Episode 1: The Darkness Revived

by SammaKlaus

An ambitious project undertaken purely for the love of Star Wars, this story is a re-imagining of episode 1 (The Phantom Menace). It involves new characters, new adventures, and fewer Jar Jar Binkses. Episodes 2 and 3 will follow in time. Reviews appreciated. Enjoy!

7. Part 7: Return to Coruscant

Part 7: Return to Coruscant

Darth Maul strode furiously onto the bridge of General Aderonn's command ship. The guards on either side of the door shrunk back as he passed. They were weak, cowardly creatures, he thought. They weren't fit to serve the revived Sith Empire, in his opinion, but his master showed little concern for his opinions on such matters. He knew Darth Sidious was a brilliant man, and a fearsomely powerful Sith Lord. He had a plan for the future of the Sith, one he neglected to share with his apprentice. But Darth Maul knew some day that would have to change. It was the way of the Sith. To encourage progress, he would one day need to challenge his master and defeat him. Then, he would become the master and there would be no more secrets kept from him.

General Aderonn was waiting for him on the bridge, hands clasped behind his back. Like his underlings, he was powerless and fearful. Maul liked, at least, that he tried to hide it in his presence. It was a fool's courage and that sort of courage was the most entertaining to break.

"General," he growled, "where is Queen Amidala?"

Aderonn cleared his throat.

"You allowed her to escape the system," he said defiantly.

Maul grinned, revealing two rows of sharp, pointed teeth.

"Did I, General?" he asked in a hiss, "because I remember doing my part. I remember being in sight of this ship. I could see the docking bay, open and inviting as they approached." He stepped closer so that his nose was mere centimeters from the other man's. "But you failed to pull them in."

Maul was visibly taller than the general, but he could tell the man was trying very hard to ignore the intimidating height difference. He had to admit he was, at least, a good officer. He didn't allow his men to see his fear. But the Sith Lord could sense that fear as if it were an obvious stench permeating the entire bridge. It called to him from the Dark Side of the Force. Fear was a Sith's most important tool. The general didn't realize that just yet, but he would show him, soon.

"You didn't bring them close enough," the general insisted, a bead of cold sweat dripping down his barely trembling brow, "I can't activate the tractor beam if there's nothing to catch."

Maul's arm shot out from beneath his black robes and he struck Aderonn hard in the chest with his fist. The man toppled backward, landing on his rear. He gasped in a breath and looked up at him from the floor, eyes wide. The Separatist officers manning the bridge all looked at their leader and the Sith Lord. He could sense their terror. It was so sweet to him, filling his breast with a sick, giddy joy.

"My master will not be pleased you lost him the queen," Maul hissed at him, "but the wrath you should be afraid of is mine. You lost my prize as well, General. It was very valuable to me."

"There was nothing I could do," the general insisted.

Maul leaned down to grab hold of the man's uniform jacket, yanking him off his feet with it.

"If your ship is not close enough, you move closer," he shouted, "I should not have to tell a former officer of the Republic fleet something as basic as that!"

He effortlessly tossed Aderonn against the transparisteel astrogation chart screen. The general hit it hard, giving it a small crack, before falling on his face. One of the officers to Maul's right let out a small whimper. He savored it.

"I wanted those Jedi, General," he growled, looking out at the stars beyond the large viewports in the bridge's sides and ceiling, "two fruits, ripe for the plucking and unable to escape me. I wanted their blood on the floor of this ship. I wanted it more than I can express with words." Maul whipped his arm out and blasted Aderonn with Force energy, slamming him against the astrogation chart a second time. "This is your doing, General," he barked, "and the sooner you admit it, the sooner we can move on."

Aderonn groaned and looked up from where he lay sprawled across the floor. Blood trickled down the side of his face.

"Move on?" he asked weakly.

"My master has ordered me not to kill you," Maul admitted reluctantly, folding his arms, "but if you don't learn who is in command here, you may soon wish I could."

Aderonn put his hand on the screen beside him and started to push himself up. He slowly got to his feet, then stepped away from the chart to face the Sith Lord. He bowed at the waist.

"Yes, my Lord," he whispered meekly.

"Louder," Maul commanded.

Aderonn coughed and brought his hand up to wipe a bead of blood from the corner of his mouth. After recovering, he lowered his hand again.

"Yes, my Lord," the general said clearly.

"Good," Maul said lightly. He turned around and started toward the bridge's exit. "As you were, General."

Darth Maul smiled to himself once he'd left the ship's bridge behind. It'd been a long time since he last put that kind of fear into the heart of another man.

The Sith Lord made his way back to the chamber they'd set aside for him. It was a small, spare room, but it suited his needs all the same with a hard, comfortless bed in one corner and a holoprojector in the center. He stepped onto the holocom platform, got down on one knee, and activated the channel. The life-sized projection of his master appeared in front of him. He bowed his head.

"You have news for me, my apprentice?" the decrepit old man asked slowly.

"Queen Amidala is no longer in the Tatoo system," he said carefully, keeping his head bowed. He knew the wrath of Darth Sidious and how best to avoid it. Only a sign of submission would allow him to explain.

"What happened?" Sidious hissed.

"The general. He failed to activate the tractor beam in time to intercept them."

"That fool," the Dark Lord spat.

"Despite his failure, I've discovered something you will find very interesting, Master," Maul replied. He paused to look up. "I believe there is a third Jedi aboard the ship, one more powerful than either of the two I fought on the planet's surface."

"There are only two Jedi with the queen," Sidious growled.

"I felt a tremor in the Force," Maul continued, "it was strong, impossibly so. If it was not a Jedi, it's something more powerful. Something we should claim."

"Impossible."

"As I would have thought, had I not sensed it myself." Maul paused to draw in a deep breath. "It was exhilarating. Whoever was piloting that ship has a devastating power at their disposal. Master, I must know who it was."

"Perhaps one of the two Jedi the Supreme Chancellor sent is more than he seems," Sidious mused. The wrinkled lips beneath his dark cowl spread in a grin. "How interesting. You were right to tell me of this."

"They will be on their way to Coruscant now," Maul stated. He shook his head. "There must be some way to discover the identity of this Jedi."

"Leave that to me," Sidious commanded. He gestured with one gnarled hand. "Travel back to Naboo, my apprentice. The queen will not be able to abandon her people to suffering for long. Give her reason to return."

Maul bowed his head.

"Yes, Master."

[NEXT]

With the ship on auto pilot as they traveled through hyperspace toward the Republic's capital, the crew was finally able to relax. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had gotten back into their Jedi robes and took turns doing quick sweeps of the ship to make sure nothing had been tampered with and that all their passengers were alright. It disturbed the Jedi to realize that the Separatists had somehow been able to locate them on the backwater planet they'd only recently escaped. Although the crew had seen much of the ship's inner workings and outer hull while conducting repairs, they'd failed to find any tracking devices.

After multiple rounds of the ship with the same results, Qui-Gon went to find his apprentice, who was meant to be watching over the queen's handmaidens as they prepared a meal for the others in the lounge. When he arrived, he counted seven girls in the lounge, which meant one of them had to be the queen herself. Captain Panaka had yet to let them in on the secret, which didn't bother him; the man had a right to secrets in his line of work. He smiled amusedly when he spotted Obi-Wan chopping vegetables with a knife.

"Obi-Wan, I need to speak with you," he said.

Obi-Wan looked up and nodded.

"Yes, Master," he replied, handing the knife to one of the girls.

He came around the counter built into the lounge's floor and went to meet him near the entrance. Qui-Gon gestured for him to follow as he started down the hallway.

"I've been thorough, but have yet to find anything on this ship that might explain how that creature found us so quickly on Tatooine," he began solemnly.

"So we aren't being tracked. There must be some explanation," Obi-Wan replied.

Qui-Gon nodded.

"I have a theory, but it's grim," he continued, "and you should take it with a grain of salt. Most of the Council would discount it, with the exception of Master Yoda."

"I understand."

Qui-Gon nodded again.

"Good. You should know, I haven't told you everything about the prophecy of the Chosen One. For most of my life, I thought as the Council does, that the second part was untrue, tacked on by some misguided Jedi in the years between now and when it was first spoken. But the years have given me cause to doubt that. And now...after the ferocity of that man's attack…his speed, his strength, the way he foiled even Miss Vostana's skilled flying, and the vision you told me about, I can't pretend all is well." He stopped walking when they reached the engine room, where no one else could hear them. "There are those in the Jedi Order who believe the Force has become unbalanced."

"Unbalanced?" Obi-Wan asked, confused.

"With the prophecy as old as it is, we're not quite sure what that word is meant to mean," Qui-Gon explained, "but I've talked with Master Yoda about it before. He believes it refers to a blindness on the side of the light, that the Dark Side has become stronger since the destruction of the Sith in the last galactic war. It's become harder to detect, and easier to fall victim to. We don't know how something like this could happen, but that man I fought earlier was very strong in the Force. Stronger than I would have expected, especially since neither of us sensed his approach."

"But you told me the Dark Side wasn't stronger than the light," Obi-Wan protested.

Qui-Gon shook his head.

"Not inherently," he explained, "the dark and the light are equal opposites, but it takes more time and focus to master the path we've chosen. The Dark Side presents an easier, more seductive alternative. But while it promises power, it delivers only enslavement, and not just to those its followers victimize. Someone who chooses the Dark Side believes himself to be free of the restrictions we place on ourselves, but in the process, they become enslaved by their own emotions, and servants of the Dark Side, rather than its masters."

"Then what did you mean when you said it'd become stronger?"

"Those strong in the Force can always feel the Dark Side's presence, and that makes it easy to resist." He paused, giving Obi-Wan a grave look. "But when you can't see it, when you don't know it's coming, you don't realize it's taking you until you're already lost. The Dark Side has taken a new guise upon itself, one we can't identify. Every Jedi Master knows it can never be completely extinguished, and yet there are so many who believe we live in a time after its passing. It's why we must be careful in assuming anyone is a Sith. Until we have proof, we cannot begin to spread fear throughout the Order."

"Why haven't I heard this before?" Obi-Wan asked incredulously, "something like this would be devastating if it's true."

"That's why you haven't heard of it," Qui-Gon replied, "starting a panic among the padawans would do us more harm than good. It would expose the most vulnerable members of our Order to the Dark Side's greatest weapon, fear. I've only told you because I believe you to be ready to handle it…and I trust you not to spread it beyond this room until we know more."

"Of course, Master." Obi-Wan bowed his head sincerely.

Qui-Gon smiled. His once impulsive and impatient apprentice had truly grown into a mature, wise young man. He felt more like a friend to him than a child he was tasked with watching over.

"I know it's a heavy burden to carry, but there is hope. You know the Chosen One is destined to destroy the Sith. By doing so, this Jedi is meant to restore balance to the Force. When the last of the Sith falls, the Force will begin to right itself. Master Yoda believes both the light and the dark will grow in power, to their strengths in the ancient times of the Old Republic."

"That's amazing," Obi-Wan whispered.

"Yes," Qui-Gon agreed, "and also frightening. With that much power in the galaxy, need for the Jedi to keep the servants of the Dark Side in check will also grow. It will put a huge responsibility on the Order's shoulders. There are some masters who believe we're better off how we are now, but Master Yoda and I both believe that the Force cannot remain 'sick'. Things must be returned to the way they're meant to be."

"And that's why you want Anakin to be trained so badly," Obi-Wan surmised.

Qui-Gon nodded.

"If he is the Chosen One, this legendary Jedi of prophecy, the galaxy needs him to be ready for the fight ahead. The Force wants to cure itself. It's the only explanation I can think of for how impossibly strong it is in Anakin. If he's not the Chosen One, I will be very surprised."

"So you think that man we fought was indeed a Sith."

"I think it's very likely."

Obi-Wan nodded and looked toward the hallway.

"I hope you're right about the boy, Master."

"So do I." Qui-Gon reached out to put his hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. His apprentice turned his head back around to look at him. "I want you to be the one to train him," he said, "if the Council allows it after you've passed your trials, of course."

Obi-Wan's eyebrows shot up.

"Me?" he asked.

Qui-Gon nodded.

"He reminds me of you, in some ways," he explained, "and he will be difficult to train, being so old and so headstrong. Because of that, any Jedi who does not share his stubbornness will be incapable of training him properly."

"You're more stubborn than I am, Master," Obi-Wan replied with a slight smile.

"Well," Qui-Gon began with a chuckle, "that just isn't true. Besides, I'm not as young as I once was. He will need a teacher with the youth to accommodate his energetic nature. But, more importantly than any of that, I believe the Force has brought you two together."

"In what way? You're the one who found him on Tatooine."

"True, it was I who found him, but when it needed to warn someone of the coming threat, the Force chose you. And at the same time it revealed the Chosen One's presence to me? I may be wrong, but I can only see it as the will of the Force that you prepare him for his destiny."

Obi-Wan grimaced.

"Are you sure I'm ready for that sort of responsibility? I haven't even attempted my trials yet."

"You're one of the strongest Jedi I know, even if the Order still sees you as an apprentice," Qui-Gon assured him, "if you're not ready now, you will become ready."

He watched Obi-Wan take a breath to calm himself, as he'd taught him to do.

"I will need time to consider it, Master," he said quietly.

"Of course."

[NEXT]

Anakin sat in a kneeling position on the floor of the droid storage bay. He didn't know how long they'd been traveling through hyperspace, but he was certain it had to be a few days. Although he wasn't going to tell anyone, he had already started to miss his mother. He didn't know how he was going to go weeks, months, and years without seeing her.

He'd found a small R2-series droid stowed away in the room hours earlier. It'd received a huge hole from a blaster recently, but he was sure he could at least get it online again. After locating a tool chest, he'd started repairing it as he used to do back home on Tatooine. It was soothing to have his mind occupied by something other than the family he'd left behind.

Anakin leaned down to look as he reached his hand through the gaping hole in the R2 unit's outer paneling. The chassis was still intact, which was a good sign, but several of the inner circuits had been fried. He plucked a wire from its slot near the back of the droid's cavity and pulled it out to get a look at its connector. As he'd suspected, the wire had been exposed after its rubber coating had melted off. He kept his fingers on the plastic connector as he used a set of pliers to straighten out some of the metal bits that'd warped in the heat of the blaster shot. Satisfied, he reached back in and plugged it into its socket.

He yanked his hand out after receiving a quick shock to his fingertips. He groaned and licked them. Despite the lingering sting, he smiled when he heard some of the internal mechanisms whir to life.

The R2 unit's dome began to swivel rapidly. It beeped frantically. Anakin reached out to put his hand on top of the dome.

"Hold on, hold on," he said. The dome continued to roll back and forth. "Just hold still, alright?"

The droid finally calmed down enough to allow him to wipe the char off its optical sensor with his tunic.

"There, can you see now?" he asked.

The droid chattered at him appreciatively. Anakin grinned.

"It's nice to meet you too," he replied, "you can call me Anakin."

The R2 unit's dome swung around to face the doorway before it let out a low "woo". Anakin twisted around to look. Padmé stood in the doorway. She waved when he smiled at her.

"You fixed the droid?" she said, stepping further into the bay.

"His name is 'R2-D2', but he says he likes to be called 'Artoo' for short," Anakin informed her.

"You can understand it?" Padmé asked interestedly. "Oh, I mean 'him," she corrected herself.

Anakin shrugged.

"I always have," he said.

The girl walked across the bay and over to the droid.

"Artoo, hm?" she murmured, "I didn't know droids had preferences about what they're called."

"R2-series droids tend to develop pretty strong personalities," Anakin explained, smiling, "some people think it's a flaw in their programming, but I like it."

Artoo expressed his agreement with a few happy chirps.

"Well, can you tell him we're all very grateful to him for helping us escape Naboo?" Padmé asked.

The droid bleeped at her in a tone that sounded as sarcastic as a series of beeps could sound. Anakin laughed.

"He can understand Basic just fine," he said.

"Oh, you're right. I should've known that," she giggled. She clasped her hands in front of her body and shrugged. "I'm sorry, we don't see many astromech droids where I come from."

Anakin grinned and turned back to face the droid, peering inside the hole. Artoo whirred at him curiously.

"What happened on Naboo?" he asked, his voice amplified by the droid's shell.

"I'm sorry?"

"You said he helped you escape. Is someone after you?"

He pulled his head back out to look up at her. She smiled amusedly and knelt down to wipe his cheek with her thumb, then showed him the blob of grease she'd removed. They both laughed quietly. After the laughter died down, Padmé sighed.

"Well, I suppose if you're going to become a Jedi, I can tell you the truth," she admitted.

"So that stuff you told Beru about Ryloth wasn't true?" Anakin asked.

She shook her head and Anakin watched her face fall. It hurt his chest to see her so sad.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," he added quickly, "I mean, if it makes you that sad, you don't."

Padmé looked up to smile at him, but her sorrowful eyes made the expression seem less genuine.

"You're such a kind person, Anakin," she said, "the truth is, my planet, Naboo, was invaded recently. We managed to get the queen offworld, but her people—my family and everyone I've ever loved are still there, being oppressed. Being hurt."

Anakin shook his head.

"That's a really good reason to be sad," he said. He realized how unhelpful it was and cleared his throat. "I mean, a better reason than mine." He grimaced at himself in frustration. "What I mean is…well, now you have Jedi helping you. They'll free your people, I'm sure."

Padmé looked up again and laughed quietly, to his surprise.

"Yes, I'm sure they will," she replied. She leaned closer to him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

Anakin could feel the blood rush to his face and hoped his blushing wasn't obvious.

"For…what?" he asked sheepishly.

"For cheering me up," Padmé replied, "you have this funny way of saying things sometimes, like you know everything is going to be alright. People don't talk like that in the palace. I like it."

Anakin's mind swirled helplessly as he tried to think of something to say to that. He'd already told her she was pretty, but here she was, giving him a kiss like that. He'd thought she was too refined for him, that she'd think he was just some kid from the desert and never spare a second thought toward him. He never expected her to give him such a sweet kiss. Words were failing to come to him as he thought about how nice her soft lips felt on his cheek. They were ridiculously soft, something he didn't know was possible after living on such a dry, wind-chapped planet. To his relief, Artoo interrupted with a series of unsure boops.

"I know you can't move," he replied after clearing his throat, "the system that operates your tracks is completely fried. You're going to have to wait until we get to Coruscant."

"I'm so sorry, Artoo," Padmé murmured.

Artoo beeped at her.

"He says it wasn't your fault," Anakin translated for her.

"Yes, I know…he was just so brave, trying to defend the ship like that."

Anakin had to chuckle at the droid's reply.

"What?" the girl asked.

"He said he knows."

Padmé chuckled too.

"You're cocky for a droid, aren't you?"

There was a knock on the doorway behind them and they both turned to see Captain Panaka looking down at them.

"Your highness, we're approaching the Corusca Sector now," he said, "Senator Palpatine is waiting to greet you upon our landing. Perhaps you should change out of those clothes."

Padmé nodded at him.

"Yes, you're right, Captain," she said, "thank you."

She rose and started toward the exit as Panaka backed up to allow her to walk ahead of him.

"Your highness?" Anakin asked in disbelief.

Padmé looked back at him when she reached the doorway.

"It's a long story," she said with a kind smile before heading out into the hall.

Anakin let himself fall backward until he sat on the floor of the bay and sighed.

"She's amazing, huh, Artoo?" he asked.

The droid let out a flat 'blurp'. Anakin grinned.

"Yeah, I guess a droid wouldn't know."

[NEXT]

Obi-Wan sat in the co-pilot's chair as Ruta flew the ship toward the landing platform the flight control officer had assigned them. Still in the upper atmosphere, they could see Galactic City sprawling out before them in all directions. The entire planet of Coruscant was covered in towering skyscrapers and pre-programmed travel routes were constantly busy with heavy airspeeder traffic. From their height, it looked like the most orderly beehive in the galaxy.

Obi-Wan smiled when he spotted the silhouette of the Jedi Temple on the horizon. He would never grow tired of traveling the galaxy, but no feeling could beat the feeling of coming home after a long, hard adventure.

He glanced back when he heard someone running through the hallway toward them. Anakin rushed into the room and braced himself on his and Ruta's chairs, his eyes wide as he took in the city.

"Aren't you supposed to be strapped in somewhere?" Ruta asked.

"I'll be fine," Anakin chirped without taking his eyes off the towering spires to look at her.

"I don't know about that, Shorty," the pilot continued, "I mean, you obviously don't have your space legs yet. Wouldn't want you to fall and get blood on the console."

Obi-Wan ignored her as he raised one arm to point off into the distance.

"Do you see that building?" he asked, "the one with the five tall, thin towers."

Anakin nodded.

"That's home," Obi-Wan concluded.

Anakin grinned.

"So, that's the Jedi Temple?" he asked.

"That's right."

Ruta shrugged.

"Doesn't look that impressive to me," she muttered.

"We're not trying to impress anyone," Obi-Wan retorted.

Ruta snorted a chuckle.

"Sure you're not."

The ship's speed increased and they rushed downward, toward an enormous building with a large, rounded top that almost made it look like a gigantic mushroom.

"Woah," Anakin breathed.

"That one's the Senate Building," Obi-Wan told him, "it's where the senators meet."

"What's a senator?"

Ruta laughed loudly.

"Oh, man, do you have a lot to learn," she wheezed between laughs.

"You don't need to worry about it now, Anakin," Obi-Wan told him, shooting Ruta an unappreciative glare, "all you need to know is they're the people who decide how the Republic is run."

Anakin grimaced.

"Are they bad people?"

Obi-Wan smiled.

"No, no, they're just people like you or me," he said.

"Don't lie to the boy," Ruta teased.

"It's not a lie. Senators, like all people, can behave well, or they can behave poorly. I don't agree with everything the Senate does, but that doesn't make each senator a 'bad person'."

"Alright, alright, it was just a joke."

"The nature of our place in the Republic means Jedi must deal with politicians every now and then. I don't want you confusing him with silly jabs like that."

Ruta held one hand up.

"Ok, no more jokes about politics. I promise," she announced in a mock serious tone.

The ship passed the Senate Building before arriving at a tall apartment building close by. Ruta started the ship toward one of many landing platforms that jutted out from the building's sides.

"Here we are," Obi-Wan said. He got out of his seat. "Go find Qui-Gon," he told Anakin, "you'll want to stay close to him for now. It's easy to get lost on this planet."

Anakin nodded and hurried out of the cockpit. Ruta groaned.

"You know, I just don't get it," she muttered.

Obi-Wan turned to face her.

"Don't get what?" he asked.

Ruta held up a finger as she carefully landed the ship on the platform. Once it'd set down, she unbuckled her seat's restraints and plopped both feet on the console, folding her arms as she did. She sighed.

"I mean how some silly thirteen-year-old kid from a dirtball planet—a kid who knows literally nothing about anything, by the way, got to be a better pilot than me! I've been flying starships as long as I can remember and he still manages to outdo me the first time he sets foot in a cockpit. Have I just been wasting my time or something?"

Obi-Wan shrugged.

"Well, it's hardly a fair comparison," he replied.

"What do you mean?" Ruta asked.

"Anakin doesn't realize it, but he's attuned to the Force and is already capable of using it to his advantage," the Jedi explained, "in a few years, he'll be well on his way to becoming a Jedi. The Jedi are aided by the Force and it allows them to be capable of things most other people never thought possible."

Ruta leaned forward, pulling one foot off the console.

"Wait…you're right! That's completely unfair," she exclaimed, "he only did so well because of the Force!"

"He does seem to have some natural skill," Obi-Wan pointed out, "after all; he flies much better than I can."

Ruta shook her head.

"But the Force? There's no way I can compete with that."

Obi-Wan shrugged and clasped his hands behind his back.

"Then why are you being so hard on yourself?" he asked lightly.

Ruta stared at him, slowly unfolding her arms. She placed her other foot back down on the floor and leaned toward him to stare harder, cocking one eyebrow at him.

"What was that?" she asked, "did you just use some freaky Jedi mind thing on me?"

Obi-Wan laughed.

"Only if the 'freaky Jedi mind thing' you're thinking of is called 'friendly encouragement'," he replied. He turned to his left and started toward the door. "You're a wonderful pilot, Ruta," he said over his shoulder, "we honestly couldn't have gotten this far without your help."

"You're welcome," Ruta called after him.

Obi-Wan chuckled quietly to himself.

[NEXT]

Qui-Gon allowed the queen and her entourage to head down the loading ramp ahead of him. She and her handmaidens had removed their drab garments in favor of the grand outfits in which they'd escaped their homeworld. Anakin and Obi-Wan stood near him, bowing their heads as the queen passed. Once the last of the handmaidens had made it onto the landing platform, he proceeded down to meet them with Anakin and his apprentice close behind.

A small group of people in grand robes was already on the platform to greet them. Qui-Gon recognized the foremost, an older man with wispy, balding white hair and intricately-decorated gray and maroon robes, to be Senator Sheev Palpatine of Naboo. He and Obi-Wan had met him shortly before departing on their rescue mission. He didn't know the man well, but he'd seemed like a kind man and showed nothing but concern for his queen. He didn't appreciate the aloof, uninterested attitude many politicians used when dealing with members of the Order. Senator Palpatine, however, was not one of those politicians and Qui-Gon found himself liking the man, though he tried to avoid making judgments on other people too quickly.

The senator advanced to meet the queen on the bridge connecting the landing pad to the apartment building behind him. He bowed low, then straightened again with a joyous smile on his face.

"I'm so glad to see you safe and sound, my queen," he said warmly.

"Thank you, Senator Palpatine," the queen replied, bowing her head in a sign of respect.

"You must be exhausted," Palpatine continued. He turned to one of his well-dressed servants, a young Bith male. "Dimo, please escort her highness to the apartments we prepared for her."

Queen Amidala straightened her back.

"I would prefer to speak with the Chancellor about the fate of our planet," she said, "the Senate must be assembled."

"I agree completely," Palpatine replied, "and I promise an emergency session will be called. However, it will take time before the session is ready to commence. Until then, I wish you would rest yourself." He held both hands out at his sides. "You would better serve our people if you had all your strength, after all."

Captain Panaka stepped forward so that he was just behind her left shoulder.

"If I may, your highness, I must agree with the senator," he said quietly, "you must be careful not to risk your health, especially after surviving all the danger we've encountered getting here."

"You have a wise guard captain, my queen," Palpatine commented, smiling.

The queen nodded slowly.

"Very well," she relented. Dimo bowed and began heading back toward the apartments. The queen started after him.

The senator faced her as she walked away. Once she and her entourage had headed inside, he turned to face Qui-Gon.

"Master Jedi, I cannot begin to express my gratitude to you for delivering our queen safely."

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed their heads slowly. Anakin clumsily copied them.

"No thanks is necessary, Senator," Qui-Gon replied, "my apprentice and I are happy to do our duty to the Republic."

Palpatine nodded, a wide grin on his wrinkled face.

"The Republic is blessed to have your Order as our protectors," he said happily. He turned his head to look at Anakin. "I'm afraid I haven't met this one," he continued.

"This is Anakin," Qui-Gon explained, "he's been helpful during our mission."

"Has he? How wonderful, especially for someone so young."

Anakin grinned.

"I'll do a lot more than that when I'm a Jedi," he stated proudly.

Qui-Gon chuckled, as did the senator.

"I wish you luck, young man," Palpatine said, "I'm sure you'll be a fine Jedi."

Qui-Gon clasped his hands behind his back and cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry to leave you so soon, Senator, but I have urgent business with the Jedi Council," he said, "if you want more information about our mission, I can meet with you later today."

"Oh, I'm sure Queen Amidala will be happy to fill me in. Besides, you must have many more important things to worry about."

"In that case, we'll take our leave." Qui-Gon released his clasped hands and offered one to the senator.

"Thank you again, Master Qui-Gon." Palpatine took his hand to shake it. "I'm not sure what we would've done had she been harmed."

After bidding the senator goodbye, Qui-Gon led Obi-Wan and Anakin to an airspeeder he'd asked to have waiting for them when they arrived. They hopped inside and took off toward the Jedi Temple. Anakin watched in awe as they passed colorful, glowing billboards and lines of stylish speeders. At the speed they were traveling, it didn't take long for them to reach one of the Temple's landing pads.

After stepping through the door into the Temple's main hall, Qui-Gon was welcomed by the comforting sight of those familiar statues of past Jedi Grandmasters and the two long staircases on either side that led to the tall double doors of the Council chambers. The undeniable concentration of the Force surrounding the large hall was the most comforting. The presence of so many Jedi over the years had filled it with a warmth he had yet to feel anywhere else in the galaxy.

The Jedi Master proceeded up one of the staircases to the second floor and to the Council chamber's door. He turned to face Anakin and Obi-Wan.

"Anakin, Obi-Wan and I must speak with the Council briefly," he said, "wait here and soon it will be your chance to meet them."

Anakin nodded and watched them enter the chamber. It was a round chamber, with windows all around its circumference, save the section of wall with the door built into it, allowing the Masters within to watch over the people they served. Twelve chairs sat at even intervals in a semi-circular pattern. Upon the chairs sat four of the twelve members of the Jedi High Council, with Master Yoda, head of the Council and Grandmaster of the Order, in the center chair upon a raised cushion to accommodate his height. He was a short, old alien with green skin, pointed ears, and a few strands of white hair over his wrinkly head. Despite his unimpressive appearance, he was the most admired of any living Jedi and carried over eight centuries of wisdom.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed upon reaching the center of the room.

"Welcome, Master Jinn," Master Yoda said in his crackly, high-pitched voice. He looked at Obi-Wan. "And Padawan Kenobi." He looked back at Qui-Gon. "Urgent, your message was. What is this important business you have?"

"Will the rest of the Council be present?" Qui-Gon asked.

"They were unable to make it under such short notice," Master Mace Windu, a bald, dark-skinned man with a deep voice and a severe gaze, explained. He was known as the Order's greatest warrior and his skill with a lightsaber was unmatched, save by the grandmaster himself.

"Very well, Master," Qui-Gon replied. He folded his hands. "I'm sure the Council is aware of our latest mission to Naboo," he began.

"We are."

"My padawan and I believe the Sith are returning to the galaxy," Qui-Gon continued, jumping right to the point. The members of the Council reacted with surprise, some of them even going so far as to utter a gasp. Qui-Gon hadn't expected anything less. They were all well aware of the danger. "And, we have reason to believe they are allied with the Separatists."

Master Yoda leaned forward.

"Proof, have you, of this claim?" he asked.

"We were attacked on Tatooine by a man wielding a lightsaber. His connection to the Force was undeniable. Later, he contacted us via comm. channel and claimed to be an enemy of the Jedi."

"The Jedi have many enemies," Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, a Cerean male with a bushy gray goatee and mustache, replied as he raised one eyebrow skeptically. He shook his head gently. "But those enemies are not necessarily Sith."

Master Windu leaned forward, propped one elbow up on his knee, and looked over at the Cerean.

"That may be the case, but we can't be so confident that we ignore the warning signs," he stated. Qui-Gon raised both eyebrows, surprised by his unusual open-mindedness. Master Windu turned his gaze back on Qui-Gon. "You said this man was skilled with a lightsaber?"

"Yes, Master," he replied, "it was a lightsaber like I'd never seen, with a crimson blade. He wielded it as well as any Jedi Knight."

"Red is an incredibly rare color for a natural crystal," Master Windu stated. "More likely, the crystal would have been crafted synthetically. We all know the Sith were known to do that, to control the outcome. It's not an easy technique to learn and it's not one we teach our padawans. He wouldn't have been able to do it without knowledge passed down from the ancient Sith." He shook his head definitively. "If this man crafted his own lightsaber, I doubt he was just some Force-sensitive dissident."

"The Sith have been extinct for a thousand years," Master Ki-Adi-Mundi insisted.

"Masters, we have another reason to believe the Sith have begun to rise again," Qui-Gon spoke up. He gestured to Obi-Wan. "My padawan has received a vision from the Force, one I find deeply troubling."

Master Windu turned his severe, critical gaze on Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon looked as well and saw the young man was handling the pressure well.

"Describe your vision to the Council," Master Windu told him.

Obi-Wan respectfully bowed his head before proceeding, "I had a vision of a man in a red desert, dressed in black robes. An inky blackness emanated from him, and as I experienced this vision, I could feel the Dark Side trying to penetrate my mind. The fear it carried defied all of my Jedi training. When I was finished with my meditation, there was no doubt in my mind that the man I saw was Sith."

"It sounds to me like you jumped to a conclusion without sufficient evidence to warrant it," Master Ki-Adi-Mundi commented.

"The Force told me what it needed to tell me," Obi-Wan replied. Qui-Gon was pleased to see he kept his anger in check, despite how dismissive the master had been toward him. Obi-Wan clasped his hands in front of himself and shook his head. "I can't describe what I felt with words, but to me, it was undeniable."

"The Force doesn't send a Jedi visions for no reason," Master Windu asserted, "if this vision truly meant to warn us of a coming Sith threat, we can't afford to ignore it."

"My thought exactly," Qui-Gon agreed.

"With the Sith destroyed, how would they have passed on their dark arts?" the Cerean continued.

"Perhaps one survived," Master Windu argued, "perhaps they've existed in hiding these past centuries."

"How would they have done that? We've always been able to detect the presence of the Dark Side."

"An imbalance in the Force, as stated in the prophecies" Qui-Gon interrupted, "it would explain all of this."

Master Windu cleared his throat and looked at Obi-Wan.

"Perhaps your padawan should step outside," he said.

"I've told him of the prophecy," Qui-Gon replied fearlessly, "and I trust him to treat it with discretion. He's become a very capable Jedi."

Master Windu sighed.

"No one doubts your wisdom, Master Jinn, but an old, debunked prophecy?"

There was the skepticism Qui-Gon had expected from him.

"Debunked merely because the Sith were wiped out," the Jedi retorted.

"Correct, Master Jinn is," Master Yoda stated, "if returned, the Sith have, still in play, the prophecy is."

Qui-Gon nodded at the grandmaster.

"And as you all recall, the prophecy states that one Jedi is destined to destroy the Sith and, in so doing, correct the imbalance," he continued.

"The Chosen One," Master Plo Koon, a Kel Dor, said through his breath mask. He'd been silent up until then, carefully watching the proceedings through his goggles.

"Yes. I believe I've found him." Qui-Gon saw his apprentice shift his weight out of the corner of his eye. He knew he was taking a risk, presenting such an idea, but the Council would have expected nothing less from him.

"Is that not a little convenient?" Master Ki-Adi-Mundi asked.

"The Force wants to right itself," Qui-Gon replied confidently, "this would not be the first time it's presented us with the solution to a problem just as it reveals that problem to us. Sometimes, we have to wait. Other times, we don't."

"Who is this potential Chosen One?" Master Koon asked.

"A boy I found while on Tatooine, where we were confronted by the Sith," Qui-Gon replied, "I could sense immense power in him. I think he should be initiated into the Order as soon as possible so he can be prepared to face his destiny."

"That's a loose theory," Master Windu remarked.

"Master, if I may," Obi-Wan interjected, "I was unsure about it as well, but I witnessed the strength of the Force in him myself while he piloted our ship. Without him, the Sith would've had us."

"Speak with him alone, we must, to decide his fate," Master Yoda replied.

Qui-Gon bowed his head.

"I will send him in," he said.

He turned to Obi-Wan and nodded, signaling for him to follow as he headed back into the hall outside the Council chamber. Anakin was sitting on the floor against the wall beside the door, watching the many Jedi who passed by him. He stood up when they came out.

"Is everything ok?" he asked nervously.

Qui-Gon gave him a reassuring pat on the head.

"Everything's fine," he replied. He gestured toward the chamber with his head. "The Council wishes to meet you."

"They're the ones who're going to decide if I can become a Jedi?" the boy asked.

"That's right. You'll need to speak to them without us, but don't be nervous. Simply answer any questions they have. Be honest and I'm sure they'll see why youdeserve to be trained."

Anakin grinned.

"I'm not nervous," he chirped.

Qui-Gon smiled, though he wasn't sure the boy was being truthful.

"Go on," he said. He watched Anakin proceed through the door into the Council chamber.

"I'm not sure they'll allow it, Master," Obi-Wan whispered.

"I'll find a way to convince them," Qui-Gon assured him.

Obi-Wan stared at him incredulously.

"If the Jedi Council were that easily persuaded, they wouldn't be the Jedi Council."

"They'll see reason eventually," Qui-Gon stated confidently. He shook his head. "If not, I'll train him myself."

Obi-Wan shook his head slowly. Qui-Gon smiled.

"You'll see, Obi-Wan," he said, patting him gently on the shoulder.

[NEXT]

Queen Padmé Amidala returned to her apartment in a huff and sat on the lounge chair in her luxurious suite. She'd managed to keep her anger from showing in front of the Senate, but in private she no longer needed to follow the rules of political decorum. She sighed and looked toward the small holocom on the coffee table in the center of the room, surrounded by two curved sofas. She got out of the chair and sat in the center seat of the closest sofa. She leaned forward to press the button that would activate the holocom's latest recording.

The holographic image of a man wearing a Nabooian guard uniform swirled into view before her. He saluted dutifully, despite the tense, stressed look on his face.

"Captain," he began, obviously greeting Captain Panaka, the original receiver of the message, "I have grim news to report. The Separatists have located the Resistance's base of operations in the tunnels. We lost ten of our own, including Jennus and Freia, during the escape and…I'm afraid that isn't the worse of it. After the Separatists' commander returned to Naboo, he executed fifteen of our nobles. He claims the suffering will stop when Queen Amidala returns and surrenders herself to his custody." The paused and lowered his head. After a few seconds, he shook it and looked up again. "Captain, you must prevent her highness from finding out about this. The men and I agree; we're willing to carry this burden for her." The guard cleared his throat and clasped his hands behind his back. "I will continue to send reports through this secure channel as long as I can," he said, "Private Hoffin out."

The image disappeared and Padmé was left staring at the blank surface of the table that'd been behind it.

"Your highness."

Padmé looked back toward the door to see Panaka standing there. He cleared his throat.

"How long have you known?" he asked.

Padmé looked at the coffee table again.

"Since the day after we escaped Tatooine," she replied. She shrugged. "I noticed a message on the ship's holocom recorder. I know I shouldn't have opened it." She looked back at him. "I'm sorry, Captain."

Panaka shook his head, but his normally straight expression started to melt, even displaying a hint of tenderness.

"I apologize for hiding it from you," he said, "but you must know why."

"I won't surrender myself to the Separatists," Padmé replied. She clasped her hands on her lap. "But I can't let my people suffer without me for much longer."

There was a knock at the door and Panaka turned around to open it. Padmé could see the senator waiting on the other side. The captain looked back at her and she nodded. He stepped aside, allowing Palpatine to enter.

"Your highness," he said with a bow, "you wished me to speak with you?"

"Captain, please leave us," Padmé told Panaka, "we have things to discuss."

"Yes, your highness."

Once the guard captain had stepped outside to keep watch, she stood up and faced Senator Palpatine. She invited him to take a seat across the coffee table from herself.

"May we speak plainly, Senator?" she asked once he'd sat down.

Palpatine seemed surprised, but smiled anyway.

"Yes, of course," he replied.

"If the Senate refuses to protect the people of the Republic, how can it fulfill its function?" she demanded.

Palpatine took a second to recover from the bluntness of her question.

"I'm…not sure, my queen," he said slowly, "many people don't see a problem until they are directly affected by it." He cleared his throat. "This is about the proceedings, I presume."

"The Senate shouldn't need to debate this any further," Padmé continued angrily, "and yet, my testimony wasn't enough to persuade them? How can the invasion of a peaceful planet not be seen as an obvious problem?"

Palpatine nodded slowly.

"I'm sure there are those among the Senate, including myself, who would readily support military action against these Separatists," he stated. He folded his arms. "But they lack the leadership they need to move forward. They fear the effect such a bold move might have on their careers. Were I able to act alone, I would, but I will need the support of the other senators, and of the Chancellor."

"What do you mean? Surely, Supreme Chancellor Valorum supports us."

"Chancellor Valorum took a considerable risk sending those two Jedi to rescue you," Palpatine continued, "naturally, I am forever grateful for it, but it nearly didn't happen. Even now, he is afraid to go any further, should his reputation be smeared by it."

Padmé sighed incredulously.

"What good is a reputation compared to the lives of our people?" she asked.

"I cannot agree more, your majesty. I've tried speaking to him privately about this myself, but he is not a particularly brave man. I don't question his character, but the position of Chancellor requires a politician with, shall we say, 'a stronger spine'?"

Padmé narrowed her eyes at him.

"You talk like you have a solution in mind, Senator."

"I do," Palpatine replied, smiling, "you see, there are many senators who would be able to lead the council more effectively, senators who wouldn't shrink from what needs to be done. Unfortunately, we cannot wait for the next election to take action against those rebels subjugating our people."

"Then what can be done?" Padmé asked impatiently.

The senator leaned closer to her, as if to tell her something discreetly.

"It is possible for another politician to call for a vote of no confidence in the Chancellor," he began, "it would provide the opportunity for others to agree. If we can achieve the right number of votes in the Senate, the council will be forced to hold an emergency election."

"That sounds like a poor way to treat someone who has just recently ordered my rescue," the queen stated.

Palpatine nodded, frowning.

"It is. Unfortunately, we don't have the time to wait for a more polite resolution."

Padmé folded her arms and let out a long sigh, shaking her head.

"The Naboo suffer by the minute," she said slowly. She sighed again. "If you think it can be done, you have my support."

Palpatine put his hands together and began to wring them slowly.

"If it were something I could do myself, I would have spoken earlier today in the rotunda. But, you see, your highness, I am on the list of candidates for the next election. Were I to make this move myself, the rest of the Senate would only see it as a power grab. It would prevent me from gaining the votes I need to force an election."

Padmé nodded, aware of the game he was playing. She didn't like what he was trying to do, but she knew he was right about their time constraints. She gave him a brief, unappreciative look.

"You want me to do it for you, then," she surmised.

Palpatine smiled kindly and stopped wringing his hands.

"I know how this must seem to you, but it's not for my own sake. It's for Naboo. I don't care if I'm the one elected, or if someone more worthy is chosen. All I want is to lift this treacherous invasion of my homeplanet, and to stop the same from happening to any other planet within the Republic's bounds. We need someone who can defend us."

Padmé swallowed the lump that'd formed in her throat and nodded.

"I must be given a short while to think about this, Senator. You can expect my response within the hour."

Palpatine rose from his seat on the sofa and bowed at the waist.

"You may have all the time you like, your highness," he said, "tomorrow, the Senate will meet again to further discuss what is to be done. I believe you should be present during the proceedings."

"I will be."

"Then I shall take my leave of you."

The senator bowed again before heading outside. Padmé stared at the deactivated holocom on the coffee table's surface. She imagined she could still see the guard reporting her people's plight to Captain Panaka. She owed Chancellor Valorum gratitude for sending Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to rescue her. She didn't want to repay him by forcefully removing him from his position, but she knew Senator Palpatine was right; they didn't have the time to wait for the next election. She sighed and leaned against the backrest of her sofa. She was tired, but resting would have to wait until after her planet had been freed from the Separatist occupation.

[NEXT]

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan made their way toward the Supreme Chancellor's apartments. Master Yoda had been intrigued by the strength of the Force in Anakin, but had stated that he would require the presence of the other members of the Council to make a decision about his fate. Their business with the Jedi High Council complete for the moment, Qui-Gon knew he needed to report to Chancellor Valorum and tell him the details of their successful mission. He and Obi-Wan rode the turbolift from the landing pad to the fifth floor above it and proceeded down the hallway, passing many doors and the guards posted outside them. They arrived at Chancellor Valorum's door and the guard turned to knock on the door and announce their arrival.

"Let them in," the chancellor responded through the intercom.

The guard made way for the Jedi to enter the grand parlor on the other side. It was a large room with mahogany-colored walls and dark blue window frames. The walls were decorated with patterned tapestries, as well as portraits of the chancellor's family. On either side of the door were white tapestries with the Republic's emblem in blue at the very center. Near the middle of the room was a coffee table with five lounge chairs surrounding it and two end tables between four of the chairs. Against the wall next to the largest of the windows was a set of shelves displaying accolades the chancellor had earned during his long political career.

Chancellor Finis Valorum stood near the wall next to a long waist-height table with several flasks of various beverages on its surface. He held a glass in his hand. The chancellor was a human man with thin white hair and gray-blue eyes. He wore a black frock underneath a patterned blue and brown robe. By the expression on his face, Qui-Gon could see something had happened.

"Hello again, Master Qui-Gon," he greeted him. He'd managed to avoid sounding distraught, but his face still showed it. He looked at Obi-Wan. "And you must be Obi-Wan Kenobi." He cleared his throat and took a swig from his glass. "Would either of you like a drink?" he asked.

"Are you well, Chancellor?" Qui-Gon inquired, concerned.

"Physically, yes," Valorum replied, starting toward one of the lounge chairs near the middle of the room. He sat down. "Unfortunately, I'm not the chancellor anymore," he concluded.

"What happened?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I think Queen Amidala would be the one with that answer," the former chancellor replied, taking another drink. He shook his head. "Today in the rotunda, she called for a vote of no confidence in my leadership," he continued, "and I suppose her testimony about the state of Naboo was just moving enough to get many of the senators on her side." He sighed. "I don't understand what I did to offend her. I was prepared to do all I could to help her retake her planet. I guess all I could do wasn't enough." He shrugged. "There'll be an emergency vote to decide my replacement."

"I'm very sorry to hear that, Chancellor," Qui-Gon commented.

"It'll be alright," Valorum stated, "I'm sure there's plenty of room in politics for a former Supreme Chancellor." He leaned forward to place his glass on the coffee table before him and stood up. He rounded the table to stand before the two Jedi. "I have one last request of you, Master Qui-Gon," he said, "as my last act in office, as far as the Jedi are concerned."

"I'll do what I can, Chancellor."

Valorum nodded.

"I know it would make sense for me to be angry at Queen Amidala, but I don't think she made her decision lightly, nor do I think she made it on her own." The former chancellor folded his arms. "All I ask is that you check on her, to make sure she isn't falling victim to the complicated political landscape of Coruscant. She's very young, after all, and I'm afraid she might be under prepared, not to mention the desperation she must be feeling."

Qui-Gon bowed his head.

"I'll see how she's faring," he promised.

"Thank you, Master Jedi." Valorum sighed. "I'm sure there's nothing to be worried about, but you can never be too careful with politicians. As one, I can tell you that as a fact."

Qui-Gon smiled amusedly.

"I'm sure she knows to be cautious," he replied.

"Yes, she's very intelligent," Valorum agreed, "but that doesn't change the fact that she's too young to have experienced how dangerous even the Republic's capital can be."

"Would you like me to pass that on to her?"

The former chancellor shook his head.

"No, no," he replied, starting back toward the table where he'd left his glass, "checking on her will be enough, I'm sure." He picked the glass up to take another drink. "Now, as I'm not the chancellor anymore, you no longer owe me a report. I'm sure you have more important things to focus on."

Qui-Gon bowed his head.

"We'll leave you in peace, Chancellor."

"Thank you…and good work getting her here safely. Your Order continues to impress." Although his words had been kind, Qui-Gon could detect the bitterness in his voice. Nonetheless, he could appreciate the man's concern for the young queen.

Qui-Gon led Obi-Wan back out into the hallway and toward the lift. Obi-Wan cleared his throat.

"Master, what does all this mean? For the Order, I mean."

"It means the Council will be dealing with someone else soon," Qui-Gon replied, "for us, I'm sure it won't mean much of a difference."

"What if the Senate chooses the wrong person to lead the Republic?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Will you be the judge of that?"

Obi-Wan chuckled quietly.

"No, it wouldn't be my place," he replied.

Qui-Gon nodded.

"That's right. Instead of worrying about the things you can't change, focus on those you can." He smiled slightly. "But if it truly bothers you, perhaps you should consider becoming a senator instead of a Jedi Knight."

Obi-Wan chuckled again, nodding.

"No, I'm not brave enough for politics, Master."

[NEXT]

Padmé sat across from Senator Palpatine in her suite, her hands folded in her lap as she tried to hide how unsure she was about the decision she'd made. She'd convinced herself there was no other way, but she was much more familiar with the politics of Naboo and wasn't entirely sure that was correct. Still, she knew the senator cared for his homeplanet just as much as she did. They were both doing the best they could.

"You've done very well, your highness," the senator assured her in a calm voice. He smiled. "Soon, the Republic shall have a strong leader and we can deal with the Separatist threat."

"How soon is 'soon', Senator?" the queen asked.

"In a few short weeks, the emergency election will be held and the new leader of the Republic decided," Palpatine replied proudly.

Padmé's heart sank.

"It will take that long?" she asked.

"I'm sorry if that displeases you, my queen, but it was the fastest way."

"I know you suggested the best you could think of, but our people need a solution now," Padmé insisted. She shook her head. "At the risk of sounding conceited, they're suffering in my absence. I must return to them soon."

Palpatine leaned forward.

"But, your highness," he exclaimed, "they've only just gotten you to safety! Returning now would put your life at risk."

"There must be someone else we can look to," Padmé suggested, "after all, we don't need the entire Republic fleet. The Resistance is already opposing the occupation. What they need is support. Resources, and perhaps a little more manpower. Are there…trustworthy mercenaries in Galactic City?"

Palpatine shook his head.

"I'm not sure any mercenary is completely trustworthy," he replied. He cleared his throat. "But, perhaps, there's another way. What of your Jedi friend, Master Qui-Gon? He might be willing to assist you."

"Do we have the authority to appeal to the Jedi Council without the Senate's input?" Padmé asked.

Palpatine shook his head.

"Not officially, no, but a Jedi is always free to consult his own Order, is he not? If you were to ask him for a favor, I'm sure he would find a way to help Naboo. He does seem fond of you, after all."

Padmé sighed dejectedly.

"He's already risked his life so many times for us," she murmured.

"As is the way of the Jedi," Palpatine stated, "they are servants of the Republic."

"Your highness."

Padmé leaned forward to press the intercom button on the coffee table's holocom device.

"Yes, Captain?" she asked.

"Master Jinn and Padawan Kenobi are here to speak with you," the guard outside the apartment door replied.

Palpatine grinned.

"Perhaps they've anticipated us," he said.

The two Jedi entered the suite and bowed in unison. She saw neither of them wore their brown cloaks, allowing their robes to show. They certainly had no need to hide them on the Republic's capital world.

"I should be going," Palpatine stated, standing up, "still many things to do." He turned to Padmé. "Your highness, I will continue to search for other ways to get the support you need," he assured her, "if there is one, you can trust me to find it."

The queen nodded at him.

"Thank you, Senator Palpatine."

The senator started to leave. As he passed, Qui-Gon bowed his head.

"Good evening, Senator," he said.

"And to you, Master Qui-Gon," Palpatine replied, pausing to smile politely at him before he stepped out into the hall.

Once he was gone, Qui-Gon turned his gaze on Padmé. She could see he was concerned, but couldn't tell exactly why. There were, after all, many things to be concerned about in her predicament.

"Pardon my intrusion, your highness, but are you not getting the support you need from the Senate?" he asked.

Padmé sighed.

"You and Obi-Wan saved my life, Master Qui-Gon," she replied, "you don't need to be so concerned about pretense when we're alone." She looked up at him and smiled. "Truthfully, I could use a little friendliness about now."

"Very well," Qui-Gon said, giving her a warm smile in return. He and Obi-Wan moved further into the room, having visibly relaxed. "Actually, friendliness is the reason I'm here," he continued, "I heard about the Chancellor."

Padmé's heart sank.

"I know it wasn't the kindest thing I could do, but the Republic needed someone who wasn't afraid to protect it," she said. She cleared her throat. "I truly wish there'd been another way. I owe Chancellor Valorum my life for sending you."

Qui-Gon advanced to sit on the sofa across from her.

"I didn't come here to accuse you of anything," he murmured, his voice kind and calming, "I came to make sure everything is alright…to make sure you are alright."

Padmé sighed and nodded slowly. She shifted her weight and looked up again.

"Truthfully, I'm not alright," she whispered. She cleared her throat and spoke up, "I haven't told anyone, not even the senator, but things are worse than we thought. After the Separatist general returned to my planet, he began executing people. He claimed the executions would stop if I surrendered myself to him."

"How do you know this?" Qui-Gon asked, "it was my understanding that the Separatists have stopped all communications from the planet's surface."

"There's a resistance force led by my security volunteers. They secured an encrypted channel," Padmé explained, "they've been sending the captain reports. Actually, I wasn't supposed to hear those reports….and part of me wishes I hadn't been so nosy." She paused to take in a heavy breath and let it out again before continuing, "I told the captain I'm not going to consider giving in to the Separatists' demands, but he's the captain of the royal guard. It's his duty to protect me above anyone else, so he'd never allow himself to think too deeply about the consequences of my remaining here. But I've thought about them. I don't know if I can knowingly sacrifice so many people. In the eyes of the Republic, my life may be more important, but that's not how it is in mine."

"I'm sure that's why your people love you," Obi-Wan commented.

"Yes, but noble as your intentions may be, I fear surrendering may make things worse for Naboo," Qui-Gon replied. He leaned closer. "The Separatists are terrorists," he explained, "when people like them rely on fear and cruelty to get what they want, they put themselves on the same level as a common thug. Your surrender would give them all the power, and once a thug has that much power and no one left to oppose him, he will continue to abuse it however he sees fit."

"Like a Hutt," Obi-Wan concluded.

"Yes, just like a Hutt." Qui-Gon paused, nodding slowly. "I know it's difficult, but your people would continue to suffer under their control. The people who've died so far died in the hopes that their queen would free their planet. You can't let their sacrifices become meaningless by giving up."

Padmé sighed heavily and nodded to herself before looking up at him again.

"You're right," she admitted, "I knew that, but…I don't know, maybe I just needed to hear someone else say it." She shrugged. "But it still doesn't change the fact that my people need help as fast as they can get it. They can't wait for the emergency election to be held and a new Chancellor appointed." She cleared her throat and sat up straighter. "I know a mere planetary ruler like myself has no business asking the Jedi for help, but I don't know who else to turn to."

"Anyone can ask a Jedi for help," Obi-Wan stated, seeming somewhat surprised by what she'd said.

Qui-Gon nodded at that.

"He's right. Only the Chancellor may command a Jedi, but anyone in the universe may ask for his help." He paused to give her a comforting smile. "I will speak to the Council on your behalf. We will find a way to free your people."

[NEXT]

Obi-Wan inched his way through a crowded cantina on one of Coruscant's lower levels. It was dark inside, as were the surrounding streets, which were shielded from sunlight by the towering buildings around them. He could hear people conversing in almost every language in the known galaxy. Humans and aliens from all over the Republic were gathered inside. Some were watching various sporting matches on screens built into the leftmost wall, others were playing card games, and all of them were drinking heavily. A few didn't notice him, having been too consumed in their chosen activities and drinks, but the many who did stared a little longer than he would have liked. He tried to ignore them.

He let out a sigh of relief when he finally spotted Ruta in one of the corner booths toward the back. He'd started to wonder if she would show up.

"Well, well, a Jedi waltzing through an undercity dive," she said once he was within earshot, "you don't see that every day."

"Is that why you said to meet here?" he replied, sitting down, "and why you chose to sit in the very back of the room? It'll please you to know I got plenty of curious stares."

Ruta laughed and took a sip of her drink.

"Well, your holiness, what could've inspired you to come down here and mingle with the dregs of Coruscanti society? Judging from your message, it must be pretty important."

Obi-Wan leaned forward to put his arms on the table and interlock his fingers.

"I need a good pilot," he said.

Having been in the middle of taking another drink, Ruta coughed and shook her head furiously as she recovered.

"No," she wheezed before clearing her throat to continue, "no, I did my job, I got paid, and I'm ready to fly off to some corner of the galaxy where I won't get shot at every five minutes." She coughed again. "Hanging out with you Jedi types is a little too exciting for me."

"I know it's frightening, but—"

"Frightening? I almost died! Four times! I draw the line at three." Ruta groaned and took a big swig out of her cup. "Besides, shouldn't you be talking to a pilot whose job it is to risk her life for the Republic? Or don't we have a fleet anymore?"

Obi-Wan took a quick glance toward their questionable surroundings and leaned forward to lower his voice.

"The queen hasn't been able to get the support she needed from the Senate," he replied, "Master Qui-Gon and the Jedi Council are working on a solution, but we don't exactly have an army at our disposal. We're going to need an experienced pilot we can trust. After all you got us through before, I naturally thought of you."

Ruta grinned.

"That's sweet, Obi," she cooed. The pilot nodded and turned her head to look at the other people in the cantina, pursing her lips as she thought. "So, the Chancellor isn't in on it this time," she murmured. She looked back at him. "In that case, who's paying?"

"Queen Amidala is willing to pay a high sum if you help us," he answered.

Ruta nodded again and finished off her drink before setting the cup back down a little louder than she needed to.

"I want half up front," she said, "there's a good chance we won't all make it and if she ends up being one of the casualties, I at least want to make sure I get some of my payment." She winced at herself. "That didn't sound very good. You know what I mean, right? It's just bad business to take a job you're not sure you'll get paid for."

Obi-Wan sighed through his nose.

"I'm not sure if she has access to the royal accounts so far from Naboo. She didn't exactly have time to prepare for a trip." He shrugged. "But I'll talk to her about it. If anything, I can ask her to give you anything she might have with her now."

Ruta sighed loudly and winced again.

"Don't worry about that," she said, knocking the empty cup over with her finger, "I'll do it."

"Why the change of heart?"

"Well…I don't know. Little Queenie's a good kid. And all this has got me thinking about the old homeplanet anyway. It's not every day your birth planet gets invaded and I may like the life of a spacer more, but I don't like the idea of those sons of banthas doing whatever the heck they want with it." She smirked. "Besides, you're so hopeless and desperate it's just tugging every single heart string I have. How can I say no to that sad little face?"

"Ah, there it is," Obi-Wan muttered, "for a moment there, I thought you were going noble."

Ruta smiled.

"I was. For a moment."

Obi-Wan smiled back.

"Well, I'm glad you're on board," he said, standing up as he did, "I'll let my master know we have our pilot."

Ruta quickly leaned forward and reached an arm out at him.

"Wait!" she whispered hoarsely.

Obi-Wan sat back down.

"Is there a problem?" he asked.

The pilot glanced out at the cantina from the corners of her eyes.

"No, just…don't leave yet," she murmured candidly, "you're keeping the akk dogs at bay."

"And what does that mean?" He thought about Ruta's gambling habits, then groaned. "You haven't gotten yourself into trouble, have you? It's only been a few days since we got back."

"No," Ruta answered indignantly. She leaned back in the booth's bench. "It's just a little misunderstanding with the impound lot. See, they put my ship on auction, before the allotted time, by the way, and I missed it. So, I had to get a little creative."

"You stole it," Obi-Wan assumed.

"You truly have the wrong idea about me," Ruta stated, her eyes narrowed at him. She folded her arms. "No, I didn't steal it. The guy who won was late picking it up from the lot, so I went myself and paid for my ship before taking it…of course, I told the attendant I worked for him, but that doesn't matter, right?" She stuck her nose up haughtily. "It was my ship first and I paid the full price for it with my credits. So, it belongs to me. They weren't even supposed to sell it that soon anyway. Legally, I have the high ground."

"I'm guessing the man you cheated out of a ship is in this cantina," the Jedi surmised.

Ruta groaned.

"He's been following me around. I keep getting chased out of places by his hired muscle. So, I figure I just need to show them my muscle and they'll back off."

"By 'my muscle' you mean me, hm?"

"All you have to do is sit there for a little while. No small time thug is going to mess with the friend of a Jedi. They'll go back to their boss and he'll realize he needs to find a different ship."

Obi-Wan crossed one arm over his chest and propped the other up on it to put his hand to his lips as he regarded Ruta through thoroughly unappreciative narrowed eyes.

"Is this the real reason you called me here?" he asked in a mutter.

Ruta shrugged.

"It's kind of hard to ignore a Jedi in a place like this," she replied matter-of-factly, "besides, I like it here. I don't want them running me out again."

"I shouldn't have to tell you I don't appreciate being used," Obi-Wan stated.

"I'm not using you; I'm just killing two flits with one stone. We get to meet and discuss business and I get these bullies off my back. Besides, I'm not asking you to hurt anybody. You being here is already making them think twice."

Obi-Wan crossed his arms and casually looked out across the room. He spotted a group of three staring directly at their booth from the bar. One was an obviously wealthy human man with carefully coiffed graying black hair wearing a fine silk jacket. His appearance would've made him seem an easy target to thieves, were it not for the two heavily-muscled nikto standing on either side of him. The horns on their faces alone gave them a fearsome appearance, but they both stood two heads taller than their employer, which made them all the more intimidating. It was easy to see why Ruta had been running from them.

"In that case, you're buying me a drink," Obi-Wan replied at last.

Ruta sighed.

"Fine, just put it on my tab," she grumbled. "Oh, but don't go too far away. It'll be hard to fly your people back to Naboo if I'm all roughed up."

The Jedi nodded and made his way toward the bar, casually coming to stand next to one of the two nikto thugs, with only a barstool between them. He ordered his drink without looking at them, though he could feel their eyes stabbing at his right shoulder. As he waited for the busy bartender to return, he turned around to face the rest of the cantina, leaning against the counter behind him. He could see Ruta gaping at him, pleading him to come back with her facial expression. He didn't comply. If the brutes were going to make their move, he was giving them plenty of opportunity.

He heard someone clear his throat from to his left and turned his head to look at the wealthy man.

"Master Jedi, do you know what sort of woman that is?" he asked, "she's a thief. She stole my ship from me."

"Oh?"

The bartender returned with his drink and Obi-Wan took it up in his hand.

"In that case, I would alert Coruscant security and open a case with the courts," he replied. He took a sip. "If I were you, that is."

"You're not going to arrest her?" the man asked demandingly.

"I'm not a policeman, nor a judge and jury," Obi-Wan stated. He gestured at the closest of the two enormous nikto. "But by the looks of your friends, it'd seem you plan to take the law into your own hands. If you start an altercation here, I'll be obliged to intervene. I'm sure an upstanding citizen of your stature wouldn't want something like that on his record." He watched the man fidget as he glanced over at Ruta's booth. Obi-Wan took another sip of his drink and shook his head. "Let's not escalate this into something socially damning," he said, tilting his head and putting on the friendliest of his smiles, "instead, why don't you let me buy you a drink? You seem like you could use one."

The man sighed angrily.

"Fine," he growled, "but you can tell your friend I'm having security put a lock on that ship—my ship until this is resolved."

"That sounds fair to me," the Jedi replied nonchalantly.

He ordered another drink from the bartender, a glass of the finest wine the questionable establishment had on hand. Once the bartender came back, he gestured for him to put it on the counter in front of the man.

"Enjoy, my friend," he said, "if you'll excuse me, I must be getting back."

With that, Obi-Wan went back to the booth and sat down. He could see Ruta was still squirming.

"What did you say to him?" she asked quietly.

"I simply gave him a reason to think about what he was doing," Obi-Wan replied, "this is Coruscant, after all. There's no need for brute tactics."

"And he just went with it?"

"After I had you buy him a glass of wine, yes."

"What?" Ruta groaned and shook her head. "Fine, fine, I guess…maybe I owed him that much. But I'm still in the right, you know. The real person to blame here is the owner of that blasted impound lot! Really, he wronged both of us."

"I'm sure Coruscant security will sort that out for you," Obi-Wan assured her.

Ruta's shoulders slumped.

"You didn't. But you did, didn't you? You told him to go to…"

"If you're truly in the right, they're the ones to settle this."

Ruta groaned again and buried her face in her hands.

"But you don't need to worry about that now," Obi-Wan told her, "it'll take a few days to process everything. For now, you have a job to focus on." He stood up.

"I thought you had my back," Ruta moaned.

"I did, from a certain point of view," he stated matter-of-factly, "but if that bothers you, you can at least celebrate the fact that those thugs didn't break any of your bones." He raised one eyebrow at her. "Next time you want a Jedi's help, ask nicely."

[NEXT]

Qui-Gon stood in a side room of the Jedi Temple with Queen Amidala, her handmaidens, and eight Jedi volunteers as Captain Panaka showed them a route through Naboo's underground tunnels using the map he'd brought with them on his datapad. The image enhanced by a holographic projection in the center of the room, he watched a red line wind its way through the translucent blue map as the captain traced the route on the datapad with his finger.

The queen had changed into a simple red tunic, cinched at her waist by a thick black leatheris belt that supported several pouches. She wore matching leggings and black boots. Her face was clear of the makeup she normally wore, revealing her true identity as Padmé. However, had Qui-Gon not been told that after reaching Coruscant, he still wouldn't have known; her handmaidens were dressed almost identically, though each of their tunics differed slightly in shade.

The room's occupants looked toward the door when they heard it slide open. Obi-Wan and Ruta stepped inside, closing the door behind them. The pilot grimaced.

"This is it?" she muttered, "you couldn't get more people?"

"The Jedi are spread throughout the galaxy," Qui-Gon explained for her, "and with the limited number of ships at our disposal, this is the best we can do for now."

"We'll rendezvous with the Resistance once we're planetside," Panaka added without taking his eyes off the datapad in his hands.

"Master, a few security volunteers against an army of battle droids doesn't fill me with much confidence," Obi-Wan stated, crossing his arms.

"I know what you mean," Qui-Gon agreed. He gestured toward the guard captain with his chin. "That's why we're working on a plan, rather than rushing in with blasters blazing."

"Besides, the Resistance isn't just my security officers," Panaka grunted indignantly, looking up at them.

Padmé nodded.

"The people of Naboo are too proud to take this invasion lying down," she explained, "there are people all over the planet resisting the Separatists."

"So, what's the plan, then?" Ruta asked with a sigh.

One of the queen's handmaidens, Fé, stepped forward toward the image of the underground maze. She pointed to one of the larger chambers.

"The Resistance's leadership is currently based here," she stated for the newcomers, "we're going to land on the surface in two separate teams, taking two starships to split the Separatists' focus. Captain Panaka is outlining the routes we'll take to meet up in the Resistance's main chamber. Both teams will have a datapad with the map outlined so no one gets lost."

"Even with two ships, we're still going to have a hard time of getting through that planetary blockade," Ruta pointed out.

"That's where the Jedi come in," Fé replied.

She looked to Qui-Gon. He nodded and turned toward the eight other Jedi who'd assembled with them.

"These are Masters Feyron," he gestured to a human woman with short, curly blond hair, "Hobbara," a man with loose, shoulder length black hair, "Azro," a female Rodian with dark green skin and long frills from forehead to neck, "and Shenn," a male Twi'lek with coral-colored skin, his left lekku crossed over the right. "They are some of the Order's most experienced starship pilots," Qui-Gon continued, "They and their padawans are going to fly eight Jedi starfighters as part of a diversion. The plan is to trick the Separatists into thinking the Republic's fleet is on its way. If it works, it will thin part of the blockade out so our two larger ships can slip into the atmosphere."

"Jedi starfighters?" Ruta asked in a mutter, "I didn't know the Temple had its own fighters."

"We do, though they haven't seen much use in the past few centuries," Qui-Gon replied.

"Even with the Force on their side, eight fighters won't last long against those battleships," Obi-Wan warned him.

"Which is why we'll withdraw as soon as the landing parties are clear of the blockade," Master Shenn explained.

"Exactly," Qui-Gon agreed, nodding at the Twi'lek. He looked back at Obi-Wan. "And once we're ready to make our move, Resistance pilots will take off from spaceports all over Naboo to join in the battle. Hopefully, with our Jedi pilots' help, they'll be able to keep more droid transports from being deployed to the surface. Miss Vostana, if you have no objections I think it would be best if you were to accompany those pilots."

"I'll fly whatever you want me to, as long as I get paid," Ruta answered confidently, "and I'm guessing until then I'll be flying one of the landing ships?"

Qui-Gon nodded.

"You'll be piloting the Dawnstar. You'll need to make your approach at a high speed and get below scanner range before leveling out to land," he said, "otherwise, the Separatists will be able to predict our landing. Does that sound like something you can do?"

"Easy," Ruta chirped.

Qui-Gon turned his head to look at his apprentice.

"How about you, Obi-Wan?" he asked.

Obi-Wan's posture straightened.

"What?"

"I understand you have some experience with trick maneuvers," Qui-Gon replied, smiling a little, "something about impressing the other padawans?"

"We were children," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"True, but we still need someone to fly the second ship and flying was never my specialty," his master continued, "can you execute a high speed atmospheric entry?"

"I can certainly try," Obi-Wan offered nervously.

"We don't need you to try, we need you to do."

Obi-Wan cleared his throat and nodded apologetically.

"I'll do it, Master."

"Don't worry, Obi," Ruta assured him, "all you have to do is pull up before you crash."

"Easy," Obi-Wan replied in a flat tone.

"You'll be flying the Autumn Whisper, Senator Palpatine's personal yacht," Qui-Gon told him, "he was generous enough to lend it to our cause."

"Yes, Master."

Qui-Gon smiled again and looked to Fé. The girl nodded back.

"I'd recommend that her highness travel aboard the Autumn Whisper," she continued, "after all, the Dawnstar is the only ship the Separatists will recognize. It'll present a tempting target for them if our diversion doesn't work as well as we want it to."

Padmé looked at Obi-Wan.

"I have no objections," she stated light-heartedly.

"Neither do I," the Jedi added.

"Good," Qui-Gon said, nodding. "Now, the plan when we reach the ground."

"As we speak, Resistance saboteurs are deploying charges in key Separatist outposts throughout the planet," Fé continued, "They won't be able to do much damage once they're triggered, but the explosions should draw the Separatists' attention and keep them from concentrating their forces in any one location, giving our infiltration team an opening. Once the charges blow, groups of Resistance fighters will start engaging the droids in every major city to keep an army from being assembled."

The image being projected in front of them changed from the map of the tunnels to a map of Theed, particularly the area around the palace.

"Our true goal is to capture the Separatist general and get the droid command codes from him," Fé began again, "once we have them, we can shut the droids down. At that point, there will only be a few biological Separatists left. Getting them to surrender should be easy once they realize they have no chance of winning."

"We'll need to emerge from a tunnel entrance the Separatists don't already know of," Captain Panaka stated. He highlighted a section of the main street. "It'll let out here in the palace's central courtyard. We'll need to sneak or fight our way inside, to the control room. According to my contact in the Resistance, the general has made it his headquarters."

"That sounds simple enough," Ruta muttered.

Padmé nodded resolutely.

"Good," she declared, "then let's not waste anymore time. We can discuss any changes on the way to Naboo."

Qui-Gon allowed the others to leave ahead of him before exiting just behind Obi-Wan. They started toward the Temple's small hangar.

"Master Qui-Gon!"

The Jedi stopped and turned around to see Anakin standing beside the door. The boy ran to him.

"You're going to help Padmé, right?" he asked eagerly.

"Were you eaves dropping?" Qui-Gon inquired, giving him a suspicious look.

Anakin shrugged.

"Maybe a little," he said. He smiled. "But I can help. I can fly a ship for you, or carry a blaster, or—"

"Out of the question. A warzone is no place for a child, especially not for one without any sort of training."

"But I can help! You saw what I can do when we left Tatooine."

Qui-Gon sighed and gave him an understanding smile, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I know it's hard to wait for the Council to make a decision, but you want to be here when they do," he said, "you'll be able to start your Jedi training right away. You may even have a new skill to show me when I come back."

"Yeah, but helping Padmé is more important than waiting around in my room," Anakin argued, "aren't Jedi supposed to do that? I mean, I'm not one yet, but I can start now."

"I'm pleased you have that desire, to help other people, but we can't take you with us," Qui-Gon stated firmly, "it's simply too dangerous for you now."

Anakin nodded slowly.

"Alright," he grumbled.

"You can use this time to familiarize yourself with the Temple," Qui-Gon suggested, releasing his shoulder, "it's going to be your home from now on, so you ought to know your way around."

Anakin nodded reluctantly.

"Try to behave yourself while we're gone," the Jedi added with a quick smile.

After the boy nodded his acknowledgment, Qui-Gon turned away to catch up with the others. He hoped Anakin would take his words to heart. He didn't know how open the remaining members of the Council would be to initiating him if he spent his first few days on Coruscant sticking his nose into places it didn't belong.