Welcome to a new chapter.

In the most unexpected corners of the galaxy, there are times when individuals emerge whose destinies are intertwined with forces far greater than they could ever imagine. A new character has entered the story, unaware that his role is far more important than he or anyone else could foresee. His existence, his path, and his choices will have consequences that will resonate beyond his own understanding.

The light of the Jedi has been extinguished.

Coruscant, once the heart of peace and knowledge, now burns under the yoke of the rising Empire. The temples have fallen, the lightsabers have been silenced, and darkness spreads unchallenged. But the Force does not surrender so easily…

In the shadows, a new struggle begins. Because even in the deepest darkness, there is always a spark of hope. And sometimes, that spark ignites in those who least expect it.

The story continues, and each chapter brings new challenges and revelations. What do you think of the story so far? Your opinions and theories make this galaxy feel even more alive. I look forward to reading your thoughts in the comments!

It's time to move forward and uncover what else this story has in store. Let's continue!

STARS DESTINIES – VOLUME 1

THE TWILIGHT OF THE REPUBLIC – CHAPTER 4

It is nighttime on the desert planet of Tatooine. The wind lifts fine sand between the slave houses. The moonlight barely illuminates the small room where Anakin Skywalker sleeps, the blond-haired boy who has felt the threat of the dark side without realizing that it is the Force itself warning him of the danger.

The boy stirs restlessly on his thin mattress. Suddenly, his breathing quickens, and his eyes snap open.

"No… no!" he exclaims, filled with fear.

He sits up, hugging his legs. His heart pounds in his chest, but he doesn't know why. Something inside him aches. An immense void opens in his chest, as if he has just lost something… or someone.

He looks around. Everything is silent; there is no danger nearby. His mother sleeps peacefully in her room, just beyond the wall. Everything seems normal. But he knows it isn't.

He places his hands on his head, squeezing his eyes shut. A deep anguish washes over him, as if the entire universe had suddenly become colder and lonelier.

"What… what is happening?"

A shiver runs down his spine. His skin is damp with sweat. He hugs himself tighter. Suddenly, a blurry image flickers in his mind: Hooded figures falling, flashes of blue and green extinguishing in darkness.

A sob escapes his throat. He tries to suppress it, but his eyes fill with tears. He doesn't know why, but it hurts. As if he had lost someone he never even met.

He gets up from his mattress and stumbles toward where his mother sleeps. Sitting beside her, he gently shakes her awake.

"Mom… Mom, please wake up…"

Shmi stirs slightly before opening her eyes. Seeing her son's tear-streaked face, her expression fills with concern. She immediately sits up, pulling him into her arms.

"Ani… what's wrong, my love? Did you have a bad dream?"

The boy shakes his head but clings tightly to his mother, burying his face in her chest.

"I don't know… Something's wrong… Something horrible…"

Shmi strokes his hair, trying to soothe him. She doesn't understand what's happening, but she holds him close.

"It was just a dream, my love. Just a bad dream…"

But Anakin knows it wasn't. It wasn't a dream. It was real. Something in the universe broke tonight, and even though he can't explain it, he feels it in every fiber of his being.

He closes his eyes, trying to cling to the warmth and safety of his mother's embrace. But the emptiness in his chest remains.

In the distance, the wind continues to blow, carrying with it a silent whisper. The echo of something that should never have happened.

Meanwhile, on Naboo, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan walk among the remains of the battle droids, their lightsabers still ignited. Suddenly, they both stop at the same time. A cold wind blows, making their robes billow, but it's not the wind that sends a chill down their spines.

"Master… it feels like… like something has shattered."

"It is a deep darkness. Something terrible has happened."

Master and apprentice exchange a heavy glance. The Force, which had always been a constant and serene flow, now feels turbulent, dense, like an overflowing, tainted river.

"It's more than just a disturbance. It's as if… thousands of voices cried out in agony and then… silence."

Obi-Wan lowers his gaze for a moment, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his lightsaber. The young Jedi tries to calm his mind, but the sensation is overwhelming.

"It feels like… Do you think it could have been… the Jedi Temple?"

Obi-Wan shakes his head, as if refusing to believe it, then speaks—more to convince himself than his master:

"No… that's impossible. They would be protected. The High Council… Grand Master Yoda…"

"The Force does not lie, Obi-Wan…"

Qui-Gon pauses, his eyes hardening as he looks toward the sky, where the sun begins to set.

"Something dark has moved its pieces. Something greater than we imagined."

Both fall silent, listening, not with their ears, but with their hearts, trying to grasp a clearer sign. But the Force, which had always guided them, is now shrouded in shadows.

"It's like a flame devoured by the storm. The Order… has fallen" Qui-Gon murmurs.

"We should have been there. We should have fought alongside them."

"And we would have died with them. The Force kept us away for a reason… though right now, I don't know what that is" his master replies, shaking his head "The Force does not abandon. It is we who sometimes fail to understand it."

Obi-Wan closes his eyes, feeling the weight of loss. Qui-Gon, with infinite sadness, places a hand on his shoulder.

"Then… is it too late? Have we failed?"

"They have fallen… but they must not be forgotten. And as long as we live, the light of the Jedi has not been completely extinguished. And when the time comes… we will ensure their sacrifice was not in vain. Not all is lost…"

Obi-Wan stops and looks at him, confusion evident in his face.

"How can you say that, Master? We've felt the deaths of hundreds of Jedi… even members of the Council, even the younglings... What hope could be left?"

Qui-Gon slowly opens his eyes, an unusual calm reflected on his face. There is no denial of the pain, but a spark of something deeper.

"The Force is still there, Obi-Wan, speaking to us. In the midst of darkness, there is a light… bright, pure. I have felt it."

He pauses and looks at his Padawan directly, with unshakable conviction.

"The Chosen One is out there."

Obi-Wan blinks, processing his master's words. The idea of the Chosen One, the one who will bring balance to the Force, has always been a distant prophecy, something only spoken of in ancient texts. But Qui-Gon has always had a certainty that is difficult to ignore.

"The Chosen One? Now? After everything that has happened? How could anyone balance the Force after this massacre?"

Qui-Gon steps toward his apprentice, his gaze firm yet full of hope.

"The darkness is stronger than ever, but that only means the Force is preparing its answer. Balance is not achieved in times of peace, Obi-Wan. It is forged in the flames of conflict."

He pauses and adds in an even lower voice, almost a whisper.

"I have felt his presence... I do not yet know who he is or where he is, but he is there. And when the time comes, he will be the key to restoring what we have lost."

Obi-Wan, though still full of doubt, cannot help but find some small comfort in his master's words. Qui-Gon's unwavering faith has always been his greatest strength, and in this moment, it is the only thing keeping Obi-Wan from sinking completely into despair.

"If you say so, Master… then I trust that we will find that light."

Qui-Gon smiles softly, placing a hand on his apprentice's shoulder.

"We will, Obi-Wan. The Force always finds its way. But now... we have no place to return to, and something tells me these deaths are only the beginning."

Obi-Wan nodded, his brow furrowed.

"It's no coincidence that so many Jedi were protecting rulers facing invasions on their worlds."

Qui-Gon crossed his arms, his gaze lost in the distance.

"And now, without the Jedi's protection, those rulers… and their planets… are vulnerable. They were the first line of resistance against this growing darkness. I wouldn't be surprised if they are the next to be eliminated."

Obi-Wan swallowed hard.

"Including Queen Amidala."

"The situation is under control… for now. But we cannot rely on that" Qui-Gon looked at him firmly "Find the best ship available and an astromech droid. If we need to evacuate, we must be ready to get the queen out of here as soon as necessary."

Obi-Wan frowned, the uncertainty weighing in his voice.

"But where would we go?"

Qui-Gon took a deep breath, as if the answer were floating in the Force but still out of reach.

"That is the real question. I'm not sure if there is a safe place left for us… not with this darkness spreading so quickly."

Obi-Wan nodded with determination, accepting the gravity of the situation.

"I'll take care of the ship and the droid, Master. I'll also get a holomap… We'll need to identify any planet that might offer us refuge."

"Good idea" Qui-Gon said, his voice low, almost a whisper "But stay alert. We don't know where the next strike will come from."

The two exchanged one last glance filled with concern before parting ways, knowing that the fate of many depended on their next steps.

Moments later, Obi-Wan was speaking with Captain Panaka in the royal hangar.

"We have already informed the Republic of our victory" Panaka said, frowning "The message was received… but we haven't gotten a response."

Obi-Wan nodded, crossing his arms.

"That's not a good sign. We must prepare for the worst."

Panaka let out a sigh, his voice heavy with frustration.

"We just came out of a crisis, and now we're on the verge of another, even more dangerous one."

The Padawan shifted his gaze to a gleaming ship at the center of the hangar.

"Is this the queen's ship?"

Panaka nodded proudly.

"Yes. The Royal Nubian 327, Type J. And not only that, we have the ideal astromech droid for this situation: an R2-series unit, the best and most reliable of them all. His name is R2-D2."

Obi-Wan observed the small droid attentively as it let out a series of cheerful beeps.

"An excellent model. Good choice."

"He has served the queen's team for a long time. He's loyal, efficient, and above all, brave" Panaka said, pausing as his expression hardened "But now comes the hardest part."

"Convincing the queen that we might have to leave the planet?"

"Exactly. Believe me, young Jedi, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes… or your master's, when you have to break that news to her."

Obi-Wan let out a slight sigh, feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.

"Neither would I, Captain. But we have no other choice."

Meanwhile, the Jedi Temple had been reduced to a silent mausoleum, drained of life by the ruthless probes Sidious had unleashed. The Dark Lord of the Sith walked slowly through the halls, his footsteps echoing on the marble stained with the blood of those who had once been the protectors of peace in the galaxy. Shadows filled every corner, but within him, satisfaction burned intensely. His most dangerous enemies lay lifeless around him, and with them, the last barriers that had stood between him and his true goal: absolute domination.

The Republic, that titan of bureaucracy and fragile diplomacy, was his to mold. No more endless debates in the Senate, no more opposition from the Jedi. The violence and insecurity that had plagued the star systems would be eradicated, but not through traditional means. Sidious was determined to establish peace, but it would be a peace built on fear and absolute control. The cost did not matter to him; after all, what was the suffering of millions compared to the order he would bring?

Yet, in the midst of his victory, a shadow of unease persisted in his mind. Before he had killed his master, Darth Plagueis had whispered to him about an ancient Jedi prophecy: a being of incredible connection to the Force, destined to balance the scales and destroy the darkness. During his years as Chancellor, Sidious had kept a close watch on young initiates, demanding detailed reports on their midichlorian counts. However, none of the Padawans stood out as the supposed Chosen One.

Now that the Jedi Order had been annihilated, there was no one left who could train such a being in the ways of the Light. If the one destined to oppose him did emerge, Sidious had a plan: he would find them before anyone else and shape them according to his own designs. A warrior of such power would not be an obstacle but an invaluable tool.

After all, Plagueis had scattered hidden devices throughout the galaxy, sensitive to fluctuations in the Force. These artifacts would indicate the exact moment and precise location where that mystical being would arise. It was only a matter of time. If the Chosen One existed, he would make them his. And if not… even better. The galaxy would continue its descent into darkness without opposition.

That's what Palpatine thought when, suddenly, his communicator began to ring. It was his daughter, Rey, who was in his office, sitting in his chair with her feet up on the desk.

"Dad, you said you would soon inform me about an unprecedented event. Why haven't you told me anything since then? Did your plan fall apart? Or what happened?" Rey asked, her tone inquisitive.

"My dear daughter, you have no idea how happy I am right now. The Jedi will no longer be a threat. I have wiped out every single one of them" Sidious replied, his voice filled with pride.

"Really? Oh, that would be magnificent… if only it were true."

"It is true. Why would I lie to you? Right now, I am in their lair, the Jedi Temple, surrounded by their insignificant corpses."

"Then that means two Jedi escaped" Rey said with an ironic smile.

"What are you talking about?" Palpatine asked, confused.

"A few hours ago, the ones in charge of the invasion of our beloved Naboo sent this message" Rey replied as she began playing the Viceroy's transmission.

Nute Gunray's voice echoed through the communicator.

"Lord Sidious… you said we shouldn't worry about the Jedi sent for negotiations, that they would leave at any moment… but that wasn't the case… they are still here, supporting Queen Amidala, and with their intervention, we will soon fall…"

Palpatine frowned.

"What does this mean?" he asked furiously. His plan was beginning to waver.

"And that's not all," Rey continued. "We also received this message from Sio Bibble. Listen."

Rey activated another message, and the voice of the elderly member of the Royal Council was clear and firm.

"Chancellor, we have reclaimed Naboo. I repeat, the Trade Federation has been defeated. With the support of the Jedi and the Gungan army, we have saved our people. We await your orders. We need to see you soon to begin rebuilding our home. And please, send someone quickly to deal with the Viceroy, who is now our prisoner."

Palpatine clenched his fists.

"The Jedi are still on Naboo? That's impossible. They were supposed to be here for the massacre."

"Looks like your plan failed" Rey commented with a hint of mockery.

"Which Jedi are they? Tell me quickly!" Palpatine ordered, his anger growing.

"There's no need to talk to me like that. Let's see… here's the report: Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Jinn? It seems that my most loyal accomplice in all this has betrayed me" Palpatine muttered, now clearly annoyed "They may have survived the Jedi purge, but that doesn't mean they'll live much longer."

"Do you want me to take care of them personally?" Rey asked in a defiant tone.

"No, I already have the right man for the job" Palpatine replied with a malicious smile.

"So that means you still won't let me take action?" his daughter asked, frustrated.

"Your time will come soon, believe me. But for now, we must ensure there are no more failures."

"At least promise me you'll make Dooku pay."

"You can count on it, my dear" Sidious replied with a smile that boded nothing good.

The sun of Tatooine began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and red. The streets were quieter now, but the heat still clung to the skin like an invisible layer of dust. Anakin Skywalker and his mother, Shmi, walked together toward their home in the slave quarters.

Anakin wore a tired but enthusiastic smile, his small feet kicking up clouds of dust with each step. Shmi, on the other hand, looked exhausted, her face bearing the wear of a long day under Watto's rule. Her simple dress was stained with grease and dust, and her shoulders sagged with fatigue.

"Did you see how I fixed that droid today?" Anakin exclaimed proudly "Watto said not even an adult could have done it that fast."

Shmi offered a weak smile, proud but weary.

"You did very well, Ani. But I wish you could do it for fun, not just because Watto orders you to."

"Maybe I do it for Watto, but I also enjoy it. I love working with droids, with complex systems, with all kinds of ships. It's what I like the most. Besides, I also do things for myself… don't forget the podracer I've been working on."

"That's true. You're an incredibly talented boy" Shmi smiled proudly, but her voice lowered as she asked "Tell me, sweetheart… have you still been thinking about that nightmare you had?"

Anakin stopped in his tracks. He had spent the whole day avoiding those confusing yet terrifying images that had invaded not only his dreams but also his waking mind. They had played over and over in his head.

"I don't know what it was" he murmured, lowering his gaze "But it seems like it's over now. Though… I think there were people who suffered… who were afraid. I felt their pain. And now… it seems like they're gone."

Shmi frowned, concerned.

"That sounds terrible. Whoever they were, I hope they're at peace."

"I don't know who they were," Anakin said, staring at the horizon. "But I felt that the light was with them."

"The light?" Shmi tilted her head "You mean they seemed like good people?"

"I don't know" Anakin furrowed his brows, searching for the right words "I just… I just know they were symbols of the light. And something tells me they were."

"Symbols of the light?" Shmi looked at him, confused "I don't understand, Ani."

"It's just… I don't know how to explain it" he shrugged "It's just something I feel."

At that moment, a womp rat scurried across their path, and Anakin, eager to change the subject, exclaimed:

"Look, Mom! I bet I can catch it!"

Without waiting for a reply, he darted after the small creature. Shmi watched him, surprised that after a long day of work, her son still had the energy and enthusiasm to run like that.

With a tired smile, she continued walking toward the entrance of their humble home. A short while later, Anakin returned to her side, and together, they stepped inside.

Once inside, the room was dimly lit, illuminated only by the light from the street. The house was messy, with stacked dishes and unfolded clothes. The weight of work did not end at the shop.

"I'm going to prepare some food, and then I'll clean this up."

Anakin looked at her, his excitement fading when he saw the exhaustion in his mother's eyes. He stepped closer and took her hand.

"Mom, can I help you with the cleaning?"

"Weren't you going to run some tests to check your protocol droid's functionality?"

"That can wait, Mom. Right now, I want to help you."

Shmi smiled tenderly.

"Remember, that droid is going to help me a lot. But for it to work, it has to be ready. And don't forget, your podracer also needs time."

Anakin sighed, but with a small smile.

"I guess we both still have work to do."

"That's right" Shmi replied, gently stroking his hair "It's part of our responsibilities."

Her son hugged her tightly, as if that gesture could ease the burden she carried. Shmi closed her eyes for a moment, letting that brief instant of love hold her before returning to reality.

"Someday… someday we won't have to do this anymore" Anakin said sadly, his eyes shining with a determination far too big for such a small boy "Someday, I'll get you out of here, Mom. I promise."

Shmi didn't respond because she knew her son believed his words with all his heart. She simply held him tighter, knowing that, even though the future was uncertain, the love between them was the one thing that could never be chained.

Moments later, Anakin powered up his droid, who reacted immediately—surprisingly well—so much so that it even began to speak.

"This sensation… is peculiar. What is it called?" the droid asked, tilting its head slightly.

Anakin grinned at the question.

"Hello, that's called being awake."

The droid tilted its head, processing the information.

"Awake? How strange… but I can move. That's even better!" it exclaimed, raising its arms and examining them with metallic curiosity.

"Yeah, you're almost ready. Just a few more details, and you'll be complete."

The droid looked at him, its photoreceptors glowing with gratitude.

"Oh, thank you so much for taking the trouble."

Anakin chuckled softly, wiping sweat from his forehead.

"It's no trouble at all. But you know? I think you need a name. How would you like to be called?"

The droid paused for a moment, as if deeply pondering.

"Well, I'm a Protocol and Communications unit, series 3PO… so technically, I am a C-3PO."

Anakin raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.

"Do you like that name?"

The droid nodded enthusiastically.

"I'd say it suits me quite well."

The boy burst into laughter.

"Then that'll be your name. But as a nickname, we'll call you Threepio."

The droid repeated the name to itself, testing how it sounded in its system.

"Threepio… I like it. It sounds rather nice."

Anakin patted his metallic shoulder.

"Welcome to the family, Threepio."

While his mother took care of the chores, Anakin worked on his podracer.

The wind blew softly, lifting small grains of sand that swirled around him. Everything was calm, but inside, something stirred, something he couldn't explain.

Suddenly, a shiver ran down his spine. He placed a hand on his chest, as if something was calling to him from deep within. His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, all the noise of the world disappeared. Only that whisper remained.

"What… is this?"

The feeling intensified. It wasn't fear, but it wasn't mere curiosity either. It was something bigger, a mix of excitement and pressure that made him feel both powerful and small at the same time. He closed his eyes, and in the darkness of his mind, he glimpsed flashes: a galaxy at war, a peculiar team fighting side by side, and in the center… himself.

His breathing quickened. He opened his eyes abruptly, as if waking from a dream he didn't understand.

"I feel like something… is waiting for me. Something important."

He stood up, gazing at the horizon. But with that revelation also came the weight. His hands trembled slightly as he looked at them, feeling the power within but not knowing how to use it—or if he was ready for what was to come.

"What if I can't do it? What if I'm not ready? And what if, in the end, I fail? Or am I just doomed to be swept away by a current I can't control, or even comprehend?"

Those thoughts came crashing down on him, a burden threatening to crush him. Doubt coiled around his mind, latching onto every thought, as if he were standing at the edge of an abyss, unsure whether to jump or retreat. Then fear turned into a knot in his stomach, his own voice a shadowed whisper echoing in his chest. The feeling of helplessness consumed him completely, like a raging sea pulling him under, leaving him with no chance of escape, unable even to see beyond the storm.

But at that moment, the wind blew stronger, as if the Force itself were answering his doubts, wrapping around him in an invisible embrace that gave him strength while also reminding him that this path would not be easy. Anakin took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind.

"But there's something inside me that tells me this is more important than I can imagine. I can't fail… I must not fail. It's as if everything depends on me succeeding."

With that declaration, he turned around and began walking toward his destiny, not knowing exactly what awaited him, but feeling deep within that the galaxy had placed its faith in him. And though hope shone in his heart, the weight of that responsibility was already shaping the man he would become.

"I need a sign… something that will show me the exact moment when everything will begin. Something that will tell me when I must be ready to face whatever comes. Maybe the appearance of something impossible—something that could only exist in my dreams… but that, suddenly, comes to life before my eyes, leaving no doubt that the time has arrived."

And so, Anakin Skywalker stood still, his gaze fixed on the horizon as the sky began to turn shades of orange and purple. The twilight wrapped the landscape in a deceptive calm, but within him, something stirred. There was a silent call, a whisper pulling him with an intensity he couldn't ignore. He didn't fully understand what it was or where it came from, but he felt it with every fiber of his being.

Even though uncertainty surrounded him, there was one undeniable truth that pulsed in his heart: when the sign he had asked for finally arrived, nothing would ever be the same again. His life, his destiny… everything would change forever. And though fear tried to creep into his thoughts, something stronger kept him standing, the certainty that, for better or worse, he was meant to face what was coming.

Thus, this chapter ends, but the story is only beginning to reveal its true turns.

Darkness crept into every corner, whispering promises of power and demanding unwavering loyalty. But even that was not enough to make Dooku betray his apprentice. There was still affection in his gaze, a bond the Dark Side had not yet fully erased. However, that decision, no matter how human it seemed, would not bring peace. On the contrary, with each choice, with each act of mercy, the galaxy was being hurled toward a war and suffering unlike anything it had ever seen before.

And yet, hope continued on its path, discovering its destiny among the shadows and the stars. What could be the sign the Force was about to reveal, something straight out of Anakin Skywalker's very dreams?

Your opinion is like the Force, it connects us and gives life to the story. What did you think of this chapter?

Leave me your comment, and let's keep discovering this destiny together!