Chapter 1 of A Lost Hope
"Excuse me," Nejaa Halycon said as he noticed the sitting
form of the young Jedi knight. He almost felt guilty for breaking
Kenobi's quiet contemplation.
Obi-Wan opened his eyes. "Master Halycon."
Nejaa Halycon laughed. "That's a title I'm never going to
become accustomed to." He sat across from Obi-Wan, grunting
a little as he crossed his legs. "You are leaving?"
"Yes, Master. I...I need to."
"I understand. Mostly. My CorSec colleague is not particularly
forthcoming. What do you seek?"
"Clues."
"Amateurs," the older man muttered. "There is a
growing darkness. We have all felt it. You seek to know who is
behind this darkness?" Obi-Wan smiled slightly at the description
of Baryl as he remembered Halycon's position in CorSec.
"No, master. We know who he is." Obi-Wan shifted slightly.
"We seek the evidence to stop him."
Halycon pondered that information for several seconds. "The
evidence should guide you to the guilty, not the other way. Be
careful, young Jedi. A grave responsibility it is to save the
galaxy. The Sith have been hidden for a thousand years, it will
not be easy to find those who can hide their darkness in broad
daylight."
"I know, Master Halycon. I've stood next to him and felt
nothing."
"When he learns of your search he will try to stop you."
"I understand, but there's more," Obi-Wan said as he
stood. "Senator Naberrie is pregnant. He must not find out.
She is brave and rash and does not yet understand her importance."
Halycon stood. "And you want someone to watch out for her,
while you're gone?" Obi-Wan smiled as he nodded. Halycon
quietly agreed to the request. There was much he didn't understand,
but he too had sensed the need to protect the young woman.
Palpatine pulled his hood up over
his head and positioned himself in front of the holo-imager. He
didn't have to wait long. A rather unremarkable poxed-face human
appeared. "My Lord," it said.
"You're late," Palpatine hissed softly. "Don't
be again..."
"I'm sorry, My Lord. What is your command?" The stammer
was most irritating, Palpatine decided as he contemplated the
question--even though he knew exactly what he wanted the bounty
hunter to do.
"I have a job for you. Senator Amidala Naberrie. I want her
exterminated." There was several seconds of silence before
Palpatine spoke again. "If the job is too much--" He
raised his hand slightly as his voice lowered to an even more
menacing pitch. "I can always find someone else--of course..."
"No. Of course not, Lord Sidious, I can do it." The
image flickered and vanished. Palpatine pushed the hood down and
picked up his glass. With a silent toast to the future, he took
a small sip. His smile grew as he felt his young apprentice (even
if Anakin didn't realize that yet) approach. The door opened and
Skywalker entered. "Ah, Skywalker," he said calmly.
Anakin looked around the room, then focused on Palpatine. "You
wanted to see me, Supreme Chancellor?"
"Yes. Admiral Brandel is putting together an elite flight-squadron.
Newest ships, newest technology. I recommended your name for squadron
commander. Congratulations, Commander Skywalker." He smiled
at the younger man.
"I...Me? Thank-you, Supreme Chancellor." Palpatine was
pleased with the lack of doubts from the young man. "I shall
aim to create the best squadron in the Galactic Republic."
"I know you will." He handed Anakin a datacard. "Here
your orders. Admiral Brandel is at Fondor, so's your new command."
Palpatine dismissed the young man and returned to his chair. Brandel
was perfect for Anakin's commanding officer.
Kinman Doriana nodded as Anakin left then waited for the chancellor
to acknowledge him. "Sir," he said as Palpatine motioned
for him to enter. "An interesting young man."
"Very." Palpatine said tersely.
Minister Doriana smiled. "I talked to Senator d'Aryl from
Commenor. Their petition to rejoin the Republic has been approved.
In the past three days, four other governments have also submitted
their requests. d'Aryl is eager to make amends. She would be a
logical person to second the motion--Senator Drey'lya has been
a staunch supporter. He should make the actual proposal."
"Excellent." Palpatine smirked slightly. "And the
timing?"
"Soon, after a few more victories. Our plans would best be
served if the galaxy believed the end was in sight," Doriana
said. "Now, if we could arrange for you to be actively commanding
our forces at the final battle, this would help cement public
perception of you as the savior of the galaxy."
"I shall be..." Palpatine knew this. The two obstacles
were the Jedi and the Independent Alliance, and he had put his
plans into motion to take care of those problems.
"Sir, that is...May I ask how you know this?"
"Good intelligence." The best indeed, though no one
knew just how good. Doriana's eyes narrowed as he studied the
chancellor, before he left. Palpatine found the man's services
very useful, and he had been a strong ally. But allies had a tendency
to become liabilities. Doriana asked too many questions at times.
Mace stared at the ceiling of his room: a restlessness he hadn't
felt in years kept him awake. The door opened.
"Sleepless?" Yoda's voice asked from the shadows. "I
too a disturbance felt."
Mace sat up, the vague uneasiness forcing him to action. "Something
is going to happen. We'd best wake the others." Yoda's ears
flattened slightly but he nodded in agreement.
Adi Gallia was in the hallway as they entered the main dormitory.
"I too have sensed something. The students are awake."
She wrapped her dark robe tighter, Mace recognized the look of
uncertainty and worry on her features.
"There are over three thousand Jedi in the temple. Without
knowing where or what the danger is..." Mace let the sentence
fade. "I feel an empty spot in the temple." Even as
he spoke that empty spot moved. He could also sense the students
and others waking and moving toward the lower levels.
Yoda blinked as Adi Gallia spoke. "Something blocks the force."
Several of the older students were guiding the younger ones toward
the training yards. Two turned and approached.
"Master Yoda," an older Calamari female said. "Everybody
is awake."
"Keep them together, remain calm. But get them out fast."
Mace fingered his light saber. He motioned for Gallia to follow
him. "We'll investigate." Both Adi Gallia and Yoda followed.
Mace concentrated on the empty spot. He felt it move toward the
lower levels. He could not sense anybody or anything, but his
general unease increased. He started to run: he knew the corridors
and short-cuts of the temple intimately. On the fifth floor he
leapt out a window and landed easily on a third floor balcony.
The need to hurry intensified. He hoped the others were otherwise
inclined. There was no time to think, as he and Gallia continued
at a full run. They jumped down the final stairwell.
There were five humans standing near the temple door. One carried
a bizarre wood frame with a lump attached to it. "Jedi,"
the one with long blond hair spat. "You're too late. We'll
keep you from ruling the galaxy again. It belongs to regular people,
not some freaks."
"What are you talking about"" Mace asked as he
took two steps forward. "We have no desire to control the
galaxy. Our mission is peace and justice..."
"Peace and justice," the shorter one said. "Some
peace...and we don't consider clones an ideal form of justice."
Adi Gallia stepped beside him. "Mace?"
"What does Commenor have against the Jedi?" He couldn't
use the Force to identify the speaker, but the shorter man's jacket
was emblazoned with the Commenor royal family's coat of arms.
Harol d'Aryl laughed. "Your existence is an evil the galaxy
can do well without."
"Why here you be?" Yoda asked in a very soft voice.
"With Ysalimari."
d'Aryl laughed spitefully. "Yes, it blocks you from finding
us, from knowing what we are doing until..." He shrugged.
"Bye Jedi scum." The group started to leave at a run
as the building shook. A second massive explosion followed, then
a third.
"The others!" Adi Gallia shouted. Mace stopped counting
explosions as he concentrated with Force to help the others and
to block the crumbling walls from landing on him or his companions.
He felt the heat of the fires on his face as the first screams
reached his soul. He froze. Adi grabbed his hand. "Move..."
"We can't leave the others..." The wall behind him collapsed,
sending shards of fire toward him. Flames leapt out up toward
the ceiling, the walls...They were surrounded. Yoda silently motioned
them forward. The crackling sounds of the burning building drowned
out his own heartbeat as the trio saw the opening to the outside.
A crowd had gathered. Many were trying to help--but others, too
many, were cheering.
"Where did we go wrong?" Mace asked as they stepped
out onto the street. Immediately someone grabbed him.
"Are you all right?" An old woman asked, tears in her
eyes. By the light of the burning temple, he could see survivors,
and bodies. Mace just nodded, no he wasn't all right. Adi knelt
down beside him in prayer. Her eyes were also brimming with tears.
He couldn't feel anything: all his senses were numb. He had no
connection to the Force.
"Relax," Yoda said. "Shock it is."
"How can you be so calm?" Mace bit his lip as his own
eyes started to moisten. "So many dying..."
"Feel them, I can," Yoda said. His ears lay against
his head. "Too many..." Then the Jedi Master sagged
against his staff.
Admiral Trevon glanced at the clock, then at the bridge crew.
"Prepare for return to realspace." He hit the fleet-wide
communications switch as the lines became stars. "Battlestations."
He glanced quickly at the tactical display with a growing apprehension.
Once again, the Clone fleet was larger than expected, but this
time, so was theirs. "Attack plan Mynock." There was
no time to think about the attack plan names as his own ship took
the central point. "Fighter wings red, blue, and orange form
up on our port."
The clone fleet deftly maneuvered into a defensive position as
the Independent Alliance fleet opened fire. His own ship rocked
as the enemy returned fire.
"Sir," a voice said suddenly. "They're concentrating
fire on the Chandrilan command ship..." The young lieutenant's
voice faded away as that large cruiser blew. Trevon ordered increased
fire, the clone ships replied in kind.
"Send in the fighters," Trevon ordered. The little ships
could get closer and inflict a lot of damage. He watched their
images on his screen. He was determined that this fight would
not end like the others, but at the moment it looked like a stalemate.
"Concentrate fire on the lead destroyer," he ordered.
"Co-ordinates one one six." The largest ship in the
opposing fleet had incredible fire power. He felt helpless as
he watched the clone fighters fire on his ships, taking them out
one by one.
Obviously they were clones of some really good pilots, he thought
in the back of his head: and therefore unlimited, while his own
resources were very limited. Replacements for men and ships were
getting more difficult to find. His own ship rocked suddenly...
"Sir!" Someone shrieked. "More clone ships have
just come out of hyperspace..."
Trevon looked in horror as a large triangular destroyer approached
on a collision course. "Evasive maneuvers," he shouted--too
late.
Both ships blew at the moment of impact and descended in a spiraling
trail of flame toward the red-giant star.
#
Anakin waited inside his little three-twenty fighter: it's snubbed
nose, and twin engines made it efficient--but the lack of a droid
unit made flying it difficult. It had a similar feel to the Naboo
fighter he'd flown as a kid, controls were placed differently
though--and there were far more of them than were really necessary.
He ran his right hand over the console. Its superior weapons,
speed and maneuverability were a plus though--or so he'd been
told. There had been no time for training, and barely time for
any introductions to his command before heading into battle. He
was Jedi, the Force would guide him. Then there was the admiral:
Admiral Brandel had not bothered hiding his distaste at Skywalker's
appointment when they'd met less than twenty-four hours ago. The
admiral's instructions had also been terse. They were going to
Neimodia to ambush a clone fleet. He tensed as he felt the larger
transport ship that carried his fighter and squadron jolt. They
had arrived.
He concentrated on letting the Force flow through him as they
exited the ship. He was confronted with many ripplings in the
Force as he guided his small fighter out and then under the transport
ship. And another sense--one he'd first felt on Y'mala: clones.
He banked his fighter to the right as he ordered his squadron
to follow him.
"Wow!" One of the pilots said. The ripplings he'd felt
earlier were from the participants of the battle. He didn't have
time to watch as two ships shattered upon entering the gravitational
field of the red-giant star. He rolled his ship to avoid incoming
fire: the speed was numbing and yet, incredibly exhilarating.
The Independent Alliance Fleet was nearly obliterated. Anakin
was momentarily distracted as he sought for the presence of Amidala
or Obi-Wan. He didn't get a chance to sigh with relief before
a clone fighter shot his stabilizer. His fighter spun wildly.
A second blast went right over him, as Anakin realized that his
wingman had taken out the clone fighter. He leveled his ship out,
flying was now awkward, but with the Force he easily gained control
as he made a steep climb to blast another clone fighter out of
existence.
"Good shooting, boss," his wingman said. "What
happened? Fall asleep earlier?" Anakin didn't answer Lieutenant
Loman, his second-in-command.
Brandel's voice filled his earpiece. "Commander Skywalker,
your squadron is to lead the attack on the clone star destroyer."
Anakin started to say something. "We'll be right behind you.
Punch a hole through their fighters. Pick up any alliance strays--we
can use their help."
Anakin acknowledged the command, even while noticing that the
few Alliance survivors were already forming up with his squadron.
"Attack pattern omega," he ordered and his squadron
broke into groups of three. The four Alliance fighters stayed
together.
Anakin's first battle in command of others was short and nasty.
Three of his command were killed. With the Force he racked up
two confirmed kills and one shared. The remaining clone fighters
were abandoned as the larger enemy ships turned and jumped to
hyperspace. Seconds later the battle was over.
"We've lost three more governments," Garm Bel Iblis
said as he sat down at the briefing table. Bail Organa didn't
even look up as he acknowledged the information with a soft grunt.
Amidala stood and started to pace.
A hand on her arm stopped her. "Are you all right?"
Kalla Organa said. "You really should rest more..."
"How?" Amidala asked softly as she moved toward the
back. Kalla followed.
"I've been watching you," the blonde woman said. "You've
been unhappy ever since I met you." She laughed kindly. "I
don't think it was me..."
Amidala smiled. "No. It's a long story. And a dangerous one."
She turned sharply as parts of the conversation reached her ears.
"Supreme Chancellor Palpatine," Garm said, "has
gained incredible power these last two months."
Bail stood and walked to the viewport. "Too much power. His
armies have had remarkable success."
Garm's frown deepened. "Their armies continue to be victorious
against the clones, yet we..."
"Yet we are beaten badly in each battle..." Amidala
joined the conversation a sad look on her face. "Colonel
Arasta said..."
"You can't be accusing the Supreme Chancellor?" Bail's
eyes opened wide in surprise. The room was absolutely silent.
The three other people in the room stared at her.
"He's gathered a great deal of power," Garm said, still
staring at Amidala, "but that doesn't make him a spy...just
an opportunist."
Amidala nodded as she took a deep breath. "I don't know,
but I..."
Mon Mothma walked in at that moment. "Excuse me, but there's
been news."
Amidala wanted to tell them her suspicions, but that's all they
were--suspicions. And suspicions based on a gut feeling at that.
She had worked so hard on Naboo to rid the government of the corruption
of her predecessor--and the practice of using of rumors and innuendo
to ruin the careers of one's opponents. To say more now, would
put her in the same category: even though deep down, she knew
she was right. She stiffened as she saw the tiredness and disappointment
on Mon Mothma's face.
"There's news from Coruscant," Mon Mothma said. "It's
unconfirmed, but apparently the Jedi Temple and Academy were destroyed..."
She stared at Amidala. "Over one-thousand Jedi were killed."
"Unconfirmed?" Amidala bit her lip.
"It's coming through private communication..."
"It's started then," Amidala said mostly to herself.
"What's started?" Kalla asked.
"The rumors that the Jedi are behind the clones are driving
people to desperate acts."
"That's not all," Mon Mothma said. "We've lost
contact with Trevon's fleet at Neimodia. According to intelligence,
only a few fighters survived. Apparently the Galactic Republic
Fleet arrived just as clones destroyed Trevon's last heavy cruiser."
Another loss. Twenty five ships. She didn't want to know how many
dead, Amidala thought with a retching pain in her gut. And it
was a yet another piece of circumstantial evidence. The timing
was too good to have been merely coincidence. The looks on the
others revealed their thoughts. Mon Mothma continued. "The
Corellian Government is voting now..."
Garm ran out the room. Amidala couldn't begin to think about rejoining
the Republic. Not when she truly believed...Her hand rubbed her
stomach, and definitely not when she was carrying the children
of Anakin. Kalla touched her shoulder.
"We need to talk..." The blonde woman smiled sadly.
Amidala nodded.
Obi-Wan woke slowly. There it was again, a quiet pulling at his
connection to the Force. He looked around the darkened room several
times, before concentrating his attention in one corner. "I
failed..."
There was a soft laugh as light coalesced into the form of his
former mentor and master. Qui-Gon stepped forward, his form hazy.
"Like I failed."
"Xanatos. Except..."
"Except your failure is worse? You can't look at it as a
better or worse failure. You did what you could."
Obi-Wan looked at the ground for several seconds before he looked
up. "Anakin has crossed the boundary between light and dark."
"Are you so sure." Qui-Gon's spirit voice made it a
statement, not a question.
"Why else would he seek out Palpatine?"
"Palpatine is very powerful: never underestimate him."
Qui-Gon's expression was sad and distant. "And very patient."
Another vision danced before Obi-Wan's eyes. Images of a couple
happily, yet warily holding out their hands to accept a child.
The image swirled to show another couple joyously accepting the
other child. Obi-Wan understood with a sad nod that Amidala's
children would have to be raised separately.
Qui-Gon nodded. "The Force is strong in the Skywalker family.
Anakin's children are the future. For them you too must go on.
Seek your own family." He looked sadly at Obi-Wan. "The
last of the Jedi you will be, the first of the Jedi they will
be." The bluish light swirled and vanished.
"Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan stared at the empty space. "I
can't do this alone." He could barely hear his own voice.
"You aren't alone," Qui-Gon's voice said. "The
Force will be with you, always..." It faded away into nothingness
just as there was a knock at the door.
"Hey, you all right?" Baryl Arasta's voice said from
the other side of the wall.
"Fine." He stood and straightened his robe around him.
The door opened.
"I heard voices?" She looked around, even though they
both knew there wasn't anyone else in his room.
"I was just...thinking," he said sadly. "I guess
I was feeling sorry for myself."
She took his hand. "It will work out." He knew she was
trying to put a better spin on things. Their trip to Tatooine
had so far been a bust. Jabba refused to see them--though he kept
his refusals vague. And what existed in the Tatooine public records
was more than just dismal. Artoo found bits and pieces, but nothing
really worthwhile.
What really worried him now was the future. "Even if we can't
convince the galaxy, someday his evil will be recognized by others..."
She pulled her hand away. "I don't like the sound of that.
He's setting himself up as a dictator--emperor. Blood will be
shed."
"I know..." Obi-Wan stared off into the distance. The
images that flitted across his mind disturbed him more, because
the Force was not helping him find a way to prevent this probable
future from becoming reality.
"Amidala?" Kalla called out softly as she knocked on
the other woman's door. She waited patiently for the door to open
before she spoke again. "You look tired." She marched
in. Royal Princesses of Alderaan learn at a young age how to take
control, and despite the fact that Amidala had once ruled the
Naboo--it was plain that she needed help.
"Hello," Amidala said. Kalla relaxed slightly at her
chuckle.
"Don't bother to deny this, but you're pregnant." She
bit her lip to keep her own sorrow out of this conversation. "And
for some reason, you aren't willing to tell anyone."
Amidala nodded once then closed her eyes. "I'm afraid it's
not so simple."
"It never is. Who's the father?"
Amidala smiled slightly then frowned. "I...a very dear man,
my husband."
Kalla gasped--she hadn't know the other woman was married. "I
didn't know...Obi-Wan?"
Amidala shook her head. "He's a friend." She sat down
on her bed and buried her head in her hands. "I fear he is
dead."
Kalla allowed her to continue, despite wondering about how truthful
the answer was. "My poor dear." She sat down next to
her. "What happened?"
"I don't know." Amidala straightened slightly. "But
I fear that my children and I may be in grave danger."
"Danger?" Kalla realized that Amidala meant more than
the danger of fighting the clones.
"What do you know about--" Amidala's voice became a
whisper. "--Darth Sidious?"
"I guess what everybody knows." Kalla was curious and
worried, and more than a bit suspicious. "Why?"
Amidala hesitated slightly. "He's the most dangerous man
in the galaxy--and I put him there..." She looked at Kalla,
horrified. "Forget I said that." She stood and walked
to her desk. "Please?"
"Forgotten. But?"
"No buts. He tried to kill my husband, and I believe he will
try to take my children--if he learns I'm pregnant. Annie and
I were not married very long."
"You don't want this Darth Sidious to learn...Children?"
Kalla stood quickly. "Twins?" Amidala just nodded. "But
how can he learn?"
"Through the Force, through casual conversation..."
"A spy." Kalla said. "I can't admit to understanding
the Force, the Jedi or the Sith."
"I don't think anyone truly does." Amidala stared at
the wall. "It may be why there are so many rumors about the
Jedi being behind the clones."
Kalla agreed quietly. "But you believe Darth Sidious is behind
this?" She too had heard the rumors of Jedi involvement.
But there were also rumors about Hutt involvement. She'd even
heard one involving Alderaan.
"I think so. Yes, I believe this is true, but I have no proof.
And I can't just tell this to people...Considering everything."
"I understand. It could be seen as a last ditch effort to
keep the Alliance truly independent." Kalla studied Amidala
carefully. There was something else, she was positive of it. "What
do you know of Sidious?"
Amidala turned away slowly, her eyes full of pain and sadness.
"Too much and not enough." Her sadness suddenly turned
to anger. "I just can't prove any of it."
"Maybe my husband or Garm can help?"
"No," Amidala said vehemently. "They can't...Perhaps
Obi-Wan can."
Kalla felt confused. This wasn't the conversation she'd expected.
Suddenly Amidala smiled. "I'm sorry...It's just I have no
one to talk to."
Kalla took her hand. "I'll help any way I can..." She
just had no idea how.
"Thanks." Amidala squeezed her hand. "I just don't
know what you can do."
Kalla smiled. "We'll think of something."
She pondered their conversation on her way back to her quarters.
'I helped put him there.' The words just leapt into her consciousness.
She muttered a quick prayer to the Alderaan deity as she leaned
against the wall. She couldn't believe what Amidala had implied.
She just couldn't. She spent the rest of the day trying to convince
herself that wasn't what Amidala had meant.
The problem was, she believed it to be true.
There was nothing left except a chunk of what had once been the
northwest wall of the Temple. The jagged edges rose about thirty
feet into the sky before ending abruptly. Mace closed his eyes
to block the sight, but the musty smell of rubble and disturbed
dust remained. "We shall rebuild," he said to the five
surviving council members. Yet he knew they wouldn't. A new age
was beginning. The destruction of the Jedi Temple was just a sign
of that start.
The others knew it too, thus their silence. Most of the surviving
children and teachers had been sent to Caamasi to continue their
training and to mourn. The others had gone their separate ways.
Many had returned to their own worlds to help in fighting the
clones and to prepare for the darkness. Some just disappeared.
So many had died three nights ago. Over a thousand Jedi were no
more. He could still feel their lingering presence here through
the Force.
"Master Windu?" A small hand on his arm, brought his
attention back to the present. Adi Gallia's eyes were red from
exhaustion and sadness.
"There have been rumors," Mace said. "Rumors that
the Jedi are behind the clones."
"I was thinking...Qui-Gon--" Adi Gallia said softly
as she bent down to pick up a small rock, "--and others were
right. We have isolated ourselves from the galaxy. The people
who did this accused of us of seeking power."
"This I feared," Yoda said, his ears dipping slightly.
"Great evil behind this is." He looked toward the Republic
Senate building, the others followed his gaze. "A great evil
there be."
"We can no longer afford to sit idly watching it come,"
Gallia said. "Many Jedi have returned to protect their homeworlds.
Some have joined with the Independent Alliance. The Republic is
changing and we are no longer welcome here."
Mace thought he might have been the only one who noticed Yoda's
brief reaction to the mention of the Republic. He and Yoda, were
he thought, the only ones who had suspicions on the senate and
Sidious.
Adi Gallia continued. "Though I have learned that Obi-Wan's
apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, has recently joined the Galactic
Republic military-"
"Then it too late is..." Yoda fingered his staff. "I
to Dagobah go." He glanced at Mace. "The Jedi Order
no more be." He hobbled away.
Mace took one last look at the ruins. This was like the dream
he'd had several times--a dream where he stood staring at a collapsed
building--until today that vision had been a mystery. The rest
of the dream involved fire and a powerful anger. Two children
also figured in his vision. He shook his head sadly as Gallia
touched his arm.
Yoda had disappeared. Mace turned to Adi Gallia. "We too
should be leaving. One future ends, another begins."
She nodded. "I am returning to Yvantha. I have family there...I
must do something." The others took one last look, before
they departed, each at a different pace and in a different direction.
Mace didn't watch. His destiny lay with the Independent Alliance.
He needed to find Obi-Wan.
Chapter 3 of A Lost
Hope
Return to Other Worlds Index