Note: For the last five episodes I will not be including the Summaries at the beginning to explain previous actions. Not only is there too much to cover and take up useless room, but after this much time you should have an idea what has happened.
Also, despite the Hiatius, I decided to go ahead and return to releasing chapters. I will do it VERY slowly, so you won't catch up before I'm done, but still.
Also, I made a small change as I went along. The final part of the story is now:
Ep 14 - And the Galaxy Spins
Ep 15 - Death's Apprentice
Ep 16 - A Matter of Perspective
Ep 17 - A Matter of Lies
Ep 18 - A Matter of Truth
Ep 19 - What Remains to be Said
Ep 20 - Those We Leave Behind (Epilogue)
Because I want to flesh out some of the more important things as their own episode rather than have been take up room alongside other important things that diserve their own room.
Also, I want to apologize, but I realized I actually cannot use the survey. It was nice knowing what people thought, so I am taking the feedback into consideration, but I had forgotten that from the very beginning I had a very specific plot set down for the ending, and if I take up some of the survey seriously, it would drastically change a lot of things. Perhaps too much.
Now the focus is on climaxing this sucker!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not even the clothes on my back.
Episode 14 - And the Galaxy Spins
Just as Anakin once said to Varus, the galaxy does not stop spinning when bad things happen. It does not stop to take notice. So while events conspired on Manaan, and Anakin couldn't get through to Triple Zero. Coruscant was going through a change. Windu called all Jedi home to Triple Zero in secret, as Anakin was able to receive through a special channel.
Naturally, to prevent it from being noticed, only those of public notice, such as generals in battle, were not recalled. But among those called, twenty-five thousand returned. Let us realize the galaxy is a big place. There are easily hundreds of thousands of Jedi, a mere fraction against the number of Force-Users unaccounted for and untrained, whether they know of their gift or not. Anakin was amongst those called, but with the urgency of his mission, he continued on.
The Confederacy pulled back its border due to a need to run maintenance on its droid army. The Republic pushed forward with fresh vigor against the defenseless enemy, taking just over twenty percent within a short time.
This will prove short lived as the Senate still has not come to any kind of agreement on resupplying the army with fresh troops or any kind of leave. This only lead to the growth of a political dilemma amongst the population of the treatment of the clone army; and while the Mandalorian clans have before tried to keep themselves out of Republic situations, Izthark stepped forward to demand better treatment of their 'cousins'.
However, the focus of the Galaxy turned to Kashyyk, as one of the many bills Palpatine signed 'yes', was in turning over Kashyyk, and the Wookie natives, to the Trandoshens. The Trandoshens have a religion based around The Scorekeeper, where, if they hunt prey worth 'points' they will be able to ascend to their own version of heaven in the trees and be able to hunt for eternity. They have long had a respectful neutrality with the Mandalorians because of their common grounds in proving themselves in extreme situations and in the hunt, however, the dilemma comes in the Trandoshen government being usurped by a fanatical group that goes beyond just the 'catch and release' and into a mindset of assassination, skinning their victims, and publically showing off the corpse. The Trandoshen fanaticals have long had a focus on the Wookies.
The Wookie Senator departed, and various ranking members of the military and civilian sectors shifted their attention to the planet, as well as the Mandalorians. The Mandalorians had been generating a sudden friendship to the Wookies, to the point of making a station on the border between them.
With the government of Kashyyk cast out of the Republic, a planet in the sector just next to Coruscant, it became the focus of the Confederacy, of the Trandoshens, the Mandalorians, and of those among the Republic who would not accept the move. Imaginably, many among the Senate were upset, and it was at this time that Windu made his move.
Yet, even though the focus of the Galaxy turns toward the planet just by Coruscant's door that had been cast out, Anakin's focus was on his team. He hoped their choice on Manaan would not have too bad of repercussions, especially his deceiving of the ambassador, but it would be worth it. Especially once they have the Star Forge, and he returns home so he can begin making efforts in paying the ambassador back however he can.
Varus' checkups were overdue and he couldn't get through to the Council because they were too busy for reasons unknown to him. Varus was having nightmares, Snips was spending her free time looking through official Holonet channels trying to find Maris, and their unfortunate companion, HK, was waterlogged.
Anakin spent his time in mid-Warp working on the droid. He found the circuits were entirely corroded from saltwater. Saltwater leaves behind residues that melt themselves into the wiring from exposure to the extreme heat. The various metals and residues then tamper with the wiring, and destroy it. It would take a strong sonic shower to chip it all away, but it would also degrade the original hardware by chipping away from it too in the process; and with HK already being ancient, he didn't see the droid surviving the 'surgery'.
He removed every part that was so old it wouldn't survive. The only piece of hardware, in the end, that was recoverable was the brain casing. The kernel, or primary core, was incased inside a special black box that allowed electrical currents to flow out, but was air-tight. It was a design used for special droids designed to have preserved information or intelligence.
It was not necessarily a crucial thought, but if he could get into the brain box, who knows what he might find. Varus reported that the droid was Revan's personal droid, with the Sith Lords knowledge, tactics, and plans all registered. The black box was the equivalent to a 'gentle' Sith Holocron.
They briefly ended their journey by entering the sector border of Kashyyk and the Mandalorian Clans. The space station had only just started work. Acting as its temporary replacement was a small fleet of ships split between the Mandalorians and the Wookies.
The Wookies had a very small fleet. They could barely make ships themselves. Their entire fleet was comprised of ships they had struggled to take from their enemies, and ones they bought or were given by others. Only a single percent of their fleet was made by their own hands.
Anakin broadcasted his ship's signal publically upon leaving Warp. He kept his distance from the ships just in case, and before long he was hailed. "Name and purpose?" The person said. Judging from his sharp tone and speech, he was Mandalorian.
"Jedi Knight General Anakin Skywalker, captain of The Mundane. I have a passenger requiring a medical checkup, and possibly surgery, although he is not in immediate danger. I am expected on Kashyyk."
"One moment." The line was put on hold.
A yawn alerted him to the arrival of his first Padawan. Snips sat down in the co-pilot seat and put her head down on the board. "What'd I miss?"
"Nothing, we just arrived."
"Oh." She yawned again. "Good." Her eyes briefly moved to Varus, who was sleeping soundly after yet another nightmare. "Any worse?"
"He has been having worse nightmares, I've noticed, but nothing that suggests the implant is active. First thing we're doing is getting it removed before we land."
The line returned and the Mandalorian said, "You have permission to enter."
"Thank you." Anakin replied. "Would you tell the medical cruiser that we are coming?"
"I'll ensure they know. Anything else?"
"No, that will be all. Thank you."
"Yeah." The man curtly responded before ending the line.
"Lovely bunch, aren't they?" Snips said.
The Mundane flew into the Mandalorian fleet. Snips transmitted docking plans with the medical frigate, and the plans lit up on the screen. The AI gave them a position on the third landing square, pending a five minute wait to allow another one to leave. They sat and waited as a small craft left the frigate's docking bay, and the frigate's AI on the screen let them know visually with green lights that it was clear for them to enter. They floated in slowly, moved into position, and once the screen confirmed they were in place, they landed.
Anakin cut off the engines. The inner door into the ship opened to reveal a small team of doctors, nurses, and assistants. They made their way to The Mundane. Anakin opened the door. "That will be unnecessary, he can walk." He let them know. They stepped back to wait, and Anakin woke Varus.
"Whazzit?" Varus mumbled as he woke. he started to sit up, but pain in his neck made him suck in breathe violently. Anakin grabbed him around the waist and helped him up.
"These doctors are going to take care of you, Varus. Make sure that the job I started is finished correctly."
"That-that was you?!" He gasped partially in horror and partially in amazement. The doctors helped him walk slowly away. Anakin had the impression Varus wanted to turn his head to look back questionably, but the young man's neck was inflamed and bruised. The muscles were tight as rods. Every movement in the Padawan's body reverberated up or down his neck, making him suck in his breathe.
The group disappeared through the door.
"You didn't tell him?" Anakin asked Snips. She shrugged.
"What to do with you now..." Anakin wondered to himself. He played with HK's memory core in his hand. there were a number of options. Destroy it, and hurt his Padawan's feelings by reducing his number of friends down by one, leave it somewhere, and leave Varus wondering where HK is, repair HK, which was a waste of time, or replace its body. He didn't have the resources on hand to build a whole new HK, and frankly, didn't want to. A homocidal droid with that much advanced hardware was not promising. He had the money, but not on hand anyway.
"Let's see what we can scrounge up." He said to HK. As if the droid could hear him without having an input microphone.
Anakin left the core on the tablet and opened the droid closet. A few droids looked up at him in attention, and he couldn't see himself replacing any of them with HK. He needed one that was obsolete or just missing a primary core. Thankfully, there was a pile of droid parts in the corner. It was mostly to replace and repair droids they already had, but it should come in handy.
He scrummaged through the parts but found that while it was nice having four legs, three arms, and a couple of fingers, overall it was a very incomplete set to work with. Unless he wanted to turn HK into a seven-arm-leg-thing. Varus would get a kick out of it, but it was almost blasphemy to the engineer-like-knight. He felt he needed something whole, or at least enough parts to make something whole. He wasn't going to put HK into something half-assed.
He opened a couple of cupboards with screws, nails, pieces of internal RAM plates, and... Anakin stopped and looked at the black rectangular object. "That will work."
Ahsoka stood outside the glass casing keeping her out of the operating room. It had been going on for four hours now, and it was just finishing if the sight of doctors taking off their gloves was any clue. They walked out. "Any luck?" She asked.
The surgeon shook his head sadly. "The device was fused directly to the vertebrae. It is made of a very durable metal. The only way to remove it would be with tools that reach too high a temperature to risk placing that close to his nervous system. Even if we managed to cut the cords wrapping around the bone, the temperature of the cutter would have to reach several hundred degrees, which... being barely a centimeter away from his inner spine." He sighed. "I'm sorry. We were able to trim the device down to a smaller shape and removed the internal components, but there will not be a complete removal."
Ahsoka's eyes fell, but she nodded. She felt sorry for him, but she knew him. He wasn't the type of person who likes being pitied. He would endure it, mouth off, and do little more than add it to his imaginary list of bad days. For all of his lack of self-control, he was a very strong person underneath. At least until you reached down into the lonely depths a little too close to his heart. "I'm sure he will understand when he wakes up. Speaking of which?"
"It shouldn't be long. a medigel treatment for today and tomorrow, but after that it should be fine. There wasn't near as much muscular damage as there could have been." Ahsoka winced. Odds are their medigel trade would be hurt greatly if Manaan had any issue, which, with how they held grudges before, they would.
She shuddered to think how many troops would die now without proper treatment, but obtaining this Star Forge, a factory that brought the Republic to its knees under Revan, would be worth it, hopefully.
Hopefully.
And saving a friend who's only inebriated desire was friendship…
As if there was ever any doubt.
"Thank you." She smiled with a heavy heart.
I groan painfully just before opening my eyes. Oh, I'm back on the ship, what's-its-name. Crap, my neck hurts.
"You're awake!" Ahsoka says cheerfully. She bounces over.
"No crap! I just noticed!" I bite out before I stop myself. I flinch. "Sorry… I don't feel so good."
"That's definitely Varus." Tree-Hugger says. I can almost hear him smiling.
Gah… why can't I move my head at all? Last thing I remember was Manaan and… oh yeah. They drugged me, and… "What happened? I can't move my head."
"Remember when I said they decided to mess with your head? They stuck a device in your neck. The doctor's here worked on you to remove it."
"Here." Ashoka grabbed my head. I hiss painfully as she lifts it and lets it back down and there's something under my neck. Something soft. I reach back to feel it. "It's a pad. Kind of like a medi-gel sponge."
Oh. "So?"
"It will help speed up your recovery. You had surgery two days ago."
Oh. Is that why I'm so thirsty? AND WE JUST CAME FROM A WATER PLANET!? How can I be thirsty! "I'm thirsty… (Ahsoka walks away.) Did it work out?"
Tree-Hugger comes over and sits by me. "The device in your neck was destroyed, and carved down to a smaller size so that it is barely noticeable now; but they couldn't defuse it from your vertebrae entirely without risking your life."
I reach around as best as I can and touch it. It stings like mad, but sure enough I can't feel anything except the stitches. So it's still there, but not doing anything more.
Fair enough, I'll probably forget about it.
Ahsoka brings some water, with my thanks. I levitate some water into my mouth. Sloppy, but I would rather handle myself than be babied more than I already have been. Would be even worse if HK did it, his closest form of helping would be shooting the glass.
Wait…
"Where's HK?" I ask.
They both frown. Great… Did something- Did it die?! Oh come on! It was nice having it around! "What happened?" I ask for probably the fifteenth time in the last few days.
"Well…" Tree-Hugger fidgets awkwardly. "You might not like this." He stands up and goes to a built-in closet. "But… uh…" He opens the closet and a little black box flies around of the top shelf onto the floor like a freed up bird without wings.
I hear the spinning of wheels as the thing zooms around on the ground beside me. I can't turn my head, but judging from how the two of them are dodging it, the droid in question is ticked.
The droid on the ground chirps, "Master! This hardware is incompatible, insufficient, inoperable, inadequate, and 100% undesirable!" The droid somehow zooms up small passages and ramps to work its way up to my wall-bed, goes up onto my chest, and suddenly there is a little black box resting on my chest on four wheels. It has no eyes of any kind, but I can feel it glaring down at me in a demanding manner. "This unit demands replacement!"
"HK?" This can't be right.
"Beg: Please provide orders to obtain revenge on your plant-embracer for installing me in this undesirable containment! Just one syllable, and I will tear the flesh from his meat!"
Oh, that is so tempting. I laugh briefly, but the pain makes me stop. I turn as best I can toward Tree-Hugger, who narrows his eyes at me.
-You wouldn't…- I hear his voice in my head.
"Sick him."
"Varus!"
HK leaps off my chest without hesitation. I can all but hear the diabolical laughing and war cries. I can't see it on the ground, but judging from the high pitched squealing of wheels, and the hilarious moment where Tree-Hugger jumps on a chair, I want to. Ahsoka sits down by my feet and restrains herself from laughing until she cries.
"Varus." Tree-Hugger demands.
HK circles around the chair doing his little native wheelie dance.
"Varus. We do need to move on." Ahsoka allows. She is trying to hold back a smile, but it is showing in her watery eyes.
I roll my eyes. "HK, leave it."
"Awwww…" HK drones. It skids away and hides under my bed. It blows a raspberry. Since when did that droid have the programming to do that?
Tree-Hugger takes the pilot's chair and sets us off. Ahsoka sits with him. She broadcasts the fleet to inform them of our progress and keep everyone informed, and ensure we have permission to progress. And we're on our way to Kashyyk!
"You failed…"
The large man ignored her outwardly, but said, "We went over this already." His voice was deep and gruff. He continued to work the repairs on his suit. It was designed to withstand many things, but electricity apparently was something his employer's had not expected. His suit wasn't damaged per say, but the inability to recover fast enough could have cost him his life if his target hadn't been knocked out in the blast.
Next time he would be prepared.
The girl laughed. It was mocking and sarcastic and set him on edge. He could kill her, he probably should with how insane she was becoming more and more each day, but she had her uses.
"That doesn't change anything." Maris said. Her eyes flashed red with hungry power and she leered down at him. "Next time we come close, you will not be ready because your too… dependent on your gear."
"Time is a necessity, girl. Something you should be grateful to still have."
Maris ignored him and pressed on, "Next time, it's my turn. I am not about to let you hold me back."
Having enough of her worsening attitude, he grabbed his sword and thrust it to her neck. It may be too heavy to use easily without his suit, but he wasn't a warrior for nothing. It merely took two hands. She didn't react, she didn't move. She merely looked into his eyes. Her insane red orbs against his experienced perceiving eye.
Her lips curled in a mocking snarl, daring him to do it.
She was truly insane. Did she WANT to die?
No, if she did, she wouldn't have struck a deal with him.
She snarls, "Your metal and gears are nothing against the power the Force! It understands my need for justice, and fuels me, encouraging me to complete my task."
"Didn't do much encouraging when I beat your face into the sand." He says simply.
Her smile dims briefly, only to return with a glimpse of understanding. "You're right. I was holding myself back! Keeping myself from opening myself to the Force's gifts and understanding. I will not hold back next time."
He didn't know whether to take that as a threat to himself or his target. Her eyes weren't looking into his with clear recognition. She was thinking of someone else.
He lowered his blade, and returned it to its place. "Do what you want. But I need a finger."
She laughed a hollow broken cheer. "When I'm done with him, you can have all ten."
I wake up again, seemingly hours later, after our arrival on this Kashyyk place. I climb up gingerly, with some assistance, and massage my neck. The pad I rested my head on did wonders! I can move again! "Thanks, mother." I mockingly sing-song. Tree-Hugger snorts in contained laughter, and Ahsoka narrows her cute little eyes at me. Sorry girl, they aren't intimidating me. I just grin harder. She glares at me further, and my grin widens. Yeah, still not working.
"Mother?" She asks.
"Mother Hen. Why, you prefer 'slut'?"
"No!" She says entirely too quickly in surprise. "No, no... It's fine, just odd." She stumbles over herself awkwardly which only makes me smirk harder. "I... just... I'm not trying to be-" She looks me and Tree-Hugger, who is, just to be clear, standing there watching this with barely contained amusement. I wiggle my eyebrows like a retard. She reddens more than her already red-white body does. "MEN!" She storms out.
Tree-Hugger and I take one look at each other and burst out laughing. I grab my bag and check it over. I strap my green lightsaber to my waist, grab a water bottle -I'm still thirsty-, and throw around my shoulders my Jedi robes over my older blackish-steel torn-apart rags. Tree-Hugger passes to me a belt. It is covered in little pockets and is entirely too big for my waist. "What's that for?"
"Little things. Pills, keys, wire, little holographic discs. It is more or less a survival belt designed to hold little things you don't want to carry in your hands. You strap it around your shoulder and your opposite waist." Oh. I remove my robe and strap the brown pocket belt across my chest. Looks tacky. I do a tighter loop around my waist that droops down a bit to my ankle. Further adjustment turns it into a double loop hanging on my waist and dangling as far as my thighs. This thing is ridicules... I complain, "I don't see you having one."
"I don't need one." He smirks.
I roll my eyes and make it a bit tighter. It's still around my waist, and the extra loops are over my thighs, but it won't fall off my butt any time soon. I slip my lightsaber smoothly into it. It looks better now, but I'm not sure what to put into it. My backpack is mostly made of small items... so I guess this thing would come in handy. I guess?
I find a spot on the belt for almost everything from my bag. I even stick my water bottle on the opposite lightsaber hoop!
Master stares to the water bottle. "That looks stupid there."
Probably does. I can just picture a foe seeing my lightsaber, looking on the other side and seeing... a water bottle. Ohhh, so scary.
I slip the Jedi robes back on and massage my neck. I probably have a bruise, but It's nothing compared to what it was. I follow Tree-Hugger down the ramp. I close my eyes to silently pray.
Please, Force, don't let it be like the others... Tatooine was nothing but sand. Manaan was nothing but water. I open my eyes and frown. The planet is one giant mess of trees... Isn't it? Tree trunks as far up as my eyes can see and as far into the landscape as I can manage. Well that's just great. If this planet is like all the others so far, and wants to mess with my head, at least I'll be prepared!
"Get the urge to get huggy?" I ask Tree-Hugger.
"That's not funny." He says flatly, but the quivering corner of his lip betrays him.
I smirk, but not press the issue. I pull out my water bottle and take a swig. We landed on a wooden platform. Actually, the entire area is a network of platforms around the trunks of the trees. Interesting. Ahsoka is over there talking to Falcon and...
Falcon...
"YOU!" A very gruff and deep voice hollars.
"Oh crap!" I dart away, but I'm too late. A massive hand grabs me by the back of my collar and lifts me off the ground. Despite that, I try my best to keep running in mid-air. I need to get out of here! WHY AM I NOT MOVING!
"Enough of that!" The person says.
I tire out and droop from the arm that is holding me up in the air. With a twist of his hand, Psycho-Bunny shifts me to look him in the eye from his head-level. I know I'm not as tall as him, but he doesn't need to lift me a foot off the ground to prove a point! Why does he even do that!?
Sanity meet Psycho. You two should catch up!
"Hello, Varus." He says warmly. He smiles widely, but I'm not fooled. Beneath the nicety and warm feeling and his attempts to look like some idiot's grandpa is a whole slew of issues that can only be described as psychotic.
"Psycho-Bunny." I return with a glare.
The warm smile holds, but I can see the wheels turning in his head. Everyone holds their breathe.
Ahsoka sighs as she watches Master Rahm Kota snap, and wrestle Varus to the ground. Varus squeals 'NO!' repeatedly while he tries to fight back, but it takes no longer than five seconds before he is on the ground with his face stuck in the stronger man's armpit in a headlock.
"YOU'RE INSOLENT!"
"Right!" Varus yells through the man's armpit.
"You're insubordinate!"
"RIGHT! AND YOUR NUTS!"
Falon smiles, but Ahsoka sighs again. "They are going to be like that for a while, aren't they?"
As if to answer her question, the banter continues. "YOUR ARMPIT SMELLS LIKE CRAP!"
"YOU WILL GIVE ME THE RESPECT I DESERVE!"
"Kiss my ass!"
Falon nods. "Yep. They are going to be like this a long time." Ahsoka groans. They are on a mission. Why is it that everywhere they go, something happens with Varus within moments of them landing?
Tree-Hugger shakes his head in amusement and motions to Ahsoka for her to follow. "Varus, when you're done playing, we will be in the village chief's tent."
"NO!" The abused Padawan yells. "Don't leave me!"
"Bye Varus."
The following sound reminded Ahsoka of a animal dying a slow, painful death.
Falon joins the two of them as they walk down the landing pad into the main area of the Wookie village. There are an unusual number of Mandalorians around, something which Ahsoka takes note of in her mind. "So, Falon." Anakin starts. "What brings you here?"
"You remember how Grand Chancellor Palpatine has been acting... unusual?"
Anakin frowned, and his eyes darkened sadly for a brief time. He quickly covered it with a facial mask, but Ahsoka was able to catch it. The Chancellor was one of the few friends Anakin believed he had beyond the cold political world he was trapped in. "Yes."
"One of the days where Palpatine signed every single bill as 'yes', the Trandoshens snuck one in giving Kashyyk to them, and all on the planet to them as property. Including the Wookies. The Jedi assigned Master Kota and I to work on helping them in whatever way we can."
"Why did he do that?!" Anakin gasped.
The boy shrugged. "I don't know. but the Wookies are enraged, the senate is upset -hence our presence-, and the Mandalorians have played an active role in politics for the first time... ever."
Anakin felt ashamed that he couldn't be home to help his friend, and made a mental note to check on his wife. The Senate was probably in chaos. She would undoubtedly be in need of a good cry or scream. But if only he could be home…
Priorities… He was a Jedi Knight and the Forge was crucial, and keeping a firm hand on his Padawans. No matter what his heart wanted…
Falon lead the two of them to a large hut building. Inside was a large group of Mandalorians and Wookies, amongst them being Zaalbar, Izthark, and Mandalore. Anakin and Ahsoka stopped on sight, and waited. Mandalore stood to the side leaning against the wall, his arms looped together. His helmet turned briefly in their direction, but turned away just as lazily. Zaalbar waved the two Jedi over.
"General Skywalker." The Wookie growled pleasantly.
"Senator." Anakin nodded. "Or is it former?"
The Wookie shrugged, his eyes angry and feral. "I don't know. We may not wish to rejoin after being cast aside so easily. It warms our hearts that some of the Senate have sent help, and the Jedi's presence, but two Senators is not enough of a reaction amongst a thousand. Only three want us truly back. The rest could not care. They argue for the sake of argument, and fear that they will be annexed next. If I do return to being Senator, it would be as an outsider like Izthark."
Anakin frowned, but understood. He had the impression that two of the Senators in question was Padme and Izthark. The third was probably a friend of hers, like the Alderaan Senator.
"You're late." Mandalore speaks up.
"I wasn't aware I was on a time table." Anakin responds neutrally.
"Not you. He means me." A new voice says from behind him. Anakin turns to see Carth Onasi. Carth had aged well and was nearing forty. He nodded respectfully to the Jedi as he entered and passed them, but took hold of Mandalore's firm arm in a shake. "Apologies, old friend. I came across this old lady who needed help crossing the street. She was surrounded on all sides by no less than fifty pirates."
"Forty-nine of whom she had the pleasure of killing, I'm sure."
Carth shrugged. "Someone had to sit back and supervise."
"I take it you two know each other?" Izthark asked.
"Three." Mandalore corrected. "The two of us and the fur rug over there worked under Revan against Malak."
"I couldn't just let an old friend be thrown to the winds. But please don't tell anyone. I don't need the Republic thinking I've abandoned my lines." Carth asked.
"Have you?" Mandalore asked cheekily.
"No!"
"Pity…"
"Is there anything we can help you with?" Anakin inquired. Truth be told, they appeared to have all their bases covered. The Mandalorian clans, a Republican High General, two Senators, and a Jedi squad, one of which has extensive experience in leading guerilla warfare, all were gathered here. "Looks like you have something big."
Mandalore fell silent again and returned to leaning back. Carth sat down at the table, Izthark stood behind his chair, and Zaalbar remained where he was. The Wookie said in angry growls, "A renegade group of Mandalorians, exiled from clans, have hunted us on the surface for years. They skin their trophies and mock us. They work with the Trandoshens and sell the skins to them. They have been a hassle, but now that the Trandoshens are coming after us in force, they are being funded and supplied to hinder our defenses."
Anakin pointed to Mandalore, "Explains why you're here, and Kota." Mandalore nodded.
Carth inserted, "I'm here for Republic interests, and because he's an old friend. General Skywalker, everything is handled. The Trandoshens are five hours away, but I am sure you have your own mission?" Anakin nodded. He wasn't sure if they were in the group with a need to know basis. Thankfully, Zaalbar understood the need to know basis and kept his mouth shut. It didn't pertain to them anyway.
Actually they looked like they had a bit of excess power between the three of them against the invasion, and-
Azhoka's eyes bloomed open and she darted out of the hut. Anakin openly gaped at her sudden departure a moment before clenching his jaw and chasing after her, more curious and alert than embarrassed.
"Repeat after me. GGiinn-eeerr-uuulll-raw-mmm-kooo-ttuuhh!"
"Piece of crap." I hiss. I pull against his grip, but he has his arm around my neck tightly enough that I can't move my head out, and now the ass is leisurely laying ontop of me. Yeah, I'm pinned. "Force, you weigh a ton!" He growls under his breath and OH he doesn't need to put more weight on me! I get it already! He's a crappy old man without a sense of humor! I can barely breathe under his weight.
"Say my name."
"Uncle!" I squeak. I manage to squirm a bit, but that freedom is immediately clamped down as he pins my arms and legs. I yell and fight as best I can.
He laughs. "Wrong. Say my name."
A new voice yells, "Master!"
"Wron- what?" The pressure on my side alleviates a bit as the piece-of-crap over here looks toward the voice. A black box skids down the ramp, across planks, and runs straight into his ankle. He flinches in pain just enough that when he looks down I'm already at the exit dashing away. Little HK shadows me closely. His little body going over one plank to the next like it's an obstacle course, because with his size, it probably is.
"Thanks." I say. I take a sharp left around the trunk of a tree down another path. HK turns so hard he spins on two wheels to keep up.
"Appreciative statement: Thanks is unnecessary. I live to serve."
I couldn't have asked for a better droid even if it's new body is a little three by six inch floor washing box on wheels. We fly down random path ways in our escape, and before long I think we lost him. Now to getting back to Tree-Hugger and Mother Hen... Great. What was the name of the guy we needed to meet? Did Tree-Hugger even tell me? I ask HK.
"Master. Plant-Embracer said, (his voice shifts) 'Snips, once we land we are going to meet up with Zaalbar or his brother if he isn't available. They have the coordinates secure, so this should be an easy ride. And then we shall assume total annialation the Wookie homeworld and-'."
"I don't think he said that last part." I laugh. Not sure if it is a good or bad thing that the last part of that was still in Tree-Hugger's voice.
"Disappointed sigh: One can always dream." HK doesn't strike me as much of a dreamer, but then, I guess, if he does dream, it would be of him blowing up entire worlds or gutting little kittens with a spoon, because its sadistic like that.
In orbit above Kashyyk, the fleet lead by Mandalore and Carth Onasi, accordingly, rested in wait. Their wait was not wasted as a series of ships appeared out of hyperspace four thousand kilometers away. The range was beyond any guns they had at their disposal, and was on the outer band of their scanners. Close enough to know something was there, but not enough to provide information on their make and model nor their number. The density of the signals easily could confuse the scans into believing there was one ship when there were a dozen hiding behind. The only thing they could confirm was the Allegiance-Code didn't match that of the other Mandalorian ships, nor that of the Republic.
Aboard the flagship Harbinger resided the fleet general of the Mandalorians, and on a hover disc not two feet away was the Republic fleet general. The broadcast allowed constant communication and coordination. A table between the two men rose and showed holographic images of the solar system. The Mandalorian, Onasi, and Wookie fleet rested above the capital of Kashyyk, and the unknown fleet rested at the northern pole.
"We have incoming…" The Republic General commented. The Mandalorian nodded his agreement. "I'll notify the Senators and High Generals. They'll want to prepare and-"
"Don't bother. We aren't some pissyputs who can't tie their shoes! Mandalore expects us to be able to handle ourselves. Otherwise, what are we doing here?!" An attendant presented him with his helmet and he slipped his head in. "Let them know all you want. Till we have further orders, there are some things we can do. Send the Shorty and Levi in to scan." He touched a pair of ships with his finger and moved the points up to where he wanted them. The ships confirmed the request and moved out. A built in A.I. alerted him that it would take half an hour for the two ships to arrive.
Naturally, being human-lead vessels, the captains had the privilege to interpret the orders. Rather than head to the exact locations requested, the Mandalorian General noted the two chose to head slightly to the left and right to help cover a larger range. The two captains responded back to the general with what they were doing. Judging from the pattern, he decided to send a third ship in. "Hourglass, head here. Triangulate your scans with the Shorty and Levi for accuracy." The Hourglass captain confirmed the request and headed out. The Hourglass responded with its interpretation route. It was seven minutes behind the other two, but could tick off four minutes by shortcutting it through the higher atmosphere. "Don't." He ordered. "If the unknowns respond with hostility, you will have difficulty getting out in time. Don't shortcut this. Battlecruiser Orion, back them up. Ensure they are left untouched."
The Orion responded with a travel route request to the center of the three scanning vessels. The General confirmed it, sat back, and could only wait.
"You shouldn't have done that…" The Republic general frowned. "We don't have our orders. Once we have the High General, then we can coordinate and-"
The Mandalorian rolled his eyes. "We are grown men here, general! We don't need to sit here counting fingers and toes. I don't know how you Republican puppy-boys do it, but if we can work, we work. I'm not stupid enough to send them to their death, if that's what your worried about."
The Republic general relented with a sigh. "I'll have my fleet standing by. Sending a transport down to pick up the High Generals."
"You do that…"
Another ship appeared on the terminal as the transport descended, but two ships went down, not one. "Did you send two?" The Mandalorian wondered.
"No." The Republic General frowned sharply. He turned away toward his soldiers. "Someone get a fix on that ship… It's not part of the fleet?!"
The Mandalorian looked sharply from the general to the terminal. "Get me a fix on it. Hail it." After a soldier confirmed the hail, he continued. "Unknown vessel! You are flying through barricaded space! Return to the fleet for questioning or you will be shot down!" He waited. No answer. The ship continued to descend. He looked to the Republic General, who shook his head. "Unknown ship, return IMMEDIATELY!" He barked.
Nothing. "Someone get a fix on it." He ordered.
"Sir!" A man responded. "It's hugging the Republic transport closely! We risk shooting the transport."
The Mandalorian clenched his jaw angrily and slammed his fist down.
We stop to catch my breathe. HK asks, "Inquiry: Master, why not end the undesirable, Jedi?"
"Who?"
"The one choking you." Ah, Kota. Indeed, why not just end him? Truth be told I wouldn't think to murder him or anything, and its not like the man really wants me dead. Its just... the man is psychotic. He is nice at times and somewhat warm and other times he has the sense of play of a pack of wolves. But even wolves play rough. Is that was the man does? Some kind of male bonding crap-olla?
Actually, that kind of makes sense. He is a big bad general who trained his own personal militia personally, and I'm this loud mouth kid who refuses to cooperate, while we both give each other a bad time. Like... I'm the next 'level' hardass for him to train, or something. People are complicated. "I don't think he means to kill me."
"Then why choke you?" HK inquires curiously.
I shrug. How would it make sense to a killer robot? Probably something related to acquiring information or training. "I'm guessing its practice for hostile situations. Or just something males do along those lines. Tree-Hugger does crap like that time to time, but not that extreme. Tree-Hugger is more along the lines of dueling while Psycho-Bunny back there seems to enjoy jumping me and wrestling me to the ground while toying with me verbally."
"Like live simulations."
"Exactly."
HK is silent for a moment and I can all but hear the gears turning inside the little rectangular droid. "Understood." It concludes. "I shall add that to my list of functions to provide updated patches. Once this unit acquires lethal hardware again, I look forward to testing out these unused functions." With that, the cleaning/killer droid continues down the path. I groan loudly. Great! Just great! Another thing after my life!
"Just promise me you will leave the final step (being my death) to theory and leave me with my limbs attached."
"But master, the final 'step' has so many variables for failure!" It argues as though I've lost my mind.
I roll my eyes and look around. Which way was it to this Zaalbar guy? The Mandalorians and Wookies (Thank the Force they aren't taking my droid's statements to seriously!) look at us funny, but otherwise leave us alone. We probably look like an idiot with his pet floor scrubbing droid. Aside from the odd glances, everything seems fine. The atmosphere is completely different from what I've been used to.
The temple was a bunch of monk-fighters in polished stone walls with all the emotional capacity of a brick. Coruscant had me confined mostly to buildings, cars, bumping into Tree-Hugger's friends, more traveling in hovercars, and finally a building (notice a pattern?) where I could stick my stuff, if I had any. I still have to actually get around to making my apartment lived in. This extended mission has been going on... a while. Not sure how long, I haven't bothered keeping track. Then there was Tatooine which was basically a bunch of sand and a lot of angry people with a lot of old grudges, and Koj. Koj'Ineh I found I could respect, and I got a sense he respected me too. Then there was Manaan, and that is just a whole stinking barrel of fish to think about. I go from nothing from towering buildings to sand with no water to water with no sand and now towering wildlife in the absence of buildings. This sounds like a big cosmic joke...
I swear the next place will be a planet of death and missery just because the Force likes to mess with me, and it would be the opposite of this place that is filled with so much life just as the first two planets were polar opposites. (Sand with no water versus water with no land.)
But still, Kashyyk thus far looks like the most comfortable. It lacks the piety and ambition of politicial gain of both Manaan and Coruscant nor their shared economic hunger, it lacks the open distrust and hostility of Tatooine. If anything, the atmosphere is more humble and comfortable. Yes, I am surrounded by fur rugs that look like they can rip my arm off. Yes, I am surrounded by massive hulky men in thick armor plating that can rip my other arm off. And yes, I have a pet droid who would love to direct both of them while they do it, and point out the flaws in their technique, but all the same the power they have lacks the ambition and hiding. They can do it, they know they can do it, so they feel safe knowing you know they know they can do it.
They also have this odd habit of looking me in the eye and nodding their head. There is something in their eye while they do it that makes my inner-ego feel like it's grown a couple pounds, but I just can't quite place it. The only thing I know I can place is that this is the safest I've ever felt. I'm this scrawny Jedi with a water bottle in my second lightsaber hoop, alone and surrounded by people that could kill me without bothering to think about it. It's like... I don't know. I'm not big on understanding social crap. It must be some Force thing that, instead of giving me the 'OH CRAP' vibes, is giving me the 'thiiiiss feeeeels gooooooood' vibes. Which sounds a whole heck of alot better before I thought it outloud.
Now... to finding this Zaalbar dude and getting the coordinates to that Space Forge. I take a huge gulp of water.
"HK, can you speak Kashyyk?" I ask. the two of us stop by a hut where a bunch of soldiers are eating, stand to the side, and observe them pass by like we're ant watching.
"Correction: Kashyyk is the planet, and Wookie is the native population. Hypothetical: If you are asking if I know the language of the natives, the answer would be 'Yes'."
"Great, can you ask one if he knows where this 'Zaalbar' is?"
"Roger! Death imminent!"
"No!" I snap quickly. "No death, just ask him -or her- if we can have directions to where their chief person is? Tree-Hugger and Mother Hen are probably meeting with him."
"Oh..." It says with clear disappointment. "Inquiry imminent..."
The black box skuttles up onto the higher ledge as best it can. I can almost see the lack of energy in it, like a kid with his hands in his pockets going 'okaay... I'll do it.' Come on, don't be like that! I'll sick HK on a beetle or something later, that will cheer it up.
HK makes it's way to the underside of a table where a Wookie is conversing with other Wookies, and gently (is that even a word that can be said in the same sentence as HK?) bumps into his -or her- foot. The Wookie looks down at the interruption, amusement clear on his -or her- face at the little droid. HK makes some sounds that sound amazingly similar to their language. (Ten points, HK. It is interestingly adaptable!) and the Wookie's amusement turns into frown and into unbridled rage.
Not two seconds later HK and I are running/wheeling it out of there with an enraged Wookie on our tail. "What the heck did you say!?" I demand. Thankfully no one is stopping us, but they also aren't helping.
"Explanation: I demanded to know where the chief 'fur rug' was! I wish to make him into a wallet!"
"I didn't want him made into a wallet! Why did you tell him that?!"
"I do."
"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU WANT!" I yell.
Thankfully we lose the Wookie after a few minutes of running like our lives are on the line, but now I am more tired, more angry, and more lost than I was five minutes before. Great job, HK. Now I remember why I keep you around. It certainly isn't for the outstanding humor.
I look around and something... a feeling in the back of my head raises my attention. The place is quiet and empty. The wooden flooring is old and crumbling, the air is stale and depressing, and overall the happy's gone. We must have run into the bad side of town. But its more than that. I sense... something. Something familiar, and not in a good way. I can't see what it is, whether it's just my instincts telling me we ended up in the bad side of town, or if its my imagination, or what, but it sets me on edge. I turn back the way we came by find the bridge that linked this tree to the next was gone. It had snapped and was hanging.
"Well crap." I mutter. Tree-Huggers's gonna kill me. "Let's see if we can find another way out of here."
"Roger! Scouting!" HK immediately scuttles off. Sure hope it has a built-in map it's building to keep track of where I am.
"I'll head a bit down this other way." I yell after it. HK disappears out of sight into the shadows as it skids down a ramp to a lower floor. It went right, so I'll head left. Sounds reasonable. I lay my hand on my lightsaber just in case and watch out carefully. I don't see anything, and what I'm sensing isn't clear enough for me to make sense out of it, but the happy's gone. The Force isn't going insane and wild like it usually does in danger and clashes, but it does feel like all energy around me is holding its breathe. The trees grow silent and stop stirring above me, and the tree trunks stopped their creaking.
A sudden loud creaking of floor boards behind me sends me into action. I Force Pull my lightsaber to my hand, turn around, and aim it at the person standing there.
She doesn't react, "You lost?"
Mace Windu was many things. A Jedi. A warrior. A leader in an organization designed to restrain themselves from action to prevent large scale consequences. He generally had always been expected to be the one to make the tough decisions, the difficult calls, and be the one being blamed. He had never taken classes on economic growth or logistics or battlefield strategy, everything up to this point had been through gut instinct, thoughtful meditation, and trial and error. He had made mistakes.
Was this one of those times?
He questioned himself for the five thousandth time that day. The days lately had become slow, almost like the Force had hit the slow button on the remote repeatedly. He sat on the plush carpet in the Senate building directly behind a Senator's terminal. His presence was odd, but left alone.
He remembered a battle he supervised once. A fortress of a thousand terrorists and rebels, before the Confederacy. The fortress held for seven years before Windu found out. He provided them with a new approach to forcing the rebels into surrender. A sonic bombardment brought the walls down, and but the landscape information was shoddy at best. He found paperwork the next day informing him that a series of tunnels under the fortress collapsed and buried a hundred and three terrorists and seven hundred civilians. Families. The intelligence was wrong. It wasn't a thousand rebels hiding, it was a home being defended.
It was simple, bring down the walls, ask for an unconditional surrender. At least, it should have been.
A move meant to provide the most reasonable result but with unseen repercussions. This was another one, but this move had more unseen repercussions than just tunnels buried underneath. This was a move involving every single buried tunnel in existence in the entire galaxy. Windu couldn't even list all the names of the planets that this would blow up in a year.
Perhaps… Perhaps it was specifically because the scale was so large that he shouldn't think of it. He needed to keep his focus within the realm of things he could comprehend, within things he could do carefully.
"Master Jedi?" A man asked.
Windu raised his head and realized he was covered in a cold sweat. He breathed in and out, allowed the Force to flow through him, taking his worry away for the moment, and stood up. He wiped his bald head with his robe. The man stood before him with paperwork in his hands, a fidget in his feet, and fear in his eyes. He presented the Czercha-stamped sleeve to Windu, bowed, and promptly fled.
Windu watched the man leave out of sight curiously before opening the file. Not two sentences later he slammed it shut, closed his eyes, and willed himself to not throw up in a fit of revulsion, amazement, and anger.
To heck with his misgivings. There was no longer any mistakes. He braced himself and sent out a pulse of Force energy. It was nothing special, just a basic pulse. But it was enough to signal the others he had positioned. In return, small pulses returned their response letting him know they were in position as well. There were a few not yet in position, so Windu chose to wait before sending another pulse.
What had gotten into her?
Ahsoka was a girl, and girls, by nature, had twice the emotional capacity of males; but that didn't explain why he was having to chase his first Padawan through the wooden-plank streets of Kachirho. Her anxiety bled from her visibly enough for everyone to notice, and that didn't even include the anxiety pouring down their Force Bond.
Anakin felt the bond quiver, not because she was trying to force him out or shield the connection, but her emotions were all over the place. She was afraid, worried, conflicted, at war with herself as if she was contemplating some massive decision.
"Ahsoka!" He barked as she jumped clear over a side railing down to a lower level. He rarely chose to use her name purposefully, but she needed to hear how serious he was. Something was very wrong and he was being kept in the dark about it.
-Stop, calm down, and tell me what's going on!- He told her mentally, but she didn't stop. In fact, his thought was thrown aside in the midst of her mental torrent. He jumped down and followed her down another path toward a dead end.
Ahsoka skidded to a halt and looked into the trees desperately. Her master stopped by her side and asked, "What's wrong, Snips?" She turned to head back and find another way to her destination, but he grabbed her by the arm and forced her to hold. "We aren't going anywhere until you tell me what's going on, please, Snips!"
"It's Maris!" She cried. "And yet it's not! I know it's her, I can feel her, but she feels twisted and dark!"
Anakin frowned sharply. He felt for his student. He knew of, and even encouraged her friendship with the fellow Padawan of one of the few Master's he liked. Azhaak Ti was a bit too preachy at times, but he still recognized her as one of the few who's understanding was very 'down to earth'. What he knew of Maris was little beyond the praise Ti and Ahsoka would provide. She was a strong, skilled, street-smart girl who's emotions bordered on self-sure and arrogance. She also felt a bit like a recluse and had trouble fitting in except around Azhaak Ti and Ahsoka. Her Force presence was always slightly dark, but her love for her peers rivaled his own at times.
He searched out into the Force and felt two people. The one that was clearly Maris was strikingly different from before. The love of peers continued, but it was almost consumed by raw hatred and pain and… a twisted sense of justice?
The second person was-
"Varus!?" Anakin gasped. "What's he doing there!"
"I don't think he realizes what she intends to do, yet." Ahsoka said worriedly.
Anakin froze. The hatred and pain and sense of justice was all focused on his second student. This Maris also had clear recognition for who he was, there was no confusion there. He knew she would have a troubled time after losing Azhaak Ti but-
Azhaak Ti was killed by a Sith Assassin.
Starkiller was a Sith Assassin.
Maris recognized him.
And Ahsoka was worried of what Maris would do to Varus. Very specifically Varus, no one else.
She knows.
Ahsoka knows.
Anakin gulped. He had no idea what to think. Did Ahsoka know? Did Maris know? Was this Maris telling Varus everything, taking apart the mind-wipe, or was she just going to attack him and leave him confused? He had no doubt he cared for both of his students. He half-expected Varus to have been a truly wild disobedient teenager with a pension for murder, but instead found a half-broken young man who needed a foundation in life, and with a lot of bad luck.
No matter what, he was going to ensure Varus was alive, protected, and still Varus, in the order. Not because he felt guilty of his involvement, he didn't because he had nothing to do with the mind-wipe, but because Varus finally had a life that was strong and healthy. He had friends, he had people around him. That was something Starkiller probably never had. Anakin was going to choose Varus over Starkiller every single time for that reason alone, forget the other five million other reasons he could jot down if he took the time.
But Ashoka… He wasn't sure what to think. How would she react? Did she already know? Was this her way of saying 'I know, and I'm cool with it' or was she in the dark thinking that Maris was just being stupid for targeting her friend? No matter what, Ahsoka's heart was between two of her friends, which was about as heartbreaking a place as she could be. She couldn't help one without hurting the other. She was having to choose.
Now wasn't the time to feel guilty about keeping her in the dark all this time. One day he may tell her, if she already doesn't know, so they could both watch over their third team member, but right now, whether she knew or not didn't matter.
"Ahsoka, what does Maris intend to do?" He asked, fearing the answer.
"Kill him! She thinks he's the Sith who killed her master!"
'Thinks'. So Ahsoka disagrees. That was both a good and bad thing. On one hand, it made this a lot less awkward, and on the other hand it made him feel more guilty. He would definitely tell her, but right now they had bigger problems.
"We'll stop her, Snips." He assured her. "We'll save them both. Alright?" He held her firmly and bore into her eyes. She nodded meekly. He waited a moment before being sure she wouldn't fly off the handle and do anything stupid before nodding as well.
The two of them ran off to find a path to them.
Why did Varus's Force Presence have to be radiating so much defensiveness! The presence included a sense of safety, and Anakin had no doubt that Varus had his lightsaber out or at the very least was mouthing off.
Which was a bad idea.
A very stupid, bad idea!
Correction, that was the mother of stupidly, bad ideas! Whatever gave Varus the thought to be near someone who has it out for him clearly hadn't gone through his 'THIS IS A REALLY STUPID IDEA' filter!
Maris could barely believe it.
He was mocking her.
For the last several months she has been in torment all from his eyes and murder, for months she could barely function until she pulled herself up and decided to stop him, for months he danced around her, knowing they lived in the same building, in the same temple, and he ignored her like she wasn't worth remembering.
And now he had a bottle of water in her face. Not a lightsaber, no, that would be fitting of combat, instead he might as well have brought a spoon to a duel, or something equally mockish. Why don't he just come right and say that he thinks so little of her that he doesn't need to fight!?
Maris narrowed her eyes at him. She wasn't about to play that game. She half expected him to come right out and attack her, but the look in his eye turned to surprise and recognition. He flushed in embarrassment and put the bottle of water back on his belt. "Sorry, you surprised me." He chuckled nervously.
She didn't deny that she surprised him, that was the idea. But this wasn't going like she intended. She was prepared to defend herself after appearing out of thin air, but he didn't seem inclined to. 'Of course he wouldn't! Stupid, stupid Maris! He is pretending to be under the Jedi's hold. He wouldn't lash out and expose his dark intent.'
She should have killed him rather than expect an honorable duel to appease her ghosts. But she found it funny how surprised he was by her appearance. His sense of awareness was at least one weakness he might have.
So what was it then? Would she have to force the issue or would she just kill him? Or would he break the act and acknowledge why she was here?
"Are you, okay?" He asked.
She clenched her jaw, but didn't allow it to show. So, he wanted to play, huh? She pasted on a smile. "I'm fine. Just… concerned. You really shouldn't be in this part of town. It might end badly." She responded darkly.
"Yeah, I kinda gathered that." He chuckled. "Crappy bridge broke. HK is searching the lower levels for another way. Hey, if you got here, you must know another way!"
"I… guess." She hesitated. What was his game? Did he really think so little of her that it wasn't worth the effort to defend himself, or was he really this stupid in secret?
"Great! Let's go!" He walked off, expecting her to lead or follow, but she doesn't move. Maris clenches her fists, sees his exposed back, and sees blood. Enough hesitation! Enough of his games! Enough of the torment and ghosts! The only thing holding back Azhaak's peace in the afterlife was her!
Maris drew her twin lightsabers and brought the katans around his throat, choking him. He froze in shock, but quickly responded by dropping his body weight. Expecting it, she hugged him closely, twisted and turned, throwing him over herself and onto the ground. He rolled to his feet and she extended her lightsabers to his face. He put his hands up defensively.
The expression on his face was one of pure and utter naked shock.
Did he truly think so little of her as to forget her or think she wouldn't remember what he did to her!? Infuriated further, she roared and swiped across his head. He leaned back all the way until he was sideways. "Whoa whoa whoa!" He was on the very edge of the ledge with his head tipping over the side.
"What's your problem?!" He yelled.
She grabbed his robes and pushed him over, yet held him firm. His feet barely held onto the edge, the only thing holding him up being her grip. She brought her face to his and roared with more rage than even she realized she had, "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO ASK THAT!" She pushed him over.
"MASTER!"
Maris turned only to be tripped out from under her feet by something metal and fast. She fell flat on her face, briefly being knocked unconscious, and blinked to find herself tumbling off the edge with whatever it was that hit her.
Windu opened the door and stepped onto the Republican Senator pod. The pod was empty. He took the time to look around. Palpatine was in the Grand Chancellor seat, and a fair number of Senators were present. The Senate was in session, but was mostly arguing. Palpatine had his feet up and was layed back observing the discussion. He wasn't talking, he wasn't discussing, simply observing blankly.
Windu took a deep breathe, and let it out. May the Force be with them.
The Jedi placed his palm on the terminal and pushed the pod out. The Senate briefly hushed the discussion to acknowledge his presence, but otherwise continued. Palpatine raised an eyebrow curiously.
"Senators!" Windu yelled. Some of them quieted down, but he had to call out again before they gave him their attention. They gave him the respect his station warranted out of curiosity. He took advantage of that and got straight to the point. "We have been lied to!"
Naturally, you cannot come right out and say that the Senate has been lied to, to their face, without them being a upset. He knew they would lash out, and he gave them a few moments to murmur and demand information.
"Senators! Years ago, a man appeared with no background, no name, and became a Senator by his support of Revan and the Mandalorian War. When Revan disappeared, so did this man, but on his return, he argued and debated against any action against the Sith. Revan and the Sith Triad went on a rampage for years with minimal resistance. Whether that is by the direct actions of this man, is debatable, as we are all partially to blame. But let us look to next matters. At the same time as this man's reappearance was the appearance of a Sith Lord hidden in the shadows supporting those who would become the Confederacy!"
So far, mild reactions. They were demanding he step down angrily. But Palpatine put up a hand to silence them. "Continue." The man said.
Windu blinked in surprise, but pressed on, his eyes locked firmly on Palpatine. "The rise of the Seperatists is marked by the battle of Geonosis, but how is it that they were able to stay hidden for so long? How could a rebellion appear, literally out of thin air, consisting of hundreds of planets without anyone noticing?"
"We all know how!" A senator yelled. "Count Dooku! But he was never a Senator, your accusations are-"
"Quiet." Palpatine repeated.
Windu grit his teeth. He didn't need Palpatine's support. If anything, the man's eyes seemed to taunt him, daring him to say what needed to be said.
Well, the Chancellor was daring the wrong Jedi.
"The fact is, just before the rise of the Separatists, the same Sith assigned his apprentice to Naboo, encouraged the Trade Federation into the first of its conquests that it would do in recent years, and yet the same Senator reversed everything. Rather than discourage action, he encouraged it. Rather than strive for peace, the Senator demanded action and accused the previous Chancellor of inaction before having him step down in an uproar! Curious? Isn't it!"
More Senators lifted their pod up to combat him verbally, but Windu passively moved the pod closer and closer to the Grand Chancellor chair. He didn't need Palpatine's help silencing them, nor did he want it. For Palpatine to do it would only add further injury to insult, and he had no doubt that every camera in the building was facing him, nor doubted that "Senators! We have fought a fruitless war for years now! Every push we make is countered perfectly with a move elsewhere taking a point we left unguarded! At first it appears we have a spy in our midst, but isn't that exactly what we have! But what spy could lead know everything! What spy could cover his tracts so perfectly! What spy could benefit most from a war lasting so long! Forgive me Senator, but a few worlds wanting independence or wants retribution for insult would never garner this much support on their own, nor consider war for this many years to be worth it! So who would gain benefit from a war that is meant to last infinitely?"
Windu stopped to breathe. "One man would benefit when both sides suffer. One man would be rewarded when both sides bomb themselves to oblivion, bankrupt themselves, and lose everything just to spite each other, and only one man would have the power to push themselves to do it." He pulled out a lightsaber and lit it. It shined red. "Darth Sidius, hidden among us."
And that queued an uproar. Senators brought in their personal security to remove him, but he ignored them all. Windu turned off the lightsaber and tossed it into the Grand Chancellor's chair. In turn, Windu turned on his own lightsaber, and as he did so, hundreds of lightsabers flickered on around the Senate room. The Jedi Order stood in position around him on all sides, and the Senator's stopped in amazement of so many Jedi there, and partially fear born of confusion. Windu pointed his lightsaber at Palpatine. "Darth Sidius, on behalf of the Republic and Jedi Order, you are under arrest. You have failed."
You could have heard a pen drop, but instead there were two sounds. The first was the sound of lightsabers humming all around, and the second was clapping.
Palpatine was clapping.
Something was wrong. Very wrong. Windu knew Palpatine, or at least enough about him to know how he would react Sith or not. Palpatine was a highly defensive man prone to acting brave, lashing out angrily at times, and always defending himself if possible. He was the epitome of a man too stubborn to die. The only times in record that Sidius ever stayed calm was when he was in control of both sides of the board, namely those 'capturing' him and those 'rescuing' him. At the very least he was supposed to be denying it and defending himself.
So why was he so calm? No, why was he smiling as though he was amused? Sidius' hard work was being torn down at his feet and he thought this was funny?! Somewhere deep down, a chill went down Windu's back. This wasn't Palpatine. He was acting completely wrong. Sidius wasn't acting like he was in control, rather he acted like he didn't care. He found this whole thing…
Amusing.
Palpatine stood to his feet and stopped clapping to raise his hands. The lightsaber on the floor of his feet lifted smoothly up into his hand.
The red lightsaber turned on and the man's eyes turned black.
Bastilla Shan watched the live transmission in mute contemplation. The Jedi had it wrong, again, which was really no surprise, it only took them babysitting them the entire way; but the Jedi were still close enough to the truth to count. Knowing the Sith, he would know his hand is being forced, and had already anticipated this, and set events into motion. And in the small chance he hadn't anticipated this move, there would still be a long of confused sides watching the live broadcast and knowing that this moment was the key to the war.
It was time.
Shan pressed a key. "Alfred, would you be so kind as to get me through to Visas Marr, Carth Onasi, and Mandalore in that order?"
"One moment, My lady."
"I can't believe it." A clone breathed.
His brothers and comrades stood around him in equal shock as they watched the broadcast. Palpatine, Sidius, whatever he was, was a black-eyed, red-lightsaber-wielding, Force-using Sith. They were supposed to be at their stations watching the radar, but recent events had taken their eyes away. Every man's post was abandoned on the station to watch the closest holoterminals. Even their officer, a non-clone human with a pension for smocking, was frozen stiff in shock. The cigar fell out of his mouth and rolled across the floor and no one had the energy to move to pick it up, much less notice.
A beeping sound went off. The officer gulped. "Would someone mind getting that."
"Aye-sir." A random clone said weakly, his eyes still glued to the holoterminal. He snapped himself out of it to find the source of the beeping, but realized it was the station picking up something on long-range scans. A ship. A whole lot of ships.
"Sir!" He barked. "We have a bit of a problem!"
The officer blinked and forced himself to move away from the sight. He hoped it was all a dream, a joke, being played by some geek who hacked the internet with too much time on his hands, but he knew for the life of him this day would be permanently etched into every crevice of his brain. He walked up behind the clone and looked at the screen.
Ships bearing the Separatist I.F.F. tag flew by in mid-warp. "What's their destination!" The Officer yelled. But there was no answer. "PUT YOURSELVES TOGETHER YOU PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR HAIRLESS BUTT-WARTS AND TELL ME WHERE THEY ARE GOING!"
Immediately every hand snapped to movement. Before long information was being yelled from one direction to another. "Quiet!" He barked. "I want two pieces of information only! Destination and ship count! Put it on the main screen!"
The officer stepped back in open shock at the information.
Ship count: 1314
Destination: 000-000-000
Coruscant.
Review! I want to know your thoughts! and Please not just "its good/bad". :( That doesn't help me much.