Shaak and Maris – A Star Wars Story: Chapter 1 – The Fateful Day
Chapter 1: The Fateful Day
Coruscant, the Jedi Temple 19 BBY
Master Shaak Ti arose early in her quarters at the Jedi Temple. She'd had a fitful night with little deep sleep and soon realized the reason: she'd felt a profound tremor in the Force and knew the Dark Side was suddenly on the move. From every direction, she could feel anguished cries for help – as if thousands of voices were suddenly silenced.
Quickly she rose and dressed, and before she could get her bearings, an urgent message came across her communications device – it was her good friend Master Jocasta Nu trying to reach her. She opened the com.
"Jo – what's going on? I feel something terrible is taking place!"
"Shaak, meet me at this location," Jocasta said, as she flashed some quick coordinates.
"Right away," Shaak replied, then rushed off, carrying her lightsabre as a precaution.
Soon she arrived at the meeting place. It was a back way, via a secret passageway in the Temple, one which took her down many levels into the Coruscanti depths, perhaps just a few metres from the ground. Upon arrival, Jocasta, dressed in a dark cloak, gave her a quick signal. As they met, they exchanged a quick hug, then Jocasta spoke.
"It's Anakin Skywalker. He's no longer the person he used to be. He's now on a Dark Side mission, serving the evil Chancellor Palpatine."
"Palpatine?" Shaak gasped in response. "I don't quite understand."
"Shaak, he's been hiding his true self all along. But yesterday he showed it. Sheev Palpatine is actually a Sith Lord."
Shaak gave her a look of profound terror. "But … how? How could we not have detected this? Even Master Yoda?"
Jocasta shook her head. "I haven't had time to process that yet. All I know is that Skywalker is trying to help Palpatine destroy the Jedi. He's even killed younglings. You and I are quite fortunate he didn't find us."
Shaak tried to regain her sense of control and took some deep breaths. She then gave Jocasta a knowing look, then grasped her friend's hands.
"If this is true, then no one can be safe now. I now realize what I had been feeling all night. My friends were being killed, one by one."
"Yes – it's all true. Done by the Clones. They just opened fire on us. Aayla is dead. Master Plo too. The list goes on. Master Windu, Master Fisto, Master Tin – all killed by Palpatine."
"Jo – you know what we have to do, don't you?"
Master Nu looked at Shaak with a solemn expression.
"Tell me what you need, Shaak, my dear friend."
"We've got to protect the knowledge of the Temple. Palpatine must never be able to get his hands on it. Skywalker won't be able to help him. You and I, we have to get off this planet and go into hiding. We will take as many holocrons as we can. There's barely enough time, but we can make it. I have access to a ship."
"Yes, Shaak, I do as well.
"Good. We will have to split up, then. I will maintain contact. Meet me again in two hours."
In hyper space, near Coruscant, 19 BBY
At the same time, Padawan Maris Brood was returning to Coruscant in a Republic shuttle. She had been in a recent battle elsewhere in the Core Worlds, and had witnessed the death of her master, a fellow Zabrak. He had been executed by the clone troopers who had previously sworn allegiance to the Republic. Everything had spun out of control, but her master had basically sacrificed himself to save her, and she somehow was able to get to the shuttle and quickly left the planet they were on.
Not really knowing what to do at this point, the young woman set her course for Coruscant, hoping she could get to the Temple and find her fellow Jedi. As the ship sped through hyperspace, Maris found it hard to relax. She kept reliving the scene of her master's death and realizing it could have been – it probably should have been – her own. Up to this point, her whole life, it seemed, had belonged to the Jedi. Her master had told her how she was found on her home world of Iridonia as a Force-sensitive child and she had been brought to Coruscant to be raised with other children such as her. They would grow up among the Jedi and learn all about the Force. And everything had gone well, until that fateful day that the Clone War began. Maris was too young at the time to fully grasp the implications of fighting the Separatists. She only knew that they had built a massive army and navy almost purely from droids and these were perpetrating mass destruction and killing millions all over the Galaxy, so they had to be stopped. And it somehow became the responsibility of the Jedi to lead the defense of the Republic. But the longer the conflict went on, the less sense it made to her.
Now it had come to this – how was she to survive?
Within two hours, Maris had landed the shuttle a fair distance away from the Jedi Temple. She wanted to play it safe and see if she could detect anything from a distance. She debarked, grabbed her bag, her light sabre, and also took her jet pack – the one she had used on Mandalore when she and her master had helped the locals beat back another separatist attack and this would lead to them driving the former Darth Maul from the planet. She also knew that Ahsoka Tano, a fellow Padawan, had also been part of the successful campaign, but did not get the chance to meet her that day. Her master said they had to leave immediately as they were needed elsewhere.
Igniting the jet pack, Maris flew close to the Temple and nothing seemed amiss at first. Her Force sense was not picking up anything unusual – other than things were very quiet and there seemed to be no other Jedi around. As she landed in front of the Temple, Master Shaak Ti came running up to her.
"Hello – Maris, is it?"
"Yes, Master Ti, I am pleased to meet you. Can you tell me what's going on?"
"I can, please follow me. It's not safe out here."
Maris obediently went with Shaak. She sensed that Master Ti could be trusted and would be able to bring her up to speed on all that had happened. As they went into the Temple, Shaak led Maris into the secret passageway and soon they caught up with Jocasta Nu. After greeting the Padawan with a hug, the old Master told her:
"I am so gratified that you are still with us, Padawan Brood. You are young and strong and will be a great Master yourself one day, I have foreseen it."
Maris bowed to Jocasta and smiled. "So what do we do next?"
Shaak replied. "Please help us. Jocasta and I each have starships. We are going to load them with many of the holocrons from the Archives. The Temple is no longer the home of the Jedi. We must then leave Coruscant and seek to find a new home. Many of our friends have perished over the past two days. To honor their memory, we must save ourselves and as much as we can."
Maris nodded solemnly. "Just tell me what you need, Masters. I want to help."
Jocasta and Shaak had successfully packed up over 100 holocrons between them and they agreed that Shaak and Maris would take the majority of the devices with them. Shaak's ship – a small vessel that she had quietly purchased during the Clone War via a financial account that her contacts had opened for her on Muunilinst, the bankers' planet. But this ship had been carefully modified by its owner to prevent it from sending off a Force signature. Shaak had originally done this to keep the former Jedi and later head of the Separatists, Count Dooku, from being aware of her presence. Now it would be used to throw off any attempted tracking by Palpatine and the former Anakin Skywalker.
Within another thirty minutes, both Masters' ships were loaded with the holocrons, each carefully packed in its own small box and then loaded into a shipping container. Shaak had used the Force to convey these containers aboard each ship.
As they made things ready, Shaak and Jocasta hugged one last time before heading their separate ways. The Togruta then turned to the Zabrak Padawan, and asked:
"Maris, do you want to travel with me? Your skills are rapidly gaining in credibility and focused power. I would be honored to take over your further training."
Maris nodded. "I would like that very much, Master Ti. I can tell you are a person of great power, much like Master Windu was. Where are we going?"
Shaak took a second to regard her younger companion, then asked for her hands, which Maris quickly extended to her.
While holding them, Shaak took a reading of Maris through the Force. It told her the girl was somewhat troubled – as would be expected after such a harrowing adventure – but also quietly hopeful. Shaak gave her a small surge of warmth which rippled through Maris's very core.
"That felt nice, Master." She smiled back at Shaak.
Shaak then released her and smiled in return. "We have many more adventures ahead of us, I can sense, but whatever happens, we have to trust each other. Where are we going, you may ask? First, we will stop on my home world of Shili. And then we will meditate together and see what the Force can tell us."
In hyper space, going to Shili, 18 BBY, 11 months, 29 days
Along the way to Shili, Shaak took the time she needed to meditate on her own while in hyperspace. Maris mostly did the same elsewhere on the ship. The Intrepid was a basic ship that had been reconfigured from a light freighter and was compact and efficient, with a class 1.5 hyperdrive. The deck plan included a captain's stateroom and two smaller rooms, both with up to three bunks. Much of the former cargo hold was left open for training or other purposes Shaak had needed for her Jedi Council position. There was a galley and a small lounge with which to serve guests. But the ship also had robust offensive and defensive capabilities, a setup befitting someone like Shaak, who had a distinguished career as a warrior and military campaign planner and commander.
When Shaak was not meditating in her private quarters, she would normally meditate in the large room, as it seemed to calm her and allow her to concentrate. Then she usually spent a few minutes reviewing her sabre forms and getting in some physical activity. At this time, Shaak had reached 40 years of age, which, for a Togruta female, was analogous to 28 years so she was very much in her prime condition athletically. Shaak had mastered all 7 forms, including the supposedly forbidden Vaapad form VII, which she and Mace Windu – a reasonably close friend – had studied together and sometimes practiced on each other. Her basic style was very aggressive but also quick and efficient, concentrating on swift, sharp moves in close to the opponent that she punctuated with slight Force pushes, pulls, and spins that tended to knock her opponent off balance. As a Togruta, Shaak still had the predator's mindset buried deep within her millennia-old DNA. When other Jedi talked about her in private, they usually mentioned their uneasiness about the prospect of ever facing her in actual combat.
Once alone in her quarters, Shaak's mind reviewed all the happenings as she understood them.
So Anakin Skywalker clearly snapped. How? Did Palpatine get to him? Jocasta said he was a Sith Lord – do we know his name? It then appears that Anakin is now his apprentice and is a Sith in training. I always knew that boy had an abundance of stray and unfocused energy and that, in reality, he was not well-suited to be Jedi. Nevertheless, he tried to fight it and learned to calm his mind and thus became a capable military leader – one with often foolish levels of courage who would plunge into almost any situation. Could I have trained Anakin? Perhaps, but I suppose I would have been no better than Master Kenobi.
So what do I do now? It seems there is almost no one that I can count on now other than myself. Jocasta will go somewhere and she left me a way of communicating with her but we will need to take extreme caution. It is clear to me that Palpatine's plan was always to eliminate the Jedi – he clearly wants no Force-adept people around that might rise to challenge him or his reign as Emperor. Only Anakin, whom he will try to control, will be allowed to show Force sensitivity. What does this mean for our people on Shili? We've always had a profound relationship with the Force, but we are survivors. I will need to meet with some of the elders on this trip to discuss all of this and its implications.
But I am very glad to have found Maris. As I train her, I will need to always be thinking of her welfare. She and I may or may not be the last of the Jedi, but we can someday be the foundation of a new Order that can work to neutralize and then destroy Palpatine. But that will be far into the future. The holocrons I am carrying with me offer a possible path to understanding how it can begin to happen. In any event, Maris will be my apprentice and someday she will take her place as a Master of a new, more powerful Order, one that will not fall victim to the mistakes made by the Jedi.
In hyper space, near Shili: 18 BBY, 11 months, 28 days, 8 hours
At bit later, Maris, after taking a short nap in her bunk, was in the galley making herself something to eat. She noticed that the ship's owner had a series of canisters that contained various herbal mixes and blends, and she sampled some of these. After finding some that pleased her tastes, she then located some frozen pieces of meat in the cooler. It wasn't long before she figured out how to work the equipment and she made herself a small meal. While she consumed it, she couldn't tell exactly what type of animal she was eating, only that when seasoned with the herbs, it tasted most pleasing.
Possibly detecting the aroma, Shaak emerged from her quarters and strode into the galley. Observing Maris, with a smile, she asked:
"So you fancy my tastes in cuisine? I also have a delightful beverage you may consume with that meat."
Maris indicated she would like to try it as the spice level was making her thirsty. Shaak laughed and then poured her some.
"Maris, do Zabraks like spicy meats?"
"Some of us do – I do. But I'm not sure if it is the normal thing back on Iridonia."
Shaak nodded, then changed topics.
"We will be arriving soon, have you ever been to Shili?"
"I have not."
"Well then, there isn't much to know, other than we Togruta females are usually quite modest in our way of dressing and carrying ourselves. The males of our world hold us in high regard and are quite chivalrous and courtly toward us. As a visitor to our world, it would be best that you fit in as best you can."
Maris nodded, then asked, "Do I need any particular articles of clothing?"
"You can borrow a dress from me. I don't expect us to be on Shili for longer than two or three days. In the country, we also prefer to walk barefoot. This is optional for guests."
"I will change clothes, then. How is my hair?"
Maris had a full head of black hair, that she kept cropped, and which complemented her sharp red eyes. She also had rows of short, spiky horns protruding from her head, mostly on the top and sides. These were also reddish in color.
"It's fine, Maris. We of course do not have any body hair at all so there are no expectations in this area."
Within about 30 minutes, the ship had dropped from hyperspace. Shaak took her seat in the pilot's chair and raised the spaceport in Corvala, the largest city on the planet and the location of the planetary government. She gave her credentials as she made contact.
"Greetings, Corvala, this is Intrepid, desiring landing clearance and hangar reservation. Use serial number 6731287 please."
"Copy you, Intrepid. Proceed along this vector … welcome home, Shaak."
Shaak followed the directions and then made contact with her brother, Tuuk, who usually worked in the city during the day. Seeing it was his sister, he answered immediately.
"Shaak! Are you all right? I've heard some very disturbing news."
"Yes – I am fine. We'll talk more once I am on the ground. Please meet me at landing bay 54."
Soon they were on the ground, and Tuuk Ti was waiting for them as they debarked. Shaak and her brother exchanged a long hug and then looked at each other solemnly. She then introduced him to Maris, who he quickly bowed before. Shaak motioned for Maris to extend her hand and Tuuk gently took it and bent over to kiss it, in what seemed like a ritual. Maris seemed a trifle embarrassed by this as no one had ever offered to do this for her before. Zabraks certainly were strangers to such courtly manners, but Maris somewhat enjoyed the show of deference.
"We'll head to the restaurant first," Tuuk stated, and they boarded his speeder for the short trip. They arrived at the establishment, which was identified by a neon sign that read "House of Kaa'shaan" in Basic script. As they entered, Shaak's lovely mother, Luu'maas, came across the room to greet her daughter. She was most elegantly attired in her red-and-gold satin gowns and robes and Shaak embraced her fervently.
"Mother … I am here. No need to worry about me, I am fine."
Luu'maas's lekku took on a blueish tint as she was somewhat embarrassed but still feeling most relieved.
"And whom might this be?" She gestured toward Maris.
"Mother, this is my new apprentice, Maris Brood, of Iridonia. She is going to be like a daughter to me someday."
Maris, not sure how to greet Mrs. T, did a half-curtsy and nodded her head forward.
"Pleased to meet you, dear," the elder Togruta responded. "Are you hungry?"
Maris knew she was expected to say yes. Luu'maas Ti was a middle-aged female of 80 years or so, and was still seen as a great beauty by her fellow Togruta on Shili. She was also somewhat of a local celebrity as she hosted a weekly holo-vid program titled "Taste and Elegance." The show was devoted to cooking, fashion, and beauty secrets, and was mostly watched by Togruta ladies. Luu'maas had proven a durable star as her basic elegance and folksy manner were quite popular.
As Maris nodded and smiled, Luu'maas gave a signal in the direction of the kitchen. Soon, servers were bringing plates of food to a table, as their hostess invited everyone to be seated. Tuuk took the lead as he eagerly began devouring the meat and vegetable dishes. A local ale was brought by the pitcher, and he quaffed it heartily, then, forgetting his manners, offered some to Maris, who also happily accepted. Another strange Togruta custom was that the males were basically expected to feed themselves first, and the ladies usually made sure they had first selection of anything that was placed on the table. The one exception was that guests were usually honored and given first preference, especially if they were from off-world. Luu'maas, of course, doted on her husband and son, as she greatly cherished both of them. But "Mama T" also prized her beautiful and accomplished daughter as well, and found herself at times resenting the Jedi for taking Shaak away when she was little more than a toddler. The times when Shaak could stop in were very gratifying to her mother.
As the foursome finished their meal, Tuuk pushed back a bit from the table and took out a pipe, into which he placed a local smoke-able substance that he then proceeded to light and enjoy. He offered the pipe to Maris, who figured, why not? As she inhaled the strange smoke, it wasn't long before she felt quite light-headed and she quickly returned the pipe to him. Shaak looked on with mild disapproval, then gave Maris a quick glance. Maris returned it as if to say, what? Both Tuuk and Luu'maas looked on smiling, and the elder lady laughed heartily, then jocularly addressed the Zabrak.
"How did you like that, Miss Maris?" she chirped, then laughed again.
Maris, a trifle embarrassed, coughed loudly as she started to reply. "It's … quite unique," she was able to sputter out.
Luu'maas nodded and smiled. "Mostly only the males partake buu'raa from the dry pipe. We ladies use the hookah."
Shaak preferred her sensory stimulation in the form of various herbal beverages and frowned on inhaling smoke, thinking it destructive to the respiratory system, but many Togruta were not nearly as health-conscious as she.
After another half hour passed, Shaak's father Kaa'shaan – the namesake of the restaurant that his wife founded – arrived and was overjoyed to see his daughter had come home. They hugged warmly and he gave her a kiss on each cheek and stroked all three of her lekku softly. "How is my girl?"
"I'm all right, Father," she replied. "But we have some serious matters to attend to tonight."
(to be continued)
A note about time keeping for this story. It takes place between the first Empire Day, which is set as 19 years before the Battle of Yavin 19 BBY (major event of the movie A New Hope) and the events of the story titled Ahsoka and the Rebellion, which begins around 2 years before (2 BBY). The time is counted down with respect to months and days, but the hours (based on the standard Coruscanti day of 24 hours) will be counted up until the next day. When an event is taking place en route to some destination in hyperspace, only the day will be given.