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"It's called a Kama Corporal, it helps protect the lower half of the body from low flying objects" Captain Rex stated, annoyed by the marine's misnaming of his leather armour attachment. On the way up Jake had asked why the clone officer was wearing a dress, getting a snigger from the alien teen behind him.
"Sorry sir, I meant no offence" He apologised, while himself trying not to let a smirk appear at how defensive this Captain Rex became over a piece of clothing. The lift suddenly halted and the doors opened to what Jake assumed was the ship's bridge.
"Take it easy Rex. Remember he's new around these parts" Ahsoka said still finding the clone officer's reaction funny. Stepping out of the lift it gave Jake the chance to scrutinize the Bridge, looking at the various systems and clone sailors at their posts tapping away at different consoles. Touch screens, computer terminals and what he could of sworn to be some sort of hologram device placed in the centre of the room showed it to be pretty impressive. The layout was different to that of the naval vessels back home. Most of the controls to ship seemed to be situated to the front of the Bridge, manned by sailors and soldiers alike. Closer up there was two gaps sided next to a single walkway containing more personnel going about their duties on other consoles, a few peering up to him. The voice of the other Jedi he remembered to be Obi Wan broke him from his gazing.
"Ah there you are. I see you haven't gotten yourself into anymore trouble" The Jedi smiled as he approached alongside the other two. Jake attention was immediately drawn to the strange blue space outside the windows. Ignoring the others around him he stepped over to the window staring out at the weird phenomenon.
"That's hyperspace. It's our method of faster than light travel, allowing us to travel wherever we want" Skywalker explained to the stunned marine who stared out into the crystal blue swirl flashing outside the ship. His eyes began to feel funny at gazing at it for too long, so Jake gave them a quick rub and turned back to the waiting Jedi.
"Arriving at Coruscant in two minutes" One of the clones called out from his console to the right of him.
"Thank you trooper" Obi Wan nodded over to clone sailor before turning his attention back to Jake "Now Corporal Matthews, once we land we'll be heading to the Jedi Temple where you'll meet with the High Council. After that we'll settle you down then later on take you to have an audience with the Chancellor" He laid out the unexpected plans to the bewildered Corporal.
"Is the Chancellor your head of state?" Jake asked for confirmation from the red bearded Jedi.
"Correct, you've gained quite a bit of interest back home and he would like to see you before any other interested parties" He continued to lay out the schedule. Meeting the leader of their Galactic Republic is a pretty big deal but Jake still had no idea of the Jedi Order's significance. However, since they appear to part of the military they must hold some form of importance.
"Exiting hyperspace" The same clone announced and seconds later the blue swirl of hyperspace had disappeared and was replaced with the dark vaccum of space, stars and a planet coming into view.
"Woah" Was all the astonished Earther could say when he gazed through the windows once more. Before him was a planet and not just any planet, an alien one. The side facing the sun was a mixture of brown and silver, and on the dark side the brown darkened and yellow lights replaced the silver which if he wasn't mistaken showed outlines of cities.
Doesn't hold a candle to Earth's beauty, He thought to himself.
"Coruscant. The capital of the Galactic Republic and home to more than one trillion beings"
"A trillion people?" He exclaimed at such a high population. And they worry about overpopulation back home. The ship started to descend down into the planet's atmosphere, the front briefly lighting up before disappearing as it pushed through the clouds where a glimpse of a building appeared. It seemed that this world was just showing more of it's wonders to the newcomer, skyscrapers began coming into view that literally touch the sky along with various ships and craft arriving and leaving the world.
The clouds cleared away and the view was suddenly replaced by a massive metropolis of a city. Jake looked over at all the huge buildings that littered the landscape and what must of been thousands of flying cars and ships zooming everywhere to whatever destination they were going off to.
"My God, this is..." He was left speechless, unable to find the right words for it.
"Spectacular?" The Anakin guy provided with any number of possible answers to he was seeing.
"Yeah that's one way of putting it" The amazed marine agreed still unable to move his eyes away from the window.
"Well we'll be arriving at the docks shortly, so I suggest you get yourself ready to depart Corporal" Obi Wan stepped in and returned Jake back to earth, so to speak.
"Yes sir, I just need to get the rest of my gear"
"Very well, Captain Rex do you mind escorting the Corporal here back to his room?"
"No General" Rex saluted Kenobi then directed Jake to the turbolift once again. The pair walked over to the lift and entered in, almost immediately going down as they did so. The trip wasn't long and Jake was soon back into the temporary quarters he was given and putting on the webbing, helmet and placing his ipod and sweets in the various pockets. He was soon ready and followed the clone officer to wherever the ship's exit was.
"A word of advice Corporal, watch yourself around the Jedi" Rex said to him as they were nearing what appeared to be a the docking bay.
"Why's that Captain?" He raise a brow over the curios statement from the clone officer.
"Don't get me wrong Corporal Matthews, I respect the Jedi and they have proven to be a force of good. For you however you'll be under scrutiny as soon as you enter the temple. I'm just giving you a heads up" He explained further as they neared the group of Jedi at the other end of the bay.
"Well thanks, I guess" The Royal Marine wondered over the advice but was thankful all the same for Rex's advance warning.
"Are you set Matthews?" Anakin asked as he and Rex joined the trio.
"Yes sir" He replied back, following them to what he guessed was the transport taking them to wherever this temple of their's was. He recognised it as one of the same spacecraft in the starship's hangar, the doors sliding open and a pod sticking out at the front just beneath where the pilots were. He was the last to step aboard and grabbed on to one of the straps hanging above him, surprised when there wasn't so much as a jolt when it lifted off compared to that of the helicopters back home.
There was chatter amongst the other occupants, though Jake's attention was on the various buildings and flying cars that whizzed by on their way on the journey to this Jedi Temple.
"So what do you think?" He heard the young alien girl Ahsoka say to his left.
"It's impressive, no doubting that. It's as if all of the Earth's cities have been mixed together and turned into one big arse mega sized one" The flabbergasted Corporal gave his best description of the tall structures all around the place.
"It's what Coruscant pretty much is; a planet sized metropolis" Anakin said entering the conversation "Being the capital of the Republic, it's the centre of commerce and representation for the thousands of systems that make up the Republic. However with the war some of it's on temporary hold" The hint of distaste wasn't lost on the marine at the mention of the war these people have apparently been fighting. The idea of thousands of worlds united to form this Republic of theirs was an achievement that anyone would be proud of. After all, his people were still split into hundreds of nation states on one planet.
The rest of the journey consisted of various questions being thrown his way on what he thought of Coruscant, until they reached what he presumed was there destination. The building was enormous, just like the many on the alien world's landscapes but this one was wider and shaped like an edgy box. It's eye catching feature was it's five spires sticking out at the top with one small ones surrounding the taller centre spire, giving Jake the impression like it was an eye looking around at everyone.
The transport slowed down as it reached a landing pad sticking out of the building, several clone soldiers and somebody dressed in similar robes to the Jedi bunch were waiting for them. Setting down with barely any noise the passengers disembarked the transport and were greeted by, what Jake suspected, another Jedi person.
"Masters Kenobi and Skywalker, Padawan Tano welcome back. I see you have brought your new friend with you" The old man bowed to the trio of Jedi before casting a suspicious eye over at the him.
"I take it the Council are already waiting for us Master Drallig" Anakin asked in a dry manner, recieving a stern look from Obi Wan fo rhis response.
"That they are Master Skywalker" The old bloke replied with a ghost of a smile. The elder of the group of Jedi turned his attention back at Jake and gave him an odd stare, before what looked to be a expression of mute horror.
"Well we can't keep the Council waiting for long. Be seeing you Drallig." Obi Wan gave a light bow to him. The new Jedi returned the favour then allowed them past. As they headed away from the 'welcoming committee', Jake couldn't help but feel the old man's eyes bore at the back of him but chose to ignore it and followed his guides to took him to this mysterious High Council. The halls they walked down of the behemoth of a temple was truly a spectacular sight to behold for Jake, whose first thoughts of visiting a temple were of a ancient and crumbling building with druids everywhere reading old testimonies from the Bible.
There were tall, marble pillars built in or stood alone on the sides of the halls and pristine, metallic walls and floors that reflected everything as they were that clean. Humans and aliens walked past them and exchanged greeting with the leading Jedi then would give a curious stare at him, giving him the same odd look the Jedi who greeted them at the landing pad did, making him a tad unnerved.
One alien that exchanged hellos with the Generals resembled, to the Corporal's best description, a humanoid frog and a big one at that, who too gave him a strange gaze as they went by. They drew nearer to the end of the massive hallway and to yet another lift.
Great, how many more of these poxy things do I have to go in today, He mentally sighed as Ahsoka's voice suddenly spoke up.
"Master do you mind I go finish up my studies for awhile"
"Sure, I'll comm you of any developments" Anakin nodded to the kid, then she turned her to face him.
"Goodbye Matthews" She respectfully bowed to him.
"See you later kiddo" He replied returning the gesture. With that she left walking down the hallway leading away from the lifts.
"Before we go up Corporal, I advise you to watch your manners and try not to do anything that may offend the Council. They're the head of the entire Jedi Order and they act as advisers to the Chancellor, so make a good first impression of yourself. Oh and I suggesr you take off your helmet" Obi Wan finished giving him a quick lecture on what to expect of them, not like the Royal Marine hadn't done anything similar in past for higher ups or anything. Stepping in and removing his helmet Jake stood in the middle of the Jedi and awaited for his inevitable introduction with the Jedi Council, though he couldn't help but feel like he was a student going into meet the headmaster for a misbehaviour like many times in his school days.
The journey up didn't take long and soon stopped with Skywalker and Kenobi being the first to step out, followed by a slightly nervous Jake but he chose to keep his nerves in check and see what awaited him on the other side of the metallic double doors.
"Enter, you may" An old voice came from the other side. The doors opened automatically to a room fully of sitting people with Obi Wan and Anakin leading the way in first and bowing to the waiting mixed beings of the Council.
"Masters, we have with us Corporal Jake Matthews as you requested" Obi Wan said presenting him to the surrounding members of the Council. It was even more surprising to Jake when he took a seat amongst the crowd of beings.
"Thank you Master Kenobi. If you may step forward please" A bald dark skinned man gestured for him to stand before the group.
Doing as he was ask Jake stood in the middle of the room, where an assortment of humans and aliens sat regarding him for a minute in silence. The scanning looks proved Captain Rex was right about him being under scrutiny almost instantly upon arrival. All eyes in the room, except Skywalker's and Kenobi's, were focused on him, making him uncomfortable because of the silent attention that was directed at him as if it was like they were all having some formof quiet conversation with each other.
Jake himself took a ganders around the room from his rooted spot, to see who were was apart of this High Council. A couple were human but the majority were alien, all vastly different to each in both shapes and sizes. One had bright green skin with large black eyes and another looked to be the same race as Ahsoka, only she had longer tentacles running down her body and her face had white markings covering most of her eyes and forehead. He noted several others such as the orangey/brown skinned alien that had metal parts attached to his face and one that could be mistaken for human if he didn't have an extraordinary long, dented head.
"How do you feel, Corporal Matthews?" An old voice croaked out. The marine turned to its owner, an old green goblin like alien in the centre of the semi circle of chairs.
"Uh fine, I suppose"
"A long way from home, are you?"
"You could say that" Was the best he could answer, since he didn't know whether his homeworld was in the next door system close or on the other side of the galaxy.
"How did end up on a Republic military vessel soldier?" The dark skinned man next to him spoke up. Jake couldn't help but see how much the guy looked so similar to a famous actor back on Earth.
"As I said to Generals Kenobi and Skywalker my memory still fuzzy on that part" He told the Council member who gave him a stare that showed he didn't believe a single word he said.
"Do you remember anything before your mysterious appearance?" The long headed alien from his observations a second ago added in.
"Just being back at barracks, that's about it" Jake told them, not willing to say anything about the giant orb that he was assigned to guarding and how it was now extremely likely to be responsible for his unexpected appearance here.
"You say you're apart of a unit called the 42 Commando Royal Marines. Care to elaborate to us who and what military they belong to?" Obi Wan came at him with a question. The marine hesitated before answering the question carefully.
"My unit is apart of the Royal Marines Corps, a branch of the Naval Services of the British Armed Forces"
"I thought you said you were from Earth?" The alien who belonged to the same species as Ahsoka pointed out to him.
"I am. The British Armed Forces are the military force of the United Kingdom, the country I'm from on Earth."
"So your world is split into nation states. How many nations are there?" The dark skinned guy queried to him again.
"A few" Jake left it at that, hoping they wouldn't push further on the topic but the line of questioning he was enduring put a dent in that wishful thinking.
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Ahsoka sat at one of the terminals in the Jedi Archives, supposedly to catch up with her studies but with the unknown soldier around she couldn't concentrate on doing so. Instead she tried searching for any useful information in the vast databanks of the Archives that could shine some light on both Corporal Matthews' people and where he was from.
Unfortunately no relevant data came up or the display screen came up with 'NONE AVAILABLE', causing her to let out an irritable sigh and slam her hands down on the touch pad.
"Writing up another late essay again?" A teasing feminine voice laughed behind her.
"No just a little private investigation" The Togruta turned to her friend and fellow Padawan Barriss Offee.
"Is it to do with the strange human you found aboard your ship?"
"News travels fast around here" She sarcastically rolled her eyes at the Mirialan"Yeah, I was trying to find any references to his people that could help understand him better but..."
"He's literally an unknown" Barriss finished her sentence, a good description of the situation.
"And that's rare considering all the knowledge and history of the galaxy is right here" Ahsoka raised her hands in the air indicating to all the stacks of holobook shelves, letting out another sigh.
"I overheard some Masters say that they couldn't sense him in the force, is it true?"
"It's true and there's a reason for that. He hasn't got one midichlorians in him" The look Ahsoka saw on Barriss' face was almost identical to hers when she had first heard it.
"Th-that's impossible, everyone living thing in the galaxy has midichlorians. How is this even possible?" Barriss carried on listing the effects of not having the living force and source of the Jedi's powers "Have you tried sensing him?"
For second she frowned before recollecting her attempts at doing so.
"Trying to feel him through the force is like something I've never experienced before. It's like silent spot that no matter how much you try, nothing comes back or responds. It's disturbing to say the least, Anyhow, Master Skywalker and Obi Wan have taken him to see the High Council. He'll be meeting with the Chancellor later too" She told her Mirialan friend, who had stopped mumbling on about the impossibilities of surviving without the force
"Wonder why the Chancellor has taken an interest?"
"I don't know, you would think he had better things to do like trying to bring an end to the war" Ahsoka shrugged, turning her attention back to the terminal to carry out with her research.
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"Jesus Christ, don't these guys ever shut up" Jake growled inwardly at the bombardment of questions directed him. He felt like he had been standing for hours and the questioning was really starting to annoy him, even to a point where he wanted to throw his helmet at the next person to ask him anything. The hint that he wouldn't divulge anything on the size of Britain's military forces, of any conflicts back home or the sort was obviously lost on them, so he had keep repeating himself every time like a track on a continuous loop.
"Late, it has become. Meeting adjourned for the day" The goblin, which he had learned was named Yoda, tapped his wooden stick on the floor.
"Thank God" He sighed to himself in relief.
"We'll inform the Chancellor that we'll take Corporal Matthews to see him tomorrow. Master Skywalker, could you escort our guest down to the med bay then settle him into some guest quarters" The human Jedi to the left of Yoda requested, the same one who kept asking for information on anything military related.
"Yes Masters" He bowed and patted Jake's shoulder to indicate they were leaving. Both left the Council Chamber, leaving the irritating High Council behind to start having private discussions over the minimal information he was willing to discuss.
"Your face says it all Matthews. I feel the same every time a Council session finishes" General Skywalker chuckled at his exasperated facial expression.
"Is meeting your Chancellor going to be just as tiresome sir?" Jake huffed at the idea of another round of let's-ask-a-question-every-second.
"No, I doubt the Chancellor will be invasive like the Council. He's a good man and a good leader" Feeling at ease, Jake took the Jedi's word on it "If I don't mind me asking, what did you make of the Council?"
"They're ok so far. I still don't really understand what or who you people are, but I'll know soon enough" Was his best answer, more interested in getting some time off speculation and quizzes from everybody for the day.
"I'm sure you will" The Jedi said just as the lift stopped and opened to a human and fish looking alien, both bowing then staring in his direction giving the same expressions as earlier.
"You think they haven't seen a human before"
"Not your kind though. It's the first time we've come across any species who didn't have some form of force connection" The Jedi Knight explained to him, leading the way to the medical bay.
"Is it to do with those mido thingys they were on about?"
"Midichlorians, and yes it is. Until now we believed life couldn't exist without them. They share a sort of symbiotic attachment with the living cells and the more a person has, the stronger they are in the force with many ending up being Jedi" Jake digested the information his escort explained to him, trying to wrap his head around the idea of tiny mystical things living in these people, giving them strange abilities that you'd only see in a film or in some biblical tale.
"I don't suppose you lot can walk on water or turn water into wine?"
"Uh what?" Skywalker raised a baffled brow like he was madman.
"Nothing, don't worry" He waved off the ridiculous comment. The remainder of the trip to the medbay was silent, beside the occasional glance from passing Jedi who'd do the routine of bowing to Anakin then stare at Jake. They reached what he the presumed to be med bay when the automatic doors opened and a domed shaped robot drove by, beeping and rotating it's head from side to side.
The medical bay looked just like any hospital ward at home, except for some of the equipment was unlike anything the marine had ever seen.
"Master Nema" Skywalker called out to a yellow skinned alien on the other side of the room.
"Ah Master Skywalker, I see you have brought the centre of gossip spreading around the temple" Her sligh accented voice replied back as she moved closer to them. On closer inspection, Jake noticed her eyes had a lighter shade of pigmentation than her skin and possessed bright blue lips that would of been seen as a medical condition had it been on a human.
"This is Corporal Jake Matthews"
"Ma'am" He nodded after Anakin's introduction, getting yet another one of those stares from the Jedi doctor.
"So it is true. Well Corporal if you could just take a seat over here, I would like to check on a few things to have a better understanding of your physiology" She pointed to one of the hospital beds behind her.
"I thought you lot probed me while I was unconscious?" That thought suddenly made him worry about what exactly they did do to him while he was knocked out.
"I was sent the report, however the ship's' medical computers aren't as sophisticated as the ones here" Nema explained whilst the marine sat on the bed waiting. He watched as she picked up some form of scanner and traced it all around his body, resulting in his physiological body coming up on a screen next to him with bizarre writing next to the image.
"His organs, bone structure and fluids are near identical to any human. You have recent healing on you right arm and chest"
"A scuffle with a grenade" Jake gave his reason, remembering that painful incident very well.
"I'm going to take a blood sample then you're free carry on with whatever duties you may have soldier" She said picking up a needle and gently pushed it into the side of his neck, surprising him that he hadn't felt so much as a pin prick as it collected a small amount of his blood.
"I'd move quickly if I were you, before she decides to bring out the scalpel" Skywalker teased getting a smirk from the alien doctor, who was looking as if it wasn't such a bad idea.
"Uh yeah, so where to next sir?" The Corporal jumped up nervously, not taking a fancy to the idea of being dissected for some alien's curiosity.
"To the guest quarters to settle you in for the night" The Jedi grinned at the discomfort marine. He nodded and followed Skywalker's lead, unbeknownst to him was sharing a silent chuckle with Master Nema. After walking down several more hallways and taking yet another quick journey in the lift, they eventually arrived at a dormitory type level.
"These quaterswill be yours for the time being" Skywalker brought him toward a room with alien lettering on the front "It has it's own fresher so no worries if you want clean yourself up. I have some duties to attend so I bid you good day Corporal Matthews"
"Thank you sir" Jake gave a quick salute to the departing Jedi. The door shut itself and the marine was for the first time alone on the alien world they had called Coruscant. Walking over to the window he gazed outside to the illuminated city and was amazed how quickly night crept in since he left the Council. The city was all lit up and flying cars were still buzzing around in almost never ending trail.
"A city that never sleeps" He muttered the common description of New York. A sudden pang of sadness hit him afterwards, the thoughts of home dominating his mind like a flood. He moved over to the simple single bed and slowly set himself down, pulling the two photographs out of his front pockets. The first one he looked at had him, his brother and sister in his parents back garden leaning against the old goal post his dad could never be bothered to take down.
The next one was a picture of his girlfriend, Kate. He gazed into her sky blue eyes and beautiful face smiling with the shining blue seas of the south coast in the background, thinking over all the great memories together and the thought if would ever see his loved ones again.
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It wasn't the first and certainly last time Anakin broke the speed limit, racing across the busy lanes of Coruscant's nightlife. He arrived at the penthouse that belonged to a certain beloved Naboo senator of his. Stepping out of the speeder, he walked in and was immediately greeted by his constructed protocol droid.
"Ah Master Anakin, so good to see this fine evening"
"Thank you 3PO. Do you know where Padme is?"
"Did I hear somebody call my name?" He heard his beloved's sweet voice. The two exchanged a loving smile then Padme ran over to him almost jumped into the arms of her husband, who returned the hug eagerly with hesitation.
"How are you my love?"
"The usual, fighting against the need for loans from the banks and handing more powers to the Chancellor"
"Sorry I'm late, I had matters that the Council wanted me to deal with"
"Is it to do with you and Obi Wan finding something at Bakura"
"Not something, someone. How do you know about that?" He quizzed her with a quizzical look.
"Rumours from the Chancellor's office. So who is it?" She prodded for more information.
"I could tell you, but I rather tell you after this" Anakin scooped his wife up and carried the giggling senator away for a 'private discussion'.