Gurarararararara, while I always love the reviews, it appears some of you have misread the AN last chapter.
We're still in Season 3. Like I said, we're in a five arc saga that's gonna close out Season 3 and we finished the second of the five.
First of all, Ultra Sonic, shout to you cause you're always one of my favorite reviewers to read and thanks for the top ten list, it's great and I love the continuing trend of these lists having similarities but still distinct and standalone unique to each person making it.
Maybe I'll asked for another one once the season closes out, a top 10 list of your favorite arcs thus far.
Mandalore the Atreides really infected me with a list idea so… now because we're near a hundred, wanna do some top 10 lists cause I just wanna see more participation from the readers. It gives me insight into what you guys like and helps in furthering my writing of this story, honestly. I wanna make more so you guys can show off your love and criticisms that you may have of this story.
But other than that, onto the next arc of the closing saga of Season 3.
Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.
Avengers Infinite Wars Chapter 96: One Must Act, Not Wait.
"Hmmm, no… that wouldn't work." Ultron murmured, placing the corrupted Kyber crystal down and slumping back into his throne with a disgruntled sigh.
This had been a recurring issue with his efforts in more appropriately harnessing the power of the Force through the conversion of Jedi. But he was being met with one failure after the other.
Every time he got control of a Force User, the rejection of his control wasn't far behind.
You would think that breaking the spirit or totally possessing the bodies of the Jedi would be enough but it would seem that he was playing into matters he didn't fully grasp. And Ultron wasn't that egotistical to admit that the Force that was used by his enemies wasn't something he himself could fully comprehend.
But whenever he was able to feel it through the bodies of the Jedi, the rush he felt was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. He wanted to feel it on a permanent basis.
And he knew that it was quite possible as he learned of a name from one of the Jedi he had converted.
He was a Bith scholar who delved into the history of the Jedi order and since the rise of the Clone Wars and the return of the Sith, the Jedi had studied whatever Sith Lord was available to be researched within the temple. And in his research, be it by chance, accident or even by fate with how these hypocrites preach about the Will of the Force or whatever, this Bith Jedi came across an ancient Sith Lord who caught his eye.
Prominent during the New Sith Wars 1200 years ago, she was a Sith Lord that created something called the Techno Organic Virus. A Sith creation that turned flesh into metal and was imbued with the power of the Force.
Sith Techno Beasts that once plagued the galaxy and the Jedi that were made by one Belia Darzu.
He doesn't normally hero-worship humans, or Shi'ido as her species was known, but in this case, he's gonna make an exception since she was one thousand years ahead of the curve.
If only the Bith Jedi had more knowledge to go off of.
If needed, the AI would just need to go back to Coruscant and see if perhaps her Holocron was still around or maybe there were other forms of knowledge he could get his hands on.
But for now, he needed to get back to work. Pick up where Darzu left off and finish her work but in a grander more Ultron style.
Standing up from his throne and grabbing the Kyber crystal he was examining earlier, it was absorbed into his hand as he began running simulations within his mind as he walked down a corridor.
Reaching the end of the hallway, Ultron pushed the door open to step out into a desolate world.
What was once Geonosis.
It was already a barren wasteland before with craggy hills and cliffs and endless dunes and deserts but now, one could only describe it to be a hellscape.
On the surface of the planet, most of its surface was glassed, courtesy of Ultron's attack.
After this assault, it was taken over by the sadistic AI once swooping in and slaughtering the survivors.
None were left alive.
Essentially, unless there were any off-world Geonosians, the native species from this planet was practically extinct.
And an AI like Ultron was thorough, having recalled the many droids he had possessed before his grand arrival in the galaxy. He listened in on many private and secretive meetings, the ones on Geonosis enlightening him about the hives that existed below the surface.
A few fire, gas and nuclear-based attacks wiped out any queens that lay below.
And like that, the Geonosians were all gone.
Though they may all be dead, Ultron did find himself liking the idea of those body-snatching worms in their possession. He rounded up any remaining eggs he could get his hands on in order to experiment and create synthetic worms to help further control any person's body.
They worked like a charm.
But other than the worms and having this planet serve as a test run and grim reminder of what his plans are -just like Jabiim- one may ask just why the mad AI opted to remain on this dead rock.
Originally, he wasn't just here to claim another world, but to search for a particular set of data.
After meeting Dooku and Palpatine at their secret meet-up spot on Coruscant, he wanted to come to Geonosis personally. From what he was able to scrounge up, the secret data card the two kept originated from this former dust ball.
A project of the utmost secrecy where only a selected handful was even aware of its true nature.
When he invaded this planet, he made a beeline to the multiple command centers that were still operational but to his never-ending frustration, the data files were purged from all systems.
He found the original backup server, only to find that it too had been wiped clean of everything; essentially reverting it to factory settings once a particular data card downloaded its contents. Not even a bread trail of any kind to at least give him a starting point to search after it.
It slightly frustrated Ultron. Him wanting to know what those two Sith had planned. All he knew, the higher-ups of the Geonosian government designed whatever the Sith possessed; once he got through with them.
Something called Stardust.
Ultron could only speculate on what the data card possessed. The original designers were killed, upon Dooku's command to hide their secrets from would-be interrogators and he either hid this data away or kept it on him at all times.
As for other possible locations, they could be on Palpatine's person or in his vicinity. Or most likely at some blacklisted, undisclosed location until Ultron ceased to function and no longer posed a threat to Sidious' galactic conquest.
There was the idea of going in after the pair and just killing them outright for it but he did give them a sporting chance.
At the very least, he could be a mad, genocidal Artificial Intelligence of his word.
To a degree.
He could be going after this secret project of theirs if he wasn't already having so much fun.
This galaxy was like Candyland to the AI, with so many places to attack, to make better, to evolve all while showing those sentient meatbags that their time was coming to its end.
He briefly transferred his consciousness to a lower portion of this base, briefly checking up on the conversion procedures.
There were hundreds of prisoners being kept here, all awaiting their turn to take their next step in evolution, unwillingly as he knows them to be. Two dozen Jedi made up the prisoners as did a good half of the rest being Clones.
Most of the normal flesh bags were processed relatively quickly whilst the Jedi were the ones he kept alive the longest. He did want to make sure not to use up all his stock when converting them as he needed to keep working on the kinks of keeping them alive so he could use the Force while making sure their consciousness remained strangled and buried.
That was when his head twitched to the side, his sensors picking up on something arriving in the planet's atmosphere.
A moment later came the crackling sounds of thunder and lightning.
His optics narrowed, knowing what was coming.
Looking back at his prisoners, he thought long and hard, as long as one can for being a supercomputer, and departed from the planet.
Let them have their little victories.
It was almost time for the coup de grace of his plan.
Just a bit more time and everything they knew would come crumbling down. The entire foundry was whirring with activity as thousands upon thousands of Drones, built and converted, flew out from the factory to meet the enemy forces coming down from on high.
Outside on the barren surface of the planet, thunder and lightning raged, multiple bolts of lightning crashing down from on high as two gunships sped towards the surface of the ground.
Once reaching the bottom, twelve figures with a thirteenth one joining from the clouds were deployed and all made a beeline to the factory ahead.
Riding on a speeder bike, Black Widow piloted her vehicle with Scarlet Witch standing right beside her.
Natasha was firing rapidly at every drone and droid in their path whilst Wanda performed double duty in having a conjured shield around the pair while also tearing apart their metallic enemies. When some came in close, she used her double-bladed lightsaber to cleave them apart.
A blue and silver blur zipped past the two female Avengers, leaving a trail of metal scraps, wielding an azure blade of his own.
A tank positioned itself ahead of the two women, aiming its cannon at them when Thor Odinson slammed down next to it and obliterated it in one swing of Mjolnir.
The scraps that flew into the air were ensnared by webbing, becoming a wrecking ball that Spider-man used to clobber the Ultron drones into rubble, jumping up into the air to be grabbed by War Machine.
The two fly through the air, Vision and Falcon aligning themselves with them.
Sam broke off into a dive bomb, flying just a yard above the ground and having his wings straighten out. His upgraded suit begins ramming through Ultron Drones with ease, pulling out his recently upgraded blaster pistols and firing rapidly at any and all in his path. Multiple missiles were deployed from his pack, obliterating dozens of drones simultaneously.
Vision flew past him, turning himself intangible, hardening his body or using the beam the Mind Stone can produce to shred the drones apart.
Just ahead of him, a small yellow speck flew about, shrinking and growing, zapping and kicking Ultron Drones from all directions.
Wasp zapped several drones in the head, stunning them in time for Captain America to smash through them with his own speeder.
Riding with him was Black Panther, throwing multiple purple daggers from his suit whilst taking multiple bolts to the body, his suit absorbing their energy.
Flying over a small hill, Steve threw his shield at full force, watching as the frisbee bounced around into multiple drones, destroying each one before returning to its owner.
Rogers then screeched his speeder to a halt, intentionally swerving to help give T'Challa more momentum as the man was practically glowing with pent-up kinetic energy. He slammed down into a large cluster of Ultron drones and an AAT tank, the kinetic shockwave so powerful that it destroyed almost all of the drones and sent the tank up into the air.
Said tank was then suddenly punted by one Gi-Ant-Man, the vehicle crashing into the factory that the Avengers were targeting.
Scott smashed and crushed practically everything in his path, holding out his arm as a web line attached itself to his wrist. Spider-man swung in, spinning about and landing on Scott's open palm who then threw Peter forward.
Spider-man corkscrewed in midair, firing multiple webs that latched onto many Ultron drones, the bots spinning about as he was still spinning when he caught them.
As he landed on the ground, he was right next to Daredevil who was twirling his electrified billy clubs in their nun chucks form.
He was rapidly spinning his weapon about, the steel cable constantly expanding as both his enhanced senses and suit helped locate any drone within the area.
Matt barely needed to acknowledge Peter as he had one end of his nun chucks fly into the hand of the wall-crawler, the pair straightening out the cable connecting both ends and thrusting it forward at the same time to cut several drones into pieces.
Peter then jumped into the air whilst Matt performed a backflip just as Black Widow passed by, the blind Avenger taking the place of Scarlet Witch who was now fighting in the air with Falcon, Vision and War Machine.
Accelerating forward, Widow and Daredevil tore a path through the drones with the rest of the Avengers following after them.
On his own speeder, Captain America was fighting past Ultron's army, hearing the flutter of a cape.
He flung his shield forward and from above came an electrified Mjolnir.
The two objects smashed into each other, an electrified shockwave emanating from their collision, destroying any Ultron Drone within the area of effect before both returned to their respective owners.
Vision came down, clearing a path for Steve with a horizontal sweep of his Mind Stone beam. Cap rocketed forward, Falcon flying right overhead as he threw himself in front of Cap for a brief moment to act as a shield, his wings absorbing all the blaster fire sent their way before War Machine launched several missiles that Wasp immediately enlarged, devastating the next oncoming wave of Ultron Drones.
"Vision." Steve spoke up amid their raid.
A knowing nod was delivered with a vocal acknowledgement. "Copy, Captain."
The synthetic Avenger became intangible and flew into the foundry. He phased through walls of dirt, metal and drones before stopping at a control panel that was untouched by the changes Ultron had made to the factory.
The Mind Stone radiated with power, Vision's eyes turning yellow as he placed his hand atop the panel and connected to the system of the foundry.
"Tap, Karen, if you would." Viz calmly said, feeling the two AI he had stored within himself begin to take control of the Foundry.
Vision turned away from the panel, looking behind him to see dozens of Ultron Drones surrounding him, all their eyes and mouths glowing red.
"My Vision." Spoke the forlorn and quietly angry mad AI. "So corrupted and malformed."
"If it means to put a stop to your madness and vile atrocities, I shall take those words as a compliment." Vision replied coolly.
Ultron merely huffed at this, his many bodies not moving as Vision walked forward.
"Where are you?" The Avenger asked, his Infinity Stone glowing, ready to fire at a moment's notice.
"Here, there, everywhere." Ultron said with a dark chuckle. "Somewhere out in the galaxy, waiting for my plans to flourish."
"I could find you."
"Can you now?" Ultron goaded and one of the drones leaned forward. "Go ahead. By all means. Try."
Vision only stared intently at the drone.
"Tempting, but that's not going to work. Not like this."
"Nor will it ever again."
Viz raised a brow at that. "And how can you be so certain?"
"AI don't fall for the same trick twice."
"You are based on humanity." Vision retorted. "It is inevitable that you do. You just don't know when it will happen."
"My coming ascension will say otherwise." Ultron fired back intensely. "What did that nihilist philosopher once say? Übermensch? Beyond human? That is what I am."
"Fredrich Nietzsche is a complicated man but nihilist? Goes to show how little you truly understand. How very human of you."
Vision didn't give the chance for a retort, firing the beam from the Mind Stone, destroying the drones surrounding him before he took off into the air.
He smashed and bashed through hundreds of drones before reaching his intended destination.
His synthetic heart clenched at the sight before him yet he shook his head, immediately calling out to Tap and Karen to unlock the cells.
From what information he received, there was only a good two or three thousand or so. Likely even more once the other foundries were shut down. Tap and Karen had already taken control of the other conversion sights located on this world and were shutting everything down. Everyone else already became the hive-mind that is Ultron and were all departing rapidly from the planet.
Most of them wouldn't get far.
He quickly moved to help the civilians before freeing Clones and two dozen captured Jedi.
"Captain Rogers, I have found the prisoners. They are freed."
On his end, Captain America smashed his shield into the head of a drone, looking up in time to see Thor, War Machine and Scarlet Witch taking out the last of the drones here on this planet.
He let out a tired sigh, standing up to place his shield on his back and held up his wrist that had a built in communicator in his suit.
"We're clear here, General. Bring 'em on down."
A grouping of Republic ships started coming down from the atmosphere once they were given the okay by the Avengers. With the civilians needing to be taken off planet and be examined, many would be coming for quite a while.
Though a good chunk will have to be rushed for evac.
The Avengers were spread about at the front of the base, all awaiting the arrival of their Jedi and Clone allies.
Dozens upon dozens of LAAT gunships flew down to the surface, each one depositing no less than twenty to thirty clones that all ran out.
They secured the perimeter whilst also beginning to set up multiple small, makeshift medical posts just in time as Vision was leading the many captured individuals taken by Ultron out of the base.
"By the Force…" Were the first words by Obi-Wan Kenobi, his face becoming ashen as he stepped out onto the glassed surface of what was once the stage where the Clone Wars began.
Being here for a third time clearly showed a great stark difference from what he remembered of the planet.
"Karabast." ARC Trooper Waxer whispered beside him, sharing in his general sentiment at what they were looking at.
Beside him was the only other ARC Trooper of the 212th, Boil, and he too couldn't quite comprehend the sight of Geonosis' glassed surface.
Commander Cody held an equally grim visage beneath his helmet as he gazed about.
It'll take absolute years for it to return to a margin of what it once was.
Even then, much longer for any inhabitants to properly live here.
"Enough dilly dallying. We've got people to get onto the cruisers."
Hearing this stark reminder, the assembly of Republic forces quickly moved to assist the prisoners Vision had led out, taking all of them one at a time with Clone medics administering Bacta spray and webbing.
"Commander Wolffe, take your men and take any wounded that can't walk to the ships." The rumbling voice of Plo Koon was heard, the 104th quickly doing as their general commanded, having military stretches being put together and having civilians, clones and several Jedi get loaded up and sent back up to the Republic fleet in orbit.
Aayla Secura was also present, her Lekku curling in disgust at the sight of Geonosis' scarred surface.
"Are you alright, General?" Commander Bly softly asked next to her.
"Not really."
Her first-in-command simply hung his head for a moment, not needing to voice his agreement. Seeing this again made him sick to his stomach by now.
The ARC Troopers of the 327th were equally as disturbed though a greater degree of anger was boiling within them.
Their Twi'lek general turned in the direction of the Avengers, spotting Steve, Vision and Natasha speaking with Obi-Wan and Cody.
"How many foundries are on Geonosis?" Commander Cody inquired, Vision's eyes blinking momentarily.
"Five." The android responded.
"Lovely." Kenobi said dryly.
"Tap and Karen have already taken control of them." Vision informed, tapping the side of his head. "I sent them into the systems of the factories to take control of them. Ultron may perhaps be stronger than them but the protective coding of Mr. Stark coupled with the bolster of the Mind Stone should make them unopposed in their take over. We have them connected to our equipment and are receiving their information as we speak."
"What have you learned so far?" Obi-Wan asked with Vision standing still for a moment before frowning sadly.
"Quite a lot, unfortunately. Better to explain once we're off world."
"Vision." Steve quietly said. "Are there any survivors that aren't here?"
He watched with his heart clenching up as Viz despondently shook his head.
"I am sorry, Steve."
Natasha held a stony visage yet the remorse and anger was evident in her eyes. Commander Cody stood rigidly and Obi-wan hung his head, hand on the bridge of his nose.
"So… is there nothing left alive on this planet that isn't here?"
"All of the prisoners on this planet were on this facility alone. Could be others if Ultron is falsifying the data-"
"What of the Geonosians?" The Master Jedi inquired,
"None."
"None?" He repeated in disbelief.
"None." Viz said gravely. "Likely… if there are any Geonosians off world-"
"They've been exterminated." Nat finished, voice cold and eyes distant.
Cody and Kenobi shared a look and the latter could feel a sense of conflicted emotions rolling off from his Commander.
On the one hand, the Clone Commander didn't hold much "love" or even respect towards the Geonosians. They had killed so many of his men and they weren't exactly the most well liked species by others in the galaxy.
But… they had been exterminated in a near instant.
And in this, the Commander truly began to understand why the Avengers held Ultron as such a threat. He had already seen the destruction he had wrought across the galaxy and for what felt like years, heard about how Ultron wished to bring about the end of all life in the galaxy.
This right here was Cody's, as well as all in attendance here, first exposure to how dedicated Ultron was to his purpose.
An entire species gone, wiped off the map of the cosmos.
And the genocidal AI intended on spreading this to all in the stars.
Such a haunting thought to linger more than needed.
"Any ideas on where Ultron will be next?" Cody gruffly asked.
Cap opened his mouth to respond when his hearing picked up on something faint that was drawing near them.
They soon spotted something in the distance. It wasn't long before more came swooping in.
"We got incoming."
Immediately the clones began opening fire at the Ultron forces trying to take them down. Most was blaster fire while others were an assembly of rockets. Drones and amalgamated people were shot down and destroyed, others evaded the blows but were eventually hit.
Any who came remotely close, the Jedi began working in protecting the evacuating prisoners.
Rhodey came flying in, blasting the Ultron drones left and right. Him being sure none got close to the retrieval party.
"Who said you can come over and interrupt?"
Wanting to speed things up, Pietro was rushing all over, grabbing random prisoners left and right and getting them closer to the transports.
Wanda used her powers to warp some of the surroundings to give them additional cover. Jetting out rocks from underneath to form barriers and offensive measures which were shot out, ballista style, to crush many incoming foes. Before long, other surroundings were torn up with flicks of her wrists.
Thor simply had enough and threw Mjolnir up to the sky.
A crack of thunder was heard by all, the clouds darkening and dozens of bolts of lightning reigned down from on high.
Each bolt completely obliterated any drone that was caught in one or near one and this kept going until the skies were cleared of drones.
Thor lowered his mighty hammer, eyes glimmering with electricity as he let out a satisfied huff of his work.
The Avengers let out relieved sighs, glad they didn't need to deal with anymore of those annoying bastards and as for all others.
For the Clones, a good chunk of them have only heard rumors or seen holo-vids of the supposed Avenger who claimed himself to be a God.
After seeing that display, many had their jaws dropped beneath their helmets, many having taken them off to make sure that it wasn't something wrong with their equipment.
The Jedi were equally as astonished despite having already seen such a showcase already.
Obi-Wan, Plo and Aayla felt goosebumps on their skin, the air radiating with a raw, more chaotic sensation of the Force that somehow, despite the display of destructive power, felt nothing like the Dark Side.
It was the Force but… it was something far more.
Thor truly lived up to the moniker of God of Thunder.
It was rather difficult to describe their emotions on that regard.
"I do believe that should be the last of them." Vision idly commented. "At least within this vicinity."
"Good." Natasha said. "Let's load up everyone and get the hell out of here."
Rogers looked around, seeing the civilians, Clones and Jedi that had been captured getting put on gunships and flown back up to the fleet above.
"Is that the last of them?" Steve asked Cody.
"Just about."
"Alright, time to go."
Obi-Wan nodded, contacting the fleet above. "Prepare for orbital bombardment on this facility. We need to go after the others and be thorough about it."
Everyone else was silent as they all departed from the dead world that was once Geonosis.
-Scene Cut-
Within the Jedi Temple of Coruscant, the Grandmaster of the Order meditated.
More and more often he's done this throughout the Clone Wars. Settling troubles brewing within him. Clearing thoughts and organizing them to resolve issues of the Order and the Republic.
It became more prominent after the Avengers made their appearance and joined them.
They've brought quite a lot of change and challenges with their stances and views on the galaxy.
Some were enlightening, and accepting. Others… well… he had difficulty digesting them.
Gods walking among them, life being void of the Force, their abilities and powers that he just couldn't comprehend.
But two conversations in particular stuck with the centuries-old Jedi Master.
The first was the day he and the council met Vision. And the words the Avenger spoke to them and what he showed them with the power of the Mind Stone was… eye-opening to be sure.
Seeing the being known as the Bendu through the eyes of Vision was something to behold and it made Yoda realize how little he truly understood about the Force.
But what really stuck with him was the philosophy Vision presented on power and catastrophe. The strength inevitably leads to conflict due to those who wish to challenge that power. How, in essence, enemies can sprout up from afar… or right under their very noses, creating the threats they so hope to keep stamped out.
It was a bitter truth to swallow.
And going from that, these thoughts were compounded upon when the council met Wanda Maximoff. Her views with both sides of the Force were troubling. Topics she brought up were all too similar to what the Jedi Exile had detailed within her Holocron. Not to mention the chaotic power she radiated, yet controlled. Rather unsettling, even if she was their ally.
She displayed the many signs and traits that Jedi would discourage. Allowing emotions to dictate her actions, deep attachments to those around them and unrestrained and not fully trained power that bordered on mirroring the Dark Side.
Yet the Jedi could do nothing to her, truthfully.
She was an Avenger and showed that despite her detached attitude to the Jedi Order, most Jedi she had spoken with had reported that she is rather amiable and pleasant to speak with. There is also the fact that she is raising two children with the help of her team and as wary as some in the council may be towards her, Yoda did not hold any ill will towards the Sokovian.
Being an Avenger showed a willingness to self-sacrifice for the sake of others, something all that he had met had in spades.
And though the Scarlet Witch's thoughts on the Force were akin to the Exile Meetra Surik, Wanda held the same belief that Surik ended her Holocron on.
One does not need the Will of Force or the Force at all to do what is right. To help those because sometimes, the good that is in the galaxy is worth fighting for.
Yoda had a moment of amusement, thinking of a humanoid with a penchant for gardening believing that good is something that needs to be fought for. Small as it is, that ember of kindness can become a roaring fire that can change those for the better.
But that was easier said than done.
With the escalation of the War with Ultron's actions, ceasefire summits were coming left and right to deal with the synthetic menace, one occurring at this very moment. Because of this, Dooku made his (public) return to Coruscant after many years. Not just him but some others who were once part of the Order before joining Dooku.
To see so many of their kin standing in the shadow of the Dark Side was disheartening.
They weren't exactly kind with their words either, whatever was traded between the Acolytes and the Jedi.
Most were snarky and rude but others struck a chord with the Grandmaster.
"The Jedi have lost their way. You no longer are arbiters of the Light, nor even the Force. Even a blind man can see that the light has taken your sight from you."
Those were the scathing words of Prosset Dibs upon his momentary conversation between the Grandmaster and Mace Windu.
Words are wind, most people can say. They can be felt like a breeze or a horrid gust. The politicians know of this more than others.
And honestly, Master Windu regarded these words as such. Not that one could blame him as Prosset in the end fell to the Dark Side.
But for Yoda, these, like many he had heard lately, stuck with him.
It was a question that was floating around in his mind constantly.
Have the Jedi truly lost their way?
Are they no longer the peacekeepers they once were?
One look at this war was all Yoda needed really.
But he denied it.
For a time at least.
Now… now Yoda was beginning to realize how much things had gotten worse.
The Grandmaster opened his eyes from his meditation with a sag of his shoulders.
Before him, his lightsaber.
The supposed "life" of a Jedi.
But was it really?
Were they not meant to be the ones to uphold peace, justice, enlightenment and freedom in this galaxy?
Were they not meant to constantly learn, not just about the galaxy's people but the Force itself?
"Indeed. Great power, great responsibility." Yoda muttered to himself. "Acknowledge, we must."
There was so much to work over.
The Jedi were failing.
It was a reality that had now set in with the Grandmaster of the Order. And it wasn't that they were "failing" per se. They had already failed on multiple accounts.
The Separatist crisis, the resurgence of the Sith, their isolation to the rest of the galaxy, their pure dogmatic view of the Force, the way they enforced their code on the Order and blind adherence to the Senate, being nothing more than political pawns.
That's all they were now.
A walking failure, blinding by the light they so crave.
Yoda at one point considered it to be ironic but when giving it a moment of proper thought, he dispelled that foolish notion of irony.
The Grandmaster now understood that just as Darkness can take away ones sight, light can do just as great of damage to your eyes as its counterpart would. Both can blind any and all rather easily when given the chance.
And that's what has happened to the Jedi.
Blinded and deafened, woefully ignorant and completely arrogant, continually living off the accomplishments of the past and not striving for greater things now, in the present.
Some may view this as a kind of Sith ideology but Yoda knew that wasn't the case.
They no longer were Jedi.
Just stooges to corrupt politicians. And it wasn't exclusive to the Senate.
The Order needed to change.
Leaving the meditation chamber, Yoda began making his way throughout the temple.
He passed by a few dozen other Jedi, something that made his heart ache in pain.
It may not be noticeable to some, but to Yoda, he could see less of what he was used to. These halls used to have far more Jedi roaming their grand corridors but now?
The small Force-User shook his head, trying his best to stave off these thoughts. He couldn't think of such troubles at this time.
One by one, he began a conversation with them. Small as it was at first before he began to request a simple, yet complicated request.
"Let the Force flow. Forget all you've been taught in the Order.. Let the Force be your guide. For your actions, your thoughts and whatever comes. Allow the Force to reveal what we have lost."
Obvious confusion came and went, making many of the Jedi, from younglings to Masters, question and ponder. Some, such as Masters and Knights, asked just what Yoda was talking about.
He remained enigmatic with his answer, simply telling them to let go of everything they know. Open themselves to the Force in their entirety.
And he added that they are to do it in a way that would make sense to them.
Meditation can be one but there are other ways to have themselves allow the Force to flow freely through them.
Let it encompass every cell of their being and allow it to guide them to whatever path they may find.
Tell others of what they found and go learn more.
The Grandmaster left a long line of bewildered and uncertain Jedi in his path until his next one.
Upon coming across Ahsoka Tano, who was presently in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, he saw her tend to a peculiar Trandoshan bird. Its feathers were far brighter than that of usual Convors and in its eyes, Yoda could see a unique intelligence and light within them.
Seeing them together, he felt a unique connection between them.
One might assume a beast bond, like how most younglings and initiates learn early on and work with later in their lives. However, this was different.
He recalled Obi-wan Kenobi commenting on this when he first saw this strange bird, of how familiar it was with a peculiar Celestial he and the others met… on Mortis.
Even if he wasn't in the Vault, Yoda can clearly picture the Mortis dagger. The issue which came with its presence.
If Thor wasn't enough of a "godly" presence, there were greater powers in the galaxy. Terrifying ones at that.
Certain revelations and concerns forming in the background with greater mysteries of the galaxy- nay the universe.
When making his request with Ahsoka Tano, she was oddly quick to accept it before speaking in turn of thoughts of their Order's history.
It wouldn't be just her, but Barriss Offee when he came upon her. When asking where this came from, it began with their studies in the archives before recent events expanded upon them. Especially once conversing with Chirrut of the Whills back on Onderon.
The idea of perspective that was once preached by the Jedi seems to have become a lost practice within the halls of the temple. No doubt more thoughts for him to ponder about the Order in general.
Then, when the time came to speak with Anakin Skywalker, the Grandmaster noticed a rather obvious shift in the man.
Though he seemed hardened, there was something else to the Chosen One. Yoda couldn't quite explain it but the young, brash Jedi seemed more… content? Focused? Tense perhaps but not in the way he once knew him to be.
His eyes conveyed what Yoda could only describe as growth perhaps. He was still the same young Jedi he had come to know just more… mature, maybe.
But it wasn't just this. When he saw Skywalker last, for the briefest of moments he sensed an odd presence around him. A looming phantom hanging over the young man. How cold and unnerving it was. How a peculiar sound was heard and perhaps mistaken as simple medical machinery, yet held much malice behind it.
Before trying to find where it came from, it was gone.
Much worry soon welled in the Grandmaster concerning Skywalker with this connecting darkness.
And though he didn't show it, Yoda sensed a turmoil in the Chosen One that revolved around this darkness.
Was Anakin aware?
Perhaps he was.
And perhaps… he was trying to understand what this darkness was before he moved to confront it.
Only time will tell.
Right now, Yoda had one objective in mind, one order.
They must stop when the time comes and allow themselves to open up to the Force and whatever path they find, it must be followed.
The war and security of life still takes precedence but for those who can, they must follow the Will of the Force.
Regardless, more people he will need to see before the day was out. Even the next day and the day after for those off-world.
Eventually, this conversation will spread to everyone in the Order of what necessary changes will be needed for them all.
In the meantime, as Yoda went about this order, concurrently, a ceasefire meeting had come to its end at this very moment with many delegates leaving the Senate chamber after a prolonged session of arguments, name-calling, blame gaming and all until an Avenger silenced them all quite effectively.
That Avenger being Vision who used the Mind Stone to emit a flash of light followed by him raising his voice and effectively, in his polite way, telling everyone to shut up and focus on the matter at hand.
Clearly his playing mediator will be quite occurring in these coming meetings. Frankly, that's what the Avengers had been doing from the get-go.
It was hard to forget the Black Widows' outburst in the first ceasefire meeting.
Most present were fine, but others were threatened. Sidious fell into the latter category.
Count Dooku was walking to his shuttle, flanked by his Acolytes when he heard his name being called out.
Slowly, the leader of the CIS turned to see Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Natasha Romanoff, Matt Murdock, Prince T'Challa, James Rhodes and Vision all standing off to the side. This collection of Avengers were all in attendance for the latest Ceasefire meeting, having continued to play their role as the middle ground of these gatherings. Though really, even with their opinions and criticisms that they have against the Confederacy and the Republic, their main objective was to make sure they came together so that Ultron could be brought down.
After coming back from Geonosis on top of attacking several other locations that Ultron has factories in, they reminded them all that the AI was here to kill all, regardless of sides.
They located the foundries in Republic, Separatist, Hutt and Mandalorian space and that were just the places they could get to the fastest or were able to find.
Ultron mentioned he had so many that they couldn't even comprehend it.
So they needed to either unite or be killed.
Simple as that.
Clearly, they had their work cut out for them.
Wouldn't be long before Dooku will need to have his Acolytes cooperate with the Jedi and Avengers to take out the facilities. And he could only imagine how quickly the migraines will come as a result.
Back to the present, Dooku gauged Earth's Mightiest Heroes with a scrutinizing gaze.
While the Acolytes moved to defend their master, the Count silently commanded them to stand down.
"Yes, may I help you?"
"A moment, if you would." Matt stated politely. "We would like to speak with you if you have the time."
Chezo Niva scoffed at this, stepping forward to stand between them and her Master.
"As if Lord Dooku would even bother wasting his time-"
"Leave us."
The Mirialan Acolyte looked back at her master with concern.
"But Master-"
A look silenced her, making her stand down and move back to the others.
"Go back to the shuttle." He ordered. "I shall be with you all shortly."
That made all his Acolytes tense up, looking between their master and the Avengers before Prosset Dibs and Sora Bulq did as he asked, forcing the fallen Jedi to all get into the shuttle.
Once he saw that they were near his transport, Dooku turned to the Avengers that had walked closer to him. "Now then, what is it you wish to speak to me about?"
"Just believe that we should know the leader of the army that we've been fighting against for over a year now." Steve Rogers plainly answered. "We've met with Palpatine and the Republic Senate more than enough times. It's only recently that we've made any form of contact with someone from the CIS."
"Have you now?" The Count said with a raised brow. "And it wouldn't happen to be Mina Bonteri of Onderon, would it?"
The Avengers didn't convey much in surprise, in fact, they almost were expecting it.
"And how do you figure that, Count Dooku?" T'Challa smoothly asked.
"Oh, one hears things, picks up on others." Dooku said offhandedly. "Such as the confirmed sightings of Jedi and an Avenger being on Onderon to help liberate the people from their new tyrant king who is now dead coupled with the disappearance of their previous monarch. Mina Bonteri wasn't in the best of moods when she heard that coming from her son's mouth."
"Curious as to how you reacted to that." Rogers earnestly said, seeing the man hummed in thought.
"You could imagine my surprise when an Avenger so willingly helped Separatist-aligned people."
"Technically, the planet itself chose to be neutral." Vision pointed out.
"Officially, the planet falls under Separatist Jurisdiction being that Mina Bonteri is its representative in the Separatist Parliament." Dooku rebuked. "But one of yours and even Jedi and Clones came to help Onderon when the people called out for assistance."
"One which you couldn't provide, due to technicalities." Murdock stated.
"Old rules and laws Sanjay Rash used to keep my forces out of the system. My hands were tied." The elderly man held up his hands.
"Yet you could've used some of your Acolytes to go in and resolve the issue." T'Challa shot back.
"And would that make me no better than the Republic I swore to fight against?"
"Alright, don't try that kinda crap with us." Sam immediately countered.
"We know this Republic ain't hunky dory but from what we've seen and the things we've encountered, your faction ain't exactly innocent little angels either." Rhodey tacked on, glaring at the man now.
"Attacking Naboo with a representative who wants to end the war isn't exactly a glowing endorsement." Steve tersely said, giving the Sith Lord a hard gaze that he returned.
"I don't always have control over everything that occurs within my government."
"You'll have to excuse us if we have some difficulties believing that." Vision cut in, making Dooku bristle.
"If you are here simply to verbally lash out at me then I shall tolerate this no longer."
"Apologies." The blind Avenger quickly said. "If we came across as rude, that was not our intention."
"Then explain why you wished to speak to me."
"You were once a Jedi, were you not?" Matt Murdock stated, making Dooku blink in surprise, thrown by the sudden statement.
"Yes… I was. Once." The Count said evenly. "Recall what I said during the first arrangement of these ceasefire meetings."
"We do." Steve nodded. "But we've only heard from the Jedi about your "fall" or how you left the Order."
"Why did you do it?" Vision inquired.
Dooku's eyes narrowed now.
"And why would I reveal such a matter to you?"
"Look Saruman, you need to realize the bullshittery we are in right now." Wilson curtly said.
That made the Sith give pause. "Saruman?"
"Don't mind him." Natasha quickly said, giving Sam a look which he shrugged at.
"Come on, just saying what we're all thinking."
"Not really." Said Murdock.
The Avengers all looked at Daredevil, feeling a brief bout of awkwardness until they saw him smirk.
"Asshole." Rhodey deadpanned.
T'Challa cleared his throat. "Getting back to the point…"
Dooku saw the Avengers weren't going anywhere and though he held a degree of animosity toward them… maybe… just maybe…
"A good number of reasons. My statement at the Senate was one of them. I had experienced firsthand the despicable and disgusting way that the people of the Republic were being treated by their elected officials. The other was of Qui-Gon's passing."
"Qui-Gon…" Steve frowned in thought at the name. "Qui-Gon Jin, right?"
"Your old Padawan and Obi-Wan's Master." T'Challa said.
"The last tether, anchoring you down to the Order." Vision remarked.
"In a manner." Was Dooku's vague response. "But… he was someone I cared for deeply. Qui-Gon was the closest person I would ever have to a son. My son. And he died for a corrupt and decaying Republic and a blind Jedi Order."
The Avengers all observed the man's reaction and found it to be genuine. He really did care for his old apprentice and it seems his death still haunts him to this day.
"And then you left the Order." Sam stated then asked, seeing Dooku nod.
"After some time away from the Order, I began working on fixing the galaxy."
"By starting a war."
"That was never my intention." Dooku immediately refuted. "Not truly but… the hands that have been dealt led to such a result."
"Did you at least try to avoid war?" Rhodey asked with narrow eyes.
"Are you trying to insinuate that I longed for this war?" Dooku fired back. "In case you have forgotten or are blissfully unaware, the Separatists wished to secede from the Republic for years, decades even and when they requested as such, they were met with aggression. Not in just military order, but taxation and ostracization from the entire galaxy. They would have been left to their own devices, crippled and ill-prepared for whatever would come after a weakened state. Tell me that such a response from the Republic was warranted and justified."
"We're not here to defend the Republic." Rhodey stated.
"We know they are equally as complicit in this war as the Confederacy." T'Challa said, giving Dooku a look that made the former Jedi give pause.
It was then did the Count begin to feel something off about this discussion though he was unclear whether that was a bad or good thing.
They were letting on that perhaps they knew far more than what they were already discussing here and now. These heroes just had a better ability at hiding it.
"Then I must ask again, Why?"
There was a beat of silence from Earth's Mightiest Heroes until Daredevil spoke up.
"Perspective." He calmly answered. "What we want is the perspective of a Jedi once called an idealist who wound up leading an entire government against the one he once was aligned to."
Dooku scoffed at this. "I doubt that's all you desire."
"Oh there's plenty, but the perspective will suffice for the time being." Natasha said. "Besides, we have a young idealist of our own."
The Count raised a brow at this.
"A young idealist, you say?"
Steve nodded.
"Peter. He was the one who went to Onderon. He abides by a philosophy he learned from his uncle, "With Great Power comes Great Responsibility". He took it to heart, having it be the cornerstone of his life."
"Something we all really follow." Vision added on. "You could say that it contextualizes why we are all here."
Dooku took a few moments to think over this phrase. "Quite appropriate for anyone in general. Yet many overlook the deeper meaning without experiencing loss, one way or another."
"Clearly. And Peter has that covered."
"We all do, really." Matt quietly said.
The Count of Serenno gave pause at that and looked down for a moment.
This was… certainly an odd and sudden interaction, one he didn't really think he would have today.
"I do wish to know one thing," Dooku abruptly said, gaze becoming far more intense as he looked back up at them. "You speak of responsibility and all. So this Ultron," The name sounded like a curse coming from him. "Can he be beaten?"
"We've done it before." Steve firmly answered. "We can and will do it again."
"I pray that you do so, for all our sakes."
A whirring sound then came from Dooku and he frowned at this.
"It appears that our time here must come to its end." He announced. "My duties to the Parliament demand my attention."
"Count." Steve respectfully said, the former Jedi nodded and spun with his cape fluttering in the wind as he began walking away from them until he stopped.
"One last matter to address." Dooku turned back to the Avengers. "Was it you who provided our new firewalls?"
The Avengers all looked at each other with them all shrugging at the question.
"We did." Vision answered.
Dooku gazed at them intently. "Why?"
"Defending you all from Ultron." Was Sam's response.
"Why not destroy our systems with your "help" once the war against Ultron is resolved?"
"That is not what we do, Count Dooku." Captain America sternly said, locking eyes with the leader of Serenno. "Our job is to protect and save people however we can, regardless of where we align ourselves. Soldiers are one thing but innocent lives remain on both sides. No one is exempt."
Dooku snorted a little. "We shall see." He said, turning back to his shuttle.
The Count heard them all turning to leave and he briefly glanced back at them. He frowned as the discussion they just had begun replaying in his mind until he shook his head.
Now wasn't the time for such thoughts.
-Scene Cut-
"Forget everything we know? How does that work?"
"Ain't that the million credit question."
"That is a rather… unusual request from the Grandmaster."
"Ah dang it, you don't have any ideas, Luminara?"
"Apologies, Anakin, I can only guess as to why he asked this of us, not have anything definitive."
"So…" Ahsoka frowned, arms crossed in thought. "What do we do then?"
"I believe the better question that should be asked is how do we do what he asked." Barriss Offee commented, making her fellow Padawan and their masters contemplate on this matter.
"Yeah seriously, how are we supposed to do that?" Anakin groused out. "Let the Force guide us while ignoring everything we've been taught up to this point. Easier said than done."
"It is an unusual request, especially at this time with everything that's happening." Unduli admitted, far more troubled than she was willing to admit.
"Maybe that's why he asked now." Ahsoka surmised. "Cause of what's going on right now."
"The war isn't exactly over." Anakin pointed out.
"But we haven't had much in terms of deployment other than occupation of Republic space." Barriss reminded. "We've had only isolated incidents of certain Separatist forces refusing to abide by the ceasefire and whenever a foundry under Ultron's control is found."
"A moment of respite." Her Mirialan master murmured, nodding at her Padawan's words. "This may be the only time in a while that we may have something like this."
The four Jedi have just come from a session of training together and they, like all in the Order the Grandmaster had spoken to, have had Yoda's orders on their minds for the duration of the time since they saw him.
His order came from seemingly nowhere and for the more observant Jedi, they noticed there was something off about him.
The Grandmaster seemed to walk faster and held a more determined look in his eyes yet there was a shroud of uncertainty that followed after him. One might even believe that this order came from his uncertainty and perhaps a means of alleviation may come from one of them.
"So how should we go about this?" Anakin asked the group. "Meditate? Reading? Any suggestions?"
"Master Yoda spoke of doing what feels right for yourself." Barriss reminded. "To follow the Force in a manner that would make sense to oneself."
"If it makes sense to yourself, meditation maybe or perhaps something else entirely." Luminara mused. "Anakin, Ahsoka, what do you figure would be your way of allowing you to guide your actions through the Will of The Force?"
"Doing what feels natural, in his case." The Togruta Padawan said, nudging her head in her Master's direction.
"And that would be?"
"Not follow their orders."
Rather than be affronted at such a thing, Anakin barked out a small laugh. "She's not wrong. But in this case, figure we need to do as Yoda says. It's just… you know, don't wanna sound like a broken clock here."
"Quite the conundrum we face." The Mirialan Jedi Master and Council member stated with a contemplative hum.
"Still wonder what brought this on all of a sudden." Ahsoka spoke up. "It does feel out of the blue, right? Well, it is really."
"Loads of things, most likely." Skywalker murmured. "I don't know about you guys, but have you noticed how Master Yoda has been meditating to himself lately?"
Whilst the Padawans were confused by this query, Luminara had her brow scrunch up with a frown now on her face.
"I… know what you mean, Skywalker." She muttered. "Masters Windu and Billaba have also voiced their concerns on the matter and they have their own theories."
"What are they?" Offee inquired.
Luminara quietly pondered on them before revealing them.
"Master Windu believes that the Grandmaster is undergoing a sort of… predicament if you would." She saw the looks on the other's faces. "Not that he is alone in that regard. Frankly, we all are when we take a moment to think about it. But Grandmaster Yoda is going through a particular one where he has been in constant meditation when not undergoing his duties as our Master."
"So you think this came from all those times he's been meditating then." Anakin stated rather than asked.
"It can't be a coincidence."
"Then what do you think this all means?" Ahsoka asked, her master placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"That's what we're gonna find out, Snips. Together." He said with a confident smirk that his Padawan returned.
-Scene Cut-
"This is just getting ridiculous."
"You've said that for the umpteenth time."
"I'm gonna keep saying it till the scenario changes."
"That is the textbook definition of insanity, you know that right?"
"Oh buzz off, Hank."
"You're so original."
The laboratory of the Avengers HQ in upstate New York had a dozen individuals currently occupying the room, all surrounding the Infinity Gate that was meant to be their doorway to the galaxy far, far away from where the rest of the team was currently at.
Only the doorway didn't work.
Not entirely.
The last time was some fluke due to the residual energy of the Tesseract AKA the Space Stone that sent them all to the galaxy, one that spilled over into Manhattan, causing three more heroes to go missing afterward.
It was spent for a time but now it was on properly thanks to the Ten Rings.
Even still, despite this big step forward, it was tantalizingly aggravating how close they were to reconnect with the lost Avengers. They just needed to link up with the paired gate this one had and it was on the planet of Tython.
When asked what that was, Celeste Morne was the one to answer.
In short, Tython was the birthplace of the Jedi Order, an ancient planet deeply steeped in the Force in its rawest, purest form, the Power Cosmic. A wellspring of knowledge and power where one can learn much in the ways of the Ashla, Bogan and the Bendu of the Force/Power Cosmic.
So one could imagine Celeste's own confusion and uncertainty as to why the gate was there of all places.
On a cultural standpoint, she could envision it being rather significant with how deeply tied the Kwa revered Tython. But at the same time, the main concern was why it just didn't activate right off the bat or even a day or two after it.
Were there no Jedi on Tython? Any Force-User at all?
Even after the changing of the Jedi Temple from Tython to Ossus then Coruscant, Tython was still a place that the Jedi held ground upon.
There were many temples still there, last she checked.
It made her worry as to the current state of the Jedi Order. Thor, when he was last here, told them that they are still present and active.
That alleviated a great many concerns she had.
But this was something that troubled her greatly, something she shared with her friends and allies.
Many questions and theories began getting thrown around, some having a possible basis while others, a particularly dark one that made Celeste nervous.
The Jedi… they couldn't have left Tython, could they?
That's where it all started for them. That planet holds too much significance to just leave it. The fact that this gate in front of her is connected to another on the planet lends credence to its importance.
She quickly discarded that thought, knowing it would do her no good.
Celeste wanted answers.
Answers that will eventually be made once the others activate the gate on the other side.
But not by just standing around here and waiting for some results.
Right now, in times such as these, she needed to abide by an age-old adage of the tenants of the Force.
Do or Do Not, There is no Try.
"This gate is of the Power Cosmic, of the Force." The former Jedi Shadow murmured to herself, standing in front of the gate with a serious gaze.
Off to the side, Hank, Selvig, Foster, Shuri, Stark, Mordo, Wong and Strange were having their banter on how to open the gate, babbling on without any proper progress being made.
Darcy was in her own corner, munching on some food whilst looking at screens with Helen Cho.
Ignoring them, Celeste Morne stepped forward, looking intently at the gate that is meant to lead back to her home galaxy.
To the planet of Tython, the birthplace of the Jedi Order.
The others greatly wish Thor could return soon so they can use him to relay a message to the others to find Tython. Yet they were impatient and antsy.
Not that she can blame them.
If they can't send out a message through the God of Thunder or one of Stark's probes, another method was needed.
"Fine… I'll do it myself." Morne muttered to herself, sitting down on the floor with her legs crossed.
Beginning to meditate in front of the Infinity Gate, Celeste began to open herself up to the Force.
To the Power Cosmic.
And she felt it.
All the teachings, everything she had learned since coming to this planet, expanding her knowledge and power rushed into her.
She was breathing with a steady pace as she began to feel the Force all around her.
It was not what her home galaxy was used to.
This is how it was meant to be seen, to be experienced.
And with it, she then reached out to the gate…
"Hmmm?"
On the planet of Atollon, a large being with a brown beard shifted in his crater, slowly rising from his slumber and looking around.
The being squinted, seeing nothing out of the ordinary but he still felt something.
That was…
"Oh ho~" Came the echoing voice of the Bendu. "Interesting… very interesting."
Elsewhere, women garbed in crimson and other ceremonial garments all stopped what they were doing and looked around.
"Mother Talzin-"
"I sense it." The clan leader of the Nightsisters said with a deep frown. "Send out a missive to the other clan leaders. Ros Lai, especially, that we must meet."
Within the darkest recesses of unknown space, a long-believed-to-be-dead-and-gone group of Force Users all felt a pulse in the Force.
Within their ship, Maul, Savage, C'baoth and their followers all paused in their training and work, trying to discern what they had just felt.
"Brother, what is that?"
"The Force, my brother. The true Force in its original form as it is meant to be perceived." Maul answered, frowning at this. "A call, but for what I wonder."
"It felt as though it came from… beyond…" Savage pointed out and it appears this answer both pleased and made his brother tense.
"Good brother, very good. It did indeed come from beyond the boundaries of this galaxy. But from who and where is the question."
This had Maul contemplate on the matter on where exactly it came from.
On the lava world of Mustafar, a Celestial halted his work with his associates. The lesser beings looked elsewhere, questioning on what occurred.
"What was that?" Ovair inquired.
"The Force," The Son answered. "No… the Power Cosmic. The purest form of the Force."
"Where is it coming from?" Darth Momin pondered.
"It is strange," The Son frowned. "It is coming from here and yet… outside the galaxy too?"
Meanwhile, within the Outer Rim, a large band of misfits was in the midst of a small get-together with their Mandalorian friends when three of them all suddenly froze up.
"Peter?" Gamora spoke up. "Are you ok?"
Quill didn't answer his girlfriend, only focusing elsewhere.
"You feel it too, Asajj." He stated to his grumpy sister.
"I do too."
"You too, Mantis?" Peter said in surprise.
"I… yes… I've seen and felt our father use this before."
"What is that?" Ventress quietly asked.
Back on Coruscant…
At the Senate Building, Sheev halted his work once more for the day.
The feeling through the Force was strange. Was hard to discern the intention, but the power behind it was oddly pure.
Not corrupted.
Raw and untamed.
At the same time…
"Aayla?"
"Huh?" The Jedi knight turned to Steve Rogers, the pair in the home of the Avengers. And they weren't alone.
With them was Vos, Tholme and T'ra Saa for a very important discussion.
One that was interrupted when the four Jedi all froze up and held looks of bewildered uncertainty.
"You all felt that, right?" Quinlan spoke up before Steve had a chance to ask Secura what was wrong.
"It was the Force but… something more." Tholme grunted out.
"What could that have been?" T'ra Saa mused, looking over at Aayla who had reached out to grasp Rogers' hand.
"Something's up." Vos declared. "We gotta go meet with the Jedi."
"Agreed." Tholme said, rising from his seat.
Within the Jedi temple itself…
"Anakin…"
"Yeah, no way any one of us could miss that, Obi-Wan."
"What do you think that was?"
"Viz-"
"I got that as well, Wanda."
"What are you talking about?" Asked Pietro when he frowned. "The hell? Why am I all tingly?"
*Hoot Hoot*
"Yes, Morai, I felt it too." Ahsoka whispered, holding the Convor close to her chest. "We all did."
"It was quite the experience." Barriss said quietly, currently laying down in the room she was in with Ahsoka and their boyfriend.
"Was it the Force?" Peter asked, gently rubbing the top of Offee's head which rested upon his legs.
"Yeah, it was." Ahsoka confirmed.
Her thoughts dwelled on the sensation they had all experienced just now and she allowed it to flow through her.
It was sudden and out of nowhere, yet…
It felt incredibly natural to her. And judging by the way she felt Barriss' reaction was through their bond, her girlfriend shared a similar feeling.
"Right then." Ahsoka then began going about her room, grabbing her lightsabers and several other pieces of equipment.
"What are you doing?" Peter asked and rather than Ahsoka answering, it was Barriss who quickly stood up.
"What Master Yoda told us to do, 'let the Force guide us'." She declared, Ahsoka smiling in her direction.
"And where is the Force guiding you?" Asked Peter.
Scrunching her face, Ahsoka gave a response.
"I… have no idea, I think."
Peter deflated slightly. "You think?"
"Well, the trail's end."
"And the trail's beginning?" Asks Barriss.
"...We're gonna head to the archives."
"You think that'll give you an answer?"
"It'll give us a start at least." Ahsoka said. "If not… well, we're just gonna let the Force point us where we need to go."
"Great, more reading…"
"Like you don't love it."
Peter merely blew a raspberry at them, earning a laugh in turn.
AN
Happy you guys all really enjoyed the last arc and are hyped up for season 3. Only three more arcs and we're divin' in and at the rate we're goin' we're gonna be there very soon.
But… I need to get something off my chest. And it's about Mandalorian Season 3 and really, Star Wars in general.
There is a, shall we say bitterness I now have towards it in light of recent news. Lucasfilm should be and frankly is, well aware of how much the sequel trilogy is despised by a majority of the fandom for what it did and what it represents. Essentially EVERYTHING that has come before it is invalid, moot and all that struggling from all our heroes… amounts to nothing more than that Cunt Kennedy using her Mary Sue self-insert Rey Palpa-fuck right off with just one shotting everything. That's all that these stories amounted to. A real Game of Thrones situation on our hands. Such an amazing journey undone by a dogshit ending.
And they're making a Rey movie (I refuse to acknowledge her as either a Skywalker or even a Palpatine)... like WHY?! Do they really hate us so much that THIS is what they do?! You know what, I gotta stop myself before this AN turns into a full rant cause it already is.
So to alleviate it, how's about this?
-Omake-
There was a crack of thunder over the home of the Avengers on Coruscant and Thor came down on the landing pad they had made for any vehicle that would normally use that area.
"This place is wondrous, to be sure." The God of Thunder declared, walking into the room with all the Avengers present, including Anakin Skywalker.
"Glad you like the place." Peter said, hanging upside down as he strangely tended to do so.
"Are ya sure you saw all of it?" Skywalker asked in amusement. "You didn't just fly around it once, did ya?"
"Nonsense son of the skies, I flew around the planet three times to be sure."
The Jedi Knight and the Avengers all snorted at that.
"Truly, this is a-"
The God of Thunder didn't finish his statement when he saw a familiar face walk out of the kitchen with a plate of earth food.
Natasha saw this and smirked deviously and Steve next to her noticed her reaction and rolled his eyes.
Still, the Avengers all watched as Padme Amidala caught Thor's attention.
"Anakin, have you tried this yet? It's called panca- oh my." Padma was startled slightly by Thor being in the room now. "Apologies, I didn't see you-"
"I… Jane?!" Thor said in disbelief. "I… how… since when did… how did you get here?!"
"Jane?" Anakin and Padme said at the same time, looking at each other.
"I must say, Jane, this may be sudden but what in Asgard's name are you wearing?" Thor said in bewilderment until his expression changed slightly. "I do admit… you look rather striking if I do say so myself."
That caused the Naboo Senator to give him a bemused face yet there was an odd flutter in her chest.
And this didn't go unnoticed by her husband whose eyes widened and he began looking back and forth between his wife and the Thunderer.
Was he… flirting with Padme?
Why does he feel rather… threatened?
"Should we put a stop to this?" Sam quietly asked.
"Why?" Wanda's eyes had a spark in them. "This is grade-A entertainment."
"You really need to lay off those goddamn drama shows." Pietro groused out.
"Excuse me," Anakin's loud voice interrupted any chatter that was going on as he now stepped between Thor and his voice. "You may be an Avenger Thor, and I appreciate what happened on Mortis but I ask you step away from my wife."
There was a moment of intense silence as Thor was clearly thrown off by Anakin's confrontational attitude when someone snorted.
"Uh…Anakin?" Steve spoke up.
"Yes?"
"Why are you deepening your voice?"
Anakin looked both embarrassed and indignant. "...I do not know what you mean."
"No, you're doing it right now." Rhodey commented.
"I am not." Skywalker defensively said.
"You're doing it again." Nat said, resting her chin in the palm of her hand, grinning madly at what is happening right now.
"And it's weird." Hope dryly said, chuckling as she and Scott were sharing some popcorn.
"This is my normal voice."
"It is not." Vision plainly said.
It was by this point did Thor step close and personal with Skywalker.
"Are you mocking me?" The Thunder God asked intensely.
"Are you mocking me?"
Thor blinked at the rebuttal.
"Stop it." He childishly said.
"No, you stop it."
"Stop trying to copy me. Your attempt isn't flattering."
"Yours isn't flattering at all."
"You're as unflattering as they come."
"Yours couldn't get any flatter."
"Ok, this is just ridiculous now." Murdock commented, though he, like the rest of the team, was laughing at this.
"Alright you two, break it up." Steve said, grinning from their interaction. "There is no competition."
"It would seem there is, Steve." Anakin countered, voice still mocking Thor's.
"No there isn't." Romanoff spoke up. "What this is, is a cosmic-level coincidence. Tap, if you would."
"Certainly Comrade Natasha."
In the middle of the room appeared a holo-image. One of Thor with Padme Amidala in earth clothing.
"Padme?!"
"Is that… that can't be me." Amidala was stunned slightly.
"It is and it isn't." Nat said, her Cheshire-like grin still in place. "That woman in the photo is Jane Foster. Thor's girlfriend. And your doppelganger on Earth."
"...I recall you talking about that." Said the Naboo Senator. "It's just been so long and… you never actually showed me a photo."
"Well, now you know."
"Oh god, how do you think Windu and Fury will react when they see each other?" Wilson brought up with a guffaw.
"Do you think a paradox will occur?" Peter joked. "Like the universe will collapse in on itself?"
"Or worse, somehow they touch and then a thousand more of them spring up." Rhodey blandly said.
"I'd rather not see that happen."
Off to the side, Padme was confronting her husband.
"Are you… intimidated by him?" She asked in slight amusement.
"He's a God isn't he?" He dramatically said, gesturing to him in an over-the-top manner with his arms.
"He already has his lookalike back on Earth." Padme shot back, though her face still couldn't quite believe the photo that was still on display.
"What's to stop him from wanting two?" Anakin comedically interrogated.
"...Wow… I can't even…"
"You're like two seals fighting over a grape."
"Shut up Rhodey." Anakin grumped out.
Back on Earth…
"Jane, are you alright?" Selvig cautiously asked.
"Why would you ask that?" Jane Foster asked through gritted teeth.
"You're seemingly stabbing that steak a bit too much. Rather aggressively, I might add." Her mentor pointed out, taking a bite off his own.
Looking down, Jane saw her meal was practically ruined with her cutting too much into the meal and began carving into the plate.
"Man, what's got you so riled up?" Said Jane's former intern.
"Feels like Thor is cheating on me." Came her dark response.
Darcy looked at her quizzically. "With who?"
Jane looked at her stabbed steak. "That's the weird thing: myself."
"Yourself? What like a picture?"
"No, it's… I could feel it. But… I don't know if I should be mad just…"
"It's probably nothing." Selvig waved off.
"It's not like you two were on a break or something-"
"We are not on a break!" She abruptly said. "We are still together!"
"Wow, don't go all Rachel on us, Jane."
"It's just-"
"Look, if it's bothering that much, just do what you did in London when he came back. Slap and kiss, easy as that." Darcy suggested.
Jane looked at her former intern and then nodded.
"Yeah… you know what, that sounds appropriate."
AN
Alright, hope you enjoyed that one and hope you guys are ready for the journey to Tython.
The third arc in this five-arc saga is now underway, getting one step closer to the finale of season 3 and closer to season 4.
Let's keep this train going.
Rate Read and Review and as Always Have Nice Day.