Hey folks, Grubkiller here.
Here is part 3 of this revised version of The Dark Times.
We see what some Jedi survivors are up to, and the Republic is no more.
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"Citizens of the civilized galaxy, on this day we mark a transition. For a thousand years, the Republic stood as the crowning achievement of civilized beings. But there were those who would set us against one another, and we took up arms to defend our way of life against the Separatists. In so doing, we never suspected that the greatest threat came from within."
The Jedi, and some within our own Senate, had conspired to create the shadow of Separatism using one of their own as the enemy's leader. They had hoped to grind the Republic into ruin. But the hatred in their hearts could not be hidden forever. At last, there came a day when our enemies showed their true natures.
The Jedi hoped to unleash their destructive power against the Republic by assassinating the head of government and usurping control of the clone army. But the aims of would-be tyrants were valiantly opposed by those without elitist, dangerous powers. Our loyal clone troopers contained the insurrection within the Jedi Temple and quelled uprisings on a thousand worlds.
The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated! Any collaborators will suffer the same fate. These have been trying times, but we have passed the test. The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger. The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning. In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society, which I assure you will last for ten thousand years. An Empire that will continue to be ruled by this august body and a sovereign ruler chosen for life. An Empire ruled by the majority, ruled by a new constitution!"
"By bringing the entire galaxy under one law, one language, and the enlightened guidance of one individual, the corruption that plagued the Republic in its later years will never take root. Regional governors will eliminate the bureaucracy that allowed the Separatist movement to grow unchecked. A strong and growing military will ensure the rule of law.
Under the Empire's New Order, our most cherished beliefs will be safeguarded. We will defend our ideals by force of arms. We will give no ground to our enemies and will stand together against attacks from within or without. Let the enemies of the Empire take heed: those who challenge Imperial resolve will be crushed.
We have taken on a task that will be difficult, but the people of the Empire are ready for the challenge. Because of our efforts, the galaxy has traded war for peace and anarchy for stability. Billions of beings now look forward to a secure future. The Empire will grow as more planets feel the call, from the Rim to the wilds of unknown space.
Imperial citizens must do their part. Join our grand star fleet. Become the eyes of the Empire by reporting suspected insurrectionists. Travel to the corners of the galaxy to spread the principles of the New Order to barbarians. Build monuments and technical wonders that will speak of our glory for generations to come.
The clone troopers, now proudly wearing the name of Imperial stormtroopers, have tackled the dangerous work of fighting our enemies on the front lines. Many have died in their devotion to the Empire. Imperial citizens would do well to remember their example.
The New Order of peace has triumphed over the shadowy secrecy of shameful magicians. The direction of our course is clear. I will lead the Empire to glories beyond imagining.
We have been tested, but we have emerged stronger. We move forward as one people: the Imperial citizens of the first Galactic Empire. We will prevail. Ten thousand years of peace begins today."
-Sheev Palpatine, Declaration of the New Order
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Coruscant, Underworld.
Ahsoka closed her eyes as she walked through the dark, crowded streets of the Coruscant underworld. She was wearing a dark gray cloak over the red Jedi outfit she had worn so many times into battle. Her troopers used to tell her how crazy she was to go into battle with an outfit that was thin and even exposed flesh in certain spots, like her navel for example. But it had always allowed her to stay quick, nimble, and quiet.
Traits she would need to use to her full advantage.
In the sinister lighting down here, she couldn't have been more than a shadow rushing through the people. The Force provided everything she needed to know in order to survive. Of course, she wouldn't risk bumping into anything.
Her steps were quick and soft, and under the cloak she felt one of her sabers with her fingers. Anything that wore white armor and got too close was in for a nasty surprise.
The last transmission she received was that she needed to get to the Jedi Temple, and that's what she was going to do. It was the one place she felt she was going to get any answers.
Her Jedi brothers and sisters needed her.
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Toola, Ithaqua station warehouse.
Noriah Na was still bundled up in the animal skin that Master Kai Hudorra had found hours before. Her Master had combed through a few more crates and found glow sticks, which illuminated the little room they made for themselves, stacking a couple crates by each other and suspending a large blanket between them to conceal them. Their cold, wet robes were hanging over a set of crates nearby.
Her Master was just getting ready to head out, pulling the blanket up.
"Master, let me go with you." She said as she was just sitting up.
But Kai gestured with one furry hand in a 'no-need' gesture.
"It will be safer if I reconnoiter the situation alone. I'll return as quickly as I can. The clone are looking for two Jedi. They might not notice a solitary freighter pilot looking for cargo to haul."
Kai pulled a hood over his head and left the warehouse, stepping into a crowded street. People walked back and forth, minding their own business. No one wanted any trouble these days, especially with the Clone Troopers who patrolled the streets, looking for Jedi.
Kai then spotted one of the native Whiphids, carrying what looked like fresh game over his shoulders, walking in his direction.
"Pardon me, gentle being," Kai said. "...Can you direct a stranger to the central market?"
"Hurnk!" The Whiphid said in his native tongue as he pointed over his shoulder with his thumb.
Kai nodded his thanks before he walked in the direction of the market, making sure not to make eye contact with the clones.
The central market is similar to most found on any spaceport town. Crowded, busy, flowing with different species from all walks of life. Most of the shopkeepers were natives, and they sold food, clothing, and some even sold blasters.
Mothers carried their children around, temporary visitors like smugglers and traders only came to make very quick supply runs, making b-lines for whatever business met their immediate need, while more permanent visitors/residents lingered about longer.
Here, in addition to anonymity, Kai Hudorra knows he will find things that he and Noriah Na require to make their escape.
It doesn't take him long to find the first item on his list.
A very large Ortolan with colorful, opulant robes was standing in front of one f the market stands, where meat was being sold. He was flanked by a very skinny blue assistant. But Kai noticed that the Ortolan was holding a chain. On the end of that chain was a female Twi'lek teenager, who was folding onto the chain, so that if her master yanked on it, she would only feel the force of it in her hands, and not her neck.
It irked Kai to know that slavery was still practiced in this way. But he couldn't do anything to save her. He couldn't risk drawing attention to himself, and the girl would just be recapture and suffer great consequences.
He could only help himself and Noriah. As such, while the large Ortolan was arguing with the man behind the meat-stand over what price was fair to pay, Kai walked by, using the Force to pull a small sack of credits off of the Ortolan's belt as he walked by.
The Twi'lek girl noticed him, and Kai placed and finger in front of his lips in a 'shush' gesture. The girl smiled.
Kai smiled back, but it immediately faltered. What he did, stealing coins, even from scum who didn't deserve it, went against everything he was taught as a Jedi. But in matters of survival, some teachings had to be overlooked.
The Ortolan noticed his coins were missing, and thusly, he backhanded his assistant. "Idiot! I'm robbed in public, and you don't even notice?!"
"Many apologies, Master."
All the while, the Twi'lek girl smiled innocently.
Hudorra makes his purchases as quickly as he can. Every moment in public was one that could lead to his discovery, and material goods were only half of what he needed. The other half was information, something he and Na needed more than anything.
What is happening in the galaxy? Has their been an unexpected shift in the War? Why had their own troops attacked them?
He walked into a bar.
It was completely crowded. Every table had gamblers playing sabacc, scantily clad girls were sitting promiscuously on men's laps, and some people were just passed out drunk in the seats, or on tables.
Kai Hudorra walked up to the bar counter in the back, and a human woman who was tending the bar smiled sweetly. "What'll it be?"
"Whatever will get me through the night," he said as he placed his stuff on the counter, and dropped a few credits on the counter, which she scooped up. "What's the latest on the war? I've been in the engine room on a spice freighter for the last four days and-"
"Then you haven't heard?" One man asked, as he raised his glass. "The War's over, and we're celebrating, buddy!"
Kai was somewhat elated. "That's great news? So did the Separatists sue for peace?"
"You kiddin'? We kicked their droid behinds!" The patron said, as he flicked some cigarra ashes. "And jes' in the nicka time too. The Jedi tried to - 'hik' - overthrow the Republic."
Kai was taken aback by that information. "But the Jedi led the war to preserve the Republic, not control it." He said as his ale was placed in front of him.
"Either way, who needs them?" A male Anx asked, overhearing the conversation. "The War's over, and I'll drink to that."
"NOBODY MOVE! THIS IS A RAID" Shouted a clone's voice at the bar entrance, causing people to gasp in surprise. "Have your identification ready for examination."
Kai looked over his shoulder and recognized Commander Keller, walking in the bar with a squad of his men.
"Ah, I hate these guys. They give me the creeps." The human patron Kai was talking to said.
Thinking quickly, Kai used the force.
"The War is over. They have no right to hassle innocent citizens."
"That's right, the War is OVER!" The Anx shouted.
"They have no right to hassle innocent citizens!" the human patron said, shaking his fist.
"Yeah, leave us alone." Another alien said.
Seconds later, a brawl began to ensue, as patrons began to shove or punch the clones that had come to check ID. Clones were lifted off of the ground and thrown aside, others were knocked down. Commander Keller and his men began to resort to the use of force. They began to use stun blasters and electro-batons to subdue the mob.
But by the time the clones had neutralized the threat, Kai was long gone, his ale and credits still sitting on the counter.
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New Plympto.
Dass Jennir continued to walk through the dark woods with his small alien... 'companion'.
"Why are you helping me, uh... my name is Dass Jennir, by the way."
"Bomo. Bomo Greenbark. I'll tell you why I'm helping you in a minute. Do you know why your troops attacked you, General?"
"Like I told you, the attack came without warning. My guess is that it must be a defect in the cloning process."
"It must be disconcerting to find yourself alone," Bomo said, "abandoned by those you thought were friends..."
Jennir stopped, and Bomo looked over his shoulder at him before he continued.
"...to have no one to turn to plead your case."
"Okay, I get it. Very subtle," Jennir said sarcastically.
Bomo turned to face the Jedi.
"Oh, you get it? Two days ago, you were leading you clones against us, killing my people. Do you even know why?"
Jennir answered very calmly. "Your people sided with the Separatists-"
"WRONG!" Bomo cut him off, standing at his full height, shoulders back, and arms waving. "As I suspected, you don't know anything. It all goes back to Rikknit eggs. They are... were, New Plympto's only major export. They were our ticket into the Republic, but the Republic refused us representation in the Senate. Then they banned our export of eggs. Our economy was in shambles! The Confederacy offered to buy our Rikknit eggs, and Dooku himself offered us a place in their Senate. What were we supposed to do? It seemed like a good deal... until your clones started invading our planet!"
"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Jennir knelt down in front of him. "Orders came down from the top. The Jedi Council, or the Supreme Chancellor, would tell us where to deploy and what to do, and my troops went. The war got so big, and out of control, so quickly... we thought we were saving something, not destroying it."
Bomo turned away.
"So that's my story. Now, why are you helping me?"
Bomo continued walking. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. The Clones are still here, and they're trying to kill you, and us. That makes us allies... for now. We're getting close to our base. I'm going to risk a flash."
Bomo then opened his mouth, wide open, and the linings in his mouth, and his gums and teeth started to illuminate a brilliant green light, which could signal his people, if they were nearby.
He closed his mouth.
For a few long seconds, nothing happened.
Then about two dozen similar lights shined right in their eyes, temporarily blinding them. Jennir, and even Bomo, had to put his hand in front of his face to keep himself from losing his eyesight.
When the light disappeared and he could see again, Jennir, with his hands raised, found himself and Bomo surrounded by about 20 other locals, all armed with blasters or battle axes, and wearing armor.
Other pointed electro-spears in Jennir's face.
"Good work, Bomo. You've captured a Jedi for us to kill."
Then they all swarmed over the Jedi, trying to bind him, but others argued over what to do with him.
"KILL THE JEDI!" One shouted.
"No, we'll bind him up and torture him for what he's done." Another said.
Jennir fell to the ground, struggling to get free, but while trying not to hurt his... hosts. "Bomo?!"
Bomo tried his best to calm his comrades down. "No, stop! This Jedi is our friend!"
"Oh yeah, since when Bomo?" One of his fellow warriors asked.
As the other Nosaurians began to pin Jennir's limbs to the ground, another voice boomed over all the others. "RELEASE THE JEDI!"
Everyone looked up to see another Nosaurian standing above them. Fairly tall for such a short statured species. He wore ornate dark-blue armor with burgundy robes underneath. His horns were more developed, but some were broken. He was clearly of higher status, and he had clearly seen some action. He was flanked by more warriors, two of whom carried sticks with lamps at the end of them, lighting up the clearing.
Everyone seemed to freeze in his presence, but they still kept the Jedi pinned.
"I said, let the Jedi go!" He ordered again.
"General Rootrock... but sir, he's the enemy." One said.
"He was the enemy. Listen to the daily briefings. You might learn something." Rootrock said, registering a laugh from some of his men. He then turned to Bomo. "So, it's true then?"
Bomo stood up straight at attention. Yes sir, this is Jedi Master Dass Jennir. He's on our side now. Or he could be."
"In any case, General," Jennir spoke up. "I am in no position to bring any harm to you or your troops."
"Obviously," Rootrock said before he waved his hand around in a 'rally-up' gesture. "Let's get this parade back under cover before the clones spot us. And somebody fetch us flagons of nectar. It's going to be a cold night."
Nosaurian camp.
Back at the main camp, Rootrock and Jennir were sitting on either side of a camp fire in the center of camp, in front of the main command tent. It was surrounded by dozens of dome-like tents that were set up around tree trunks.
Nosaurian guards, armed with Separatist weaponry patrolled the perimeter and around the tents in the center.
"So, the Jedi were attacked by their own troops everywhere, not just here on New Plympto?" Jennir asked.
"That's what we've heard," Rootrock said. "News out of Coruscant is that the Jedi tried to overthrow the Republic."
Jennir lowered his cup away from his lips. "That's a lie!"
"I know." Rootrock said. "This war isn't the first time I've encountered Jedi. When I was yonger, I saw one in action against a group of raiders that were terrorizing my village. He pleaded with the raiders to surrender, and they refused. The fight lasted four seconds. Truth be told, I'm glad the Jedi are no longer leading the armies of this so-called Empire..." He said, pouring himself and Jennir another glass of nectar. "And I can sympathize with a former-foe who realized he was fighting for the wrong cause, when he thought they were for the right reasons. But everyone who has fallen in this war believed that they were doing what was right."
Jennir averted his eyes.
He stood up and paced around for a few seconds, before walking up to one of the poles in front of the tent, leaning against it, deep in thought.
"What have we done? It all seems so clear now that we were being manipulated, but how could we have been so foolish? Corruption in the Senate was widely acknowledged and even accepted. That alone should have made us think twice. Instead, we abandoned our principles to fight for a Republic that no longer exists, in name or in spirit. An idea that may have been extinct for years."
Rootrock took a stick and poked the firewood to keep it nice and stoked. "My people have a saying: 'Being brought low is the beginning of wisdom."
"Hah!" Jennir exclaimed in surprised amusement. "The Jedi also have that saying."
"Then it must be true." Rootrock said. "Scout Greenbark explained to you why we joined the Separatists?"
Jennir nodded. "The Republic controlled the planet, but refused you representation. I might have fought under those circumstances myself."
Rootrock stood up and crossed his arms over his chest. "Our plight now is worse now than when you were leading your troops against us. With the Separatists defeated, and their droid armies deactivated, we are vulnerable. We fear reprisals. We could use somebody like you..."
Jennir looked away.
"I know my actions, directly or not, have caused your people pain, General. Part of me wants to help, but I... all of the Jedi, were manipulated before. I don't want the guilt I feel to push me to another wrong decision." Jennir said, causing Rootrock to lower his head, knowing that he might not get the help he wanted. Jennir continued. "I need to return to Coruscant, and try to locate any Jedi survivors, maybe even the Council, and confer with them. I can't help you now, but if you can help me... then I promise that I will try to return... if that is the direction that the force brings me."
Rootrock nodded his head and looked up at Jennir. "Fair enough. I will provide you with a ship."
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Toola, Ithaqua station.
Master Hudorra is all done with his shopping spree, and he is moving quickly down the settlement's snow covered streets. There are less people on the streets now. He knows that Toola's frigid nights, with their biting winds and temperatures that drop well below freezing, will be both a blessing and a curse.
The cold will soon drive the armored clones indoors, which will allow him and Noriah Na to move about freely, provided that they can survive the chill.
He made it back to the warehouse, checked to make sure no one was watching, and opened the door. He stepped in, closed it behind him, and was surprised to see what he saw next.
Padawan Na had been busy, as more crates were opened, and the worst part was, their robes were out in the open, on drying racks, surrounded by heating lamps.
"What are you doings?" He asked.
She looked back, and was elated to see him returned. "Master, you're back! I wasn't able to find anything to eat, but look," she said, gesturing to the lamps with pride. "Heating units. Our robes will be dry within the hour."
Hudorra shook his head and started yanking the robes off of the clothes lines. "Foolish padawan!"
Noriah was confused. "But master-"
"Don't you know that Commander Keller has the entire town looking for us? Jedi robes would mark us instantly!" He exclaimed as he pulled a crate aside, revealing the hole they had cut into the floor to get in in the first place, and dropped their robes into the icy water below.
Noriah lowered her head, in shame.
Hudorra looked at her expression and calmed down and spoke more gently.
"In the packages I brought, you'll find new clothes... and food. It's been so long since you last ate, hasn't it, Noriah Na?"
She turned to the packages. "Thank you, Master. I'll try to do better-" She said before she cut herself off, looking at the contents of the bags. "Blasters... and..." She picked up a green tunic and held it up for her Master to see. "This is a slave's tunic. And it's for a boy!"
"Which reminds me," Hudorra said as he pulled out a large knife. "There's one other thing that I need to do..."
Noriah pulled on her hair, and brushed her hand through it, realizing what he was implying.
"Oh no!" She groaned.
A short while later, Kai Hudoora's assumption is verified. The trooper's have left the snowy streets, and even the hardy Whiphids have retreated from the cold.
Kai and Noriah, the latter of whom was sporting short hair to look less feminine, walked through the snow, without a soul in sight, and they made their way to the base of a large cliffside wall, the top of which housed the settlement's spaceport.
"The spaceport is at the top of this cliff. I've already booked us passage on a ship departing at dawn."
"Well, let's get on the lift," Noriah said, walking towards the elevator. "No sense standing out here in the freezing-"
"No!" Hudorra said, pulling Noriah's arms. "Commander Keller will be monitoring lift activity. We're taking another route to the top."
He then pointed at the wall.
Noriah followed his pointer finger and saw what he had in mind.
A ladder that went all the way to the top of the cliff.
Metal.
And covered in ice.
She gulped hard.
"This isn't happening..." She began to mutter to herself.
Spaceport.
By the time dawn arrives, Na's body - especially her hands - is numb from the cold. But the frozen stretch of hell that they had to climb was finally at an end, and the two disguised Jedi were finally able to make for their destination, avoiding the clone patrols as best as they could.
They got in line to board the transport back to Coruscant.
A clone trooper was analyzing ID and tickets from everyone. And it was soon Kai and Noriah's turn.
"Present your boarding card." The trooper ordered.
"Certainly trooper," Kai said, holding up a blank card in front of the trooper. "I'm sure you'll find that everything is in order."
"Everything... is in order. Proceed."
"I tell you, it's a crime what they charge for passage back to the Core worlds," Master Hudorra said aloud, as if striking a conversation with the trooper, or anyone who'd listen. "And they made me pay full price for the boy. I wanted to check him as baggage, but they refused!"
Noriah was scowling the entire time.
As they walked up onto the ramp into the transport, Noriah struggled to carry all the baggage. "You're enjoying this, aren't you Master?"
"Nonsense. I'm simply playing my part in this charade. It's for your own safety that I do." Master Hudorra said, as they stowed their luggage away. "I warn you again, Padawan, resist your training. It will not serve you well in these dark times."
As they sat down, they saw more clones patrolling the spaceport. Noriah noticed Commander Keller directing another patrol into the city. But just as she was pretty sure that she made eye contact with him, the ship had already taken off, and was making for orbit minutes later.
"Think before you act, and refrain from using the Force." Hudorra continued. "Flee before you fight. But if you must fight, use the blaster I gave you. It is my hope that we will find answers and help on Coruscant, but I suspect our destination may be the most dangerous point in our journey."
As Kai finished his lecture, the ship was in space, and the stars began to elongate, before they were propelled into the blue-white vortex of hyperspace.
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Coruscant, near the Jedi Temple, 2 days after Order 66 is issued.
Kai Hudorra and Noriah Na, still playing the master and slave roles, had disembarked from their transport and were now hauling their luggage through the crowded streets of of Coruscant.
Mostly Noriah was carrying the luggage, having to play her, or rather 'his', role convincingly.
"It's this way, stay close." Kai said.
"I'd forgotten just how crowded Coruscant was." She said as they rounded the corner and saw what they came here to see. "M-master!" Noriah stuttered.
The Jedi Temple, once a symbol of justice and good in a Galaxy government by a just Republic, now stood as a smoldering, blaster-riddled ruin. Clone Troopers guarded the grand staircase. A massive bonfire blazed at the top of it, onto which clones dragged the bodies of fallen Jedi, and allowed nature to do the rest in disposing of the bodies.
Noriah held her mouth in horror, trying to suppress a gasp, but her master urged her to press on so that they could get a closer look. They pushed through the crowd, which was full of people giving their opinion on the matter.
"The Jedi were traitors! They got what they deserved, I say." One man said.
Others were more sympathetic to the Jedi.
"I can't believe the Jedi tried to overthrow the government. I think they were the ones who were betrayed."
"Quiet friend. Talk like that'll land you in jail."
Kai and Noriah noticed a couple other Jedi in the crowd.
A man with long white hair pulled back in a pony tail, wearing a green jumpsuit and armor, with his arm in a sling.
Another they noticed was an orange togrutan with white markings, with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Master, look!" Noriah said quietly.
They moved towards the front of the crowd, and saw another Jedi, in full robes and holding his lightsaber in his raised fist.
a human male with shoulder-length hair, clenched fist holding lightsaber in the air.
"The Jedi were your protectors! They, like you, have been victims of a corrupt government! Will you stand idly by and allow your freedoms to be taken from you?"
He said as he ignited his blue lightsaber, causing the crowd to gasp in surprise and fear. This got the attention of the Clones from the Coruscant Guard, who guarded the public entrance to the former Jedi Temple.
They readied their weapons and prepared to apprehend the rogue Jedi.
"I call upon my fellow Jedi, who I know are among the crowd," he said as he turned towards the Temple, "Let us find justice - for our brother and sister Jedi!"
Noriah reached into her tunic for her lightsaber, but Kai grabbed her by the wrist before he could continue.
In another part of the crowd, Ahsoka Tano wanted to do the same thing, but was able to stay her hand, knowing that her old friends wouldn't want her to join them.
He then charged up the stair.
"OPEN FIRE!" The Clone officer called out, before he and his men cut loose with a barrage of blue blaster fire.
The Jedi expertly deflected them.
The crowd started to become agitated.
Ahsoka could only watch in stunned horror as the Jedi valiantly tried to fight his way into the Temple. He cut down half of the Clone squad. But then backup poured out of the Temple, or rounded the corner from the streets, returning from patrol. The 'Justice' Jedi was surrounded, and tried to deflect as many blaster bolts away from himself and into the Clones as possible. But it was too much. He was hit in the leg. He staggered, but kept swinging. He was then shot in the shoulder, and the chest, and everywhere else, and the Clones didn't stop firing until he finally stopped moving.
As the clone picked up the fallen Jedi's saber, and dragged his body away, other clone stormtroopers went to break up the crowd, which was still panicked at what they just witnessed.
Noriah froze in place, and Kai eventually urged her away. "Master... We-we should have..."
"Hush." He said.
Hudorra knew that even if the other Jedi that young man had spotted in the crowd had joined him, they would have suffered the same fate.
Only one had been willing to meet his gaze.
One thought entered the mind of all the assembled Jedi, who eventually dispersed with the crowd: It was a mistake to come here.
"There were no other Jedi to help that young man, Master." Noriah said. "Coming here was a waist of time. We may be the only Jedi left-"
"That boy didn't need help, he needed to hide." Master Hudorra said as he took them into a secluded alleyway. "Give me your lightsaber."
She hesitantly complied, reaching for her saber. "Why master?"
He grabbed it and threw it into sewer drain along with his own, to her shock and horror. "Because you won't need yours, and I certainly won't need mine."
'"But..." Noriah started.
"The time of the Jedi is over. The galaxy we sought to protect has turned against us. For now, we must concentrate on survival. Forget about the Order. Forget about the Temple, and forget everything you've been taught about the Force." He turned to her. "I am no longer your master, and you are no longer a Jedi."
Tears began to well up in Noriah's eyes.
He placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Listen to me Noriah, the future of the Jedi, however few or many of us there may still be, depends on all of us surviving. No situation lasts forever. But for now, we must go to ground. Hide our abilities and our beliefs, and hope for a day when the Jedi Order will be reborn." He looked away from her and at the burning ruins of the Temple. "Though I do not know that we will live to see that day. The future has always been difficult to discern." He reached for the bag of credits on his belt and handed it to her. "Take this. It's not much, but it'll get you away from Coruscant. Go now, Noriah Na. Find a new life for yourself. Find a purpose that makes you happy, maybe build a family. But go."
Noriah, tears in her eyes, accepted the bag with shaking hands. "Master..."
"Forget your past. Forget me." He ordered one final time. "Go."
And with that, the young girl turned around and disappeared into the crowd.
When he was sure, Noriah would not be coming back to him, Hudorra lowered his head in sadness.
"That was a very hard thing you did, Kai Hudorra." A new, familiar voice said from behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see a man with white hair, and wearing military fatigues. He had his arm in a sling. He looked back at where Noriah walked towards, not facing Jennir.
"It was the necessary thing, Dass Jennir."
"Yes, you returned to Coruscant even though the beacon tells us to stay away."
"I didn't know. I had to dispose of our com links. But you are here..."
"Seeking counsel, the same as you."
"I would counsel you to get rid of that lightsaber you have hidden in your sling. Or do you plan on charging into the Temple as well?"
Jennir turned to the temple, shaking his head. "I would not waste my life so hastily, or so vainly. But neither am I done fighting for the principles on which the Republic is based." He turned to Master Kai. "I could use your help, Master Hudorra."
Kai closed his eyes and lowered his head. Then he shook his head. "No. I am done with war. I'm going to follow the advice that I gave to the girl. Perhaps when the Jedi Order is rebuilt. But until then, the galaxy will have to go without my sword."
"What will you do?"
"I recall that Master Geiit once remarked that an individual skilled in the ways of the force can make a comfortable living for himself as a gambler." He then turned to Jennir as he started to walk away. "May the force be with you, Dass Jennir."
Jennir smiled. But then he looked back at the burning Temple.
"I hope so."
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Ahsoka was alone.
Something she was never meant to be. Her people were tribal, blood and bond, and her ability to use the Force gave her a galaxy of brethren from all species. Even after she left the Jedi Temple, she could feel the others when she wanted to—the ebb and flow of them in the Force around her. Until, of course, she couldn't.
That was what it felt like to be Ahsoka Tano at that moment, as the young Jedi man who tried to charge into the Imperial forces was carried into the burning Temple.
Ahsoka began to think about what coarse of action to take next. Charging the Temple was out of the question, seeing how well that ended.
If she was alone, she didn't have to make choices that affected anyone other than herself. Fix a malfunctioning motivator or not, eat or not, sleep or not— dream or not. She tried to dream as little as possible, but that day in particular wasn't good for it.
But whatever action she decided to take, she had to be careful where to go with it.
Across the galaxy, from the Core to the Outer Rim—though somewhat less enthusiastically in the latter—there would be festivities celebrating the end of the Clone Wars, as well as the establishment of a new order and government by 'Emperor' Palpatine.
The new Empire was only a few days old, but the idea of celebrating it at all nauseated her. After all, she lived through how it was created. She even helped forge it in some cases.
Well now she knew that the Chancellor's reasons behind prosecuting this war were for entirely different reasons than just peace.
Across the galaxy, hundreds of worlds had burned, even the one she was standing on for a short time. Even though she and the other Jedi helped to save most of them, their victories had been immediately undone with such violence that Ahsoka could hardly bear to think about it. So she didn't.
Perhaps now was the time to try and run away from it all, and start a new life. But then she shook her head. Or now it was time to do something about it.
What would her masters have done?
She looked back up at the Jedi in the kill list. Looked at the pictures of Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, and several other Jedi 'assassins'.
No. She couldn't just let all of sacrifices that she and her friends had made be all for naught. It was time to take action. But perhaps she would need some help to face off against the Empire. Should she join an insurgent group in the Outer Rim? Under-mind the Empire from within? Maybe she could find other Jedi and go on a light-side crusade.
But then she remembered that not every senator supported Palpatine throughout the war.
Maybe she could enlist the help of a few powerful ones.
She looked down at her clothes. They were the only ones she owned. But that could not be the case for long. She was growing up. Her head-tails had grown again, hanging down past her breasts, and her montrals would soon be too tall for the hood on her cloak.
Ahsoka went back to her hiding spot and gathered her few meager belongings, shut the door of her one-room apartment for the final time, and walked in the direction of the nearest spaceport. As she walked back onto the surface, the air was split by an all-too-familiar roar of engines. The flyby had started, and it seemed that the Empire was showing off the maneuverability of its star-fighters. The people were packed elbow to gut on the sidewalks, as Clone Stormtroopers and streets were deserted. Ahsoka could hear the music, raucous and martial at the same time.
But the parade was actually relatively small for a victory parade. The majority of the Clones would be patrolling the underworld or guarding the spaceports. Anywhere a survivor of the purge could hide or escape. At one point, the young former Jedi felt like she was being followed, so she disappeared into an alley and force-jumped to a nearby rooftop of a series of apartment complexes.
Eventually Ahsoka reached the edge of rooftop, looking down overlooking a nearby spaceport. The ships were mostly large passenger freighters. Most of the people getting on board were refugees being re-located from Coruscant to other parts of the Core, or even back to their home systems, which were now free of any battle droid presence.
There were maybe twenty stormtroopers in the port. Before, when she could openly use the Force, that would have been no trouble at all. Now, with just her wits, Ahsoka took a moment to consider her options.
Her old teacher, Master Jorus Sendak, would have crashed right through, regardless of personal risk. Even without his lightsaber, he'd have been fast enough and strong enough to make it. It would have been very noticeable, though. Explosions had tended to follow close behind her mentor. She missed the excitement, but this was not the time for it. Master Plo Koon would have tried to use the Force to find a more subtle way through, but may have ended up making noise anyway if things went south.
"When are you going to admit you're on your own?" Ahsoka muttered. "They're gone. They're dead, and now it's just you."
As motivational speeches went, it was not her best, but it did spur her into action. When all of the guards were looking in different directions, she moved like a shadow through the night and stowed away on whichever cargo transport was on its way out of system on her next adventure.
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New Plympto, Separatist camp.
The morning has broken bright and cold. In the air, the non-familiar aroma of alien bodies in close proximity and something he's never gotten used to... the pungent tang of preserved Rikknet eggs.
But the sky is clear. Tranquil as a pond.
A good omen.
"Have the scouts reported back in, Captain Greenbark?" Jennir asked.
"As you predicted, General." Bomo said. "The weather's holding, and the clones are moving their support vehicles towards the reservoir. General Rootrock has the troops in position on the ridge. It looks like a good morning to die, eh?"
"I hope not."
Jedi General Dass Jennir looked through his binoculars and looked down at the pass below. A column of Repub-... Imperial vehicles were moving through the area, with Clone Stormtroopers marching alongside.
Rootrock got into cover next to him. "The troops are in position, General. Just give the word."
Jennir nodded to him. He looked on either side of him, and saw hundreds of natives taking cover, ready for battle, armed with blasters, grenades, battle axes, and various heavy weapons, but not many.
'The future has always been difficult to discern.' Master kai Hudorra had said. He was correct.
The future was always in motion, and unknown. All one could do was follow the force, and one's feelings.
Jennir reached for his lightsaber and stood up.
This feels right.
He ignited his lightsaber and waved it around before pointing it at the Imperial forces.
"CHARGE!"
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Well folks, that was part 3 of this story. Hope you enjoyed.
Until next time, this is Grubkiller, over and out.