Chapter Fifteen: Meetings
Mara felt her heart hammering against her chest. If everything she sensed from Luke was true, why hadn't she felt it rip through her? The Force should have told her that beings in the galaxy were suffering.
"What do you mean, war? Is the Senate aware of this? Emergency session?" Leia demanded.
Luke shook his head. "It hasn't happened yet, Leia."
"War is coming," Mara interrupted. "The Jedi have felt it."
Luke nodded in agreement. "About three hours ago, Dad was called into chambers. Serenno has sent over delegates to Gallispied and a unit of battle droids with their contingent."
Leia looked scandalised. "They were outlawed after the Clone Wars!"
"A stockpile. Right underneath our noses," Mara breathed.
"There aren't a lot of us planet-side, Luke," Corran rushed to say. "And Master Windu isn't going to be able to disarm a full unit of battle droids on their own. A trade dispute, sure, but if it escalates?"
Leia shook her head. "I'm comming my office." She paused. "And then Mom."
Luke sighed. "I'm sure she's at her office already. The Queen has probably requested a meeting—Naboo sources a lot of building materials from Gallispied. She'll want to prepare."
He then looked at Mara and Corran. "We have to leave, we're meeting in chambers and if I'm right, we'll be leaving for Gallispied within the next hour."
Mara shivered as the weight of his words finally came tumbling down onto her. They were being called to Gallispied which was on the brink of war with Serenno.
And it might've been all her fault.
o0o
Mara could barely concentrate as she sat in on a Council meeting. The Masters discussed amongst themselves what their plans would be, vastly ignoring the small group of Knights and herself in the middle. She wasn't sure why she felt fear—or guilt. She was trying to shield as best as she could but she caught glimpses of her father's concerned face on amongst the sea of Jedi Masters.
"Concerned, Master Windu is," Master Yoda said solemnly. "Battle droids can be activated at any time."
"He is right to be, Master. We need to find out what the Counts' intentions are and discover the command station. Those droids can wipe out an entire group of Senators and negotiators in the space of a minute," Anakin said, his well-earned title of General showing itself.
"Have we any idea of intention? Perhaps they are merely trading the battle units?" Master Ti added. "Illegal, of course, but perhaps they are not a precursor to war."
Mara felt as if she were standing amongst giants. All the Masters spoke so eloquently and were so attuned to the Force. They probably felt the shift in the Force that eluded her within seconds. Many of them had fought in the Clone Wars and she knew that would give them an advantage.
"The Senate has been notified," Mara's father confirmed. "They have requested three negotiators and a group of Senators and aides from close systems to accompany our contingent. We must allow the Senate to intervene before involving the Jedi." He looked at Anakin. "Master Skywalker has already established that Serenno has no interest in brokering deals with Jedi influence. If we are to intervene, it is to be as a last resort."
"Agree, this Council does," Master Yoda paused. "But prepared, we must be. Send a contingent, the Council will. Show Serenno that the Jedi support Gallispied. Spread out, amongst the moons and three planets and some on the outlying systems, we will have."
Mara tried to concentrate as the Council began to separate the remaining Jedi. Adrenaline penetrated every part of her body. She saw Luke discussing arrangements with his father and Corran began to sign off on Jedi transport.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. Officially, she was grounded. Technically, so was her Master, thought she doubted Master Yoda would inflict the ban on General Skywalker. She wasn't sure she was welcome on the expedition. If not, where would that leave her?
She noticed that she was the only padawan even at the meeting. The hour was late and many of the other padawans were probably asleep, safe in the temple. She didn't want to be tucked into her bed. She gripped her lightsaber, hidden safely under her civilian clothes. Her datapad sat in a holster close to her stomach. She was meant to be out there, wielding a saber and trying to broker peace. She deserved to be.
Her thoughts led her to strange and familiar places. She had been through this before. She should have listened then.
"Mara," Luke interrupted her with a calm and familiar hand on her already tense shoulders. "Are you okay with that?"
She frowned. "Okay with what?"
Anakin appeared behind Luke, his eyes looking more tired than ever. "We're on the strike team, Mara."
She was confused. "Strike team? I'm not grounded?"
Anakin shook his head. "I need you. If we're going to have to take down a command centre in unknown space, you and your magic datapad are going to come in handy."
Mara felt elated that he still trusted her. An idea came to her. "I have a contact who might be able to help us. She's a smuggler and sometimes she deals in information."
Anakin nodded. "Do it. Meet me to dock at 0100. We're taking the Defender."
Mara agreed and hoped Mirax would still be awake. She felt Luke's hand slip into her own, giving it a gentle squeeze. It gave her comfort.
"I hope it doesn't come to this," she admitted. "We train for moments like these, Luke, but I was raised to be a guardian of the peace. If war breaks out, we'll feel none."
"It won't come to that," he said forcefully. "My mother and your father are on the team sent to negotiate on Gallispied. They'll surrender the battle droids."
Her face softened. "I hope you're right, Skywalker."
She felt a familiar presence behind her and she turned around and was enveloped in the strong, sturdy arms of her father. "I was hoping you would stay here, out of harm's way," he admitted. "But you rarely do anything I want you to do anyway."
She breathed in his scent. The past few weeks had been difficult for them. She was confident they would be fine. She could feel him through the Force, like a beacon. Blood or not, he was her father and she loved him. But her sense of duty was something she learnt from him and the Order at a young age.
She smiled softly. "I know, Dad."
He pulled back. "Be careful. Watch out for both my padawans. I know better than most they are a handful."
She eyed her Master and Luke who were loading their ship, along with the rest of their strike team.
"You and Padmé stay safe, Dad. May the Force be with you."
He bowed. "And also with you."
o0o
Mara watched as the ship holding her father and Padmé launched for Gallispied. She didn't have time to think though, as hers was next to launch.
"The farthest moon from Serenno is our best vantage point. We should be able to remain secretive there," Anakin commanded. "The Defender is big but she'll hide easily enough."
"I hope we won't have to use her," Luke added. "She's connected to the Interlude?"
Anakin confirmed it and within moments, she ship had launched. A dark feeling passed through Mara.
War is coming. Are you fighting on the right side?
She pushed the haunting thought as far down into herself as she could and prayed to the Force that she could keep a hold on the ugly thoughts that were starting to possess her every move and action in the Force. She was strong—stronger than most. She could do this.
"Is this my fault?"
The words were out of her mouth before her mind even registered saying them. Luke stared at her, his mouth slightly open. She could feel his shock and concern.
Anakin didn't look at her as he furiously programmed into the console. "Of course not," he said unconvincingly.
"Mara, no," Luke said gently. "They've been stockpiling those droids since the Clone Wars. They were former Separatists. They've been avoiding the Jedi for years. It makes sense."
It made a degree of sense but Mara knew herself. "It can't be a coincidence. Me? A bastard daughter of a Force-sensitive refugee from Serenno opens up the cave of the Sith and suddenly we're at war?"
"Luke's right," Anakin answered. "There's no point trying to convince yourself that you're the problem here Mara." He finally turned around and made eye contact with her. "This has nothing to do with you. You're a padawan. You didn't start a war."
His words felt empty against the growing hole in her heart.
"I need you here," Anakin stressed. "Do your duty. You need to be ready."
She could do that, couldn't she? She wasn't grounded anymore, which meant she had proved herself capable of returning to her duties as a Jedi. Mara wasn't convinced she was blameless but the Force told her that she needed to be here—she had a role to play.
Luke looked at her encouragingly. "Mara?"
She nodded. "I'm here. I'm ready."
The ship kicked into hyperdrive and she heard the sound of tense chatter in the meeting room behind her. "You're on first shift," Anakin said tersely and promptly left the cockpit. "Luke, you need to get some sleep. Come on."
Before leaving, Luke gave her a small smile. "Some party, hey?"
She returned the sentiment. "It's official. You're the galaxy's biggest party pooper, Skywalker."
"If it's any consolation, you looked lovely," he said slowly. Mara barely covered her own surprise as Luke's face became tinged with red. "Wake me if anything happens," he added and then he was gone.
Mara watched as her only company, the stars, mocked her as they sped through the endless night.
o0o
The entire trip had been tense. Mara had spent hours in tactical meetings with the rest of the strike team. They had made a short stop which revealed Ahsoka Tano as the last member of the strike team.
She had taken one look around and snorted, her red robes standing out against the gloomy grey of the Defender. "Looks like I got recruited to the Sky Team. Where's The Negotiator?"
"Trying to negotiate," Anakin said wryly. He then turned his attention back to the strike plans. Mara had hugged Ahsoka briefly before being charged with cockpit duty.
Fortunately, Mirax's contact had come through and had verified a shipment of various weapons and droid technology to a Count on Serenno. Anakin hadn't been surprised at the news, but both Luke and Mara felt his unease through the Force.
"We need to locate the command centre first," Anakin had said during their latest meeting. "We'll send out single scouts around the perimeter. The centre has to be destroyed with as little damage to civilians as possible."
"Master, are there normally sentient beings operating the command centre?"
Mara knew the answer but a part of her wanted confirmation. Her Master had taken one of these out as a child and it was a lot to live up to. Any one of them, including her had to take the shot if at all possible. Mara knew the stakes but the idea of ending a life scared her. She respected and celebrated all life but the burgeoning darkness inside her that the voice kept reminding her of was a wild card.
"Yes," Ahsoka replied curtly. Nothing more was said.
It was the dead of night when the Defender finally reached the D'Astan sector. Anakin had expertly co-ordinated a systematic approach to a search of the area. Mara couldn't help feel excited at the thought of being cast among the Jedi Knights. Her instructions were the same as theirs and she had her own specialised mission.
Her datapad worked wonders. She had been proud of herself—not once had she been tempted during the trip to source any more information she had recovered from Dooku's palace. What had once delivered heartbreaking and terrifying information now sliced through telecommunications and signals.
"Negative," Luke's voice came over the comm system.
"Understood," Anakin's voice replied. "Start the next sector. Mara?"
"Negative," she echoed. "I don't think—"
A beeping from her datapaid interrupted them. "Hang on."
Her eyes widened as the read through the information her datapad had gained from the nearest satellite.
"Sith," she breathed as her Jedi training took over and she tried to reign in her panic.
"Kenobi?" Anakin's voice sounded again. "Our status?"
"Master, it's a trap!" she practically yelled through the commlink. "They know we're here. There's no command centre. There are battle droids at every location where Jedi are stationed and each unit is controlled remotely."
Her blood ran cold.
Meditate. A Jedi does not panic. Calm.
"Master, there are seventy units stationed around Gallispied."
Before her Master could speak, her link to the Interlude, her father's ship buzzed insistently. "Luke?"
"I've got it too," he replied hurriedly.
NEGOTIATIONS STARTED. SERENNO AND GALLISPIED SEEM TO BE WORKING THINGS OUT. UNITS HAVE NOT BEEN ACTIVATED.
"Dad, they think Serenno and Gallispied are at war. We're being played."
"Get back to the ship," Anakin's voice commanded and their connection went silent.
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