Well, it's been a while. But before proceeding to the next chapter, I just want to leave a message explaining as to what had happened to me in these early months of 2022.
First of all, 2022 hasn't been going so well. Last January, my family was struck with COVID-19 and we have to undergo tests and quarantines in the house. Strangely enough, I was the only one who came out unaffected, which meant that I have to help the folks in the house in everyday activities such as preparing meals or ready the prescribed medicine. But at the same time, because of the Quarantine, it got me into trouble in College as well, and I'm not gonna describe what happened,
At February, my family thankfully recovered, but I have to spend much of my time readying myself for the second semester this year, and I have to wait for every email that is sent to me online, but the most common mail I ended up getting is PMs from the site asking when will I update my story, and while I tried to ignore it at first but it became infuriating overtime because they won't let me focus on my school life (Since I'm the only one left still studying), to which I ended up posting reviews on the fic to try and dissuade, though this has been a minimal effect.
And then the year is probably going down to hell with Russia invading Ukraine, if WW3 doesn't break out that is. With basically most of the world supporting Ukraine, I can only hope that Russia would be forced to back away from Ukraine.
Also, I've been watching Disney Plus shows like the Book of Boba Fett, and as I re-watched it and the last episodes of Mandalorian Season 2 and personally, I am slowly beginning to see that John and Dave are slowly losing their form since both series began to depend on Cameos or fan service to get popularity (Though understandable since they wanted to get fans back from the dumpster fire that is the Sequel Trilogy and also for setting up the upcoming Ahsoka series). While Kenobi looks interesting, I hated the fact that people argued over the Grand Inquisitor's design since it wasn't 'accurate' to his appearance on Rebels or to the standard Pau'an back at Revenge of the Sith, even though the series focuses on KENOBI and not the Grand Inquisitor.
Worst of all, I'm beginning to see that I'm past my form when it comes to writing stories. I've been slowing down these past few months, and I felt it was only a matter of time until I lose the spark anytime soon.
So for the oversimplified version, I've not been having the greatest time of my life and I'm beginning to see the rift between myself and of the fandom.
Intermission: The Inquisitorium
It was deathly silent in the Jedi Council Chamber.
Anakin blankly stared onto the wall, his face void of any visible emotion. Memories of the future now having been ingrained into his mind in the present. Memories of him making decisions that defied the very person he was. If Padme had known, she would not have wanted him to be this way, and perhaps even stop him from what he was doing.
And yet, his fear of losing her, only caused him to lose everything he had cared about.
What have I done, Mom?, his face became grim, the standing form of his mother looking down at him momentarily flashed into his mind, heartbroken as she is disappointed him. He only wanted to be stronger so he could save everyone, to keep them away from the fate that befell her. But the opposite had happened, and he paid the price for it. In both body and spirit.
You have become a far greater Jedi than I could ever hope to be.
You were the Chosen One!
Because of you, I did survive. And not only that, I was able to lead the others to survive as well.
My master will never be as vile as you!
I won't let you give up your future for me.
Stop! Come back! I love you!
He shook his head, trying to mentally unhear those words that were directed from the people who cared about him the most. How much he meant for them, and he only returned it by becoming the very being they feared. And how he had taken everything away from them by siding with Palpatine. How he had deprived Luke and his daughter the parents they would have loved. All because of one man...
Palpatine...remembering that name was enough for Anakin's blood to boil. The man had played him like a fiddle, a puppet in his grand scheme. All the words of friendship, encouragement and even as a mentor, were all but blatant lies for him. While the Jedi were neither perfect nor they are fully committed to the principles they had vowed to live by, they were preferable to a tyrant who sees everyone as his pawns and used the very foundations of the Republic to suit his own ends. For all his recklessness and abrasiveness, Anakin would want nothing more but to march into the Chancellor's office and sear his neck with the blade of his lightsaber.
But for now, all he is concerned about, is the present. At the other side of the Chamber, Padme was being taken care off by Masters Unduli and Ti, doing what they could with what they have to make sure she does not get into a pre-mature labor. After everything she had witnessed, it had certainly took a toll onto her and Anakin's concern for his wife had grown to incredible heights, but he is not willing to come closer to her, fearing what would happen if he did.
Master Kit Fisto breathed out a dejected sight as he approached to two female masters tending to Padme. "How is she?"
"We're doing the best we can to stabilize her", Luminara said to the Nautolan Master, wiping the remaining sweat off from the Senator after performing a few techniques that she had used to teach her former Padawan. "As far as I could do, she would have to rest for now"
"Shouldn't we bring her to the medical bay then?"
"Not when the possibility of Sidious gaining wind of this, is possible", Master Ti interjected. "We certainly will not let him get his hands to Luke or his twin. But I have requested a few Padawans to bring in a few medical supplies for the Senator."
Anakin, for the first time in a long while, felt relieved of hearing her words. He gathered his courage and approached Padme, lightly caressing her hair fondly as he smiled at her. The three Masters who were watching, could see how much she had meant to him and remained silent. Anakin then looked at them, sighing as he knew he had to come clean of what he had been doing.
"I suppose you have something to say, now that you all know that I have broken the Code?"
Master Fisto lightly chuckled at that, to the confusion of the Jedi Knight. "Skywalker, given your record as a rule-breaker in the Order, it would be a matter of time that you would do something like this"
"But what I did was different", Anakin reasoned out, trying to know why Master Fisto didn't hold him in any contempt in what he had done. "I broken the very code that defined a Jedi"
"Master Qui-Gon broke the code in numerous occasions, and yet he had still proven to be one of the best among us", the Nautolan replied. "Yes, you may have broken the code, for three years that is. And yet you have proven yourself time and time again in your service in both the Jedi and of the Republic, even if you did. The fact that you concealed your marriage to the Council and of the Republic, is quite astounding."
Anakin couldn't help but let out a small smile, but faded into uncertainty, shifting his attention to the other Council Members, including Obi-Wan speaking amongst themselves regarding what they have bear witnessed. It had erupted into a series of debates regarding their next move regarding Palpatine. Most were still recovering from the horrifying ordeal in knowing what will happen to them in due time, and many of the usually conservative and serene outlooks were shaken, trying to lay their trust in the Force for a solution.
"Great care, we must take. Allow Sidious to see through weakness, he must not", Yoda cautioned the Council members in front of him. "A future not set in motion, worry we shall not"
But a few of the Council members could not comprehend the Grandmaster's words "But...this could have been a trick made by the Sith...", Saesee Tiin spoke, completely in at unease after seeing himself and Kollar being struck down by Sidious in a matter of seconds. "To instill doubt and confusion amidst our ranks until they saw the perfect time to strike"
"I do not think even the Sith would have the capacity to send these tapes as a means to cause any confusion to our cause", Depa reasoned out, her mind constantly reminding her what could have happened to her Padawan following his escape from Order 66. "Especially when it is too intricately detailed, in my opinion"
Windu spoke up next. "Now that we have known the truth, then perhaps we should prepare for what Sidious had been planning. Any delay would mean severe consequences for the galaxy"
Many of those in the Council were more than willing to act if the Sith could be stopped, but Obi-Wan, Yoda and a few others weren't so sure themselves. Not when any wrong move would garner suspicion from Sidious and potentially jeopardizing the one chance they have to stop him.
"If we are to stop Darth Sidious, we must first sever the most integral parts of his plans", Plo Koon spoke up, mentally trying to brush off the memory of the 104th shooting him down at Cato Neimodia. "Which is why Master Ti and I and will go to Kamino and try and find a way to override the chips installed in the entire Clone army. And get answers from Lama Su and Nala Se"
Ahsoka snapped out of her grieving along with Rex upon hearing Plo Koon's urgent declaration, and she is more than willing to join him if it may be. But then, Master Mundi spoke. "But we have to deal with what he has in the Republic first...before we could find a way to convince the Separatists that they are being used by him as well"
"I highly doubt those of the Separatists will believe in anything on what the Jedi nor the Republic has to say", Obi-Wan skeptically replied. "Not when the Republic's corrupted institutions in both the Senate and government is still used as their justification"
The Korun Master agreed with Obi-Wan's points but he added. "Sidious has them by his thumb, and given his own popularity with the masses. And to openly accuse him of any misgiving will only give them the slightest hint of treason that will only give him all the more reasons to the people why the Jedi should not be trusted"
Kit Fisto sighed in frustration as he walked over to the circle. "But what could we do? Palpatine had been planning this for years, and we certainly cannot abandon the Republic either"
Everyone felt silent at the Naotolan Master's proclamation, trying to figure out a way for at least the Order to survive Sidious' clutches even if not completely. With Coruscant becoming the impending death trap for any Jedi, there is the planet Tython, where it could be a safe haven for the Order outside the clutches of the Republic, but that is not a guarantee of safety.
"But then...what about Skywalker?", Windu referred to the Jedi Knight sitting close to the Senator's unconscious form. "I sense great anger in him. And it is best we keep him away from the Sith until he could find his resolve. But then, if anything happened to him, Palpatine will use his political position to see him by any means"
"I sense great fear in him. But not just to everybody he cared about, but himself", Shaak Ti spoke out, feeling empathy for the Jedi Knight after witnessing the future he had grown to despise. "In addition to hatred, towards Sidious"
"And the Sith will use this hatred for him to become the very being he swore to destroy if Palpatine managed to get his hands on him", Mundi added. "I see why we cannot let Skywalker confront Palpatine right now"
Obi-Wan couldn't help but agree to the words of his fellow Council members. After feeling the sheer hatred from Anakin towards the Sith Lord when he witnessed himself being lied to by Palpatine, the latter could exploit this to his advantage that no one could predict for now. And one scenario in Obi-Wan's mind is that Palpatine convinced Anakin that what he witnessed was a set-up by the Jedi Order in order for them to have the justification to deal with him. But he even he wasn't so sure.
Whatever the cause may be, Obi-Wan knew that Anakin isn't ready to face him. Not yet, at least. "But isn't he the Chosen One? The one who would destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force?", Saesee Tiin then spoke.
"The Prophecy, misread it could have been", Yoda stated, seeing that it may been misinterpreted. "Bring balance by a Jedi, it says not"
The Council's eyes widened in realization. "So by bringing balance...it meant evening the numbers of the Jedi to the Sith?", Mundi asked, bewildered by this proclamation.
Obi-Wan couldn't believe what he was hearing when he pieced those words together . "Master, are you saying that Anakin was destined to destroy the Jedi in order to bring Balance to the Force?"
Yoda felt silent. He did not want to jump into conclusions as to cause any doubts or even mistrust to Skywalker further. But he felt that will something more to it, and he knew the answer lies into these tapes. "In time, we will know. For now, persist we must"
The chamber then fell into uncertainty and silence. Unclear of the route they will take now that the plans of Sidious were brought to light. But to both their frustration and reluctance, Sidious had proven himself to be a superb strategist and master manipulator on how he managed to execute his plans into fruition. In addition to favorable circumstances surrounding him.
And that is where the two holograms sprung into view at the center of the Council chamber. Anakin looked up to see the two people he wanted answers from as well, and he immediately stood up as he walked closely to the holograms, waiting for any clue as to how it came to be.
"If you are hearing this message, then you have witnessed the full extent of the Jedi's fall and the Sith's rise to power", the female hologram proclaimed, to the reluctant agreement of everyone in the Chamber with the exception of a few. "A new age of both order and tyranny had been ushered through their work, while eliminating of whom they saw as the enemies of the Empire"
That being the Jedi...everyone thought. And the male hologram continued. "And for two decades, the Empire slowly replaced everything that had been associated with the Clone Wars. That being the Separatists, the Republic and the Jedi while ruling through fear"
"But what about the Jedi? Like Caleb, Tano and Kestis? What had happened to them?", Depa uttered on behalf of the Jedi. "There could have been survivors"
"As many questions are to be asked, what had happened to the Jedi?", the female hologram asked, to the eagerness of the Chamber to listen. "A number have survived the initial purge following Order 66"
A few Council members breathed out. "We could use some good news at least", Master Fisto uttered out in relief.
"But one by one, they are hunted down by the Empire", the male hologram continued, to the dismay of many. "By them"
A screen flashed before them, and they widened their eyes in both shock and disbelief to witness a group of black-clad men and women in different species marching behind Lord Vader as they moved forward towards an unidentified planet, all wielding red sabers that are associated with the Sith and the Imperial symbol was emblazoned in different parts of their armor.
"These are-?!"
"The Inquisitorium. The Empire's hunting dogs forged to find and eliminate Jedi" the female Hologram finished for them. But to some of the Council members present, many saw more than a few familiar faces among the group.
"Padawans Valen, Tide and Master Dibbs?", Windu recognized a few of them, though his fellow associates were horrified as to what had happened to them. "They have joined the Sith?"
Master Yoda too recognized the Pau'an Inquisitor in front of him, having been one of the few Jedi to personally know who they were behind those white masks. "Rol Voreb of the Temple Guard", he uttered. For several times, he had sensed the Temple Guard's own dissatisfaction and disillusionment of the order, and he had sought to help him if possible. But because of the affairs of the Clone Wars, he was unable to.
"Jedi who joined after being tortured into submission or out of willingness as a means to serve a higher purpose than that of the Jedi", the male hologram continued, and more than a few were appalled to learn the origins of this organization. "But mostly on the former"
"Just have they done to them?", Shaak Ti uttered, horrified upon seeing the visible scars and wounds they had went through, likely under the 'training' provided to them by Sidious and of Vader.
"And as to show, how they work, this is how they do it", the male hologram continued and the holotape began to play.
The scene shifted to a young man standing in a metal platform amidst the rain, looking up to the shadow above him. The man had ginger hair, wearing what appeared to be a smuggler's outfit. And he stood ready as the figured descended down in front of him.
"Going somewhere?", the woman queried, igniting her crimson saber, prompting the man to do the same.
The rest recognized the young man in front of them. "Padawan Kestis! So he has survived!" Kit Fisto spoke out in relief.
"Only to be caught in an unfortunate circumstance that is", Obi-Wan grimly mused.
"I recognize that stance", the Inquisitor said, slowly walking towards him as soon as he stood ready. "Perhaps you have training after all. Who was your master? Some I killed perhaps? What Jedi gave their life that you may live?"
Those words struck Caleb's mind, remembering the sacrifices of his Master and that of Kestis so that they may live on. But now, he wondered if he too had faced, or even fallen to his former brethren.
Without a second thought, she lunged towards the former Padawan.
First update of 2022. Can't say I made any progress nor it was my best work, but I intend to feature the Inquisitor chapters and maybe some of Rebels and I greatly appreciate the support that I still receive in the past reviews.
Decided to give the Grand Inquisitor a name, even if it's not his real one, since of course. The former Jedi turned Inquisitors. could use some identification.
Can't say when I could update, since I have college work to do. So...I'm gonna have to ask to everyone, do not send PMs.