When the idea of war comes to mind, it usually becomes reality.

Separatist Knight

Chapter 7

Things had escalated fast in the last year. Tensions between the Republic and Confederacy continued to grow as more systems were joining the latter. Many who remained in the Republic felt that the galaxy was being divided in two by the Separatist movement. Worse, as the Jedi Knights were being stretched to their limits maintaining the shrinking Republic, the Galactic Senate was debating whether to create a galactic-scale army. This worried many members of the Confederate Parliament, including Striv. With the mass amount of corruption polluting the Senate, there was a strong chance they may use such an army to take back worlds who had left the Republic and attack key Confederate worlds to make an example. This was a war they were talking about.

Of course, the Senate was in constant debate over whether to create an army, no surprise there. One of the many reasons why people were fed up with the Republic was how it seemed to take years for the Senate to decide anything. It was also worth noting that the opposition against the military action was led by Senator Padmé Amidala, the former queen of Naboo. She was one of the few remaining senators within the Republic, alongside Senators Bail Organa and Mon Mothma, who remained unfazed by corruption, yet their unending loyalty to a failing body was what kept them and the worlds they represented from seeing that the Confederacy was the right side to be on.

Be that as it may, despite Senator Amidala being uncorrupted, her influence in the senate wasn't as strong compared to the more corrupt senators like Orn Free Taa, Mee Deechi, or Metar Griff. It was people like them who supported the military creation act, but only for the potential to further benefit themselves and not to protect the people they were supposed to serve. Such reasons for supporting the military were known among the members of the Confederacy and it terrified them to know what this corrupted power could do.

"We must take action! Form an army before the Republic does," Senator Rimbaud stated. "It is the only way to ensure our survival."

"An unprovoked attack will guarantee the creation of a Republic army," Senator Ames pointed out.

"Not to mention make us look no better than the Republic," Senator Singh added.

Many senators and representatives agreed with this. Though Senator Rimbaud, remained determined in her plight, and she did have some allies who agreed with her.

"What are we supposed to do? Wait around until they have an army and see them strike down our people in cold blood? Innocent beings we're supposed to serve?" Senator Bluss argued.

The members of the parliament went into further debate as a result. Striv had to admit he hadn't seen the Confederacy in such a panic since the terrorist attack on the Bonteri residence by those "Republic loyalists." The result of which, had forced the Parliament to increase security between the Confederate and Republic borders.

Though, unlike the Republic senate, the Confederate parliament had members who could keep their cool in dire times. Among them was Senator Mina Bonteri. "While we cannot do anything that will provoke the Senate-"

"To them, every time another world comes over to us is a sign of provocation," Senator Dellu interrupted.

"Senator Dellu," Confederate Congress Leader Lawise called out. "You know the rules of interrupting a fellow senator who is in the middle of speaking." The Siniteen then turned towards Bonteri. "Please continue Senator Bonteri."

"As I was saying while we must be cautious about what we do, we must remember that we are more than ready for an attack. We already increased border and planetary security following the attack on my home, and we've begun hiring contract fleets to defend cargo ships from pirate attacks. The results of both have more than kept our people and resources safe from those who may seek to harm us."

"From pirates yes. But will that be enough to defend us against the Republic should they create an army to target us?" Senator Kreegr asked, causing further debate to go on.

"We don't have the funding needed to build, much less maintain a galactic-scale army," one representative pointed out.

"We'd have to turn to corporations like the Trade Federation," Senator Kushi pointed out. "And we know how well having such strong alliances with them has worked out for the Republic."

"We still require their resources, but what says we have to give them power that allows them to rule over us?" Bluss pointed out. "We've done business with them before. If we provide them with a suitable number of credits, we should be able to keep them under control."

"I agree with Senators Bluss and Bonteri," Count Dooku said. Normally the Count didn't attend parliament meetings in person, with him needed throughout the galaxy, overseeing the Confederacy in numerous locations. However, he made in-flesh appearances whenever the situation was very serious. "We cannot officially provoke the Republic, as we risk starting a war with them. However, as Senator Dellu has pointed out we already provoke them whenever we negotiate a treaty with another system after system, despite our claims of only wanting to peacefully start over. And while our defences have held it's only a matter of time before another incident occurs like the attack on the Bonteri residence.

"Therefore, I propose we increase our military spending in favour of preparation should the Republic create an army to use against us. The funding of which will come from the vast wealth that makes up my homeworld of Serenno. However, this must be done quietly, as with any additional military spending. Otherwise, we may risk guaranteeing war with the Republic."

This was met with both murmurs of agreement, and disagreement from different factions.

"Such an act can only be approved by a voice vote," Lawise stated, to which Dooku agreed.

"Very well. All in favour of increasing military defences to keep the Republic from going against us, say I."

Many senators called out saying I.

"Those opposed?"

There were some nay-sayers, but not enough to outmatch the I's.

In the end, further defence spending was agreed upon.

Afterwards, Striv met with the Count inside the former's office. It wasn't the biggest, one of the smaller rooms in the Parliament building. Nor the fanciest; just a few simple but nice pieces of furniture including a desk and two chairs on opposite ends.

"You were pretty quiet today," the Count stated.

"I feel that my voice should only be heard when needed. Besides, the Parliament is doing pretty well managing its agenda. Today's session further proved this in my opinion."

The Count didn't appear too optimistic. "Perhaps, but for democracy to continue, a strong military will be required to keep our enemies in their place."

"You truly think we need an army," Striv more stated than asked.

The Count looked down at his desk, almost as if ashamed of himself and the words he spoke next. "Disbanding the military during its reformation after the last Sith war over a thousand years ago was but one of the countless mistakes the Republic has made throughout its history. While attempting to show change and reform the senators of that period made the galaxy defenceless. It is because of them that pirates and corporations have been allowed to flourish far more than they should."

Striv couldn't help agreeing once again with the Count. It appeared almost every time they spoke, that his wisdom had no bounds.

"Still, I cannot help but fear the Republic will create an army no matter what we do. That is why we must prepare ourselves to make sure the Confederacy is ready for attacks, otherwise, we will lose everything we've worked to build this last year and a half. We will require weapons, additional ships, troops to fight, and leaders like yourself."

While Striv was concerned that his mentor's words sounded on the verge of warfare, the Count wasn't wrong. The Republic hated the Confederacy deeply and lacked the proper willpower to control its corruption. Such things would surely lead to them creating an army and pledging war on their rivals. Striv would not sit by and let them tear the galaxy apart. "We'll make sure the Confederacy ready Count. And if my place is needed, I will be there to fight."

The Count smiled at his apprentices' words. "Oh, I know you will. And I will need you most when we face our darkest hour against the greatest evil in the galaxy."

"What do you mean?"

"Striv, have I not taught you anything? Can't you feel the changes in the Force?"

True, Striv had felt the dark side continue to grow stronger each day. Though truth be told almost all Jedi had been feeling it since the Naboo Blockade over nine years ago. Yet then again, the Jedi Council chose to do nothing about it, which only further proved to Striv that the Jedi were no better than the corrupt Republic they were pledged to.

"Of course, Master," he answered. "The dark side is far stronger now than it has been in centuries."

"And the cause of this increased darkness?"

Striv was starting to think that this meeting was more of a test than a discussion. Thinking deeply on it, looking back on his leader's mention of the increasing darkness and when he said "the greatest evil in the galaxy."

"The Sith," he answered, which pleased the Count.

"And how are they causing this?" Dooku asked. "Remember what you told me you learned from the ancient Sith holocron on Korriban

Striv thought it over. According to Darth Demption, the Force could be used to manipulate the minds of many, making them give in to their deepest desire and do things of untold horrors. "The dark side. They've used it to manipulate corruption in the Senate. Wait are you telling me that the Sith have infiltrated the Republic's leadership?"

"As you once told me, the dark side has much potential to do things that the light cannot."

Striv was shocked by this. It wasn't something he could believe so easily. "No. that's impossible. There is no way for that to be true. The Jedi would've sensed it. The Council would have taken action by now if this were the case."

"The dark side has clouded their vision. Like the Republic, a thousand years of peace has made them arrogant, and sloppy. Blinded by their traditions, they've not only allowed corruption to pollute the Senate but have also allowed for the rise of their greatest enemy. An evil that threatens the galaxy."

"How do you know of this? What proof do you have of the Sith's control?"

"The Viceroy of the Trade Federation, Nut Gunray was in league with this darksider," the Count revealed. "But was betrayed nine years ago after the failed blockade of Naboo. He came to me for help and told me everything."

Dooku knew this, all this time. Yet he remained silent. For once, Striv was disappointed in his hero. "Why didn't you inform the Council?" he demanded.

"I tried, but they insisted that there was no way it was possible. Along with this, they believed Gunray was trying to use me and my connections as a Jedi to regain favour after his devastating losses. I, however, had used the Force to probe his mind as he revealed this secret to me. I could see in that slimy, greedy mind that he was indeed speaking the truth. I told the Council this. Urged them to probe his mind as I did, but they refused to investigate the matter further, or even speak to Gunray in person. That was when I had enough. I was already considering my resignation from the Jedi Order after the death of my former pupil, Qui-Gon Jinn, at the hands of the Sith on Naboo. Now the Council wouldn't look into a potential lead surrounding the mystery of the Sith. I couldn't stay. As you felt as the Republic's corruption continued to worsen, with no signs of change, I had to leave. When the Council refused to listen, I marched out of the temple and never looked back."

The disappointed Striv had felt was replaced with understanding and regret for his previous feelings. Once again it was the Jedi Council who had failed, not Dooku.

"Through my efforts," Dooku went on, "I sought to forge a new order, untouched by the Sith. Though I have taught you to see them from a more open perspective you must understand that the Sith we face these days seeks only to wipe away the voice of the people. They aren't like Darth Demption or Darth Vectivus or the Jedi outcasts who left the Order and became the first Lords of the Sith. These Sith will use the power they gain for destruction and mayhem. They'll destroy the Republic and the Confederacy as well. But it won't be enough. They won't stop until the galaxy is left in ruins, billions are left dead, and evil resides over all who remain."

This was making Striv concerned. "What do we do?"

"For now, we prepare ourselves for the fight that is sure to unfold shortly. I'll begin making preparations for additional allies to join our cause. Not just more planetary systems, but military and financial groups as well. Despite some being motivated by greed, I believe some corporations will be able to see enough reason and realize we are the future of the galaxy. I shall also contact those such as the Trade Federation and Techno Union, which possess millions of armed droid forces and begin contracting them for defence.

"Though as I said in parliament, all of this will have to be done in secret. The general public, nor the media for that matter, can learn of our preparations until we are both certain war is on the horizon and we are ready for it. Otherwise, we risk causing panic, which will surely lead to chaos. Do you understand?"

While Striv didn't like the idea of secrecy, he understood its importance, especially just how dangerous the Republic truly was. He nodded his head, then bowed slightly before his master. "I do my master. The Republic, not even the Sith, shall see our plans until it is too late."

Following his talk with Dooku, Striv went out into the city in an attempt to forget the dreaded secret he'd just learned of the Sith controlling the Republic he once served. He managed to distract himself a bit, just by being out in the open in front of so many people that made up the CIS' general population. To them, he was their knight in shining armour. Their guardian protector. Their hero. Overall, they loved and idolized him. As he walked through the streets the people cheered for him, went over to ask for his autograph and to take a picture with him. It was kind of nice. So much warmer and welcoming compared to the lonely isolated life of a Jedi.

It helped take his mind off the fact that the Jedi's sworn enemies now controlled them and the government they'd given their undying allegiance to. Yet he couldn't get it off his mind completely. It just bothered him more than he'd like to admit. Despite having long ago lost fate in the order, it still came as a shocker to him that the Sith had managed to seize control of the Senate without any of the Jedi realizing it. Worse, there were so many who Striv once called friends and family who now served the Lords of the Sith. He didn't see eye to eye with the Jedi anymore. And he had come to the understanding that they were a main part of the problem these days, but the thought of so many people like his former master Kcaj or some of his best friends such as Stubor McGell or Rando Gears, who now were blind servants of evil just made him feel queasy in his stomach.

"Striv, Striv Gr'en," called out a familiar, and welcoming voice.

"Sena- I mean Amil. It's good to see you," Striv beamed at the sight of his close friend as she walked through the streets, wearing a crimson, hooded cloak, with the hood resting on her back. The two made their way to each other until they were standing face-to-face with one another. By then the attention Striv had been receiving from the general public had faded, yet once people took sight of him talking to the representative of Noralel, the two started getting fresh attention. For the last few months, the two had hung out a lot together on Raxus. Many of the Separatist social media had begun to ship the Separatist Knight and promising young senator, though neither had officially said anything about a romance between the other. Still, they got a lot of attention when people saw them holding hands, laughing together, sharing meals, or dancing during parties.

"Sir Gr'en is it true you plan to propose to Senator Calinao?" someone asked.

"When are you two gonna finally admit that you love each other?"

"Senator, are you planning to carry Sir Gr'en's babies in an attempt to produce a new generation of Separatists Knights?"

This made the two celebrities blush; feeling a bit embarrassed by the questions people were asking them.

"None of that is true," Amil stated. "You shouldn't believe every rumour you hear on the holonet."

"Yes. Listen to the senator," Striv agreed. "Nothing is going on between us. We're just simple friends."

"But you're so close to each other. More than just simple friends should be," someone in the crowd pointed out.

"Yeah, look at that, you're holding hands right now."

Realizing that they were, the two unclasped, again embarrassed as the crowd around them began taking pictures while asking more personal questions. Seeing that there was no chance of reasoning with the crowd, Striv and Amil ran off, but some of the crowd members were either huge fans or just plain crazy and began to chase after them.

Using the Force Striv pushed a nearby dumpster between them and their crowd of followers, pulling Amil into a nearby ally where upon reaching the end they were met with a brick wall.

"Dead end," Amil remarked.

"For them," Striv said. Picking Amil up, Striv used the Force to leap over the wall into another ally, one not filled with crazy citizens.

Though safe for now, the two decided to lay low, hiding their faces with the cloaks they wore and making it to a nearby, nearly deserted café where they could talk in peace.

"It's good to see you Striv, despite what happened earlier," Amil said once they'd ordered some drinks.

"As it is to see you. I mean we saw each in parliament today, but we didn't talk to each other then," Striv replied.

"We were both busy. Quite the session huh?"

"Yeah. The Republic is getting out of hand," Striv remarked. "And if the Senate passes the military bill, then the Confederacy will be in deep trouble."

"Not if the Senate takes years to decide whether or not to go through with it," Amil countered. "By then hopefully even more systems will have rallied over to us, taking their resources with them. That'll at least make it harder for the dwindling Republic to form an army large enough to challenge us. You have to admit we growing stronger each day. And it's only a matter of time before the Republic's corruption destroys itself from the inside out."

"I just hope the galaxy won't be too damaged by it or whatever becomes of its remains," Striv said, not sounding too enthusiastic about his friend's belief, which she noticed.

"Maybe the Jedi could help us," Amil suggested. Though it sounded tempting to Striv, he knew it wouldn't be possible.

"No, not the Jedi. The Jedi aren't doing anything except being blind followers of the failing Republic. Their powers are weakening, and their insight becomes less and less resourceful every single day."

At this point, the frustration Striv had been feeling for the last hour caused him to snap, banging his fist down hard on the table, startling both the senator and the café's employees before the latter returned to their previous work.

Amil, however, was concerned. She knew something was eating at Striv, and it had something to do with the Jedi. Reaching over the table, she wrapped her hands around one of Striv's fists, in an attempt to ease his tensions. "Do you ever miss them, the Jedi?"

It was something Striv had been thinking of lately. "Sometimes," he admitted. "But far too many other times I'm just annoyed, or disappointed by just how much they've failed in maintaining justice throughout the galaxy.

"Master Kcaj always taught me to trust my instincts, just as it is taught to all Jedi in the order. Whenever I listened to my conscious, it told me that the Republic was corrupt and not salvageable, unworthy of the Jedi Order's time and allegiance. But when I explained this to the knights and masters within the order or any of my friends, the ones I called family, none would listen. They told me to ignore my misgivings, and that the Republic would heal itself in time. But I couldn't ignore it. I tried repeatedly to convince them that the Republic couldn't be saved. Eventually many if not all of my friends, and the other Jedi I knew began to ignore me. They believed I was either talking crazy or treasonous like Count Dooku had before he left the Order years prior."

This didn't ease Amil. "Were you always so frustrated with the Order? Was there a time when you felt both acceptance and at peace with those who had raised you, and who you grew up with?"

"Back when I was a youngling," he replied, memories reappearing of a time when he was young and innocent. "In those days I had no doubts about the Republic, or the Jedi Order itself. Even after my experience in the lower levels where I first met C19, I didn't consider that either group was corrupt, or faulty."

"Tell me more," Amil encouraged.

For some reason, talking about his past seemed to ease Striv's frustrations, as he felt his fist release from its tight grip while he continued to talk. "Back then I was happy. Jedi training was exciting, and I was led to believe that my classmates and I were learning to become protectors of a great and mighty republic. I didn't know or understand the truths about the Senate at the time, or even what the word corruption meant. All I cared about was building my first lightsaber and becoming a padawan to one of the many great, wise, and powerful Jedi Knights of the Order."

Amil smiled, happy to see Striv less stressed and more relieved as he remembered a time when he didn't hate the Jedi Order. "Where you close with any of the other younglings?" Amil asked.

"There were a few Jedi I grew up with who I knew well, but there was one youngling who I was closer to than of the others. Her name was Stel'la. A compassionate girl with a knack for healing, as well as a brute force when it came to sparring. She and I were as tight as ticks in a nexu's fur coat."

Amil slouched a little Striv talked highly of this girl from his past. "Did you have any feelings for her?" the Noralian asked. "Romantic feelings?"

"What?! No. No. it wasn't like that," Striv protested. "She was my sister. My twin sister to be exact."

"Oh…" Amil blushed, feeling a little embarrassed for going into such a quick assumption like that. "So, what happened between you two?"

"After I became apprenticed to Master Kcaj, I began to see the galaxy and the Republic for what it was. At the same time, my sister also got apprenticed to a knight and began to explore the stars, but she didn't see the Republic in the same view as I did. She believed that while there were flaws in the system we served, it still had good in it. That was when we began to be at odds constantly."

"And there wasn't anyone who would listen to your side? Not one in an order of tens of thousands?"

"We were trained from an early age to serve the Republic. For over a thousand generations, we protected and maintained the Republic, believing it to be the embodiment of peace and justice in the galaxy. It was something few Jedi if any would question. The masters, the knights, the padawans, my friends from my youngling days, who also had been taken on as padawans, agreed with Stel'la. The Jedi teachings kept them from seeing past it. Yet as I saw the evil of the Republic, many of my friends looked at me with disgust. It's one of the other reasons I left the Order. My beliefs weren't welcome. To them, I was just a mad kid.

"Then one night, my master and I returned from a mission involving the negotiation of a corrupt senator's release from rebels who'd kidnapped him. I was in the dinner hall, going on about why I understood the rebels' reason for kidnapping the senator. Long story short he'd been exploiting the people to gain further wealth and power for himself. Though when I said that the Senate was no better than a crime syndicate for allowing corrupt womprats like him to remain in power, all the other Jedi in the hall were disgusted by my words. By then it seemed that the whole order was fed up with my constant complaints about the Republic, especially my sister."

"So what happened?"

"We are loyal to the Republic. It isn't perfect, but nothing is. Yet you don't seem to understand this."

"Pfff… imperfect is an understatement. The Republic is corrupt, and spoiled and betrays everything the Jedi Order stands for. Why can't you see it? Is everyone in the Order completely blind or something? Because I'm not. I can see what the Republic truly is and that the Jedi are no better for allowing this banthashit to unfold around them."

"Oh, so now you are badmouthing the Jedi Council too? Why am I not surprised? All you do is complain these days about how things are done."

"Maybe I wouldn't complain so much if someone did something about the constant corruption in the galaxy, instead of letting it pollute and destroy the trillions of innocent lives we're supposed to serve."

"You know what? Until you stop constantly complaining and accept that things aren't so bad, don't talk to me anymore. The twin brother I knew as a youngling wasn't such a whiny brat."

"We stopped talking to each other. I tried to speak with her right before my final meeting with the Jedi Council, but her response was…

"If this is another rant about the Republic being corrupt and that the Jedi are fools for serving it, don't bother saying a word!"

"She could never see it. She, like so many other Jedi, was blinded by traditions to see what the Republic was. What it had become," Striv's body slumped as he sighed. He hated the Jedi for what they were now, what they had allowed themselves to become; but what he hated most was the fact that they'd gotten so bad that he hated the Order who'd raised him; who his sister still served obediently like a dog.

"What has the Republic become in your eyes?"

This Striv had no problem saying. It came to him as naturally as it was to breathe the air around him. "The very evil we'd fought against. An abomination to life itself. And it's only going to get worse. When the Senate's bill to create an army passes, and believe me, it will pass, the chaos in the galaxy will become a thousand times worse. It'll be a living nightmare. Lives will be at stake. Worlds will be destroyed."

This made Amil feel a little uneasy to hear Striv say such dark and disturbing ideas. But he wasn't too far off from what was bound to happen with the corruption within the Republic. "Then we'll just have to be ready," she smiled, grasping his hand in hers, which he returned."

"Oh, we'll be ready. And mark my words, the Force will be with us."

May the 4th be with you : )

Oh, and sorry for the delay in this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it.