AN: The new Star Wars movie was fantastic, for all of you that haven't seen it. I highly recommend it. It was nice to see some of the old characters back. And they were nominated for five Oscars! Anyways, as always, read and review; hope you enjoy! May the Force Be With You!
Disclaimer: George Lucas and J. J. Abrams own all of it.
CHAPTER 6
The doors opened to reveal a circular chamber with windows for walls. The twelve Jedi Masters were a conglomeration of species, some of which Charlie had never seen in her life. They sat in all different types of chairs, talking amongst themselves or staring pensively out the window. The room had a really incredible view of Coruscant; she couldn't blame them. Nonetheless, which she walked in, every face turned to look at her. Charlie stepped in further to let the doors close behind her, leaving R4 to guard over her pack. Charlie was somewhat amazed that she'd been allowed in with all of her weapons, but supposed it just spoke to the skill of the Jedi Masters.
She looked each of the Jedi Masters over carefully, trying to determine which of them had spoken to her. When she reached a small, wizened green creature, she stopped. Yoda. His name came to her, suddenly. She made a split second decision, and walked quickly over to kneel in front of him.
"Master Yoda." she said, locking her gaze with his. "You are the voice in my head, are you not?" she questioned of him. The small head nodded, his expression not changing from the somber look he had when she first noticed him.
To the council at large, but still looking at Yoda, she said "It is an honor to finally be here. I am Charlotte Altair, Last of the Silverstars and Enemy of the Sith. I am no Jedi, but I am also no patron of the Dark Side of the Force. I have skills and information I think you will find useful in your endeavors against the separatists and the Sith. I am here to offer as much help as I can give."
Yoda looked at her; they were mostly level with each other because of his small stature and short chair. He steepled his fingers and rested his chin on top of them. He looked at her, unwaveringly, searchingly, seemingly judging her for who she was. She matched his gaze, trying to read intentions. She lost track of time, only vaguely realizing her knee was starting to hurt. She could reach some of his emotion, and studied his force signature as she waited. He was old, she realized. So very old and so very wise.
Suddenly, Yoda smiled and relaxed into his chair.
"That patience, you have learned, it is good. The voice, I am. Rise." Charlie stood as the green creature grinned to himself before looking at the black man to his left.
"Master Windu. The girl, this is." Charlie looked at the man in time to see him nod.
He spoke. "You have become all we hoped you would, Silverstar. We welcome your help."
"Wait!" A humanlike being with a large cone-like head called from behind Charlie. The look on his face was no where near as relaxed as that on Windu's and Yoda's. It seemed he had not taken Yoda's word at face value.
"How do we know she is not a fraud? How are we to be sure she is a Silverstar as you claim? They were said to have been wiped out decades, centuries ago! And now she comes along with nothing but her word as proof? Now is not the time to take people at their word, not when we are on the brink of war!" The man stayed serene, despite his tone and volume. Nonetheless, Charlie could see the sense in his words
"Do you have proof, young one?" He directed his question at Charlie, softening his tone slightly. This was enough to convince her that he was simply being cautious. Charlie had stiffened, but not turned. It was Ki-Adi Mundi that had spoken, thought Charlie had no way of knowing that. She resigned herself, but was determined to make an impression. He wanted to see proof? She'd give them proof.
She spun to face him, her cloak following the motion. When she spoke, she let emotion color her voice just a touch, and imbued it with as much power and certainty as she could must, looking at each of the council members in turn.
"I was taken from my family on Janulik when I was sixteen. Darth Sidious and his apprentice Darth Tyranus, or Count Dooku as you know him, trained me. They would have me by their sides as we speak now, but I learned of the Jedi and discovered their treachery. They would have me brainwashed into thinking that the Jedi were trying to take control of the Republic. They would have me kill innocents, destroy cities! I could not abide by that. I hid my aversion to the dark side from them. With my power and Master Yoda's assistance, I was able to hide from them that I knew the truth about the galaxy." She turned back to bow to Yoda when she mentioned him, making her gratitude known.
"Make no mistake, though," she continued, "I have powers beyond what a normal Jedi should." She held out her forearms, wrists turned out, and shoved the black wrappings down with the force. "I have the mark of the Silverstars on my arms, I wear their cloak on my back, and my lightsaber," she removed it and activated it, "is of their style."
She was pleased to see the council looked less doubtful than they had a moment before. "Do not doubt my association or my allegiances. My power gives me the freedom to choose, but I have never once been swayed from my determination. I give you my word, however much that may be worth to you."
She went silent once more, replacing her weapon and wrappings, and awaiting their response. Ki-Adi Mundi nodded at her, looking somewhat contrite.
"I apologize for my doubt. You must understand my caution. These are dark times. Just recently a senator was attacked as she departed her ship. There is no safety in taking people at their word."
Charlie nodded in response, bowed low, and then turned back to Yoda.
She spoke to him and Windu. "There is a more pressing issue than my allegiances at the moment. I passed a Jedi, his Padawan, and Senator Amidala in the main hall. I overheard a piece of their conversation. The Jedi is to travel to Kamino, does he not? He is in search of a bounty hunter, though he does not know him by name." She heard the rustling of some council members shifting in their seats. So she'd surprised them. Good.
"I happen to have heard of both the planet and the bounty hunter." Charlie continued. "Jango Fett is his name. He lives on Kamino and is the DNA source of the clone army that the planet's indigenous people are building. His cloned son, Boba, lived there with him. Fett works for Sidious, he is no ally of the Jedi, no matter what your sources tell you. That Jedi will be in danger the minute he sets foot on Kamino. We must warn him before he loses his life!"
Yoda and Windu looked troubled.
"How do you know this?" asked Master Windu.
Charlie sighed, not particularly sure they would believe her response.
"I lived with Sidious and Tyranus during my training." she said. "We lived on Utapau, in a large temple. Every now and then I would pick up snippets of conversation or have access to the plan for a particular day. I pieced together as much as I could. I think you'll find much of it is useful."
Windu nodded, and tapped a panel on the side of his chair. Apparently he had believed her. Charlie stood quietly, wondering what they were waiting for. The council spoke quietly among themselves as they waited. With a whoosh of the double doors, a young female Twi-lek Padawan walked in. She bowed to the council at large, and came to stand next to Charlie.
"You summoned, Master Windu?" The Twi-lek spoke with a refined accent.
Windu nodded. "Yes, we have a mission for you." he said. "Jedi Master Kenobi has traveled to Kamino, and he will be nearly there if he has not already landed. See if you cannot make contact with him. Report back as soon as possible. This has the highest possible urgency."
The padawan bowed, and departed.
Charlie looked at Windu with curiosity. "That was Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan Anakin Skywalker that I encountered?" she questioned.
"It was, yes." responded Windu, "Skywalker is to escort the Senator to Naboo. She was the senator Master Mundi spoke of. Her ship was attacked by an assassin hired by the bounty hunter Master Kenobi is tracking. There was another attempt last night, and Chancellor Palpetine helped convince her that it was too dangerous to remain on Coruscant. Personal security overrode duty, so she placed her voting power with the Gungan and a hero of the battle of Naboo, Jar Jar Binks, and left for home. Master Kenobi was assigned to track down the bounty hunter who orchestrated several attempts on her life, in hopes of discovering who had hired him."
Charlie nodded, worried for Kenobi, Skywalker, and Amidala. She considered the situation.
"Things are worse than I had imagined. I knew of the existence of Jango Fett, yet I did not imagine her would be so bold as to attack anyone within distance of the Jedi Temple. He has grown arrogant." She said to the council at large, musing.
"Nonetheless, I suppose we must wait for your padawan to return with news. What would you have of me until then?" She directed this to Windu and Yoda.
"Nothing, until our Padawan arrives with news of Master Kenobi. One of our droids will show you to a room. I trust you will stay out of danger and within range?" Windu questioned her.
Charlie bowed, saying "I thank you again for your hospitality and trust." She put emphasis on the last word. "I do understand Master Mundi's point when it comes to security. Trust is not always a luxury we can afford. I will remain where you can reach me."
She turned and walked towards the door. Before she exited, she bowed to the council at large one more time. She left the room to greet a protocol droid and R4. She assumed that the silver droid was the one that Yoda spoke of. She slung her pack back onto her back, and waved to the protocol droid, trying to get its attention.
It saw her. "Hello milady! I am E-3PX, and I am here to see to it that you find your room and a good meal if you so desire." Charlie smiled at it, again unable to decide whether the voice was male or female.
"Lead the way." she responded.
The droid walked slowly down the long hallway towards the lifts. Charlie and R4 followed. Charlie's mind was racing with what she'd just experienced. The council had been simultaneously nothing and everything she had expected. Through the force, she could sense, simply by stepping into the room, the immense amount of wisdom and knowledge contained in the twelve Jedi masters. She was humbled. She wasn't surprised, in retrospect, that Yoda had been the one to speak to her. Of them all, he was the oldest and the wisest, and the most respected. Mundi's comments had made sense, though they worried her. How much would it take the people here to trust her? The other Jedi and the padawans, even the younglings? Charlie sighed to herself, shaking her head. She would cross that bridge when and if she came to it. For now, her thoughts should be focused on General Kenobi and his ill-fated mission to Kamino. She wished even more now that she'd had the presence of mind to stop him when she'd heard him mention Kamino in the main hall. Now, his life was in danger and there was nothing she could do about it until they'd achieved contact.
She and R4 followed the droid onto a lift, and the droid pressed a command into the panel.
"I hope your meeting with the council was fruitful?" the droid asked.
Charlie thought for a moment before responding, gathering her thoughts. "Yes, I suppose it was." she replied. "They are an intimidating bunch, are they not?" She smiled at her own comment.
The droid seemed about to agree before stopping for a second. Charlie looked at it curiously.
It spoke, saying "My word, milady. I am receiving a message for you from Masters Yoda and Windu. Will you hear it now?"
Charlie nodded, curious as to what they could want already. She'd just left.
The message came in Windu's voice, something very strange to hear out of the droid's mouth.
"The council," he began, "has voted to request that you give a… display of your undoubtedly impressive skills."
Charlie smiled at his hesitation. She had given them something to be wary about, and she didn't view this as all bad. She could hear the trepidation in his voice. He hadn't wanted to ask her this.
The message continued. "Some members are unsure if you are as powerful as you say. Master Yoda and I have tried to back up your claims. It seems that Master Yoda knew tell of one or two of your ancestors. Nonetheless, not everyone was convinced."
Charlie wasn't surprised by this. Yoda was very old, from what she could tell. She wondered if he had any more information than she did about the Silverstars.
Windu still wasn't done. "If you agree, E-3PX will take you to the training rooms immediately."
Charlie heard his voice soften then. "I apologize for this intrusion. You have become more than we could ever have hoped for. Only a very powerful being could have hidden from two Sith Lords the way you did. Nonetheless, as I say, some still have fears."
The message ended, and 3PX looked at Charlie questioningly. It was clearly waiting for Charlie's decision. She took a moment to think about what would happen if she said no. She supposed she would have a chance to prove herself in battle within not too long a time. But then again, if she wanted to be forewarned about the battles in the first place, than she would have to give them a reason to believe she could handle herself in one. She made up her mind.
"Yes, E-3PX." Charlie responded to the droid. "I think I will give them a display they'll remember for a time to come. Take me to the training rooms."
The droid nodded. "Very good milady!" it said enthusiastically.
And down they went, the lift moving as slowly as ever.