Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars at all! It belongs to Lucas, not me!
In the center spire on top of the Jedi Temple was a large circular chamber with six seats on the edge. Inside, a council of the six wisest Jedi Masters in the entire Order would meet to discuss the status of the Jedi Order and the Republic. Now, was such a time as the six Jedi Masters sat in their respective chairs in the chamber, waiting patiently for two more figures to arrive.
The council of Jedi were comprised of two humans, one Wookie, two Twi'lek, and one Trandoshan. Each one of these masters wore the typical uniform of Jedi, which consisted of a brown robe and white tunic with their lightsabers hanging from their brown belts. Though they were of different species, these masters were powerful in the Force and met in the chamber to discuss something of great importance.
The person they were waiting for was none other than the Jedi Master known as Yoda as short, green-skinned Master used his walking stick to help him enter the council chamber. Once he entered it, Yoda continued to walk until he reached the center of the chamber.
The bald male Jedi master with a dark complexion nodded at Obi-Wan. "Greetings Master Kenobi."
"Greetings, Master Mace Windu," Yoda bowed his head to the Jedi Master named Mace before bowing his head to the others. "Masters."
"Do you know why you have been summoned?" the male Wookie Jedi questioned in his native tongue.
Yoda shook his head. "Know, I'm afraid I do not."
"An opportunity has arrived for you Master Yoda," the female, green-skinned Twi'lek spoke.
"An opportunity, you say?" the elderly Master chuckled as he clutched his stick with both hands. "And what this opportunity is, I might ask?"
The female human Jedi Master with fair skin and brown hair then decided to continue. "Master Yoda, for years you have served the Jedi Order well," the female human Master explained. "Several of your students have become great Jedi Knights, like Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Though he liked the praise, Yoda knew where this was going. "Join the council, you want me to." It was statement instead of question.
The male Trandoshan Master nodded. "Master Yoda, such a position is usually reserved for the best of Master. We believe you to be one of them."
"That is why we offer you this position after teaching Jedi for so many years," the male, blue-skinned Twi'lek Master continued. "Do you accept becoming apart of this council?"
Upon hearing the offer, Yoda's ear immediately drooped with sadness. "Join the Council, I will not," Yoda declined.
The Jedi Masters in the room were shocked at Yoda declining such an offer. "But Master Yoda, you are the most powerful member of our Order!" the female human Master exclaimed. "You have trained Jedi for years!"
"Indeed. You deserve such a position," the male Twi'lek nodded in agreement. "Yet you refuse. Why?"
Yoda could simply sigh at the council's reactions. "Strong and loyal to the Republic, the Jedi are, but lost in the Republic's politics, we have become. Lost our way, I fear we Jedi have," Yoda stated he held onto his walking stick. "Lead to our own destruction, this will. Decline the council's offer, I must."
The council stared the eldest Jedi Master in the room, pondering about his words. What he said was not false for it seemed the Jedi Order was simple order of warriors that used the Force to protect the Republic when the time came. However, since the Clone Wars, the Jedi have become too involved in the Republic's politics that they had almost forget what their original purpose. "Very well, Master Yoda." Mace sighed at Yoda's response to the council's offer. "We shall respect your decision. You are dismissed."
However, Yoda was not finished as he gripped his walking stick tightly. "Done, I am not. To discuss something, I wish." Yoda stated. "Murders of many Jedi, there have been."
The six other Jedi Masters in the room stared at the little Master in shock once more, but this time for a different reason. "How do you know about that?" female Twi'lek Master demanded. "We have kept that information hidden from everyone, even the Jedi!"
Yoda could not help but smile at that as he pointed his walking stick at the green-skinned Twi'lek Jedi. "A powerful ally, the Force is. Hide from it, you can not," Yoda smiled. When he lowered his sick back onto the ground, his smiled turned into a frown. "Dark times, I sense for the Jedi. Connected, these murders are. Send a skilled Jedi, you must!"
Mace nodded at that last statement. "We've already sent one."
"We have chosen your old pupil, Obi-Wan," the Wookie master growled.
"Obi-Wan?" Yoda's ear shot up when he heard the name of his former student.
"He's already in the Under City of Corusant, where the murders have been reported," the Trandoshan responded. "If he finds anything, he will report it to us."
Yoda stared at the floor of the council chamber, pondering at the Masters' decision. "Very well," he said as he looked at them. "Agree with the council's decision, I do. Confident of Obi-Wan, I am."
The council was relieved that Yoda was satisfied with their decision, but there was still one more thing that had to be clear. "Master Yoda, we request for you to inform no one of this," Mace spoke, "especially Jedi or anyone in the Senate."
Though he was at first hesitant, Yoda nodded. "Very well."
Mace looked at the other members of the council, who simply gave a small nod to the dark skinned Jedi Master. Then, Mace brought his eyes back to centenarian Jedi Master. "May the Force be with you," he spoke.
"And with you," Yoda spoke.
With a respectful bow of his head, Yoda turned to leave the council of Jedi chamber, but he could sense the anxiety from the Jedi Masters. Though he noticed it, Yoda's mind was more focused on Obi-Wan, wondering how close his old student was to finding this assassin.
Speaking of Obi-Wan, the Jedi Knight and former general of the Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars walked down the streets of the Under City of Corusant. Ever since the attack on Corusant, many in the upper levels always complained how bad it was for them, but the Under City was worse. Crime was more abundant as many were murderers, pickpockets, prostitutes, or whatever position that would give them enough money to survive. There were bars and vendors all over the Under City to provide food, but a high price, much like the gangs who offered protection on shelter to the victims of the attack on Corusant.
Anyhow, Obi-Wan walked through the dirty streets of the Under City with his Jedi robes covering his body. Also, he kept his lightsaber hidden within his robe, so he did not attract too much attention to himself. Where ever the Jedi walked, he would always keep a close ear or eye out for any mysterious characters that were either related the recent deaths of Jedi or knew something about them. However, the Jedi Knight did not have that much luck while in the Under City for the past few hours or so.
Obi-Wan was brought out of his thoughts when he heard a faint beeping from within his robes. Finding a nearby empty alley, Obi-Wan ran into it and and pulled out his small black communicator. "Obi-Wan here," he answered.
After answering, a small holographic image of Mace Windu appeared, and questioned, "Obi-Wan, have you found anything?"
"I'm afraid not, Master Windu," Obi-Wan reported. "I'll see if I can find anything..."
However, Obi-Wan was cut off when he sensed something in the Force as he twirled his head around in the direction of its source. Noting the look of worry on Obi-Wan's face, Mace asked, "Obi-Wan, what is it?"
Without looking at Mace, Obi-Wan answered, "I think I found our Jedi killer."
Before Mace could say anything, Obi-Wan shut off his communicator and put it back inside his robe before rushing through the alleys towards the source of the disturbance. Using the Force to increase his speed, the everything surrounding the Jedi became a blur as he continued towards his destination, and he got closer, Obi-Wan could hear the sound of lightsabers clashing against each other. "That has to be the killer!" Obi-Wan told himself as he increased his speed.
Arriving at the scene, Obi-Wan stopped to see a male figure standing over the fallen form of a Jedi, whose life ceased to exist just a few moments ago. Obi-Wan looked at the figure to see he wore a black robe over his dark brown shirt and pants with a belt around his waist. The Jedi noted that the figure wore black armor on his chest as well as black gloves and boots. Yet, Obi-Wan could not see his face, since the figure had a hood over his head that covered most of his facial features. What surprised Obi-Wan the most was the fact that the figure had a lightsaber in his hand, its red blade glowing brightly.
Drawing his lightsaber, Obi-Wan activated its blue blade and demanded, "Who are you?"
The figure remained silent as he gripped his red lightsaber. "I will not ask again," Obi-Wan sternly stated as he pointed his lightsaber at the figure. "Who are you?"
Instead of answering Obi-Wan, the figure charged at the Jedi, forcing Obi-Wan to take a defensive stance as the figure swung his red lightsaber at the Jedi. Obi-Wan blocked the figure's red lightsaber with his blue blade before he attempted a horizontally strike at the figure's head only for the figure to block it. The strike made the figure pull his head back a little, forcing his hood to fall back. Upon seeing the figure's true identity, Obi-Wan's eyes widen at who was the killer.
"Anakin?" he questioned with shock in his voice.
The figure was indeed Anakin, the former Jedi who was once Obi-Wan's students and a commander during the Clone Wars. Obi-wan could not believe that the one responsible for the death of so many Jedi was none other than his most trusted friend. 'It can't be!' Obi-Wan denied, even though the truth was literally staring at him in the face.
Anakin took notice of Obi-Wan shock and saw it as an opportunity as he used the Force to fire a telekinetic blast at him, sending Obi-Wan crashing into a nearby garbage bin. "You shouldn't have come here!" Anakin scolded as he deactivated his lightsaber and hooked it to his belt.
Pulling up his hood, Anakin turned his back towards his former mentor and began to leave the scene as he entered the shadows of Corusant's Under City. Seeing Anakin was almost out of his sight, Obi-Wan jumped out of the trashcan and ran as fast as he could in hopes of reaching to his old friend and former student. "Anakin!" Obi-Wan called out to the fading figure.
His call fell on deaf ears as Anakin's form faded into shadows of the Under City, leaving a lone, distraught Obi-Wan in the alleyway. "ANAKIN!" Obi-wan shouted, but it was too late for Anakin was already gone.
AN: And that's it! Please leave your comments in the reviews, and if you have any criticism, please let it be constructive! Now, this story is NOT up for adoption.
Raika out!