Herald of the Force
Author Notes: The story is not over. Merely the Prologue of the real story is. Now I will dig deeper into the war and what will destroy the galaxy or save it.
Anakin Skywalker will not be with Padmé, Harry is. Padmé will be respectful, but you all will notice she is pushing Anakin away as he attempts to get closer to her.
This chapter as been beta by LimerickChaos
Chapter 11: Shadows of Yavin
"Master Yoda, can I have a moment of your time." Obi-Wan said as he interrupted Yoda teaching the younglings the basics of the Force.
"Younglings, a visitor we have."
"Hello Master Obi-Wan." The Younglings said to Master Kenobi who smiled at their politeness.
"Hello Younglings. Master, I have a lead on my mission and request to speak with you."
"Oh, found a lead have you."
"Yes master. The spearhead used to kill the bounty hunter comes from a very dangerous planet. Yavin Four."
"Dark is that planet. Resting place, to many Sith Lords." Yoda said in a grave tone.
"I am aware of that master, but I have no other leads. The spearhead is a Massassi design of Yavin, but I thought they were extinct."
"Hmm, much is happening we cannot see. The Barsen'thor would know."
"Master the Barsen'thor was banished seven years ago. No one knows where he went."
"To Yavin he went, know this I do." Yoda said.
"If the Barsen'thor went to Yavin, why would he remain there."
"To become strong Obi-Wan. To become strong."
"What would you have me do Master?"
"Go to Yavin, you must. Dangerous is your journey, trust in the Force… you must."
"I wasn't the youngest Queen ever elected. I also couldn't have gotten through that first year without Harry's help. He truly has a gift in seeing everything and making it easier for others to understand. When he resolved our crisis, I made him Thane. Looking back, I can't help but feel we both weren't ready. We both were very young."
"He had a way of acting like he knew everything and rubbing it in people's faces."
"I'm going to ignore that. I feel I wasn't ready nor did I truly understand what it meant to be Queen."
"The people you served thought you did a great job. I heard the people even tried to amend the constitution so you can stay in office."
"Harry once said we cannot always give the people what they want, even if it's what's best for them. My role was two four years terms as Queen. I did my terms and the time has come for a new Queen to rule the planet instead."
"Now you're a Senator."
"Harry always said being a Senator isn't easy. As you fight for your own ideas, you must also fight for your people's ideas."
"What is it about Harry that makes you speak so highly of him?" Anakin half demanded.
"You don't know him like I do Anakin. He has served me faithful until someone planted evidence on him saying he was a criminal and a thug. If you knew him like I did, you would know someone was trying to get rid of him."
"Is that why you're so angry at Chancellor Palpatine."
"I have my reasons for distrusting Palpatine." Padmé said as they walked inside the palace doors where Security was standing tall waiting for them.
The Queen and many of the Government Officials all seemed eager to greet Padmé. Sure enough, the Queen called a meeting to discuss the current galactic events and how things were going in the Republic.
"If the Senate votes to create an army it's only going to push us into war. My guess is the Separatist's will turn to the Trade Federation or the Commence Guilds for help. Perhaps even to the Rift Alliance."
"It's unthinkable. There hasn't been a full scale war since the Ruusan Reformation and the creation of the Galactic Republic."
"Do you think there is any way for the Separatist's to come back to the Republic peacefully?"
"Not unless they feel threatened. There are many things we don't know about the Separatist's." Pamdé answers.
"What about the mysterious army that seems to be lurking out there in the Outer Rim beyond the Hutt Cartel? Or even the Rift Alliance?" Queen Jamilla asks.
"I'm afraid that's just a rumor. This army seems to be a ghost army. It doesn't exist. As for the Rift Alliance, these are worlds who control many resources. however they have kept their borders closed ever since they were created five years ago." Padmé said.
"It's outrageous. But after four trials in the Supreme Court and Chancellor Valorum's best efforts as well as Thane Harry Potter's sacrifice, Nute Gunray is still Viceroy of the Trade Federation." Governor Bibble said in outrage.
"I believe Harry is right and the Sith are involved in the Senate. There has been a lot of corruption in the Senate and I've even been blackmailed to vote for certain laws." Padmé said.
"Are there any Senators involved with the attempt on your life?" The Queen asks with concern.
"I wouldn't doubt it." Padmé said in a strong voice.
"We can only keep our faith in democracy. The day we stop believing in democracy, is the day we lose it."
"Let's pray that day never comes."
"In the mean time we must consider your safety."
"What do you suggest master Jedi?"
"Oh no, Anakin isn't a Jedi Master. He's still a padawan learner. I was thinking of staying at my family's estate while I work in the palace." Padmé said.
Anakin said nothing as a dark rage was building up inside of him. Hearing Harry's name being brought up again and how Padmé seem to speak of him made him wonder why, why did she love him when she should love him?
Obi-Wan exited out of hyperspace and stares at the planet before him. A planet with a dark history where Jedi do not normally travel to. The planet had a dark reputation like Korriban and Dromund Kaas; even Ziost.
Obi-Wan disconnected from the hyperspace ring and headed towards the planet.
"R4, do you pick up the signs of any settlements or technology?"
R4 beeped several times before detecting an energy power in the temple. Obi-Wan decided to land near the clearing to avoid getting attention.
Obi-Wan got out and notice the jungle was very quiet. It was also strange, the power of the Force could be felt in the planets spirit, but there was no darkness no hate, just a presence that seemed to soothe his worries.
Obi-Wan headed to the temple but stopped when he heard a noise. Ducking under the bushes Obi-Wan crawled his way to see what caused such a noise. It was then he noticed a large clearing and a sight that made his blood turn cold.
Soldiers wearing white armor with different color marking were running around and training. Some were marching in line before turning to face a young woman who seem to be overseeing the exercise. Several were running and shooting at battle dummies.
Obi-Wan was so entrance by the sight he failed to notice someone sneaking up on him. It wasn't until he felt the barrel of a blaster push his back that he turns around and notices some sort of agent along with troopers all pointing their blasters at him.
"Get up Jedi." The field agent said, it sounded like a young woman. Obi-Wan knew better than to try and fight so he got up and she reaches and grabs his lightsaber. Obi-Wan notice a strange symbol. It took him a moment to realize the Symbol was that of the Rift Alliance, or one that has appeared in the Rift Alliance. Obi-Wan said nothing as he follows the agent and troopers.
They took Obi-Wan through the training field to where the young woman stood there looking stern yet somewhat amused at the sight of Obi-Wan.
"A Jedi, on Yavin, now I've seen everything." The woman said as she sits down behind a table and gestures her hand for Obi-Wan to do the same.
Obi-Wan sits down and the young agent places his lightsaber on the table.
"Now I must ask, what brings a Jedi Knight all the way out here."
"I'm investigating an assassination attempt on a Republic Senator." Obi-Wan said knowing it was better to be honest then lie.
"We have nothing to do with that. We don't like the Republic and prefer to stay out of Republic business. Though with the war on the horizon I would suspect you would have more on your mind."
"War?"
"You don't know do you."
"Know what?"
"I trust you are aware that Count Dooku was once a Jedi and now publicly stands against the Republic."
"Yes, this isn't news to me."
"Did you also know that seven years ago Dooku became a Sith Lord called Darth Tyranus after the death of his padawan Qui-Gon Jinn?"
"No, that's not possible."
"He also killed Master Sifo-Dyas."
"No, that shouldn't be possible."
"Before Master Sifo-Dyas died he gave our master a key to save the Galaxy. This army. A clone army."
"Clones?"
"Oh yes. This group just graduated last month and are going through their survival training. I oversee their field training. The original host oversees their original training. The master over sees the entire army."
"I see."
"But that doesn't answer my question. What brings you here?"
"This." Obi-Wan said as he places the Massassi saberdart on the table.
"Awe, a massassi saberdart. Now I see. We had to deal with scavengers and smugglers who were stealing these artefacts and selling them on the black market. We don't use them. We use these Kamino Saberdarts." The woman said as she removes a dart from a wrist launcher and shows it to Obi-Wan. The designs were indeed different.
"Is there any chance you can tell me who this is?" Obi-Wan asks holding a holovid of the mysterious bounty hunter. The woman stares at the holo image very carefully before answering.
"That would be Durge… a Gen'Dai bounty hunter. Be careful when dealing with him. It is said he is nearly two thousand years old. He fought alongside the Sith in their Old Empire. He also hates Jedi."
"Do you know where he is at?"
"He's Dooku lapdog. No, his location is something we don't know. However, we did intercept a message between a Mandalorian splinter group that calls itself Death Watch and Count Dooku. They are assembling on Geonosis for some reason. There are also other individuals also heading there."
"Can you guess?"
"To go to war with the Republic." She said in a stern tone of voice.
"The Republic won't be able to defend itself. We have volunteers in the Judicial Forces, and a couple hundred Jedi but if Dooku is planning to go to war…"
"Our Master will offer anyone sanctuary for those that wish to not get in the crossfire. But we will not come to the Republic's aid." She said as she stood up and Obi-Wan did the same. She gives a gesture for Obi-Wan to leave. Obi-Wan did but turns back to face her.
"I never got your name."
"Celeste Morne."
"I have made contact with the locals on the planet Yavin Four. Yavin Four has somehow been cleansed of the dark side and is now new. What's more, I have found the rumored ghost army of the Outer Rim. Yavin Four seems to be their training grounds."
"Are they involved in the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala?" Mace Windu asks.
"No master, they have no motive. After analyzing the toxin on the dart as well as their own information, they say Geonosis is my next stop and warn me to be careful as it is not in Republic territory."
"Geonosisans doesn't get involved with anyone. They keep to themselves." Mace Windu said.
"They have also identified the mysterious bounty hunter as Durge, a Gen'Dai. Master I thought the Gen'Dai were extinct."
"Few remain, uncertain they are." Yoda said.
"Master Kenobi, go to Geonosis and report back what you have found and be careful. May the Force be with you."
"More going on, on Yavin I feel than has been revealed."
"I agree."
"Celeste Morne, this is not a name I'm familiar with." Plo Koon said.
"It's not a common name, nor is she a common person. She was once a Jedi." Shaak Ti said.
"There is no Jedi that has been named Celeste Morne in a hundred years. Let alone in the entire Jedi Order." Ki-Adi Mundi said in protest.
"No, you will not find her name in our records. What concerns me is how she is still alive."
"Master Shaak Ti, what do you mean." Master Luminara said.
"History says she died, four thousand years ago in the Mandalorian Wars."
"How, our records are not wrong." Ki-Adi Mundi said in shocked.
"She was removed from the Jedi Archives. She's a Shadow. A Sith and Dark Jedi Hunter. She's very powerful and very dangerous. It why she doesn't appear on the Jedi Archives. Only in the Shadow Archives."
"A living Jedi Shadow. This could be dangerous." Plo Koon said in a worried tone.
"Dangerous for whom?" Ki-Adi Mundi said as no one had an answer.
Celeste Morne watches as Obi-Wan Kenobi's starfighter leaves the planet before turning to look at the Supreme Commander of the Systems Alliance Defence Force.
"I sense a dark wind is blowing and the war will soon begin. Assemble the fleet. We go to Geonosis." Harry said as he steps out of the shadows.
"As you wish."
"Also..." Celeste Morne turns to look at her one time student. "Tell Jango Fett to have the Neo Mandalorian Crusaders to prepare for war." Harry said in a stern voice.
Author Notes: Well another chapter done. I hope you guys enjoyed and I bet none of you saw this coming. In the next chapter Harry and Padmé will be reunited.