Chapter I

Chapter I

Citizens of the Galactic Republic! Our fighting men, women, and clones are waging courageous battles across the Outer Rim! Today’s little slice of the war showcases the sailors and pilots of Task Force Seven, known as the “Deadly Mynocks” as they wage a terrific fight near the star system of Belkadan. The rebel ambush is foiled by Admiral Illian and his band of death-defying star pilots. The rebellious forces are driven back with heavy losses.

Elsewhere, our clones fight magnificently, led by such young heroes as Captain Terellia and ace pilot Lieutenant Liam, who has already racked up an impressive thirty-three kills on his first tour of duty.

On Coruscant, the Galactic Senate gives a raucous ovation to Grand Centurion Palpatine as he delivers the latest news on the war and the source of the Jedi Clones.

“Even with all of their lies and denials, it is clear that the rebels are behind the unleashing of this monstrous threat to the galaxy. For bringing this horror to us, the rebels shall know the true fury of the Republic!”

Keep bringing the fight to them! No rebellion! No division! No backing down! Show your patriotism by buying war bonds to give our fighting people the support they need!

———————————

The red-painted transport affectionately known as The Bucket responded to Aiya Rios’s quick maneuvers before she engaged the light-speed engines. She had to slide the ship past the new warship dockyards and through the two security checkpoints that went into service only four months ago. Aiya’s skillful piloting enabled the ship to duck under the newest of three Orbital Weapons Platforms being constructed in orbit around Coruscant. To the public, this was all part of the build-up the Republic required to quell the rebellion that plagued the Outer Rim.

In private, it was in response to a surprise series of raids by the rebellion on Corellia, Ord Mantell, and Carida. The damage was mostly superficial, but enough to cause a near-panic among the government.

Several days into the voyage, one of the passengers The Bucket carried found himself at his favorite viewport at the front of the bridge. However, he found no comfort in the breathtaking view that space offered.

Anakin Skywalker began to pace back and forth on the bridge, wondering when they would arrive at Illum, the Jedi planet where he would begin construction of his own lightsaber. He had grown over the past few months and his height nearly matched that of his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Although he still kept his hair closely cut and tied into a long braid, it still had the sandy color since he was a boy.

His impatience, however, grew along with his annoyance.

“Time to destination?” Anakin asked.

“A whopping seven minutes closer than the last time you asked,” Aiya Rios responded with an edge in her voice.

“If you’re looking to get there faster, I’m always up for a rematch in my Delta-7. Fairly, this time,” she quickly added. “No fair ripping my ship’s wing off just so you can hoist a trophy.”

Anakin turned to glare at her, but continued pacing. Aiya had once been Anakin’s rival when he was a starfighter racer on his home-world of Tatooine. Even though it was only a year ago that he had left that worthless hunk of rock, it seemed like a lifetime had passed. He tried hard to push that life out of his mind. That Anakin that was a nobody from a backward world. He refused to believe that Anakin existed anymore.

On the far side of the bridge, Obi-Wan Kenobi frowned at his padawan while he stood with Captain Raust. Together, they looked at the pacing Jedi as he barked at Aiya.

“He’s extremely impatient, Commander,” Captain Raust said.

“That will change,” Obi-Wan replied. “And please, Captain, I prefer the Jedi title that I earned to the military title that was given.”

“The law is specific about your wartime commission, Commander,” the captain replied.

“The law is only temporary until the Clone Wars is over. Make sure you return when I signal, no matter what the status of the task force is. Master Fisto will understand your absence. Anakin and I will be quite busy, but when it is time to leave, we will leave quickly.”

“You meant to say General Fisto, Commander,” Captain Raust corrected.

“No, I didn’t,” Obi-Wan said coldly.

“I have always enjoyed Illum in its summer season. It is a fine choice for the boy’s education,” a soft voice said from behind them.

Captain Raust saluted sharply as Obi-Wan embraced Jedi Master Ki-Ad-Mundi. “Master, I am pleased you could join us on our journey. I was beginning to wonder if you would ever leave your chambers,” Obi-Wan grinned.

“I didn’t feel it necessary to make myself known,” the Jedi Master said plainly. “The Jedi Council has taken an interest in the boy’s development. As such, they have tasked me to observe and fine tune his training.”

“He is my padawan,” Obi-Wan protested.

Captain Raust held the salute.

“Of course he is, my dear boy. However you are just barely a year removed from being a padawan yourself, are you not? It is only with extreme circumstances that you are allowed to claim someone this old as your padawan,” Ki-Adi-Mundi remarked.

“Given his abilities and his potential, Master Yoda himself wanted to train Anakin. However, things are what they are and with the way the war is occupying our efforts, perhaps it is all for the best that you are his master,” Ki-Adi-Mundi eyed Anakin carefully.

“I can instruct him just as well as Yoda,” Obi-Wan indignantly said.

Master Ki-Adi-Mundi raised an eyebrow and Obi-Wan blushed.

“You are in charge of his education. I am here to make sure that what you say sticks to him. Master Yoda is concerned that we are putting too much into him at too great a rate. He must learn the value of our ways, not just the knowledge,” Ki-Adi-Mundi smiled.

Captain Raust’s arm trembled.

“To be honest, I was glad when Master Yoda asked me to come along. I look forward to discussing Cerea with young Anakin. I have no doubt he can tell me much about my home since I have been forbidden to return,” his voice trailed off and his eyes glazed over in thought.

“Oh do put your arm down, captain, you look the fool,” he snapped.

They watched Anakin turn abruptly on his heel and ask Aiya, yet again, when they were arriving.

“He’s extremely impatient, Commander,” Captain Raust said again, flexing his sore arm.

Obi-Wan frowned as he watched his padawan.

“Illum will change that. It always does,” Ki-Adi-Mundi replied and put a hand on Obi-Wan’s shoulder.

———————————

“Really sir, I don’t think you have the first idea of what you’re talking about.” Padme Amidala, Chairperson for the Alderaan Committee of Armed Services, was growing weary of listening to this same, tired argument.

“It’s all too clear!” the shrill voice of the dissident rang through the chamber. “Why can’t you see that the corporations are the ones behind this war simply to line their pockets? They’re raking in profits with the Republic footing the bill!”

Padme rubbed her throbbing temples.

“Mr. Remmick, you have no direct evidence, no proof, and no facts to back your rather insane accusations. While it is true that INCOM starfighters as well as other, larger ships, have been seen used by both sides, can you show us undeniable evidence that they are dealing under the table?” she countered.

“You sold yourself to INCOM, SoroSuub, TaggeCo, and Adascorp when the war first started!” the squat, little man screeched. “People are dying out there by the millions while you sit here in a committee room doing nothing to stop them from taking away our freedoms!”

Padme signaled for order several times. The sound of chimes filled the air. “Mr. Remmick, unless you have something substantial to bring before the committee, we’re adjourned for the day.”

“What about the weapon? Can you sit there and deny that the Republic is constructing a weapon so monstrous that it could make star fleets obsolete? That it can bring any star system to its knees?” his eyes bugged from the effort.

“How fascinating,” Padme yawned. “I suppose it’s powered by a team of Rancors running on giant wheels?”

Several committee members laughed, but Remmick was un-deterred.

“And I suppose you can sleep at night knowing that citizens of the Republic you claim to defend are being harassed, arrested, detained, and eliminated for speaking out? We have Republic Enforcement Squads rampaging throughout the galaxy making citizens disappear on a whim!” Remmick shouted.

“It appears they missed one,” Senator Mira said and a ripple of chuckles went through the chamber before Padme shot him a cold stare.

“Once again, no evidence, no facts. I am growing rather tired of hearing your voice in this chamber. I thank the members for appearing today,” Padme signaled for adjournment.

“You want proof? I’ll give you proof! You’ll see, you’ll all see! I’ll give you something so explosive it will shake this tyrannical government!” Remmick screamed as he was dragged out of the room.

“I thank the committee members for appearing today. Please abide by the wartime curfew and remember that security staff will be coming by your offices today to scan for any illegal surveillance equipment that rebels might have planted,” Padme said in a dead voice.

Padme shook her head sadly before stepping out of the chamber and into a nearby hallway. She was immediately flanked by her Chief of Staff.

“I hate reading a statement detailing how our freedoms are being restricted,” Padme said.

“Senator, we’ve received another request from Alderaan Today for an interview, Senator Rand wants me to remind you about the gala next week, and you promised the Committee for Patriotic Support you would stop by their meeting tonight,” her Chief of Staff ignored her as she typed into a digital tablet.

“No interviews today, tell Senator Rand I have not forgotten, and tell the ‘Committee for Unconditional Loyalty’ they can…” She was stopped in the bustling corridor in front of her office by a tall man with a scar on his face that ran just above and below his left eye.

“The Senator has to meet with a different committee at the moment. I’ll have her contact you when she is ready to sell herself out to the next highest bidder,” he said as the office door slid shut behind them.

Padme slumped into her chair and let out a sigh as she looked at the flashing messages that were displayed as “unread” on her desk.

“Four hundred and fifty-one and the day isn’t over yet.” Padme said.

“I thought your Chief of Staff was supposed to be your gatekeeper? Doesn’t she filter the junk out and only send you what’s important?” Khian asked. He ran a hand through his black, shortly cropped hair before finding a spot on her desk not covered in digital pads to lean against.

“This is after the filter,” she sighed.

He picked up a tablet at random. “Oh yeah, a message from the Deputy to the Assistant Regent about the lateness of a report detailing why your reports are being submitted after their deadlines. I can see how this is critical to the war effort.” Khian said.

He grabbed another one. “Oh this is a real gem. You need to submit a report detailing what you can do to inspire your droids. Can droids even be inspired? I’m curious, how does the Undersecretary for Records and Logistics think anyone can inspire a droid?”

“And here’s a message detailing how I’m not paying enough attention to the media or the transmission screaming about how I’m supposed to be inspiring our glorious troops from behind my desk. Khian, I’m dying back here!” Padme dropped her head on the desk and several tablets clattered on to the floor.

“Listen sweetheart, you have looked at more strategic naval plans and army tactical reports than anything else. You’re not the Grand Centurion, but you sure as hell are acting like him. What more can you do?” he asked.

“Yes and how did I discover the existence of the clones to begin with? It wasn’t from sitting behind this desk. How did Anakin stop Darth Maul? Which desk is he sitting behind now?” Padme fumed.

“Anakin Stumpwalker is probably out in the middle of nowhere getting his head filled with Jedi ramblings about how everything is a part of everything.” Khian folded his arms.

Padme slapped Khian’s shoulder. “I asked you not to call him that.”

“I didn’t hear an answer for my question. If this desk is a problem, I’ll haul it out faster than a Hutt moves to a buffet. What more can you do? Are you going to enlist in the Republic Armed Forces? If you do, let me remind you that protecting you in a planetary battle ain’t in my job description,” Khian said.

“I might need a raise,” he winked.

“Senator Cordellian was offered a commission and is now a Captain of the Line in charge of a Mandator Class Dreadnaught. Lucky me, I got to inherit his seat as a chairperson. Even General Tarkin got a transfer and is now a Surface Marshal in charge of six sectors!”

“Cordy was offered the commission because he was a Lieutenant Commander long before he served on the Armed Forces Committee. What navy did you serve in? What weapons training have you had? How many people have you killed all in the name of glory for the Republic?” Khian asked.

Padme turned to look at her protector. “Once again, you make a convincing argument. Maybe you should run for office.”

“And wind up stuck behind a desk staring at forms all day instead of a woman whose smile lights up the room? I think I’ll pass,” he leaned in closer to her.

Padme pretended to focus on a digital tablet. “Do you think there’s any truth to what Remmick was saying? Is it possible that the corporations are dealing under the table to the rebels?”

Khian shrugged his broad shoulders. “As possible as a smuggler going straight. The rebellion can’t last very long and backing the loser never looks good to your shareholders.”

“Then how are the rebels getting their equipment? They have an impressive number of clones, but if they were limited in the number of ships and land vehicles then they should adopt a ‘hit and run’ strategy. The reports I have read show they are engaging us in open warfare in numerous systems across the Outer Rim.”

“That’s why Grand Centurion Palpatine gets the big payday.” Khian said.

“There has to be some way to determine that.” Padme’s voice trailed off as she stared out the window at yet another pristine day. “I need to dictate a transmission to Grand Centurion Palpatine. I think he and I can help each other.”

“You should know better than anyone else that investigations lead to a world of trouble. In your case, it leads to explosions and Sith Lords.” Khian fingered his scar in thought.

“That was one time, what are the odds it will happen again?” Padme asked.

Her desk intercom buzzed. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but Viceroy Organa insists that he meet with you as soon as he lands on Alderaan. Also, Magistrate Tyr wants to know when he can expect you at tonight’s committee meeting and the fitters are here to make sure your dress is ready in time for next week’s gala.”

Khian stifled a laugh as Padme rolled her eyes. “All for the glory of the Republic, I suppose,” she said.

Padme’s hand moved to press the reply button, but Khian’s hand shot out and grabbed hers before she could.

“Padme, why don’t you let me help?” he asked.

“Help?” Padme asked and tried to pull her hand back.

Khian’s grip was firm, but not crushing. “You, very dramatically, said you were dying back here. You have hundreds of unanswered transmissions, and you’re wasting time with all this nonsense. Isn’t it my duty to stop you from dying, even figuratively? Please, I can help.”

“And you have experience dealing with diplomats?” she asked.

“I have experience dropping them out a window,” he grinned.

Padme didn’t return the grin.

Khian stood up straight and adjusted his vest. “In all seriousness, I am well versed in the art of politics. I know I can help you. I want to help you.”

Padme smiled sweetly at him. “I suppose we can add ‘Administrative Liaison’ to your job description. That’s very sweet of you to offer.”

“Sweet is my middle name,” Khian smiled back.

“I don’t even know your last name,” Padme giggled.

“Well I have to save some mystery, now don’t I?” his thumb began to slowly caress the top of her hand.

Padme blushed, but didn’t withdraw her hand. The intercom buzzed again and they both jumped at the breaking of the moment. This caused their hands to break and dart back toward their respective owners.

She straightened her blouse before pressing the reply button. “Tell them they can come in and let them know my Administrative Liaison will need to be fitted for a suit as well.”

Padme giggled as Khian’s eyes widened in mock horror.

———————————

Anakin turned to watch The Bucket begin its ascent away from the surface of the planet and back into space. He shielded his eyes when the blast from the engines caught up to him, then turned to face his master. Obi-Wan wasn’t next to him, he was already walking toward a sheer cliff with Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, a bag slung over his shoulder.

He hastened to join his master. “Master Kenobi, when will the ship return?”

Obi-Wan turned his head, but Master Ki-Adi-Mundi put a hand on the Kenobi’s shoulder and they kept walking.

The bitter cold ripped through Anakin’s robe. “Master Kenobi, is the Jedi Temple close?”

Obi-Wan didn’t look back.

A sudden blast of snow hit Anakin in the face. “Master Kenobi, I’m starting to miss Tatooine,” he tried to chuckle.

Obi-Wan maintained his pace.

Anakin pulled his hood up over his head to provide some measure of protection from the howling wind and walked on in silence.  He tried to count the hours as they approached the cliff and then he saw their destination. Anakin turned to the Jedi Master for answers.

“Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, I’m confused. Why are you here?” Anakin asked.

The Jedi Master also said nothing.

The cliff was massive with sheer, icy walls, but housed the entrance to a tiny cave that beckoned to Anakin. “Is that where we’re headed?” he asked them both. Anakin was desperate to know more, but they returned his question with stony silence.

He couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Where was the Jedi Temple? Where were the massive columns or the hallowed steps leading up to a grand entrance? As they ducked slightly to get in the jagged entrance, he sucked in a quick breath of air.

Anakin could almost swear that the dark, foreboding cave was a living being with a Force presence of its very own. He no longer had the distant sun of Illum to tell him how long they trekked through the cave. He felt fully engulfed in the darkness and lost all track of time as they walked. The two Jedi did not ignite their lightsabers, but walked on without missing a step. Anakin seemed to find every hole, gap, and fissure that tried to trip him up.

How long had they been in this cavern?

Time dragged on until Anakin wasn’t even sure if it was day, night, or the following week. His feet ached, his throat was parched, and yet they trudged on. Finally, he saw that they were headed for a light that emanated from an opening. Anakin’s breath caught in his throat as they entered a vast cavern with formations of blue and green crystals that seemed to go on forever.

Anakin couldn’t even see the room’s ceiling. It was a cathedral of wonder that stretched on forever. He ignored his throbbing feet and only stared in awe.

Obi-Wan and Master Ki-Adi-Mundi continued walking up a path that lead to a higher level of the cave without missing a beat. Anakin stared for just a minute longer before following his silent master. They left the breathtaking room and entered another shaft that, except for the occasional pocket of crystals, left them walking in the darkness once again.

There were some crystals in the larger cavern that were as big as Anakin’s fist, why didn’t they just stop there? It seemed like that was the main room, why are they still walking? Is Obi-Wan bringing a cruel form of punishment by teasing him with crystals? With every step they took, questions grew in his mind.

After what seemed endless twists and turns in the tunnel, Anakin had completely lost track of the time and their whereabouts. Finally, new thoughts entered his mind. His master and a heralded Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi, was guiding him through a crystal cave on the sacred Jedi planet of Illum en route to building his first lightsaber. They were accompanied by not only a Jedi Master, but someone who sat on the Jedi Council itself. Anakin let go of his control over the events and give himself totally to the moment.

Why should time matter in this place? Why does it matter if they travel two kilometers or twenty? The galaxy would still be there when they left the cave. Anakin gave himself to the Force and let it guide him and control what would happen next.

Obi-Wan and Ki-Adi-Mundi came to an abrupt halt.  Ki-Adi-Mundi dropped his bag near a small patch of green crystals.

“Now you’re ready,” Ki-Adi-Mundi said.

“Wait, what?” Anakin stammered and almost walked into him.

Master Ki-Adi-Mundi stretched his legs and smiled at Obi-Wan as if they were sharing a private joke.

“You’ve learned lesson number one and now we can finally move on. To be honest, I wish you had developed your mind a little sooner. My feet are killing me,” Obi-Wan grinned.

Anakin immediately understood. “Then it begins.”

Chapter III

Chapter III

            Citizens of the Galactic Republic! Today our beloved Grand Centurion is ratcheting up our depleted forces with aggressive expansion of shipyards, dockyards, and clone production to counter the rebellion’s military might!

            “I will immediately beseech the Senate to further expand production of our war materials. Our troops will have the finest equipment, the finest weaponry, and the finest care available anywhere! Remember Coruscant!”

            Our forces dwindled during this administration, but fear not, citizens! Our Grand Centurion will ensure that victory is at hand! Even now he is leading our fighting men, women, and clones onward to crush the rebellion and keep the Republic safe for us all!

            “We will continue to hunt down the Jedi clones that raided Coruscant even if they seek refuge in the Jedi Temple itself. Civilian traffic must remain limited and a full curfew is in effect until this crisis is abated. Please cooperate with all Security Forces as we establish mandatory ID checks. These measures will ensure that no Jedi escapes the grasp of the Republic’s justice!”

Keep bringing the fight to them! No rebellion! No division! No backing down! Show your patriotism by buying war bonds to give our fighting people the support they need!

————————–

This should have gone much easier. Vice-Admiral Norris stared out the viewport from his flagship, the R.S.S. Indomitable in frustration. His intelligence corps had received confirmations of what he had suspected for several standard weeks. The rebels were receiving supplies from sympathizers on the planet Mon Calamari.

This shipment was supposed to be the largest yet. He had devoted half of his task force to seizing these twenty-nine cargo ships to determine who the sympathizers were and what other connections they might have.

That was supposed to be the plan.

Instead, the rebels used the convoy as bait. Now there were only five freighters that hadn’t escaped and a third rebel flotilla was entering the system on an intercept course for his fleet.

“How many are there this time?” he asked the captain with a grimace.

“Six frigates, two cruisers, and another fighter carrier. They’re deploying all squadrons of starfighters. Time to intercept is four minutes,” the captain returned the grimace.

Admiral Norris knew that four minutes of shield regeneration time was just not enough. Undoubtedly the rebels would try to draw his depleted forces away from the freighters in an effort to bleed his fleet dry while the cargo ships escaped.

“We must secure the freighters, the crew, the cargo, manifests, communication logs, everything. We’re not going home empty handed,” he slammed his fist against the bulkhead before turning to face the bridge crew.

“Captain, order the remainder of the fleet to regroup between the freighters and the incoming rebel flotilla. They have to act as a screen to keep that scum away from us. Order our own starfighters to keep harassing the column until we arrive. We’re taking the Indomitable in.”

“Admiral, we don’t have the capability to secure five freighters worth of cargo. This is a ship of war, not a garbage scow,” the captain whined.

“Jettison all of the spare parts canisters, extra ammunition packs, anything and everything that can be dumped from our hangar bays needs to experience the vacuum of space. In war, we all need to be a little more versatile, captain,” Admiral Norris smiled.

“It is going to be very crowded in here,” the captain said. “Major, prepare your boarding parties and prepare for a lot of guests to come on board. Prepare the detention facilities and I want double guards around all critical areas of the ship. Remember Coruscant!”

Admiral Norris watched as his fleet broke up to engage the rebel forces. The digital readout that was laid out on the viewport showed the blue ships of his battered fleet moving between him and the red ships of the newest rebel nuisance. His bulky battlecruisers unleashed a vicious barrage that was answered in kind by the sleek rebel ships.

“They have their job, we have ours,” Admiral Norris reassured the anxious crew.

The Indomitable swung away from the pitched battle and toward the fighters that were swarming the Super Cargo Vessels like a swarm of angry insects.

“Captain, I want those ships disabled immediately. Time is short,” Admiral Norris said.

“Order all fighters to target the engines of the SCV’s. Gunnery Officer! I want this section of space filled with ion bursts,” the captain ordered.

The pride of Admiral Norris’s fleet opened its gunports. Short, blue bursts of light shot toward the Super Cargo Vessels.

“Sir, our battlecruisers are taking a terrific pounding. They are too weak from the other two attacks. If we don’t withdraw soon, we will be quite alone facing a rebel flotilla that might overpower us,” the captain’s voice cracked with concern.

“They will do their job as they have been trained to. The mission is the freighters. The target is the freighters. Nothing else matters but capturing those freighters. If they escape, then the four frigates and one battlecruiser we already lost would have been in vain. Moreover, those forty-two thousand souls we’ve lost would also have been in vain,” Admiral Norris was now considering re-assigning the captain of this vessel.

“Assuming clones even have souls,” the captain muttered.

“Captain, the freighters have been disabled. Our remaining fighters are requesting permission to dock,” the communications officer announced.

“Put them in hangar bay…” the captain began.

“Belay that,” Admiral Norris interrupted. “Captain, did you not understand my previous order? Putting our starfighters in any hangar bay compromises our mission.”

“So, our pilots just sit and rot in space? How many more lives are you going to sacrifice for the mission?” the captain asked.

Admiral Norris let an audible sigh escape his lips. “I realize that the war is thrusting young and inexperienced officers into lofty commands, but if you question my orders in front of the crew again, I will have you cleaning airlocks without a pressure suit. You had better hope I don’t wander the ship with an irresistible urge to press buttons.”

The color drained from the captain’s face.

“Communications Officer, instruct our starfighters to join the rest of the task force in dealing with the remaining rebel starships. Once victory is assured, they can land on those ships before we leave the system,” Admiral Norris turned back to his viewport.

The SCV’s grew larger as white beams captured each one and brought them into the belly of the R.S.S Indomitable. Admiral Norris smiled once again.

————————–

It seemed an incredibly boring task. In fact, it was the latest in a long line of incredibly boring tasks that would doom his career to never-ending mediocrity. No matter how hard Sub-Lieutneant Piett worked, no matter how many hours he put in each and every day, there was always another pile of reports to sift through. The tediousness of it all would have driven a lesser man to insanity.

As it was, when your superior officer wants something done, you drop whatever you’re doing and do it. It doesn’t matter which report is days behind, which logistics log is begging for your attention, or which duty roster hasn’t been filed yet.

Anytime the boss barks, you jump.

Sub-Lieutenant Piett examined the latest report from their narrow victory just outside the Mon Calamari star system. It included crew manifests and transmission logs from all five of the freighters they had captured.

Each freighter had a crew of nearly eighty rebels. Each of those eighty rebels had personal logs, military logs, and encoded transmissions that had Intel Astromech Droids working around the clock to crack. So far, only ten percent of the coded transmissions had been deciphered. Most of it was regarding the timetables of their departures, projected arrival time, lousy food on the ships, and expected Republic opposition. The latter estimate was horribly inaccurate.

Ten hours later the bleary eyed young man stopped the computer. There was one transmission that caught the eye of the Sub-Lieutenant.

It mentioned the Mandalorians.

Piett double checked his decryption to make sure it wasn’t a mistake. He made a note to look for any further transmissions that would shed more light on this subject before continuing to the next set of logs. What would the rebels be doing mixed up with a race that died out over three thousand years ago?

“All hands to general quarters. All hands to general quarters, this is not a drill!” Klaxons began wailing throughout the ship.

Sub-Lieutneant Piett activated his intercom. “Sir, what’s going on?”

“Get to your battle station, Sub-Lieutenant,” his superior put special emphasis on the rank to make him wince. “We’re en route to join Task Force Four. The rebels are attacking a Republic planet,” he replied.

“Which planet? Surely not Coruscant again?” Piett asked.

“No, it’s some Jedi planet called Illum. Remember Coruscant!” his commanding officer barked.

“Remember Coruscant,” Piett answered grimly.

————————–

No, it wasn’t exactly Anakin, but someone similar. He had the same sandy colored hair, the same look of arrogance and the same posture that seemed to radiate confidence. If Anakin didn’t know any better, he would have thought he had discovered a long-lost brother.

“Who are you?” Anakin asked.

The figure didn’t answer.

“How did you get down here?” Anakin asked and gestured around him to the oddly shaped spherical cave where all the stalactites pointed directly toward the golden crystal that hovered in the middle of the chamber.

The figure didn’t answer.

“Whatever,” Anakin mumbled and reached for the crystal.

“Disappointing,” the man said.

“So you can talk? I was starting to think you weren’t smart enough to do more than look stupid,” Anakin smirked.

“Any fool can talk, but listening is a true sign of intelligence. Talk to me Anakin Skywalker, tell me what you truly desire,” the man folded his arms.

Anakin folded his arms in response.

“Is the great Anakin Skywalker too brave and awesome to bare his soul? You must have some real issues,” the man laughed.

“What are you, my therapist? You need to tell me how you know my name and how you got down here, right now,” Anakin growled.

“Or what? You’ll attack me?” the figure mocked.

Anakin paused again. Apart from seeing a total stranger in a crystal cave on a Jedi planet, something seemed very wrong here. He let his tension go, but did not drop his guard.

“Attacking you would solve nothing. I’m also pretty sure that Master Kenobi would not approve of me destroying someone that I just met,” Anakin said.

The man cocked his head to one side, like he was studying Anakin. “Perhaps there is another way for you to go after all. It might not be too late,” he said.

“I really don’t have time for riddles. Next you’ll be saying how ‘he can bring us hope’ or ‘he could be the one after all’. I’ve heard it all before from a thousand Jedi back on Coruscant. They’re all waiting for…” but Anakin was cut off.

“The Chosen One?”

“Well, it has been tossed about a little bit, but I don’t put much stock in it,” but Anakin knew it was a lie as soon as he said it.

“You and I are too alike, Anakin Skywalker. I was once a Daetan, like you. I was a Chosen One, the next best thing to come along,” the figure said.

“You know what the trouble is with being the ‘next best thing’? There’s always another ‘next best thing’ to come around. When that happens, your place belongs to history,” he continued.

Anakin uncomfortably shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“It’s crazy when you think about it,” the figure said. “You are the hottest thing to come to the Jedi Order. You’re going to shake things up, do incredible things, things that no Jedi has ever done before. Then before you blow up like a supernova, some new hotshot comes along and you’re forgotten,” his laughter rang across the cave.

“That can’t be,” Anakin said. “I’ve already faced a Dark Lord of the Sith, uncovered a galaxy-breaking conspiracy, and saved my master’s life before I had any real significant training!” Anakin’s anger rose with his voice.

“Wow, yeah. You’re a real trailblazer!” the man laughed deep and long. “You don’t think Yoda did great things before Mace Windu came along? Windu didn’t do great things before Obi-Wan joined up? You really think Obi-Wan didn’t do great things before you came? Who will follow and then surpass the ‘great’, Anakin Skywalker?” The figure laughed again, this time louder and almost maniacal.

Anakin balled his hands into fists. “There will be no one like me! There hasn’t been anyone like me before and there won’t be anyone like me after!”

The man was cackling now, his hands on his knees. “You’re too much! The Jedi Order has been in existence for thousands of years. How are you going to ensure that you will be the best in history? There will always be someone after you!”

“I will bring my power to new heights! I can be the greatest ever and I will use the Force to take me there! Now tell me who you are!” Anakin roared.

The laughing stopped. The figure rose to his full height and he stared directly at Anakin. He almost seemed to be staring through Anakin. His pale, blue eyes fixed onto Anakin’s and he dared not look away.

“You will destroy yourself. Power only brings misery. Glory spawns from destruction. To get everything you want will cost you everything you need to survive,” the figure said.

Anakin instantly knew who the man was talking about.

“You’re wrong,” he growled.

“I’ve finally getting everything I’ve dreamed of. You couldn’t be more wrong,” Anakin continued. He now eyed the crystal in the center of the room with renewed interest. His hand twitched toward his unfinished lightsaber. The golden crystal beckoned to him. The stalactites that surrounded the room, pointing inward to the crystal, seemed to close in on them both.

“This path you’ve chosen for yourself will only lead to the destruction of everyone around you,” the figure said and Anakin froze.

“I’m going to be the greatest Jedi in the history of the Order!” Anakin shouted.

“Meaningless,” he said and also stopped moving, but the stranger did not lose the look of a predator stalking its prey.

“Jedi for thousands of years won’t even approach my level of power,” Anakin countered.

“You will lose yourself and destroy everything you have ever loved. You will have glory, you will have victory, but you will have no legacy. No one to celebrate it with you,” the man said with pitifully.

“Tell me who you are or just SHUT UP!” Anakin shouted.

“You’ll allow darkness to twist you into a weapon of evil that will bring nothing but despair. You will probably even welcome the darkness, and that’s when you’ll lose her forever,” his grin widened.

Time and space froze for Anakin. The statements that this mystery man had made before had been mere barbs to provoke Anakin. This last one had succeeded.

In half a heartbeat, Anakin used the Force to pull the golden crystal into his lightsaber. It snapped into place and the lightsaber came to life in his hands. The blade felt like it had been waiting for him! The crystal roared to life as the blade ignited. The room was bathed in a golden light before Anakin used that light to pierce his doppelganger’s chest.

The man with the sandy colored hair looked down at the lightsaber still in his chest before looking up at Anakin.

“Nothing of you will be left. The great Anakin Skywalker will be destroyed. The only greatness you will achieve is your implosion,” he said before laughing.

The laughter started as an almost sinister giggle. Then it deepened into a laugh that filled the room. The hideous cackle did more than fill the room; it bombarded Anakin with an incredible intensity that ripped through his body. The cavern seemed to shake with the laughter.

Anakin let a primal scream rip from his lungs. The Force shattered this man into a thousand pieces and continued on. The cavern shook, but only from Anakin’s energy. His scream fueled the fire of the Force until the stalactites melted against the wall. When he finally reigned in his fury, the walls of the small room were polished to a fine shine. There was no trace of the roughness and the many points of the rocks that had jutted out at him.

Anakin drew his breaths in ragged gasps before looking at the completed lightsaber for the first time. He had a blade, he had the teachings of his friend and master, and the first thing he did with the symbol of a Knight of the Jedi Order was use it in anger.

Anakin dropped to his knees and wept.

He heard a whisper in his ear that was so quiet Anakin almost missed it.

            “Ethan is waiting for you.”

  ————————–

“He’s rash, impetuous, and far too eager to chase glory,” Master Ki-Adi-Mundi argued.

“Weren’t we all at that age? He doesn’t have the benefit of a decade of training like we did,” Obi-Wan countered.

“Too much, too soon,” the Jedi Master shook his head. “Nobody can handle this much exposure to the Force and not see some ill come from it.”

“Anakin can handle it,” Obi-Wan affirmed.

“The Council has heard that before. Every time a ‘Chosen One’ appears, the Council must move to contain that person and keep tight control over them. We made one mistake and so many lives were ruined. The Council will not let it happen again,” Ki-Adi-Mundi said.

Obi-Wan folded his arms. “What actions are they prepared to take?”

Ki-Adi-Mundi looked at the floor. “That is the Council’s concern, not yours.”

“It won’t come to that, Anakin can handle this,” Obi-Wan repeated.

“Master Yoda is not convinced. This war is forcing far too many Jedi to be rushed through their training to lead troopers in combat. This is not what the Force is to be used for,” he replied.

Obi-Wan paced back and forth in the narrow passage. “He is destined for great things.”

“No one denies that,” the Jedi Master said. “But great according to whom? He could be a leader to other young ones to show them the benefits of what nearly a thousand generations of teachings really mean.”

Obi-Wan looked at him, but said nothing.

“You too, are slipping with him?” Ki-Adi-Mundi asked. “Is the so-called glory of war calling to you?”

“I know what Yoda would say, you don’t have to quote him,” Obi-Wan sighed.

“Be mindful, Obi-Wan. There is still a great destiny placed on you as well,” the Jedi Master smiled at him.

“You wouldn’t care to expand on that, would you?” Obi-Wan said wryly.

“Not until Master Yoda is further along in his work. Let us meditate on it together,” Ki-Adi-Mundi closed his eyes.

Obi-Wan settled on the cave’s floor and closed his eyes. Every breath was slower and deeper than the last. His eyes fluttered open to see his breath hang in the air for a few moments. In that span of a few moments, the Force was open to him. Master Ki-Adi-Mundi’s voice entered his mind and Obi-Wan relaxed; closing his eyes once again.

“See the great river before you. Hear the water pass by the bank, feel its influence on the Force, and be one with it,” the voice echoed.

Obi-Wan stretched out with his mind and there was a massive river rushing before him. It had to have been over one hundred meters across and have a very strong current.

“The river beckons to you. It is within our very nature to cross such a river,” the voice echoed in his mind again.

Obi-Wan walked to the bank of the river, yet hesitated. The river was such an obstacle, how could he overcome it?

“Obstacles must be overcome, they must be surpassed,” the Jedi Master’s voice prodded him in his meditation.

Obi-Wan stuck out one foot and held it over the water. The water rushed over the bottom of his boot and Obi-Wan began to lean forward onto that foot.

He stopped himself.

“Crossing a river does not further myself, crossing my own limitations and boundaries will. I am the obstacle to myself.” Obi-Wan thought.

Even while meditating, the two Jedi smiled.

Chapter IV

Chapter IV

 

“No, tell him I’m still waiting. In fact, I’ve been waiting for three days,” she sighed in frustration.

“I will pass the message on, Senator…” the receptionist hesitated.

“Amidala. Padme Amidala. You should see me all over your transmission logs,” Padme threw her hands in the air.

“Very well Senator Amidaily. I will tell the Grand Centurion you were looking for him,” the prissy, human receptionist flashed a much-practiced smile.

“Yeah, I bet you will,” Padme said angrily before shutting down her terminal.

She sat back in her chair before staring out her window at the pristine, snow-capped mountains just beyond the city of Aldera. In the distance, she could make out the tourists riding up the hover lifts to the top of one of the mountains before they could enjoy their choice of rides down to the bottom again.

Tourism had quickly become one of the chief industries on Alderaan. With other worlds being raided during what the Holo-net had dubbed the “Clone Wars”, people from across the galaxy flocked to her world.

Soldiers, sailors, and pilots of all ranks had come to enjoy shore leave on a paradise. Fleet Admiral Chodun had visited Crevasse City and re-affirmed that it was one of the Twenty Wonders of the Galaxy. Families came to get away from it all and live a fantasy life they once had before the war started. The unspoiled countryside attracted a flurry of new businesses to the planet catering to every whim and desire that anyone could want.

Everywhere she walked, vendors had merchandise capitalizing on the Clone Wars. Armbands featuring the slogan “Remember Coruscant” and “I support G.C.P.” were the latest craze to sweep the planet.

Padme wanted to enjoy it all. Her planet was thriving, her home was finally going in the direction she wanted it to go, and she couldn’t afford to take even a handful of moments to revel in the transformation.

The only drawback had been the mandatory ID checks that Republic Enforcement Squads were performing on any citizen deemed “suspicious”. The required curfews were equally frustrating, but the government was determined to keep the war at bay and terror in check. Padme wanted to fight these restrictions, but ending the war would end the constraints on the people as well as save lives.

Right now, all Padme wanted was for the person who helped her in the past to just acknowledge her existence. She was well aware that the Grand Centurion of the Galactic Republic was busy trying to end the Clone Wars, but she thought that everything they had gone through together would merit at least an acknowledgment.

“Let’s see. We have a man in power that is avoiding you, refusing to answer your questions, and not helping in any way. Does this sound familiar?” Khian asked, twirling his favorite vibroblade, Alanna, in his hand.

“Even Tarkin was kind enough to be arrogant to my face,” Padme blew a tuft of hair out of her face.

“So now what does the great investigator do?” Khian asked.

“She does what she has done before. I can ignore the baseless ramblings of a dissident who attends committee meetings just to get his kicks,” she said.

“He rambles like a Rodian, but I ain’t heard much of Remmick’s ramblings lately. Where has that bug been hiding?” Khian asked.

Padme hesitated. “It’s funny you should ask. He stopped bombarding my office with calls. There are no more chanting protests outside my door. He has missed the last two meetings including the vote to extend the curfew. I thought for sure if Remmick would be squawking at any meeting, it would have been that one,” she stood up and leaned forward on her desk.

“Could be his ramblings weren’t so baseless,” Khian offered.

“Oh please, you don’t really think there is a vast conspiracy to silence any opposition to the war. That the corporations are really double dealing to the Republic and the rebels? This would go so far beyond even the craziest of theories,” Padme said.

“Maybe that is why it might be true. No one can believe it because it is too unbelievable,” Khian slid the weapon into a hilt attached to his thigh.

“So I am supposed to believe that half a dozen corporations with millions of employees spread across numerous star systems are selling weapons to rebels with zero leaks to the media?” Padme asked.

Khian stood, tossed a digital tablet in her direction before leaning on the opposite side of her desk. “Then how are the rebels so well armed? They just captured the Space City of Numidia. They attacked with a fleet of warships, not just a flotilla or a squadron. They hit us with forty-one capital ships and this was not their usual hit-and-run. They broke from their MO and invaded.”

“I agree it has to be coming from somewhere,” Padme replied.

“And what about the dissidents? We’ve both seen the reports of protests across the Republic’s Outer Rim being brutally put down,” Khian continued.

“Those were rioters, not protests. They were looting, pillaging, and causing chaos. I don’t see the R.E.S. snatching citizens from their beds in the middle of the night because they’re not thrilled with how the war is going,” Padme leaned in a little further.

“Were they really looting? Or is that what the Palpatine news network is telling us? And you don’t think the R.E.S. is really doing mandatory ID checks on only ‘suspicious’ people?” Khian countered.

“Are you saying Palpatine is ordering the abduction of rabble rousers?” Padme asked, her eyes locked on the captivating green eyes of her bodyguard.

“Remmick is an ideal rabble rouser and where is he now?” Khian also leaned in, refusing to break the stare her liquid blue eyes held.

“How should I know? I can’t keep track of every single citizen!” Padme leaned in until they were inches apart.

“Then what can you do apart from whining?” Khian pressed.

“Unlike some people, I don’t shoot first and ask questions later!” Padme countered.

“I don’t even like using blasters!” Khian replied, his voice rising.

“I know that!” Padme said angrily, but she couldn’t look away from him.

“Then what are we even arguing about?” Khian shouted.

Padme hesitated, her mind going completely blank.

“I don’t know!” Padme shouted back, determined to say something.

They were both breathing heavily. Khian’s cologne mingled with her perfume and their eyes could not break apart. Padme had been used to looking into his bright, green eyes, but this was different. His eyes now held a warmth that she had been yearning for, a kindness she had sought, and a tenderness she had been looking for. She closed her eyes and leaned in a little further. Padme’s heart pounded in her chest.

“Senator? I’m sorry, but Viceroy Organa is back from Coruscant and would like to set up a lunch meeting with you at the Orbital Mansion. Shall I clear your afternoon tomorrow?” Padme’s Chief of Staff shattered the moment.

Khian went back to pacing in front of the window. Padme smoothed her hair and pressed a key on the intercom.

“Apologize to the senator and ask him if we can meet sometime next week. I have a feeling tomorrow won’t be good for me,” Padme answered.

Khian cleared his throat. “I need to review the security arrangements for your town hall meeting tomorrow.”

“Khian,” she said, but he kept walking.

“Khian, please,” she said and he stopped within a step of the door.

“If you would check with some of your ‘associates’ regarding Mr. Remmick, I would appreciate it,” she said.

“I’ll do anything you ask. But if I may, I don’t think Palpatine will ever respond. You’re chasing a comet with an airspeeder,” and he left the office.

“Alone again,” Padme sighed to herself and stared out her office window at the snow-capped mountains beyond the city.

Padme became lost in her thoughts as her eyes glazed over at seeing the numerous people soaring down the various ski slopes. She wanted to be there and she didn’t want to go alone.

The intercom buzzed on her desk. “Senator, you have a transmission from Coruscant.”

“Uh huh, that’s great, Khian,” she murmured.

“Senator? Khian left almost an hour ago,” her Chief of Staff said.

Had she spent an hour daydreaming like a schoolgirl? Padme shook her head to get back to reality. Finally, Grand Centurion Palpatine had responded to her multiple messages. She activated her holo-imager and instead, Jedi Master Yoda’s face smiled at her.

The flicker of disappointment on her face was enough to make the learned Jedi cock his head to one side.

“I’m sorry,” she began and resumed her smile. “I was expecting someone else.”

“Expect many things, people do,” Yoda said. “Pleasant also, the un-expected can be.”

Padme’s expression softened. “You’re right, of course. It is very good to see you again, Master Jedi. What can a humble senator do for you?”

“More than you know,” Yoda smiled. “Discovered the rebellion’s plot, you did. Help to end it, you can.”

————————–

His polished boots clicked loudly on the floor, completely disregarding the silence ordinance on this level. Ethan was already breaking protocol on so many levels that one more infraction would make no difference. The Jedi clones who flanked him as they walked down the dimly lit hallway eyed him with contempt.

“He will not be verrrry happy to see you,” Clone Windu said.

“A Sith and happiness go together like a Hutt and a bath,” Ethan retorted as they turned a corner.

“I don’t know why he uses a brrrrroken toy like you,” Clone Kenobi spat.

Ethan whirled around and felt the anger rise within him. “I may have been broken, but I’m not a jealous test-tube freak who has limited ability at best and has never known the true power of the Force.”

There was a tense silence before they resumed walking to their destination.

Two clone Yodas stood on either side of the standard looking door. They both looked up at Ethan and ignited their lightsabers.

“Belong herrrre, you don’t,” one of the Yodas said. The other Yoda twitched for a handful of moments before resuming its normal state.

Ethan sighed. It was amazing how the clones that he had brought into existence could have become so impertinent and arrogant. It didn’t seem that long ago that Ethan had been directly responsible for the creation of over two thousand Jedi clones that were now ripping through the galaxy.

“You don’t belong in existence. Why don’t you go levitate something or find another equally mundane task? I have business here and I will be heard from. Now either you will fetch your master from behind that door or I will put you back in the petri dish I formed you from,” Ethan snarled.

“You meant, ‘our master’,” a cold voice said from behind them all.

Ethan whirled around, but all four of the clones instantly dropped to one knee. The Yodas extinguished their lightsabers and bowed their heads.

Ethan remained standing.

He marveled at how Darth Maul seemed to emerge from the darkness itself. The gold in his eyes glimmered like smoldering coals.

Ethan wanted to say something. He had this immediate urge to apologize for any wrong he might have done to this force of evil. Fear began to encroach upon him. A great weight descended on Ethan’s chest and settled there.

“You said for my clones to fetch ‘your master’ when you really meant ‘our master’, didn’t you Ethan? Or are you offering me your resignation?” Darth Maul asked.

An icy lump began to form in Ethan Organa’s throat. He tried to swallow, but couldn’t. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead as the Dark Lord of the Sith stepped closer. He almost seemed to bring the darkness of the hallway with him.

“I offer my apologies, my Lord. I wish to continue to serve you as I always have,” the Crown Prince of Alderaan slowly dropped to one knee.

Darth Maul walked up to the kneeling Ethan and looked his red and black face down at him. One of the small Yoda clones began to twitch uncontrollably. His head whipped side to side and he began mumbling incoherently. Darth Maul’s ended the creature’s genetic suffering in one swift motion with his lightsaber still hanging from his belt.

“Rise Ethan, we have much to discuss.”

Ethan felt a tremendous weight lifted from his chest as he stood and walked behind the Dark Lord of the Sith. They went through the door, but before it closed behind them, Ethan threw a smug look back at the waiting clones as they picked up the body of their fallen brother.

“It’s a pity they live much shorter lives than the cloned troopers due to genetic flaws. We only have enough left to cause widespread terror for a short while or use them all in one magnificent battle,” Darth Maul observed. He looked at Ethan as if he remembered he was there.

“Despite your brash disrespect for my wishes, I have great plans for you,” Darth Maul said as they entered a wide, circular room.

The room was brightly lit and contained absolutely no furniture with the exception of a console off to one side. Darth Maul walked to that console and activated it. The room’s lighting quickly dimmed and a holo-image of a massive installation filled the room.

“Great plans indeed. My master needs to accelerate the war and because I cannot be in two places at once, you are needed to serve once again.”

“It is my pleasure to serve. Is this my destination?” Ethan asked, pointing at the hologram of the planet hovering in the room.

“You must let the will of the Force determine where its exact location is. This was a place long feared by many. With your work and the work of your clones, it will be feared once more,” Darth Maul said.

“Where will you be?” Ethan asked before he could stop himself.

The room seemed to darken without the lights dimming.

“I have an old business partner to get reacquainted with. That is all you need to be concerned with,” Darth Maul growled.

“I am only concerned for your safety, my Lord,” Ethan said.

His master saw through his half-truth. “You are only concerned with yourself and making yourself superior to the clones that must accompany you.”

Ethan chewed on his lower lip.

Darth Maul’s eyes narrowed. “They are your own creations, Ethan. If the Jedi learn of this planet as well, they will send their knights to secure it. Their protection will be necessary.”

“It wouldn’t be necessary if you would fulfill your end of the bargain,” Ethan said, but his breath caught in his throat.

“I see,” Darth Maul said in a quiet voice that dripped with death. His eyes locked on Ethan. “You believe me to be untrustworthy.”

“Would you prefer to return to the life I found you in? Constantly looking over your shoulder, on the run from the Jedi Order? Always wondering when your father might learn of what had happened to you? Fearful of what the Jedi Council would do when they got their hands on you once again?” Darth Maul asked in that same quiet voice. It was a voice that held a warning for Ethan.

“I am always grateful for what you have done, my Lord. I simply meant that I delivered the clones to you. I am just waiting to be restored so that I might serve you better,” Ethan hoped this calculated risk would pay off.

“The Force is not a light switch. You can’t earn enough points and cash them in to get the Force back. You will be rejoined with the Force when you are worthy,” Darth Maul said.

“How many clones will you send with me?” Ethan asked.

“Twelve,” Darth Maul replied.

“That should hold off the Jedi Order for all of sixty seconds,” Ethan scoffed.

Darth Maul’s eyes narrowed. “I used five hundred of your clones for something that was necessary to all of our fortunes. Having them aid you instead would have done nothing to speed your search in any way. When you determine the exact location of this planet, then will you have the reinforcements needed to hold it.”

Ethan stood back and stared at the rotating planet. It seemed like a peaceful world; beautiful, but not extraordinary. He felt that this planet held the key to his destiny. On this world, he would become one with the Force. When he did rejoin the Force, every Jedi in the Order would feel his pain, his father would feel his wrath, and even Darth Maul would understand why he was the Daetan.

And then entire galaxy would learn what fear truly is.

—————————

“Master! MASTER!” Anakin was shaking Obi-Wan Kenobi by both shoulders, but he got no response. He went from his friend to Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, but also got no response.

“How deep of a meditation can you be in to ignore this?” Anakin asked as the cave shuddered with the force of another set of explosions.

“Wha…what’s going on?” Obi-Wan asked as he blinked himself out of his meditation.

“If I knew that, I probably wouldn’t be this panicked,” Anakin said as he helped his master to his feet.

“Calm yourself, Anakin. We will accomplish nothing by giving in to fear of the unknown,” Obi-Wan said and he closed his eyes.

A moment later, his eyes flashed open in alarm. “There’s an orbital bombardment. I can’t believe I’d see the day when someone would dare attack a Jedi planet. I have no doubt that some landing craft will be arriving shortly,” Obi-Wan said.

Anakin also closed his eyes and stretched out with the Force. “Master, why would they send troops down here? If the rebels wanted to obliterate this cave, so why not just do it from orbit?”

“They cannot be truly certain of this temple’s total destruction unless they have boots on the ground to confirm it. They want this hallowed place wiped from history,” Ki-Adi-Mundi stared at the cave’s ceiling.

“But why?” Anakin asked.

“The why is not important. Stopping it from happening is what matters,” the Jedi Master replied.

Another set of explosions rocked the cave.

“Master, I don’t think we will stop anything if we’re sealed in here,” Anakin said and they rushed out of the small chamber and back into the Grand Crystal Chamber.

Obi-Wan and Ki-Adi-Mundi hesitated when they saw how the cave had suffered from the attack. Light poured in from several holes that had been blasted from the bombardment. Where there had once been simple and beautiful crystalline formations of blue and green now lay brittle fragments. They were now dull and listless by the hell of war that had been brought to Illum.

Anakin sensed the briefest flash of outrage from Obi-Wan. He looked back to see his master standing beside Ki-Adi-Mundi. The Jedi Master was cradling a crystal in his hands before looking to the sky.

“Masters, we need to get back to the surface and find out what is going on,” Anakin urged. He placed a hand on Obi-Wan’s shoulder.

Obi-Wan nodded to his friend and extended a hand to Ki-Adi-Mundi. The crystal fell from the Council member’s hands and shattered on the stone floor. He nodded grimly to Obi-Wan and then to Anakin. Together, they raced out of the cavern.

—————————–

Khian never left anything to chance. That being said, he double-checked his equipment before embarking on a mission that Padme wouldn’t quite approve of.

The time they had spent together had been extraordinary. Khian stomached boring meetings with squawking bureaucrats just so he could state Padme’s position and race back to see her and deliver his report. She had been grateful and every moment they spent discussing politics had brought them closer together.

There had only been one or two meetings that Padme vehemently insisted she handle herself and Khian agreed. All that mattered was that she saw that Khian was making her happy as well as keeping her safe.

As he walked down the avenue, the cheery decorations and numerous street vendors catering to tourists brightened his heart. Before, he would have been suspicious of them and held each of them with contempt as they waved “Remember Coruscant” memorabilia at him.

Today, the music and the brightly colored lights and streamers warmed him. He knew it had nothing to do with them, it was all Padme. The world itself seemed to glow just by thinking about her smile.

It was the height of the Regent’s Festival in Aldera and more people had flocked here than ever before to escape the misery of the war. It made the local businesses go the extra mile to oblige the masses with lights, streamers, banners, and musical groups around every corner.

Khian wanted to embrace it all. He wanted to join in with the revelers, but when a kid with sandy colored hair brushed past him, Khian’s mind snapped into focus.

From the very beginning, he liked Anakin. When he held Padme hostage during his interview to get the position of being her bodyguard, it was Anakin that dared make a move to free her. The other paid security stiffs were frozen. At least the kid had guts.

Since then, he had really warmed to Anakin. Keeping sane while being around a few thousand Jedi would have been nearly impossible for most people, but this guy was different. He still held his sense of humor. He smiled, joked, laughed, and seemed to enjoy himself regardless of his sterile surroundings.

Now, as Khian pushed through excited tourists who chanted “Remember Coruscant”, his mind was troubled. He wanted to give Anakin the benefit of the doubt. After all, Sith were legendary liars and twisters of words. Whatever they were talking about might have been playful banter. Khian himself had been known to trade a few quips with people trying to kill him.

The digital tablet in his bag beeped. Khian ducked into a side-alley away from the vendors and the cheering masses. He frowned when he saw what the tablet displayed.

The program he was using was painfully slow in figuring out what Darth Maul and Anakin were discussing. He only had twelve percent of the conversation deciphered, barely one word in ten. But two pieces of text struck him.

            “Jedi will restrict”

            “Ability is being wasted”

Khian leaned back against a wall. So far it wasn’t anything too serious. True, this raised more than a few red flags within him, but there was more of the program to see.

There was still time for Anakin to redeem himself.

Chapter VI

Chapter VI

 

            Citizens of the Galactic Republic! Our heroic forces continue their valiant struggle against the rebel forces across the galaxy! Despite stubborn resistance within the Galactic Senate, Grand Centurion Palpatine refuses to back down on the Military Conscription Act.

            “Clones are not the answer, we knew that going in. It is time for the youth of the Republic to enlist and show their patriotism by joining our brave troopers already engaged in conflict.”- Grand Centurion Palpatine

            Troopers such as the clones in the 37^th Delta Wing, or the “Delta Devils”, who are pushing the rebels out of the Yavin system. Or troopers such as those in the mysterious 501^st Legion who do the dirty jobs normal troopers cannot accomplish alone. They are responsible for hunting down and bringing justice to those that were responsible for the cowardly raid on Coruscant.

            “Every day, we have scout teams across the galaxy reporting back to us on the whereabouts of rebel traitors. They are always out there, always searching, and they will not stop until every rebel is brought to face the light of justice.” –Marshal Tarkin

            There are thousands of heroes, millions of soldiers, and trillions of citizens whose hearts all beat proudly for the Galactic Republic!

Keep bringing the fight to them! No rebellion! No division! No backing down! Show your patriotism by buying war bonds to give our fighting people the support they need!

—————————–

For countless weeks, Kentaru Remmick had assailed Padme’s office with transmissions about how corporations loyal to the Republic were also dealing under the table to the rebellion. The one time he claimed he had actual proof, he disappeared.

Khian watched through hours of surveillance recordings and never saw Remmick.

Khian tried to track down his financial records only to be stonewalled.

As far as the Republic was concerned, Remmick never existed.

He sighed heavily as he activated his personal communicator. Desperate times clearly called for desperate measures. He winced as he saw the pale woman’s face appear on his monitor.

“I’m tracing this transmission and if I find you’re within fifty kilometers of me, I’ll come down on you so hard the Nightsisters will look like nurse maids,” she said angrily.

Khian couldn’t help but smile. “I promise I’m not even on the same planet.”

When her expression didn’t change, Khian’s smile widened. “Lina, was it that bad?”

She ran a hand through her mass of bright blue hair. “Saying our relationship was bad is like saying a Hutt has an eating problem.”

“I don’t know why I broke it off with someone so incredibly beautiful, talented and verbose,” Khian said in his most flattering voice.

Lina’s hair turned jet black. “Cram it, Khian. What do you want?”

He took a deep breath and her hair turned a mousey brown. “I need a favor.”

Her hair shot into bright blonde and she laughed hysterically. “Goodbye Khian.”

“The safety of the galaxy is at stake,” he offered.

The hair remained a shocking shade of blonde. “Now I know you’re joking. There are only two things you have ever gone after and if money’s involved, I twenty percent, not ten.”

Khian shook his head. “Not a money job this time, but it is nice to see you’re still as honorable as ever.”

Her hair slowly returned to the mousey brown. “Flattery will get you ten-to-twenty years in a Republic Detention Facility.”

“I need a slicer and you know I only go to the very best. But since Nerat is working exclusively for the Black Sun I came to you instead,” Khian grinned.

Lina’s hair turned a lighter shade of brown and Khian’s hopes rose.

“What’s the job?” she asked.

“I need you to track someone down that the Republic has done a very good job of hiding from me,” he said.

“You lose another girl?” Lina asked.

“No…no girl,” Khian quickly stammered.

Lina’s hair turned the playful blue and she leaned back. “That’s the other thing you always go after. This wouldn’t have anything to do with that politician I saw you with on the Holo-Net, would it?”

“It’s just a job, nothing more,” Khian said.

Lina’s hair turned black again. “Don’t you lie to me! It’s worse than an insult.”

Khian exhaled slowly. “It’s important to me and to her.”

“Aw hell Khian, you fell in love with her,” Lina’s hair lightened. “What did you go and do that for? You will remember to invite your ex to the wedding, right?”

“She doesn’t know,” Khian blurted before he could stop himself.

Lina stared at him. “You remember what holding the truth back did, right? You have to tell this girl how you feel and I mean tell her point-blank.”

“We’re getting away from the point,” he argued. “The job. Yes or no?”

Lina’s hair now turned a dark, almost blood red. “What’s the guy’s name?”

—————————–

Lina was as good as he remembered and more. She verified that someone had gone through and completely eliminated him from any possible record.

“If there’s no trace, then how do you know it’s his place?” Khian asked.

“The apartment is registered to a business called ‘Mire KMC’. It was clever to make it sound like a business, but you need to get a move on if you want to stay ahead of the Republic Enforcement Squad sent from Coruscant for this job,” she warned.

“They’re not going local for this?” Khian asked.

She shook her dark brown hair. “This is a special group. They have visited twenty-four star systems prior to this and someone always goes missing on each world they go to.”

“Oh well I can’t keep all this fun to myself. Thanks for the info, I’ll send some credits your way,” Khian offered.

Lina’s hair softened. “Stop torturing yourself and tell the girl you love her. We’re all living on borrowed time. Talk to her before your time runs out.”

Khian paused in front of the building that held Remmick’s hideaway. The dwelling was a modest enough apartment. Entering through the lobby would invite trouble as his image was recorded by multiple cameras. The best way in was from the outside. The problem was that his apartment faced out onto a park and not another building and was over twenty stories up.

“It figures. Can’t make this too easy, can we?” Khian muttered.

He waited for a transport to pass before he raced to the building’s wall. He leapt as high as he could and slammed himself against the building’s smooth surface.

The Black Diamond Pitons that extended out of his wrists, forearms, and knees fit very easily into the exterior of the building and made his work physically taxing, but allowed him to scale the vertical structure.

Khian held his breath as a resident wandered onto their terrace on the floor above him. The woman stared out into the park for a handful of moments. Khian’s palms began to sweat and he prayed she continued to look out and not down.

She sipped something from her mug and coughed loudly. “You call this a drink?” she swore and dumped the liquid over the edge. It came within inches of hitting Khian and causing a loud splash a few feet from her instead of a few stories.

He continued his ascent when she disappeared back inside. Once he reached Remmick’s terrace, Khian deftly swung himself onto the landing and waited to see if there were any noises to indicate he had been given away.

Silence confirmed a job well done.

Khian smiled to see the door was unlocked. Who would think a burglar would climb over thirty meters when the front door was the easier path? He stepped inside and ran a quick security scan to see if Remmick had any intruder devices running.

True to his paranoid nature, Kentaru Remmick had four anti-intruder devices on his front door, but nowhere else. Khian’s search began.

His eyes passed over the usual material regarding Republic battles, various diplomats’ speeches, and other ordinary propaganda spewed by both sides of the war. Remmick had been spouting about proof just before he disappeared, was he just bluffing? Desperate for attention?

Khian had no trouble getting access to Remmick’s computer, but found nothing of importance. He went through a number of digital tablets that Remmick had all over his apartment, but nothing substantial was on any of them.

He froze when he stepped into Remmick’s sleeping quarters and saw twenty thermal detonators shelved above his bed. Was he planning a campaign of terror? Was Padme a target?

Khian’s scanner revealed more questions than answers. None of the detonators were active. In fact, none of them had any moving parts. When was a bomb not a bomb?

He stood on Remmick’s bed and cautiously pulled one off the shelf. Khian examined it carefully for any possible signs of life before he sat down and really studied the device.

It truly was a thermal detonator and not a copy or a toy. But why would he have so many of them with nothing inside? Khian decided to tempt Lady Fate and pressed the button on the detonator.

The circular device popped open and he gasped when he saw a piece of paper inside. The rolled up piece of parchment was reasonably fresh and in good condition, despite being so small and shoved into a palm-sized device.

Khian marveled at Remmick’s cunning. Paper cannot be sliced or hacked by anyone. There was no computer to access and no network to penetrate. The simplicity of it was very amusing. Khian quickly opened all of the detonators and put together the puzzle that Kentaru Remmick had created.

What he read made him break out in a cold sweat.

Remmick had obtained real evidence that the rebels were indeed being sold weapons and equipment from the largest supply depot in the entire Republic. While the evidence didn’t say who was doing the selling, it was the location of the depot made Khian’s heart race.

Dare he return to Ord Mantell?

Now the full weight of the dilemma sat upon Khian’s shoulders. If he told Padme about this, she would demand to rush off to the depot. She was headstrong and determined, that’s what he admired in her.

If she went to the depot, could he protect her? His thoughts wandered to Alanna and how he had failed her on the same planet. Thinking about it was painful enough, living it again would be a nightmare. How could he live with himself if Padme met the same end?

The only way to keep Padme from Ord Mantell was to destroy this evidence. He could just tell her that he had learned nothing and leave it be. Lying to Padme might save Padme. There was simply no way that he could show her what he found. He had to lie.

He wrestled with this a handful of heartbeats longer before he heard an all too familiar sound. Khian’s head whipped around to see the front door’s keypad glow bright blue. A humming intensified before the keypad blew out completely and landed on the floor.

Khian had another handful of heartbeats to act.

The door slid open and six men dressed in black armor rushed in to Remmick’s apartment. They moved with the precision of a veteran strike team, their blaster rifles covering all possible entry and exit points.

“Clear,” one said.

A seventh man passed through the doorway. His armor was a shocking white, with blue outlining the various panels, in stark contrast to the rest of his team. The others in his team hadn’t moved. They were still crouched in various firing positions, tensed and ready for combat.

The man in white slowly removed his helmet and placed it down on a table in the living room. His white-blonde hair and pale skin glowed in the artificial lighting. What stood out the most were his equally white eyes. There was no iris, no pupil, nothing at all that Khian could make out from his hiding place. His gloved fingers traced the outline of a desk and ran along the top of a couch before he turned back to his team.

“It doesn’t have to be neat, but it needs to be thorough,” he muttered.

His team went into action tossing the table over, ripping up cushions with long knives, and shattering dishes in his kitchen.

One of them dashed into the bedroom and froze. “Colonel Adani!” he called.

The man stepped slowly into the room and raised an eyebrow when he saw the thermal detonators placed perfectly back onto the shelves Khian found them on.

“You must respect a man who has a love affair with explosives,” Colonel Adani mused.

“Move to evac point Delta!” the soldier called, but the colonel raised his hand.

“I said ‘respect’ not ‘fear’,” he growled and stepped into the bedroom.

Despite the obvious danger he faced, this man walked casually around the bedroom. The colonel’s gloved fingers touched various objects as he moved around the room. He finally halted at the side of the bed and cocked his head to one side as he looked at the detonators.

“They’re fakes,” he observed without touching them.

“Sir, how can we know…” the soldier began.

Faster than Khian could blink, Colonel Adani grabbed one and threw it past the soldier’s head. The detonator collided with the wall, cracking it and sinking in several centimeters.

“You’ll just have to take my word for it, corporal,” the colonel said grimly.

“Collect them and nothing else. This is what Tarkin wants us here for,” he ordered.

The corporal swiftly gathered the detonators and shoved them into a bag that he then slung onto his shoulder.

The colonel took one last look around the room and moved toward the door. As he neared the door, Khian let out a sigh of relief.

The colonel’s white-blonde hair whipped around and he inhaled sharply. His eyes closed for a long moment and the whole room seemed to stop.

“Someone has been here,” the colonel breathed. “Ten…no eleven minutes ago.”

Khian swallowed as he heard the blaster rifles become unslung. He ducked down into the refuse chute and gripped his Black Diamond Pitons even harder. Khian silently cursed himself for letting his curiosity get the better of him.

The colonel stepped back while four of the soldiers entered the bedroom, rifles at the ready. They checked the obvious hiding places under the bed, glanced at the ceiling, the closet, and even outside the bedroom window.

“We’re clear here, sir,” the corporal reported.

“No…I don’t think we are,” Colonel Adani replied.

Footsteps neared the refuse chute and the sweat on Khian’s forehead intensified.

The barrel of a rifle poked the door once, then pushed through and held the door open. Khian waited for a head to follow and see him clinging over twenty stories from the bottom.

“Don’t be so stupid!” the colonel hissed. “If there was someone in the chute and you stuck your face in, that person could kill you without thinking twice. Send in a crawler droid and let it kill whatever’s in there.”

The footsteps backed away. Khian’s sweat dripped off of his chin.

A noise of a metal object hitting the floor was the turning point. Khian re-gripped the handles of his pitons and pressed his feet against the back of the chute. In one swift motion, he pulled himself up and kicked hard at the chute to propel him out and into the room.

Khian was fortunate to have two soldiers standing close enough to the chute. They were kneeling down, preparing the droid, when Khian collided with both of them. His pitons pierced their chest armor and he heard the sickening crunch of breaking ribs.

He stood up quickly and Alanna flashed in his hand as a third soldier charged him. The man was fast, slamming his helmet into Khian’s midsection. Khian grabbed the man around the helmet and his blade sliced across the man’s unprotected throat.

Colonel Adani’s open and gloveless palm slammed into Khian’s upper chest and he crumpled to the floor. He didn’t feel pain, but numbness radiated through his body.

“You’re either very good, or we got very sloppy,” the colonel said as the rest of his team entered the room with their weapons drawn.

He cocked his head to one side and put his gloves back on. “Perhaps a little of both?”

Khian could only grunt.

Another of his squad powered up his rifle and pointed the barrel at Khian’s head, but the Colonel held up a hand.

“You provide me with an unexpected bonus,” Colonel Adani smiled and motioned to his team. “You appear to be about Remmick’s size and shape. Close enough for the post-mortem medical team anyway.”

Two men came forward and put Khian on Remmick’s bed while others were spreading a foul smelling liquid on the floor in a very deliberate manner.

“Clean-up protocol Alpha,” the colonel ordered. “I want no DNA trace or blood stains when the locals arrive to put out the fire.”

Other soldiers picked up the three bodies and dragged them out of the room. The corporal opened a small box he had removed from his pack. Seven boxy-looking droids no larger than the palm of his hand immediately hopped out of the box and went to work. The droid scrubbed and used small lasers to eliminate any blood that the dead soldier left behind.

Colonel Adani gave Khian a bow with a great deal of flourish before leaving the room. One last member of his team tossed an open lighter into the room and backed out.

The fire spread quickly.

—————————–

“…got to him when I did…”

“…how can I repay…”

“…he’s always been headstrong…”

Khian blinked his eyes hard a few times as they tried to adjust to the light. Two heads entered his field of vision and he coughed a few times.

“He might be doing that for a while longer,” Lina said. “Just keep giving him water and I think he might just live to try and die another day.”

A soft hand caressed his forehead and his eyes focused around the worried face of Padme Amidala.

Khian couldn’t help but smile.

“Lina,” he croaked. “How did you…”

“I told you I was tracing the transmission. I know you too well than to leave you on your own. When I saw the smoke, I knew you had to be in the middle of something devious,” Lina smiled and her hair turned blue.

“I thought we weren’t on the same planet,” Khian said.

“No, you assumed I wasn’t on Alderaan and, once again, you assumed wrong. All I said was that I didn’t want you within fifty kilometers of me,” Lina smiled. “You can thank me later, with a bonus.”

“Lina…thanks,” Padme smiled.

Lina shook her head. “That boy is all kinds of messed up. If I were you, I’d straighten him out.”

Padme’s head swung back into Khian’s field of vision. “Can I get you anything?”

Khian sat up with difficulty and coughed again. His entire body smelled acrid from the smoke and he gratefully drank down a cup of water Padme handed him.

“A good cleaning service?” he smirked.

He braced himself for the smack on his shoulder that was sure to follow, but she didn’t move. The same tender expression on Padme’s face remained.

“I’ll let you rest. When you’re better, I want to know if you found anything at Remmick’s,” she said.

“Back to business already?” he joked.

Tears formed in Padme’s eyes and Khian stared. Did she feel…?

He had no time to think about it as she turned and left the room without another word. Khian leaned back against the pillow and welcomed sleep. His hand reached into his pants pocket and felt the scraps of paper he saved from Remmick’s apartment. The look on her face was all the persuasion he needed.

She deserved to know the truth.

—————————–

Being the lead producer for the leading news organization in the galaxy came with some tremendous perks. You could meet and arrange interviews with only the elite, the most famous people in the Galactic Republic. You could make or break careers of celebrities with a single phone call. The famous people that billions adored would adore you if you set up a favorable set of questions during a show. This always meant lavish gifts that bordered on sheer bribery that had made her lifestyle very posh.

You would also lose too much sleep worrying about doing whatever it takes to stay the lead producer before some young hot-shot with a handheld device gets a great story and then gets your job. In a flash, her posh apartment, extensive wardrobe, spa sessions, and daily massages would vanish.

What made Oreana T’riek pace late in her office that night was that fear. The walls of her illustrious office were covered in awards, photos of her shaking hands or hugging history makers in the Republic. Twelve years ago, she had catapulted straight to the top of the HoloNet News Network. Now her career was threatening to plummet right back to the bottom. Sure, she had met with great success in the past. But when you have the capability to communicate nearly instantly with only three hundred trillion citizens, the prevailing attitude is “what have you done for me today?”

The good news was that this little spat between the Republic and a few hundred renegade star systems was shaping up to be a full-scale war. That meant there were tragedies to exploit, drama on every planet, and millions of soldiers to interview and proclaim as heroes.

The bad news was that there were millions of soldiers to interview! The public tired so easily of grunts and flight jockeys making headlines who would die at the next skirmish. Admirals were always gave the most predictable quotes. Jedi generals were too boring. With battles raging across vast sectors of space, there wasn’t one person the viewing public could rally behind.

She stopped pacing for a moment. She didn’t really believe in a sixth sense, but chills went up her back as if someone was watching her. Oreana shrugged this off and went back to pacing.

Suddenly, she wasn’t at her desk. Oreana T’riek was standing at the top of a snow capped cliff, looking down on a great battle below. Even though she seemed to be at a great distance from the fighting, she could make out every detail with no difficulty. Even the driving winds and snow had no effect on her vision.

Below was a lone figure surrounded by rebel soldiers. The rebels were snarling at the man like vicious animals as he stood his ground. Without warning, they moved as one and pounced on the brave man. Oreana screamed as they buried him with their bodies, their hands savagely tearing away at anything that resembled their prey.

The man with sandy colored hair burst through the pile, sending rebels tumbling away in all directions. In his hands, a golden lightsaber bathed the area in its light. The look in his eyes resembled a furious storm and Oreana was overwhelmed by the courage and confidence he irradiated.

Moving quickly and with wondrous agility, the Jedi with the golden blade cut through the swarms of rebels. Everywhere the young man with the sandy hair was, rebels fell before him. There were none that posed a challenge to him. When it was all over and they were all destroyed, Oreana couldn’t help but fall hopelessly in love with this handsome hero of the Republic.

As quickly as it happened, she was back at her desk. The image of the young man was seared into her memory and her heart that thudded in her chest. She knew then and there that she had her hero and the entire galaxy would know and cheer him.

“Skywalker,” the voice trailed off in her ear.

Her hand slammed down on her console. A sleepy voice answered her transmission a few moments later.

“This had better be about a tawdry love affair,” her producer’s voice groaned on the other end of the transmission.

“I need to know what happened at the planet Illum today,” Oreana said, still trying to catch her breath.

“Illum? Never heard of it,” the tired voice on the other end grumbled.

Oreana ended the call. Clearly, this could not wait for her boss to wake up. Her heart thudded madly in her chest as her mind was locked in on that young and handsome hero.

“Computer, I need to know everything about the planet Illum, starting with any activity in the last twenty-seven standard hours,” she said and a single message flashed back at her.

Illum Battle Status = Republic Victory, please stand by.

Oreana pulled her knees up to her chest and rocked back and forth. She had to know who that was, who her hero was, who the hero of the entire Galactic Republic was.

And she would make him a star.