章 13: Chapter 13
"I was rather hoping you'd seek a meeting with me, Your Highness."
Padme could practically smell the distaste radiating from Panaka towards the speaker as they walked leisurely through the building while the senate was in recess. Granted, the feeling was more directed at what, or rather who this man represented. "I trust that you are allowed to speak on behalf of both planets, Duke Brumel?" Padme inquired in a level tone
The Duke of Dargul gave a refined chuckle at her comment. He was a tall human of middling age, with the uncommon facial feature of narrowed, angular eyes and a partially balding head with the black hair in the back worn in a short and neat ponytail. Dressed in finely made but loose clothes, he stood with a strange mixture of grace and greed about him. "I represent the Darglum System in its entirety, Queen Amidala, both Dargul and Umgul. Given the symbiotic relationship of our sister-worlds, they trust us to have our best interest in the political arena," he assured.
Padme mentally grimaced. Umgul was a place with an unsavory reputation on Naboo. The entire planet was essentially one giant den of gambling, to the point where cheating in a game was punishable by death. Before Tattoine, it was Padme's model for an unsavory planet, now demoted to merely being unpleasant in her mind. Fortunately AND Unfortunately, it was a hot spot for traveling from all ends of the galaxy. Unfortunate that all that wealth and income made it unlikely for the Republic to do anything about its death penalty law, fortunate that Darglum's Mulgard sector and Naboo's Chommel sector were practically neighbors.
"Forgive me, Duke Brumel, but isn't the Trade Federation a boon to a planet such as Umgul?" Padme asked in legitimate interest.
He nodded sagely, apparently expecting this. "To an outsider, yes, it would appear so. Secure, safer routes to and from our system with a promised discount on various goods from them. But the cost of the arrangement is all too visible to us: The Trade Federation has a habit of taxing the hyperspace lanes and planets under their control, which would decrease our number of visitors and make dealings with other worlds all the harder," he explained patiently. It went without saying that the criminal elements coming to Umgul to spend or gamble credits would also plummet with Federation "protection".
"By greed my planet comes under siege, by greed another comes to my aid," Padme mused idly.
"Don't be so pessimistic, Your Highness," the Duke corrected, his shoulders sagging as if an extra decade just fell on his shoulders. "Even just outside of their influence, a economically inclined entity of such an overwhelming size would have no problem using taxes and tariffs to slowly bleed our profits and leverage for the legal take over of our planets," he elaborated with a sympathetic look meeting the hidden surprise in her eyes. "Credits is the weapon for Umgul, and Dargul to a lesser extent. We know that, in this battle, their armory is much greater than ours."
Padme nodded slowly as she now understood the plight of this man's system being much like her own, only that they could foresee its approach. "So, Duke Brumel, how do you intend to aid Naboo?" she asked curiously.
"Indirectly, of course," he answered with a small smirk as they stopped before a private meeting room. "After all, success sometimes relies less on the merits of individuals and more on a sponsor to arrange meetings of an unlikely alliance."
Padme quirked a regal brow as the door slid opened and rather quickly lost all her stoicism as surprise overtook her features.
Meanwhile
There was a heavy but patient silence as the two dark lords sat in the room, one contemplating and the other waiting. Vader had entertained the idea of allying with Plagueis since he discovered that, without doubt, he was still alive at this time. But nothing the Sidious of the previous timeline said of his old master could have prepared Vader to meet a Sith like Plagueis. So earnest, so pragmatic, so truly calm. Not like Sidious, faking his calm to hide the endless hate and sadism. Oh, there was hate in this Dark Lord, but it was long cooled and tempered. Like adrenaline, it was something not easily warranted without a certain need. Plagueis, in many ways, was as close to a Jedi as one could get while still being truly and undeniably a Sith Lord. And in that respect, it made him all the more dangerous, even before considering his power and skill.
But even more than that, Vader saw something fundamental they had in common: Just as Vader wanted an end to the pointless suffering and bloodshed of the galaxy, so too did Plagueis seek an end to the Rule of Two. But as Sidious refused such an ideal, so too had many of the galaxy refused any form of peace with the Empire. He was no fool, he knew some of the plights were legitimate. But the Rebellion was long in the making even before the atrocities began. They would have resisted no matter what, for some rose-tinted vision of the Republic that, if it ever existed, was long dead and gone.
Tilting his head ever so slightly, he caught the Muun's attention. "An alliance is something I'm more than agreeable to discuss, but there is a problem," Vader informed.
"Only one? Good, do share your complaint, Vader," Plagueis prompted, sounding reasonably pleased.
"I believe you need to deal with your student first," Vader informed with a touch of dryness as he looked off to the side, seemingly at the wall.
"Hmm?" Plagueis asked with a scowl, scrunching his brow as he peered for what Vader was sensing. When he found it, he was honestly surprised. "Sidious? What's he doing out there?" he asked in confusion.
"I believe he is displeased with our meeting," Vader mused idly, glancing at the Muun who now looked visibly annoyed. "Concerned for the vote?"
"No, Sidious isn't reckless enough to leave the senate if that wasn't secured. My concern is actually for the Queen," Plagueis answered with an eye roll. "I don't trust those Neimoidians not to do something stupid like kidnap her on Coruscant."
"..." Vader actually paused to consider why that would be a bad thing for the Order of Bane, before it clicked. "If a sovereign ruler is taken on Coruscant, when trying to plead her case to the senate, then even a well intergrated Sith Lord won't be able to mitigate or control the panic and distrust that would spread for the republic."
"Yes, and I think even- no, my apologies, especially a warrior like you can grasp how much of a disaster it would be if things unfolded right now," Plagueis summarized, glaring off into space, into the force and at his student. "As one Sith to another, you have my express permission to butcher any of our agents if they do something so...stupid," the Muun looked resigned to using the rather simple yet effective word, as nothing else fit in his mind.
"Enjoy explaining that, and this prospective alliance, to your student, Plagueis," Vader quipped with a smirk behind his mask.
"A few decades ago, and I would have," Plagueis admitted without hesitation as he stood, giving a nod to Vader. "It has been a pleasure, Darth Vader, but as you can see, I have a student to attend to," he said in farewell as he turned to the door.
"Darth Plagueis," Vader called, standing as well. He waited for the Dark Lord to look back at him before approaching. "Before you depart, I was wondering if you would be interested in granting me a favor."
"A favor, Vader?" Plagueis repeated in amusement. "And what would I be getting out of this?"
"The greatest performance in the last thousand years," Vader answered dramatically
Plagueis blinked, admittedly curious. "I'm listening?"
Vader spoke, and the Dark Side smiled.
Meanwhile
Obi-Wan knew the difference between a true spar and when he was being humored, given a handicap. Someone lacking the force might mistake it for him gaining the upper hand, as Dooku retreated more and more while prioritizing blocking. But the estranged Jedi Master was a master of Makashi, the form of truly dueling with lightsabers.
*Kksssshhhh*
"Good, good," Dooku praised thoughtfully. Obi-Wan wouldn't be surprised if the elder Jedi decided to stroke his beard with one hand while still using the other to continue locking blades with the padawan. "While most devalue a reverse grip, in battle, it is useful to competently block with it when required," Dooku mused as he studied the young human male.
"Thank you, Master Dooku, but I believe this spar to be about over," Obi-Wan noted, confident in that if not in the outcome.
"Indeed," Dooku agreed knowingly as he gracefully backpedaled on the elevated paths around the training court. While training was not to be done up here, rather passionate spars could get away with the duelists. "Hmm, I'd say Qui-Gon has taught you well, but I get the impression you learned as much from his own mistakes as well," he commented, noting the padawan was much better at conserving energy than Qui-Gon, even when taking youth into account.
"Well, failure is the greatest teacher," Obi-Wan repeated with a hint of joviality, pausing to lean away and dodge a stroke meant to keep him on his toes. "But no one said the failure must be my own to learn it."
"Ha! And Qui-Gon claimed you were too rigid," Dooku recalled with a fond smirk as he continued his "retreat".
Obi-Wan simmered for half an instant, sending a glare at his master through the force. He swore he could hear him whistling nearby in response. Still, Obi-Wan smiled a bit as they reached what he saw as the end of this test. "I believe I win, as much as that means, Master Dooku," he stated as Dooku pretended to take stock of their surroundings while their lightsabers were crossed. The Serennian Jedi was back against a corner with a pillar to his right and a fall down a ramp to the courtyard on his left. Not much of an obstacle for a Jedi Master, but Knight against Knight, this could be a bit of a tricky spot.
Still Dooku smiled pityingly, and Obi-Wan knew he failed somehow. "You haven't beaten me. You've only sacrificed sure footing to secure your trap...and fall into mine," he informed as his hand twitched-
Obi-Wan went tumbling down the ramp as a force push swept him off his feet, his lightsaber deactivating as Dooku shoved him off. He rolled down, landing in some dirt near the trees. He groaned, not in pain, but at realizing he had been knocked off his feet again.
"What troubles you, Obi-Wan Kenobi?" Dooku asked upon force jumping down to his location, looking at the padawan curiously. "Your focus is clearly not all in one place, or you would have seen that trick coming, I'm sure."
"I should have," Obi-Wan agreed as he sat against the base of the tree he landed near. "...I had a talk with Vader," he confessed, looking far more tired than he had a moment ago.
"Alone?" Dooku questioned idly, receiving a nod. "About the Dark Side, I imagine?" he guessed with interest.
"Tangentially, I suppose," Obi-Wan asked curiously. "I told him it was my way of trying to understand him. It was, but...not just for trying to attack him, but because I had to know something," he explained, biting his lip.
"I'm curious, why did you not share this with your master, or the council for that matter?" Dooku cut in with a raised eyebrow.
"With Master Qui-Gon? There honestly hasn't been any time or privacy for the chance to. As for the Council?" Obi-Wan stopped with a mirthless smile, Dooku catching the meaning.
"A fair point," Dooku accepted with a grimace. The council didn't need any more surprises or controversy in this instant. "Why tell me? I am still a member of the council, and Yoda's former padawan."
"And Qui-Gon's former master," Obi-Wan returned with a sigh. "But...there is a popular saying in the Negs: You don't know someone until you fight them," he commented.
"A sad commentary, with how coreward they are," Dooku noted with distaste. "And sparring with me makes you believe I can be trusted with this?"
"With this," Obi-wan answered with a shrug. "I asked him why they hate us."
"Because hate is the source of their power," Dooku answered, almost automatically.
"That's what I thought," Obi-wan answered with a half amused hum. "But Vader didn't speak of the power of the Dark Side. He only told that, in the simplest and shortest terms, the hate is inherited from master to apprentice."
Dooku's facial expression quirked ever so slightly into a myriad of different reactions: unimpressed, then surprise that then fell into contemplation, and finally comprehension and realization rested on his expression. "If that is true, it complicates our very understanding of the Dark Side."
Obi-wan nodded knowingly. "And I don't know if it is true, but..."
"If Vader is our enemy, we must understand how he operates. If he is not, we must understand why he isn't," Dooku summarized. "Do not feel it is wrong for a Jedi to approach the darkness, Obi-wan Kenobi. Masters Mace Windu and Quinlan Vos are proof enough of that," he reassured before scowling. "Do share this with Qui-Gon when you have the chance."
Obi-wan cocked his head curiously. "He wasn't listening the whole time?" he asked, both amused and surprised.
"No," Qui-Gon answered as he walked out from behind the tree. "Not intently. I was too busy keeping watch while you two talked," he elaborated with a small smirk as he looked down at Obi-Wan. "You did nothing wrong, but we ARE going to talk about this conversation you had with Vader in full, soon."
"Master, I will welcome the chance to be able to talk about this and clear my head," Obi-wan retorted in exasperation. "We've run into the Dark Side a few times, but I did not go on a diplomatic mission expecting to have a religious debate with a Sith Lord," Obi-wan stated, not in frustration, but merely factually to voice the strangeness of recent events.
"A valid point," Qui-Gon accepted. "Though, you should be accustom to suprises, considering one of your first missions as my padawan was the whole Lorian Nod incident."
Dooku's mood soured there. "Yes, I suppose I never did thank you both for cleaning up that old mess."
Obi-wan waved his hands back and forth uncertainly. "To be fair to you Master Dooku, he was tried and released after the whole pirate thing. The planetary takeover was a new mess."
"Hopefully third time is the charm," Qui-Gon murmured as Dooku gained a blank look. "His two decades sentence is half over."
"Piracy, taking over a planet and needing to be overthrown," Obi-wan noted, almost amused. "I'm not advocating, but I'm amazed that didn't earn him a death penalty."
Dooku cleared his throat, clearly not enjoying the discussion. "While your performance was valiant, Padawan, I can see your true flaw after our little session," he announced.
"I'm sure there's more than one," Obi-wan said in acceptance.
"Yes, but I've found that when many people, be they Jedi or otherwise, have one specific issue when they reach a perceived limit. Dealing with that often allows them to move past others," Dooku elaborated with a genuine smile. "And you, Padawan, possess the perfect flaw."
"Perfect flaw?" Obi-wan repeated in surprise.
"You're inexperienced, Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon elaborated in fond amusement, patting him on the shoulder. "Now how long are you going to sit in the dirt?"
Still confused, the youngest of the three humans stood up, looking between his seniors in incomprehension. "I'm confused, isn't that every padawan's flaw by definition?"
"A flaw, but rarely is it THE flaw," Dooku vaguely elaborated. "You have the makings of a great Jedi about you, Obi-wan. All your short comings are not the arrogance of youth but the ignorance of it. What you need is merely more time, to use another phrase, to find yourself. For your years, you are excellent with a saber, but the Ataru is not for you. You trust your instincts and yourself. Sometimes too much, perhaps, but you learn quickly from your failings."
"In other words, a bit of adventure, training, and experimenting is all you need," Qui-Gon assured.
Obi-wan looked surprised, before he held back a laugh as he shook his head. "Apologies, Masters, but that sounds like a speech you should have saved for the Chosen One up there," he said, nodding his gaze to the Tower of Tranquility.
Dooku rose an eyebrow at his old student. "And you claim he is too rigid?"
"No, "I" said he had a bit of a stick up his-"
"MASTER!"
Meanwhile
Jedi could be foolish in some of the most interestingly simple ways. In this particular instance, expecting a child to remain perfectly still for more than twenty minutes.
While such was taught and expected of the younglings, it wasn't often than untrained nine year olds were brought into the temple. Thus, while the Jedi council convened on the results of his test and if he would be allowed to become a Jedi, Anakin Skywalker took it upon himself to roam the temple a little bit. After all, this would either be a home he would need to get use to or a place he would probably never be in a again. So it was best to get used to the place or get a good look while he could.
And as the Jedi Temple did house numerous children of all ages, most Jedi paid him little mind, as few would recognize every youngling. And the few that would were too preoccupied with other matters.
In truth, Anakin didn't go far, merely down a few halls away from the...Tranquility Spire? Pillar? Did they just say Tower? Name regardless, he hadn't traveled far, merely looking over the more wide open parts of the complex. The only palaces he even really knew were Hutt Palaces and those were often crowded, dark, and unpleasant. This...had the look of a grand palace, he believed at least.
But more than that, he was beginning to think the Council's attitude was more of a projection of other issues. He didn't need to see or hear to know that something was wrong with a lot of the Jedi. He wasn't sure what. Could it be something with Vader? He knew Qui-Gon and Kenobiwan, as he nicknamed the padawan in his head, were very...on edge at Vader at times. Vader didn't like Jedi and it seemed it was a feeling returned, for some reason.
Still, he didn't understand why they would be bothered by Vader in their own home. After all, Anakin couldn't feel the weight of Vader's force presence in here, it stayed back out by the steps. Which he supposed was a nice thing to do? Maybe? Vader wasn't trying to make them uncomfortable, so why did they seem so worried and anxious? And exhausted, he knew that feeling extremely well, in himself and in the force.
Speaking of Vader, Anakin wondered what the sith was up to now? He hadn't gone to the senate with the Queen, but there wasn't much to do in that...apartment? There was a fancier word that he really didn't care to remember right now. But that meant that Vader had nothing to do. Maybe he was resting...but it was Vader, so it was hard to tell. He wasn't even sure the cyborg slept! And if he didn't, Anakin really wanted to know if that was a Force thing he could learn.
Thinking of Vader caused him to look down. Not in sadness or any other emotion. He wondered, did the gloomy mood of the temple have anything to do with that feeling below it? If he had to potentially misuse a phrase, it felt like the force was very strong here, but stronger beneath the temple. And there was something weird about how it felt, like there was a smear or leak in it. Weird. Probably best figure out how to understand what he was feeling before asking too many questions that he didn't know how to word yet.
His head perked up as he felt someone one watching him observe the temple. Hearing a small gasp confirmed his suspicious, as he looked off to his left. There was no one nearby at first glance, but he saw some small fingers behind a column. Years of learning not to make too much noise kicked in as he moved over to the pillar's opposite side with nary a sound, grinning like the child he rarely got to truly be. He stood there, waiting patiently for them to poke their head out again, looking back and forth in confusion. With that, Anakin leaned forward, still grinning as they looked up in surprise at his face.
It was a child, barely out of toddler years. He thought it was a girl, probably? But she wasn't an alien species he had seen too often, so he didn't have a lot to compare. But he had seen others like her, but the name escaped him. They were a lot like Twi'leks to him, but there skin was always more towards orange, and the head-tails looked more like a blue and white headdress.
"Hello?" Anakin greeted with a chuckle, cocking his head at the child looking at him uncertainly. "Can you talk?"
"Jinqa ohk dan?" she asked, nervous but curious. (Who are you?)
Anakin got the feeling she hadn't been here long, even discounting that she hadn't learned basic yet. But, thankfully, if there was one thing that the Force was useful for at all ages, it was empathy. Which, when essentially a sixth sense, helped translating the intent if not the message itself. And his answer needed no translation. "I'm Anakin Skywalker," he introduced, wondering how Jedi initiates greeted each other, but ignored that until he actually was taught.
She looked him over, making him wonder what she saw that was so interesting? Or was he just that dirty still? "Ahsoka...Tano," she answered with a smile.
"Nice to meet you, Asuka," he returned, hoping his warm greeting convened his meaning well enough.
Maybe not, judging by her frown. "Koa. Ahsoka," she corrected. (No, Ahsoka.)
Anakin blinked. What did he say, if not that? "Um, Ahsoksha?" he tried with a raised eyebrow.
"Ah-so-ka," she repeated, slowly and clearly. Now she was glaring. And pouting. He was trying not to laugh. "Sei goh go si'no'i!" (My name's not hard!)
Anakin's mouth twitched. You learn a lot of things as a slave on a planet with a lot of different species. "Dan Corkasan," he responded, utterly butchering the grammar to its most primitive state, but it got his point across pretty well: (You Snips)
Ahsoka stared at him for a good two minutes, Anakin waiting for the little one's brain to catch up. "Mean," she stated, puffing up her cheeks in childish indignation.
Force damn it. Could the force damn things? If so, it had to damn whoever and whatever made this little whatever-she-was so adorable. "Dec circaa?" he asked with a head tilt. (Live here?)
Ahsoka nodded, her frustrations melting away. "You are...Youngling?" she asked uncertainly. Anakin shook his head, since technically he wasn't, only literally. "Padawan?" she tried in confusion.
"Hopefully," Anakin answered in basic, looking at her with a concerned frown. "You okay?"
Ahsoka glanced away. "Big. Dark," she whispered, fighting against the urge to make a whimper.
Anakin smiled reassuringly as he patted her on the head. "He's not that bad," he explained vaguely. She flinched a bit, which made him a bit worried. He knew that Twi'leks had sensitive head-tails, but her...thing looked harder than that. Still, after a brief look of surprise, she smiled under his touch.
"I see you both made a friend."
The two were brought out of their little moment, turning to see a Jedi Master they both knew, if only barely on Anakin's part. "Plo Koon!" Ahsoka greeted with glee.
"Young Ahsoka, you should know not to be sneaking off to wander on your own," the masked Jedi scolded, his jovial tone betraying his true feelings. "Remind me again, who is your instructor?" he asked patiently.
"Phara Nannar," Ahsoka answered, still smiling. If Anakin didn't know any better, he'd say he was her father. While he was aware that Jedi didn't have families, he had to admit, that would be weird. Even if some races had VERY different males and females sometimes...Or none at all, in the case of the Hutts.
"Ahh, the Clawmouse Clan. Well, I trust you know the way back to your quarters?" he said encouragingly. Ahsoka looked sheepish. finally, and nodded. "Good. I'll be sure to check in with Master Nannar tomorrow to see if she is still short a youngling," he forewarned, his lighthearted tone making it unclear if he was serious.
Ahsoka nodded dutifully as she turned to head back from where she came. "Bye Plo Koon, Bye Skyguy."
"Bye, Ahsoka," Anakin called with an innocent smile. Ahsoka paused before continuing with a frustrated gait.
"Were you getting her name wrong intentionally?" Plo Koon asked in idle curiosity.
"Only the third time," Anakin confessed with a uncertain smile. "Am I in trouble?"
"For frustrating a Jedi? If that was punishable on its own, we would have expelled the Grand Master ages ago," Plo Koon pointed out. It wasn't even a joke, it was a factual statement that, at one time or another, Yoda frustrated every Jedi he met. "And the same could be said of Master Qui-Gon." That, on the other hand, was a joke. Mostly. "As for wandering the temple a bit, hardly. We have to gather Qui-Gon and his padawan before we announce our decision. The wait isn't over yet. But in the mean time, we should head back."
Anakin nodded as he followed the...okay, he legitimately had never seen whatever Plo Koon was before. Or, if he had, they were wearing a full facial covering. "Clawmouse?" he asked curiously.
"Difference groups, or clans, of younglings that learn together until they pass the trials to become Padawans," Plo Koon answered plainly. "May I ask what you were doing back there?"
"Hm?" Anakin asked in obvious confusion.
"When you were touching Ahsoka's head," Plo Koon clarified.
"Oh! Um, just giving her a head pat?" Anakin answered, looking a bit worried. "Was that a bad thing to do?"
"For her kind? Perhaps. While not developed yet, her montrals are intended for echolocation," he explained, sensing the boy meant no harm, quiet the opposite in fact.
"...Echo? Doesn't that need her to scream to work?" Anakin asked with a confused scowl.
Plo Koon hummed in amusement. "While I understand the misconception, no, that's not the only way for that sense to work," he answered, humoring the child's curiosity.
"Anakin?" a familiar voice greeted, causing them to pause as they neared the elevator to the tower. Approaching them was a trio consisting of different generations of Jedi, the middle smiling with a bit of knowing. "Patience is something you'll have to learn, I see," he commented.
"I can be patient! I'm just...not used to not doing anything for very long," Anakin explained weakly.
Qui-Gon almost winced at the meaning behind that. While he was far from apathetic, he appreciated the fact that Anakin wasn't fragile or required walking on eggshells around.
"Is the council ready?" Dooku questioned. He wasn't a hundred percent confident to the cause, as there could be many for a child like Anakin just from what he heard of his past, but he could tell when a situation was about to become awkward.
Plo Koon, either not noticing or not commenting on the exchange, nodded. "Yes, I was escorting young Skywalker back just now. Shall we?" he suggested.
The group of five continued with a bit of anxious air, wondering just what would be decided. Obi-wan decided to give the former slave a reassuring smile...only to blink as he found the matter of this meeting was no longer with them.
The other three noticed the padawan abrupt halt and about face. They all stared in confusion as Anakin Skywalker stood motionless several feet away from them. His head was bowed and his hands limp at his side. "Nervous?" Plo Koon questioned, a bit concerned for how the boy seemed to have paused in the middle of taking another step.
"I don't think-" Qui-Gon started, stopping as Obi-wan placed a hand on his shoulder. The Coruscant Jedi rose an eyebrow at Obi-Wan before he leaned forward and squinted. "...What is it?" Qui-Gon asked, suddenly very weary.
"His eyes are darting back and forth," Obi-wan answered softly with a concerned frown. "Anakin, is something wrong?" he asked, raising his voice enough to, hopeful, catch the child's attention.
And it did, Anakin looking up at them. It wasn't fear on his face, or determination, or any emotions they might expect. No, there was...confusion? And concern?
Then, suddenly, a very wide eyed Anakin turned to take off in a dead sprint away from them.
"Anakin!" Qui-Gon called, but the boy went off without looking back.
"That is a...unique reaction, running away from a council meeting," Obi-wan commented with a frown.
"I don't think he's running AWAY from anything," Dooku noted with dread and suspicion in his to-
Every youngling in the temple screamed.
And the three masters and one padawan found themselves stumbling as they felt the Dark Side crash against the perimeter of the Temple, each strike as loud as a gong and hitting like a tsunami. It was a truly tangible feeling, the dark aftershocks leaving the untrained disoriented.
"Obi-wan! Get Anakin!" Qui-Gon yelled to his still recovering padawan, taking after his fellow masters, already force-sprinting frantically to the windows over the entrance-side of the temple. They rushed past various Jedi in mental pain or aiding others. Or, increasingly, heading in the same direction as them.
It wasn't long before they reached their destination, looking across the great walkway of stairs that lead up to the temple. And there, they saw him.
Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, stood at the very end of the Jedi Block, staring intently at the temple itself.
Around him laid the motionless bodies of no less than five Jedi.
All about him, the Dark Side loomed in all its wickedness, like a dark tide ready to rise over their shores.
And with the eyes of hundreds of Jedi upon him, Vader did the one thing they wished he hadn't. Something that would begin an event that would forever be remembered infamously among the Jedi as "Vader's March."
He stepped forward.
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