferus ignited his green lightsaber, and watched from the corner of his eyes the white blade, that once belonged to a ghost of his past, appeared in Anteres' hands.
"Sir?" the small voice asked again, but this time, a dark cloud formed on the ground, gathering the shadow above the green grass and took the shape of a human body. Or more accurately of a eight year old child, or perhaps younger. He was a boy, white skinned though with red tattoos on his hands and bald head. But he had red pupils surrounded by a total darkness, confirming the first impression Ferus had when he watched the black monolith absorbing them : they were on Mortis, and here was the Son.
"Wasn't the Son a young and strong adult when Obi-wan met him?" Ferus frowned as he witnessed the obvious changes on the planet. Even the small child standing before him didn't appeared so tainted by the darkside. The dark aura was unmistakable, but the Son wasn't threatening. Quite the contrary, he appeared on the defensive.
Anteres came in front of Ferus to protect him, as he surely had sensed the darkside emanating from the boy, "Master what is he?" Immediately the face of the small child was torn by fear and anger, as he took three steps back. Was he afraid of Anteres?
"We can't stay here, Anteres," the Jedi Master knew his padawan to be in danger the longer they stayed here.
"But the ship is down!"
"WHAT IS HE ?!" The Son yelled in pain, pointed an angry finger at the apprentice. "ANSWER ME!"
"Calm down, my little brother," another voice echoed, this time a more confident and feminine voice. It was bringing joy and serenity while the Son's voice was only of despair and fear. Ferus knew before he turned that the Sister was behind them. Anteres was literally in awe, as he stared at first at the woman with long green hair, dressed with a rich, long glowing dress. And her face was so delicate yet a certain sadness was marking it. But what stroke the boy was the height of the woman, as Ferus' head was below her shoulders.
"Who are you?" Kenobi asked, his white blade still ready to attack. Though Ferus understood Anteres was in a way, attracted to the woman.
"She is the Daughter," Ferus replied, deactivating his weapon : a lightsaber was useless here anyway...
"That would have been correct some time ago," the magnificent woman smiled amused, "but our Father died ten years ago. You may call me Ashla." She pointed the small terrified child behind them, "and he is my brother, Boga."
"We are on Mortis, aren't we?" Ferus wanted to hear the confirmation, and Ahsla nodded slowly. "Why?" Boga ran next the green-hair woman and held on of her legs, like a child asking for the protection of his mother. In the same way, Ashla caressed with tenderness the bald skull of the small child.
"For him of course," Ahsla replied, her eyes running all over the padwan.
"Me?" Anteres' blade went on the dangerous position of Niman, his fighting form.
"Don't be afraid child," the tall Force Wielder assured, shutting down the white blade with a simple use of the Force. "We have been waiting for you."
"Anteres' place is not with you," Ferus stepped closer, observing the calm face of the depiction of the Lightside. "The galaxy needs him."
"Really?" Ashla smiled again and passed the Jedi Master to stop in front of the apprentice. "But the choice is his, not yours, Ferus Ollin, for he is welcomed to stay. We can offer him a place none of you can, including his father."
"You met my father?" Kenobi tried not to stare at the woman again, though he really felt the Force pushing him toward her. And for all things he had ever seen, she was probably the most beautiful creature in the universe. She had the aura of a goddess, and the physic of a queen : how could he not stare at her?
"It appears the Jedi haven't told you everything about you and your family," she said leaned closer to Anteres' face. "You see, you are a wonderful being, my boy. More powerful than an entire legion of Jedi, only a few, including the Chosen One and your father, can rival with your powers."
"What about my sister then," the apprentice allowed himself to lose his sense of reality in her hazel eyes, while Ferus watched carefully over the child called Boga coming closer to him. "Why haven't you call her too?"
"Oh but she doesn't share your power my dear," again Ashla smiled motherly. "She has inherited more of your mother than your father, but she will indeed be as strong as your father. Do not worry for your family, they will always overcome what is awaiting them."
Ferus narrowed his eyes, knowing that the female would never share her visions. It was part of a plan for Anteres alone, without the Jedi.
"I don't want him to stay," Boga said next to Ferus who hadn't realised the child had come so close. And strangely enough, Boga befriended the Master but feared the apprentice.
"Why?" The older Jedi asked in curiosity.
"He is very strong," Boga confessed with poison. "Too strong. Or you can leave him here and take me with you. I can see through you, I hear the despair of your heart." The face of the child immediately turned in something Ferus knew too well : a devilish smile and calculating eyes. Here was the real face of the darkness, improving because of his own past. "Didn't it feel good to know such power? A few years ago, you were so powerful !"
"Boga!" Ahsla called sternly from her position, ordering her little brother to stay put. Ferus nodded gratefully at the woman and left the boy of darkness alone for a moment, he wanted to hear the words of the female being. And Anteres hadn't to be alone in such moment.
"So what does the Force want from me?" Anteres voiced for a first time a concern he never shared with any Jedi. He knew the Council couldn't reply, so he had stopped asking his friends, and kept such question in the back of his head. He had tought he would discover it alone, during his entire life, but now was an occasion he couldn't miss.
"How many answers have you imagined ?" Ashla laid a long pale hand on his cheek : another gesture of a mother toward her son.
"Thousands," Anteres confessed, his eyes still locked in hers.
"Then what is your favorite?" she asked again.
"That I'll protect the peace my father and the other Jedi have worked so hard to achieve." Hearing such words brought a proud smile on Ferus' lips. Anteres was definitely a Kenobi, always thinking about the galaxy's fate before his own.
"Then that's exactly what you'll do," the green haired One admitted. "You can be whatever you want, and you can achieve whatever pleases you."
"What am I then?" Kenobi added abruptly, surprising both his master and the Force Wielder. "What makes me so special?"
Ashla grinned, pleased with that ultimate question. "Do you know why my brother, the symbol of darkness looks so fragile, weak and afraid of you? Why this place seems to only have light and why am I so powerful?" Both Jedi didn't answer. "Because your father, Obi-wan, during the last war destroyed the overwhelming darkness that once has taken the galaxy in its grasp. Today is the contrary, the light reigns without contest. And so it is for this world. And you share the same strength than your father, so you push the darkness away."
"But light always creates shadow," Anteres quoted Master Yoda. "One cannot exist with the other, and so the dark can never be destroyed."
"You are correct," the woman nodded. "Balance is requested, and so if the light shines too bright, darkness would grow patiently stronger. A war is coming, my young Jedi, and you will have to decide the fate of the galaxy. The rebellion you are looking for is only its beginning."
"We were on our way to find clues about this rebellion before you got us here," Ferus pointed out annoyed.
"You won't find anything on the world you call Makeb," she waved his concerns with her hand. "That world is now lifeless. You had to come to us first."
"To tell us how much powerful is my padawan?" the master mocked. "Obi-wan already knows that."
"You haven't answered my question," Anteres added, suddenly sharing the same envy to leave this world.
"If you stay," the woman took a significant pause, her eyes engraving the sight of the boy in her memory, "you can become one of us."
"What?" the two Jedi said in unison.
"When I brought Obi-wan Kenobi back in the past to destroy the Sith, I've given him powers that didn't belonged to him. What do you think happen when you were created? Such powers passed on you, increased by the strength of your own mother. But in the Force, you are closer to being like me than your parents," she explained. "In a way, you are my son."
"I refused to believe it," Kenobi spoke immediately, and if chock had touched his mind, he didn't let anyone sense it. "There is no such thing as a son of the Force. Only the Chosen One may be seen as the closest thing."
"The same could be said about a Knight of the Force," Ashla added, trying to hide a sadness Ferus recognised without mistake. The reluctance of Anteres appeared to broke her heart, just like a mother separated from her child. Could it really be true? Logically, it wasn't : Obi-wan and Siri were the only parents of that boy, but then, that would explain so many thing. If Anteres could become a Force Wielder, just like Anakin had been proposed, then what would happen in the future outside Mortis?
Twenty hours later, and considering the long distance from Coruscan to Ceresta, the travel was clearly short, the Star Defender the Parangon had once again return to the home of the New Jedi Order, far away from the Known Regions, in a remote area of space that only a Force-sensitive could find, if he decided to. It was said Revan had found Ceresta, millenia ago, but as far as the Jedi Order knew, its location remained a secret to the eye of the entire galaxy.
Usually, staring at the beautiful planet with its wide oceans and tropical areas was enough to bring joy and relief to any Jedi, but today Siri Kenobi had returned without her sons and her husband. And her daughter was waiting for her on the surface, having no idea in how much danger her family had stepped into. How could Satele understand when she had only known peace? Even with her Master Aayla Ollin she never faced any real threat on her life. So how could Siri explain that Obi-wan went in a planet filled with weapons powerful enough to destroy a city? And that her brothers went to planets strictly forbidden to go to? Though Siri kept faith : her daughter was clever beyond her age, something she surely inherited from her father.
It wasn't more than five minutes later that Siri Kenobi found herself standing above the boarding ramp of the Star Defender, eyeing from above the wide beach and noticed, at the end of the ramp, waiting for her, her auburn daughter expecting her entire family. The blonde mother sighed as she sensed Satele's surprise echoing in the Force so she came down to her, staring at a pure reflexion of her own eyes.
"Where are Dad, Galen and Anteres?" Satele asked immediately, as she saluted Master Shaak Ti passing behind her mother.
"They have decided to stay there," Siri informed, her voice almost shaking with worries. "The situation is far more serious than we could have predicted. We've received a communication from your father during our way back. Someone is working to bring the empire back."
"Has Dad informed the Republic?" the daughter voiced after trying to understand the whole situation her mother just described.
"He has, yes," Siri confirmed as she started to walk toward the Jedi City. "I must now delay the information to the Jedi Council and see how many support we can bring to your father."
"How strong is this new enemy, Mom?" Satele worried obviously as much as her mother.
"Your father is certain we can be facing a group from both the Republic and the Neutral Confederacy." After taking three steps at the end of the main dock, the two women placed themselves on a transporting platform, offering a quicker ride toward their destination.
"You knew such day would come, didn't you?" Satele looked straight in Siri's eyes. "You've sent Jedi watching over the galaxy in case such event would happen."
"Master Yoda was absolutely sure that one day the Jedi would have to return, to fight the shadows of the demons we fought during the Clone Wars," the mother nodded. "We may have let our enemy grow in strength by exiling ourselves."
"The Sith no longer exist. Palpatine's order was gone with him."
"The Sith destiny is indeed destroyed, but there will always be users of the darkside," Siri recalled. "Alone and isolated they are no threat to the galaxy, but today, something has gathered them all for one goal."
"Who could do such thing?" Satele frowned, running a hand in her auburn hair. "Have you or Dad any idea?"
"We cannot act on suspicions, we need facts," the Jedi Master moved her head in negation. "That's why the Council must be informed. We need to send more Jedi to the Republic and the Neutral Confederacy now."
"You didn't answer my question, Mom."
Siri smiled, she had almost forgotten it was her daughter she was talking with. One girl with the brilliant mind of her father and the sharpness of her mother. "Anteres has sensed a growing darkness in the Force. Though the disturbance is not strong enough to make us believe the Sith may have returned, your father and I are certain darkside users are at work here. And Palpatine's shadow is still wide enough to hide legions of darkness."
"I thought we had destroyed them on Byss, fourteen years ago," her daughter replied as she stepped out of the transport, finally reaching the opposite site of the city, near the magnificient Council Tower.
"And what does the Forces tell you about that subject?" Siri followed Satele to the main entrance of the Tower where she would have to announce the grave news to her fellow members of the Jedi Council.
"That the Republic is in grave danger, if the Jedi do not interfere."
The blonde Jedi Master stopped at the transparent and delicately decorated doors, "Do you want to come with me?"
"To the Council?" Satele said in an amused way, "Isn't it supposed to be an emergency session? Padawans are not really requested, especially if I am not part of any missions. Come on, Mom, you've gone only two days, we've been away longer than that."
Siri grinned proudly, "But none of us has ever brought back news of war, my dear daughter."
"And I am not in the safest place in the entire galaxy? Besides, Master Aayla is probably looking for me. Should I tell her where is Ferus?"
A shadow passed on the mother's face, striken by the guilt of sending her former padawan and her son to imminent danger. And there on Ceresta, Aayla had probably been waiting for her husband and father of her child to return.
"Mom?"
"Ferus and Anteres had been tasked to investigate on Makeb …," Siri confessed, asking the Force for reassurance, but something felt different. She could feel Anteres so close to her, his presence was shining brighter than Obi-wan, whom presence she could barely distinguish. But Makeb was far more remote than where her husband had headed to. And Ferus' presence was also far more overwhelming than usual. "But they are not on Makeb."
Satele stared at her mother, she had never seen her so confused in all of her life. What had she sensed? Anteres and Ferus were alive, there was no doubt as Satele could feel the presence of her brother so easily. Too easily.
"I must tell the Council immediately," Siri ran a hand on her longue blonde hair, gathering her senses to avoid panick. "You will come with me, you need to hear what I suspect about your brother."
Satele nodded and passed the doors, following her mother in quick steps to reach for the main elevator, made with silver and golden stones, shining under the bright sun of Ceresta. Usually, once inside, every Jedi could witnessed the ultimate beauty of the buildings, each ray of light was fractioned by the transparent walls, bathing every levels of the tower with smooth rainbows. Hundreds of Jedi were enjoying meditating in the so many rooms of the Council Tower, but Satele couldn't find any comfort in the colourful beams surrounding her. She knew the Jedi would have to fight for the galaxy, many could die in the next months, however, she had never thought about the possible death of her family. Obi-wan Kenobi was known as the strongest Jedi who had ever lived, he was the Knight of the Force. Her mother was courageous and the training with her husband had made her a formidable warrior, as strong as Master Windu. Galen was always top of his class, just behind her other brother, Anteres, the one with, according to Yoda, powers beyond comprehension. Obviously her family would be targeted, or trying to be corrupted, but what could be so terrible for Anteres to worry Siri so much?
Satele knew better in such situation than to ask directly her mother, answers would always come : a Jedi had to learn patience and serenity. And as the doors slid open, revealing the ten Jedi Masters who had remained on Ceresta, the wise and strong warriors, administrating the Order and stating on matters such as today : war.
"Welcome back, Master Kenobi," Master Kit Fisto bowed his head in a friendly respect, "and good afternoon Satele." The padawan nodded in silence, staying next to the main door while her mother hurried to take her seat, between to the empty one of Obi-wan and the Nautolan Master.
"Your report we need to hear, Master Siri," Yoda pressed on, pointing his cane at the blonde woman. "Grave news, I sense."
"Yes Master," Siri nodded, "that is why Obi-wan and Hcan stayed there. Things are worst than we have imagined." She looked at Shaak Ti for support, and the Togruta leaned forward on her seat to expose the situation.
"The Senate's invitation for Mandalore was a plot to deceive our eyes, Masters," Shaak Ti said. "Both the Republic and the Neutral Confederacy are in danger, though we do not know for the moment who is behind this. But their motives are clear, they want to control the whole galaxy, destroying the Republic and the neutral systems in one strike."
"By creating a war between the two sides," Mace Windu crossed in fingers in acknowledgment. "Such conflict would be catastrophic indeed."
"And then, nothing can stop the rebels to rule," Siri added with gravity. "We are dealing with imperialists here."
"Imperialists?" Adi Gallia repeated, staring in shock at her former padawan. "What proof do we have?"
"Master Kenobi, three hours ago, was on Rothana," Shaak Ti explained. "After the recent admission of such system to the Neutral Confederacy, without a clear reason, Obi-wan went to gather information along with the Guardian Luke Skywalker, the son of Anakin. At their arrival, they faced the security forces and barely escaped the entire destruction of the complex by a Republic fleet. According to Obi-wan, it is part of a well-conceived plan : every weapon or machine of Rothana was evacuated on board the Star Destroyers."
"But when the Confederacy will learn of this attack, they will declare war." Master Luminara Vos understood, next to Shaak Ti. "Fett's speech in the Senate would appear as lies, and the Republic will counter-attack."
"Exactly," Siri watched every member of the Council in defeat. "Both Chancellor Skywalker and Fett are being cornered here."
"Palpatine's influence, I sense," Yoda sighed heavily, resting his ching on his cane. "Send more Jedi to Obi-wan, we must. Both sides need our help."
"Anteres Kenobi also claimed a growing force in the darkness," Shaak Ti voiced out loud, ignoring the reprimanding look of Siri. "He is certain that third party, these so-called rebels, have the support of darkside users. Though both Siri and I are certain it cannot be Sith-"
"So certain you are," Yoda immediately cut. "Such claim blinded us during the Clone Wars, Master Ti. Patient is the darkness, returned in secret, the Sith may have."
"We have been watching over the entire galaxy for more than a decade," Quinlan Vos recalled. "Especially the Sith worlds, and we haven't found anything."
"Until clearer the situaion becomes, all possibilities we must take count."
"And where is Anteres? Has he come back with you?" Kit Fisto asked in surprise, he would have thought Ferus and his padawan would go investigate too.
"No he is not," Shaak Ti announced. "The augmentation of his Force presence, as well as Master Ollin's, started a few hours ago. These two are supposed to beon Makeb."
"Are they not?" Garen Muln demanded, also disturbed by the shining presence of the boy, who apparently is still millions of lightyears away.
"Found they were," Yoda stated in a grave voice, his eyes closed to reach for the Force. "A trial, I sense, is waiting for young Anteres."
"Where Master?" Satele took two steps forward, forgetting more several seconds that she was inside the Council Chamber, however no Master decided to remind her of her place. They were all as worried as herself, she could feel their tension in the Force : something had been waiting for the next greatest Jedi, and they hadn't been able to protect her brother.
"Blind I am on this matter, dear child," the diminutive Master forced himself to gently smile at the auburn girl. "But safe, your brother is. Yes, safe he is."
"How can we sense his presence so much from here?" Garen needed a more precise answer about the son of one of his best friend. And for Siri, he knew she was dying inside, fighting the urge to destroying the entire room to calm her racing heart.
"Obi-wan, Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano faced something similar in the past, perhaps is it time for Anteres too," Windu said hypothetically.
"You're thinking about Mortis?" Adi Gallia asked her husband. "That world was dying when Obi-wan left it, he told us himself. How could Ferus and Anteres found it?"
"As I said," Yoda interfered, "found, they have been."
An hour later, the green haired celestial being called Ahsla had offered dinner to the two Jedi Knights who had landed miraculously on Mortis, being the only two humans visiting this world since a decade. It was no luck that almost fifteen years ago, Anteres was the son of the one of the previous visitors. Though last time, the real danger came from the darker being, apparently named Boga, just like the ancient user of the darkside used to call that side of the Force, Ferus knew Ashla had to be dealt carefully with. She was not threatening, not trying to corrupt his padawan, but her words of peace and long life seemed to have a particular effect on Anteres Kenobi, confirming her theory of a special bond between them two.
But this hadn't be the most disturbing thing : the smaller being Boga was obviously afraid of Anteres Kenobi, acknowledging him as a true nemesis, but he had been more than friendly with the Jedi Master. And Ferus had definitely noticed that the more he stayed next to the dark brother, the more he grew up. In only one hour, he went from the small eight year old boy to a young adolescent, barely younger than Anteres. And Ferus knew he was at fault, paying the price of crimes and sins he committed years ago. They needed to leave this planet, both of them.
"Has the Chosen One failed you?" Anteres' question brought Ferus back into the so-called reality. "If you made my father the Knight of the Force, wasn't it because Anakin Skywalker wasn't able to fulfil his destiny?"
"The Chosen One's journey is far from over, my child," Ashla leaned on her seat, turning her face closer to the son of Obi-wan and Siri. "You shall know the future is always in motion."
"But you do know," Ferus interrupted, a bit too severe, "both of you are aware of the past, the present and the future. You just can't influence our judgement."
"Oh I can," Boga remarked with a malicious smile, drinking the delicious green liquid that had been served. "My sister is selfless and believes in mortals like you. She is naïve. I do not share her trust with people like you. Those who hold power have the responsibility to use it."
"Words of a Sith," Ferus replied with poison.
"Sith, Jedi ..." the brother chuckled. "These are just names. Haven't you learned that a being is always tainted by darkness and light?"
"Where is the light within you, then?" Anteres countered, supporting his Master. He knew perfectly what the brother was talking about. Ferus had so many times confessed his actions during his youth, and Anteres never blamed him for that.
"Do not compare me with insect like you, Jedi," the brother stared evilly at the padawan. "If only you knew what I can accomplish, you would stay at my side. But you are blinding yourself, and preventing you from reaching your whole potential. Let me help you, and togeth-"
"I will not listen to your twisted words," Kenobi raised a hand to stop him. "Only the weak embraced the darkside, it takes strength to resist it." Ferus smiled, if he had closed his eyes, he could have sworn Obi-wan was the one talking.
"That is why you have to stay here, Anteres," Ashla requested again. "You can help me maintaining the balance."
"There will never be balance," the boy stated seriously, immediately gaining the attention of the others. "Balance is achieved at the end of everything. But at one time, light can overcome darkness, only to be destroyed a moment later. It is the alternation of light and darkness in the galaxy that creates the balance. There will never be a winner between those two, for darkness needs its light."
"Anteres ..." Ferus had never seen things this way.
"We have known peace for fifteen years, Master," Anteres refused to close his mouth. "Darkness has been patiently working in our shadow. War is in front of us, we both know it. The Jedi may win again, but the darkside will never been stopped. Just like in my own heart, darkness is threatening every day to take control."
"Are you saying that wars start because of the Force?" Ferus raised an eyebrow in interest.
"Perhaps," the padawan replied, taking a bite of the vegetables. "Admit it, the majority of the wars had been caused by the Sith or the Jedi."
"Then our mission to maintain peace is doomed?" the Master didn't care about what the Ones would answer from now. "Are you saying you will never maintain the peace your father created?"
"Does it matter, if after my death, my children fails to protect it?" he said. "History will not remembered our short peaceful decades."
"Then take power," Boga suggested. "All the galaxy in your hands, shape it according to your will, and you will have your peace."
"And becoming a dictator ruling with fear and strength?" the boy seemed amused by the idea. "I do not believe you like that I must rule. It is our duty to step back, just like my father did fifteen years ago. We are protectors, not rulers."
"So stay here," Ashla was apparently very pleased with Anteres' logic, something Ferus was quite surprised about. After all, hadn't he obviously said that without the Force, the world would be a better place? "Remove your influence over the galaxy, and keep the darkness at bay with me on Mortis. Your actions here will protect the entire universe."
"What will happen if I choose to leave, and fight with my friends and family?" Anteres stared at her with a fierce determination. But then, how could he decide to let his friends suffer without everything in his power to help them?
At the question, Ferus noticed Boga's lips spreading wider, contrary to Ashla who gave the impression to cry inside. "Your road will be long and one of the hardest. You will have to face choices you cannot even start to imagine, and you will have to fight things you cannot hope to defeat."
"So I will fail?" The padawan gently took the green haired woman's hand.
"That's not what I said," she replied. "But if you choose that path, you will end up alone and lost."
"I will never abandon him," Ferus added, striking by the sadness of the almost divine being in front of him.
"I know, Ferus Ollin," Ahsla bowed her head to hide a tear rolling from her left eye. "I know."
"You're aware I will never run away from my responsibility," Anteres said with courage and pride. "I am a Jedi, my path is filled with ambush I must overcome. It is the right thing to do."
Ahsla raised a tearful face once again, staring past those grey-blue eyes, deep into the soul of the Kenobi's son. "You are part of me, I have expected you to be selfless until the end, no matter what I tell you."
"Are we free to go?" He asked, already knowing the answer, still holding the hand of the one calling herself her mother.
"Of course you are," Boga laughed loudly. "Feel free to face all the despair you want," it was a laugh of victory, they all knew it. "The Jedi's stupidity never ceases to amaze me. We'll met again, my little friend."
Ferus had enough, he rose quickly and motioned Anteres to follow him into the corridor leading outside the grey temple they entered a moment ago. They had a long road to their shuttle, and the Master had a feeling the brother would enjoy slowing them. So he walked quickly, never turning back though he noticed his padawan looking one last time at Ashla and then, Anteres came at his side.
After taking the last steps of the stairs leading to a large platform, Ferus stopped in astonishment in the middle of the path, staring at their shuttle landed on the large pattern on the dark ground.
"A departure gift?" Ferus said out loud.
"You can't waste time anymore," the voice of Ashla echoed behind them, her tall and elegant figure standing at the top of the stairs, above them. "Fight your wars, and become the hero you must be, Anteres. I've warned you how difficult it will be, but I will forever be with you."
Kenobi looked at his master for a moment, letting him know he had to leave the woman properly. No words were spoken, but Ferus understood and went down to the ship, to start the engine waiting for his padawan.
So Anteres climbed the stairs again and stopped in front of Ashla, her once delicate and pale face full of joy was only bearing worries and sadness now, and it pained him. Perhaps there was really a relation between them.
"It's been an honour to meet you," he said, bowing slowly, thinking a moment as his body bent over. As he rose again, he smiled tenderly at the woman and made a bold move : he hugged her, his head resting on her nude belly, as he realised how much magnificent the contact was. He felt complete, as if all of his questions were answered, his confidence increased tenfold, and his strength reaching a whole new level. Hadn't he be more determined, he would never let her go ...
"It's been a pleasure," he reformulated as her long arms came round his neck. "I'll miss this."
"The Force will always be with you, my son," she assured gently.
"Will I ever see you again?"
"At the end of all things," Ashla beamed, although she was clearly implying his death, "yes. You will return to me. Farewell, Anteres Kenobi."
"Farewell … Mother." It felt strange yes, saying such words to another woman than Siri Kenobi, but it was right, spiritually. He had known he was more than a simple Jedi, just like Anakin Skywalker and his father, now he could put a name on his existence. He was a Son of the Force. And so he walked away, each step leading him closer to war, to pain and his death, but it didn't matter. He wasn't afraid, for he knew he was right. He would sacrifice his life over and over to protect the galaxy, because he was a Jedi. He turned one last time, one the shuttle's ramp, to stare at the Force's depiction, and then, disappeared in the taking off golden Cerestan shuttle to his destiny.
Rain, fire and mud was all Captain Han Solo could see in the darkness of the night of Kashyyyk. He hadn't signed for that, he wanted to be a pilot, joining the TIE fighter fleet and perhaps in the 17th Imperial Fighting wing that supporting the Old Guard in the so few space battles that occurred. Of course, in time of peace, being a pilot meant patrolling and scouting the galaxy, but at least he could be with the best pilots of the Republic. So how had I ended up on the Wookiees' world, listening to that crazy Commander Nyklas. The Trandoshans had been stopped months ago, but the Senate and the Chancellor had been informed of that : Nyklas had a mission of his own. So here under the cold rain, stormtroopers were regrouping all the Wookiees and send them inside the two landed Star Destroyers to take them away. Solo had finished patrolling over the surface just an hour ago, he hadn't realised what was happening, but now he was revolted, infuriated. If Chancellor Skywalker knew that Nyklas was enslaving those people … But he was a mere captain here, he needed a plan because nobody had questioned the orders. Did all of the soldiers agree with this? Han had never believed in rumors, but he was certain he was in with the rebels every body was talking about, so h had to be very careful.
"Solo!" Nyklas yelled from his commanding center, "Bring me the last group!" The group the human was talking about was the Wookiees who had taken weapons against the stormtroopers. A fight was started and many died, but in the end, the insurrection had been dealt with, and now the captured were brought before Nyklas. Solo wasn't stupid, he knew the leader of those Wookies would be executed, as a example, so he had to think quickly about a plan.
Reaching the group, Han noticed how much bigger all of the Wookiees were, except for the one in the middle, slimmer but taller, and with brilliant blue eyes, revealing a great intelligence. He knew this Wookiee was the leader called Chewbacca. The dark haired man sighed as he ordered the stormtrooper to step away, reaching for his blaster and held it at Chewbacca's head. The imposing Wookiee didn't even complain and nodded slowly, his eyes looking past the human, gazing over all the troopers around him. Han saw the fain hope of escape fading away in those blue orbs, but as much as he wanted, there was little he could do. Either he helped Chewbacca run away, he would be executed for treason, and the Wookies would never hold very long without weapons, or he could try to create a diversion just before Commander Nyklas murdered the Wookiee leader. Where were the damn Guardian of the Republic and their Force-thing?
"It's simply doesn't exist," he told himself as he pushed Chewbacca toward the executing pod, where Nyklas was already standing triumphant, "or they would already be rescuing the slaves."
"I'll teach your primitive people quite the lesson, Chewbacca!" Nyklas yelled, as heavy drops fall on his face. "You are a property of the Empire, nothing more !"
"Empire?" Han was certain he hadn't misunderstood, and stopped dead behind the Wookiee at the metallic ramp leading to the Commander.
"Bring him on his knees, Solo," the officer ordered as he drew his blaster.
Han hated such moment, when every way out were sealed away, forcing him to stare at the terrible and dark truth in defeat. He would never get used to it, as he always found a way to save his skin. He wasn't a very smart man, only a good pilot, but in trouble, his hability to stay alive had always amazed himself. So why couldn't save an innocent life? But worse than that, how could he stand motionless in front of these Wookiees turned into slaves? Where were they taking to anyway? Did it matter now? He was a complice of such terror, letting his Commander killing Chewbacca and bringing entire villages to a remote place for an unknown purpose. Perhaps could he act later, contacting one of his superior, but for the moment, Chewbacca would be sacrificed.
And as if the tragedy wasn't enough, thunders started to disturbed the now clouded black sky, amplifying Han's sensation of defeat while he listened to the raging screams of every Wookiee in their cage. Only Chewbacca had kept silence, his blue eyes gazing over the Republic camp, accepting his fate with a courage of the greatest warriors. Han admired him, honestly.
"You'll make a fine carpet, Wookiee," Nyklas mocked as he put his blaster on Chewbacca's head.
But then, out of the blue, a loud metallic sound came from the Wookiees' cages, followed immediately by screams of pain. Human screams. And before Han could realise what happened, Chewbacca had already risen on his feet and hit Nyklas with his head, sending the commander on the floor, stunned for brief seconds. Howling in rage, the leader of the Wookiees broke his handcuffs and grabbed Nyklas to send him flying against the containers on the platform. In reflex, the commander had drawn a small blaster, hidden in his right boot and aimed, his hands shaking in pain, at Chewbacca.
Solo realised he had to act, as the Force probably had answered his inner despair, so in a swift spin, he shot Nyklas in the head before the commander could pull the trigger and kill the now free Chewbacca. The second later, four stormtroopers, having witnessed the whole scene, started to shoot at the renegade captain and the large Wookiee, taking cover behind the containers.
"I guess this is the end for both of us!" Solo grinned despite the approaching army coming for them. "I'm sorry I wasn't thinking that far ahead."
Chewbacca replied something Solo didn't understand, he lacked too much practice in their language, the Shyriiwook. But seeing the Wookiee rose again gave him a hint : they would die fighting rather then hiding. However the screams of the stormtroopers continued, and now Wookiees roars were added : were they fighting? How could they have freed themselves?
And suddenly, a young boy, about fourteen years old, jumped above the containers. He was dressed with an unmistakable Corellian green, and he was blocking the red bolts of the stormtroopers with a blue lightsaber. How lucky Han was at such moment?
"Are you okay?" The boy asked with a smile Solo knew too much : he was definitely from Corellia. "Everything is going to be fine, my Master has opened the cages !"
"Wait, your Master?" The Captain repeated, as he watched Chewbacca running to battle, grabbing Nyklas' blaster.
The boy smirked as he deflected lasers, "I am Padawan Corran Horn," he announced proudly. "I've watched the execution from a hidden spot. I knew you would do something foolish before I could stop your superior."
Solo grinned, he definitely liked that boy. "Alright what's the plan?" He asked, starting to shoot the rebellious troopers in front of him.
"Master Hcan wants to interrogate the other officers about the place they were taking the Wookiees," he informed, killing two troopers in the same move as he walked toward a tall man holding a yellow lightsaber, supporting by six very large Wookiees. "But I fear you killed the only man who knew."
"I'm sorry, kiddo." Now Han felt quite stupid, how couldn't he have thought about that?
Corran laughed as he neutralised the last stormtrooper standing in front of the duo, "Don't worry, I can probably hack the Destroyers' computer and find the location. I hope I'll find something."
"The Destroyers never left Kashyyyk," the older man stated, once again feeling the defeat twisting his mind.
"Then we'll have to listen to the Force," a stronger and deeper voice said straight ahead, revealing the so-called Master Hcan who brought two unconscious prisoners with him. And Han noticed Chewbacca was following the Jedi. The man was definitely a force to reckon with, he was tell slim but with strong muscles and black hair going backward. But most of all, his icy blue eyes were the proof of the real power of that man, with a rare intellect. "But they won't be able to hide entire villages forever, we will find him."
Chewbacca growled in approval, and the Jedi Master laughed in agreement. "He said you fought pretty well," Hcan translated.
"I did nothing." But Chewbacca suddenly grabbed him and hugged him tightly, as strongly as a Wookiee could, still muttering words Han couldn't understand.
"He says he has a life-debt to you," Corran grinned. "You saved his life. Considered yourself lucky, Captain, this is Chewbacca. A very old friend of the Jedi."
"You know him?" Solo couldn't believe his ears, how did it happen? For all the Wookiees in that place, Chewbacca had been saved by Jedi who knew him.
"Of course, Master Yoda always talks about Chewbacca and Tarful," the padawan smiled like a very little boy. "Their stories are quite the tail."
"What don't we stop talking about me, please?" Han tried to escape Chewbacca's arms, but it was useless. It appeared he won a very powerful friend today. "What are we going to do?"
Hcan turned slowly back to the Republic camp, now totally in ruins after the raid of the liberated slaves. "We are going to inform Chancellor Skywalker, and I must regroup with the other Jedi. A very dark force is at work here."
"Wait," this time, Chewbacca let Han go. "The other Jedi? I thought you were all dead after that war on Byss? Who is with you?"
Corran raised a very amused eyebrow at his patriot, "We came with Master Obi-wan Kenobi of course. We are here to stop the rebellion !"
Author Note : And that's it ! I'm not going to write about Anakin, Ahsoka and Galen in this chapter, I'm saving it for the coming one. And we'll have more actions than in this one, the talks is almost over, and Ferus and Anteres are not quite safe, I can assure you.
Concerning Mortis, I wanted to clarify what Anteres could really become, and why he is so powerful : you can see it is a consequence of Obi-wan's returns and powers. So obviously, Anteres will suffer more than his father … Yeah, I want him to face so many dangers, but his family will always support him. (I'm not telling too much, everything will come in the sequel).
I hoped you guys like the small "mother-daughter" moment with Siri and Satele, as well as the introduction of Han&Chewbacca. I definitely missed the duo.
Anyway, next chapter (coming sooner I hope) : Anakin' team on Byss, the reaction of the Senate to the last events, and of course, we'll see the Kenobi in action again.
Until then, read and criticize, you know it's always welcomed and appreciated.