TRTSS1: The Warrior of Stars! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, and the other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Author's Note: Due to the slow-down in traffic reviews, thanks to the summer, these stories will be capped at 1000-plus words per chapter. As always, C&C are welcomed.
Part 24
Meanwhile, far from the action, Senator Padme Kasumi Amidala and Master Yoda are on their way to a diplomatic conference, when Master Yoda felt a disturbance in the Force…
"Senator, a dark presence I sense," Yoda said, as the wizened, but surprisingly spry Jedi Grandmaster, walked into the private room of the Senator from Naboo.
"Oh, my," Kasumi said, as she placed her hand over her mouth. "What should we do?"
"We must journey to the planet Ilum, where the presence of the Dark Side of the Force can be felt….even out here," Yoda said. "Journey to that world, we must go."
"If what you say is true, then it is highly dangerous for us to travel to this Ilum," said the swarthy Captain Typho. He had long since taken the place of his predecessor Panaka, now the head of Naboo's planetary defenses…
"Captain, I appreciate your concern, but if there is a need to help the Jedi, then we should abide by Master Yoda's wishes," Kasumi said.
"With all due respect, Senator, this is not a rescue ship," Typho said. "We are not equipped to handle such an attempt."
"A slight detour, we can go, however," Yoda said, as he points towards Kasumi's escort."
"But a slight detour, we can go, however," Typho said, as he looks at Kasumi.
"The diplomatic mission, the detour will not affect. Save the lives of Jedi, we must…"
"The diplomatic mission, the detour will not affect," Typho said. "Save the lives of Jedi, we must."
"Very well, then," Kasumi said. "By all means, proceed to Ilum…best speed."
"Yes, My Lady," Typho said, before a thought dawns on him. "Wait a minute…"
"Thank you, Senator Amidala," Yoda said with a nod.
"Ilum?" C3-PO said. "But…that's on the opposite side of this sector.
"BWeeep-Boop!" R2-D2 replied.
"I suppose I have nothing better to add to this conversation, then…"
The Naboo cruiser lands on Ilum amidst a snowy cloud bank, several yards from a Jedi temple, used for training Jedi in the last phase of their education. Snow and wind fell hard, but that did not prevent the diminutive Jedi Master from the task of rescuing those who need help…
As Master Yoda walk down the plank of his ship, he glances back towards a white-clad, white-cloaked figure that was standing behind him…
"Stay on the ship, you must," Yoda said. "Return shortly, I will."
"But you mustn't go out there alone," Kasumi said, as she knelled before Yoda.
"Worry, you must not," Yoda said. "However, call you I will, if help I need."
"That's all that I ask, Master Yoda," Kasumi said with a smile.
And, with that, Yoda began his trek through the rugged terrain, knowing that peril awaits him…
Meanwhile, back on Mon Calamari, Jedi Adept Ranma Saotome, in his girl form, due to being in the water for so long, was struggling to break free from the tentacles of the so-called "brain mass" that was the Moappa. It had already dispatched Ranma-onna's troops in a psychic wave attack. Luckily, Ranma-onna's training kept her sane and functional…
"{Let me go!}" Ranma-onna said telepathically.
"{No}," the Moappa said likewise. "{You seek to kill us, with your alliance with the Mon Calamari!}"
"{What do you mean? We're just trying to make sure that the Sepratists do not force the planet to cede from the Republic}."
"{And do you know why that this is the case}?"
"{No, enlighten me}."
The Moappa begins to generate images directly into Ranma-onna's mind. She sees the war that occurred between the Mon Calamari and the Quarren, started when the Mon Calamari, seeking new mining sites, began to mine in the deep depths of their shared world of Dac. Fearing this encroachment, as well as being on the isolationist side of thinking, attack the Mon Calamari in mass. However, the Mon Calamari had better access to technology, and defeated the Quarren. However, they did so to the point of almost causing the extinction of the Quarren, a policy that was initiated in order to prevent future wars. Making matters worse, the defeated Quarren were forced to adopt the culture and language of the Mon Calamari, the world of Dac was renamed Mon Calamari. It was because of this, that many indigenous species, including the Moappa and the Quarren, side with the Separatists, due to the dominance of the Mon Calamari…
And, with that, the images fade from Ranma-onna's mindscape.
"{I…I had no idea}," Ranma-onna said. "{You guys are doing all this…in order to be free from the dominance of the Mon Calamari. But…they've given you so much…}"
"{Even a gilded cage is still a cage, Ranma Saotome}," the Moappa said. "{We who sided with the Separatists only want the right to have self-determination, on our terms}."
"{Perhaps we can come to a compromise}?" Ranma-onna suggested. "{Because I'm telling you right now: the Separatists are being controlled by the Sith, and his name is Count Dooku}."
"{We have had our suspicions}," the Moappa said. "{Going through your mind confirms this}."
"{Okay}," Ranma-onna said uncomfortably. "{If I give you my word, that the Jedi will protect the interest of ALL inhabitants of Dac, will you convince the Quarren to stand down}?"
"{We will}."
"{Excellent}," Ranma-onna said. "{I need to speak to Master Kit Fisto about this}."
"{Of course…}"
With that, Ranma-onna was free from the clutches of the Moappa, just in time to see Kit Fisto.
"{Adept, how goes it}?" Fisto said telepathically.
"{The Moappa will asked the Quarren to stand down, if they and their allies have an equal say on planetary affairs}," Ranma-onna said. "{Starting with the restoration of the planet's original name. Oh, and I promised that the Jedi will be there to insure that these things come to pass}."
"{That's a tall order, Adept," Fisto said, as he considers Ranma-onna's words. "But, I am sure that we can hash something out}."
"{Anything that can prevent the spread of the Separatists' influence is a plus}."
Suddenly-
FLASH!
Suddenly, in Ranma-onna's mind eye, she could hear the cackling of an old and familiar friend, as she slays the guards that protected the council of the Mon Calamari.
"HOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO-!" said Sith Acolyte Usagi Tsukino, as she went about her work.
FLASH!
"{Oh, no}!" Ranma-onna said, as she shook the disorientation from her head, before she began to swim back to the surface.
"{Where are you going}?"
"{Someone is going to murder the Mon Calamari council, and she is one of us}," Ranma-onna said, as she swam away.
"What?"
Tbc.