I came awake sucking air through the breath-mask covering my lower face. Feeling the thick, viscous, and mostly transparent fluid my body was suspended in as I opened my eyed and began shaking off an initial sense of disorientation. Consciousness hadn't returned gradually, as I might have expected, but rather like a mental switch had been thrown. It wasn't until I heard a very familiar voice seeming to speak directly into my ears that I even realized I had something akin to ear-buds in. Telling me my head still wasn't as clear as I'd first thought.
"You scared the frak out of me with your heroics, Apprentice! The falling hssiss caught you in the abdomen with the razor-sharp spikes on it's tail. One of those spikes slashed open your gastric artery, so Master Yoda was forced to place you in suspended animation until we could get you to the Argent Bulwark's med-bay. The bacta has just now finished mending the breach in the blood vessel, so he reversed the Morichro trance before returning to the surface" Dark Woman began to explain. The calm in her voice belied by an expression of obvious concern.
My fingers went to my right side as the memory of looking down and seeing the side of my white shirt soaked red came back to me. All I found was a soft line of raised tissue perhaps the length of my index finger, and a couple of shorter ridges half as long above and below the first. I remembered from my copious Star Wars lore that the healing properties of bacta were remarkable, but actually experiencing such healing was something else altogether.
Thinking about how fast I was healing raised a more immediate question, however. One which I was presently powerless to vocalize, but was fortunately something my astute mentor had anticipated as she continued. It was a little harder than usual to pick up on subtle cues in her voice due to the tank pickup she was speaking into on it's front, but I had the sense she was trying to ease into communicating something I wasn't going to enjoy hearing. Her voice was too calm, if that makes any sense. Saying nothing about the way her eyes kept flicking away from mine, as she continued "It was a very close call. You lost more than two-thirds of your total blood volume before Master Yoda was able to get to you and freeze all your biological functions. Which didn't stop you from losing even more blood as we moved you. That's why you've been in the tank for a little more than a week, and have another day to go. The good news being you're going to make a complete recovery. You won't have any weakness in your abdominal muscles, or even a scar to remember your first brush with death by."
"Master Yoda wanted to be here when you regained consciousness, but with how chaotic everything is right now, he simply couldn't justify waiting." Now my Master was actively not meeting my gaze, as she grimly went on "Using the Kaiburr Crystal, Yoda recognized Palpatine as the Sith Lord a little more than five days ago. Only to find when he hyper-comm'd the Temple to pass this revelation on that the Chancellor is believed to have been kidnapped three days ago. There's security footage and a couple of witnesses pointing towards the Order as the responsible party. Judicials are crawling all over the Temple, the Senate's in an uproar, and all members of the Jedi Order presently on Coruscant are forbidden from leaving the planet."
The bottom of my left fist hit the inside of the tank with a faint thud as I expressed my frustration in the only manner I could. Unable to verbally reply, I wheeled my left hand in the universal "come on/tell me more" gesture, and trusted to Dark Woman's empathy to glean the fact that I wanted to hear about how the Jedi's refutation was faring, and what else was transpiring as a result of this obvious contingency-plan on Palpatine's part.
"It isn't all terrible news. The High Council's counter-accusation has provided a viable alternative theory of the supposed crime. One strengthened by an extremely lucky break in the form of a piece of civilian camera footage submitted by a young couple in search of somewhere to be, well, young together. It shows a figure in robes much like the Chancellor's leaping out of an air-car and dashing aboard a vessel very similar in appearance to the Scimitar/Legends sitting on a landing pad rented by an affiliate of the InterGalactic Banking Clan/Legends . Covering the unregistered vessel's lift-off and subsequent disappearance, the footage's timestamp contradicts the timeline supposedly established by the security recordings featuring Jedi kidnappers. The footage's veracity is being contested by certain elements in the Senate, but that only emphasizes how easily any video evidence can be falsified. The entire situation is devolving into a chaotic wash of accusations and counter-accusations, with conspiracy theories dominating the Holo-Net, and everyone trying to make hay from the tumult."
Unable to speak, I very slowly spelled out with my fingers (In Basic) "W-O-r-K-S. L-I-M-e-r-g-e. P-O-W-e-r. B-L-D-g." The need to use some lower-script characters because I couldn't readily make the upper-script characters hampered my communicating what I was trying to get across, but finally after the sixth try my Master's eyes widened in understanding.
"Palpatine has another Coruscanti hideout in the Limerge Power Building located within the Works?" The Jedi Master asked with enough eager enthusiasm for some of it to penetrate her ever poised demeanor. I nodded emphatically, so she touched two fingers to the tank and raced away to (presumably) call it in.
Unfortunately, that left me alone to consider the situation and my own problems. What I'd just done would undoubtedly be enough to end the convenient fiction my foreknowledge came from an overactive capacity for precognitive visions. Especially with Yoda's own foresight and Far-Sight currently more incisive than at any other point in his long career. Yet what else could I have done? I had no doubt that Palpatine's lieutenants and minions were cleaning up after him just as fast as they possibly could, so the Jedi and Judicials needed to be pointed in the right direction with equal alacrity.
A terrible feeling had set my gut to churning. This was all just a smokescreen on Palpatine's part. That much was obvious to anyone with the two brain cells required to realize it would take more than a bogus security recording and a couple of paid-for "witnesses" to seriously harm the Jedi Order. A smokescreen that was doing it's job, as it was keeping the Jedi from attempting to follow the Sith.
"Darth Sidious isn't running away from anything. He's running to the starting position of his next contingency plan. One I can only guess at" I silently considered while floating in goo.
Oddly, and as distressed as I was over the Sith Lord's disappearance coupled with my own ignorance concerning his next move, I felt some of the weight I'd been carrying for nearly ten years leave me. If I couldn't effortlessly prognosticate my way to galactic peace and prosperity, then I wasn't solely responsible for whatever befell the galaxy. I could simply do my best, and that best would be judged on the merits rather than by my accuracy as a "seer."
It didn't really feel right to be at all relieved by any of this, but Force help me, I was.
-------
(The Next Day)
"The Judicials just completed their sweep of the Temple, and now they're moving on to every property affiliated with the Jedi Order in their wild bantha chase. The Senate has of course formed an Investigatory Committee, then issued subpoenas to me and all the other members of the High Council. It's a complete quagmire, here" Mace Windu's tiny bluish-white holographic form announced. The Jedi Master looked and sounded frustrated as he awaited a response.
"Deception, treachery, and betrayal, the tools of the Sith, these are. Where we look not, there Palpatine will be. Divisiveness, chaos, and death, he will cause, if capture him we do not" Yoda replied with firm resolve.
Silence stretched between the two Jedi Masters for a moment, then the venerable servant of the Light questioned "Complete, our own search is?" One eyebrow raising as he did so, with an intent expression clear on his face.
The hologram of Windu sagged a bit, with even more frustration evident as he replied "Just before the search party's rotating frequency-jammer went online, a bomb tore through the central portion of the Limerge Building. The jammer stopped the other bombs intended to complete the destruction of the multi-level complex, but we lost the largest bank of computers and who knows what else. Depa's team is still combing through what remains for any clues as to Palpatine's plans or present whereabouts."
"The lightsaber was exactly where your Crystal-assisted Far-Sight declared. We didn't so much as touch the statue of Sistros until we had so many Senate and Red Guards in attendance that not even the most paranoid anti-Jedi conspiracy theorist could imply we had anything to do with a neutronium statue being cold-forged on Naboo a decade ago to surround a bloodshine lightsaber of no make ever used by any Jedi. Seems not everyone is against us though. One or more of the Judicials involved in recording the statue's opening leaked the video to the HoloNet News studio. The ignition of that red blade by one of Palpatine's devoted Red Guards seems to be acting as something of a damper upon the Jedi Snatched the Chancellor theory. At least with regards to the public, anyways. Unfortunately, it also means people are beginning to ask whether he's a rogue Jedi, or whether he could have been trained by one" Windu continued in a more ambivalent manner.
Yoda hmm'd at these comments, but didn't immediately respond. When he did, his ears were flat against his skull, as he answered in a heavy voice "Double edged, the Crystal's aid is. A true lens for the Force, it remains. Rigid and unchanging, it's user it makes. Sparing, must the use of it be. Disaster, otherwise it's use will invite." Judging by the expressions on the faces of both Jedi Masters, this wasn't what he wanted to be saying anymore than it was what Windu wished to hear. Yet the Master of the Order only nodded, before asking when their contingent intended to return.
"Upon the answer to your question, I must meditate. Uncertain, if more here, I can learn" Yoda answered with equal ambivalence. His gaze turning in the direction of the Argent Bulwark parked far to the southeast.
Sensing his Grandmaster's intention, Mace bowed his head before asking "Is Skywalker the Chosen One, then? From what you've told me, no number of precognitive flashes could explain everything he's revealed. Have you finally decided to confront the boy?"
"No!" Yoda shot back immediately with a sharp rap of his walking-stick against the stone floor of the ancient temple for emphasis. In a quieter and considerably more reserved tone, he elaborated "A discussion, we will have."
Now it was Mace Windu's turn to raise a holographic eyebrow. In a rather dubious tone, he replied "I mean no disrespect, but are you sure that's the right way to handle this? Master Drallig tells me he's routinely out-sparring Padawans six and even seven years older than he is. Whereas Astaal Vilbum came to me insisting that we should, get this, make an exception and allow the boy to join the fifth and sixth year Force-technique segments. One instructor is adamant about his need for a shorter leash, while the other thinks him the perfect Padawan. You know as well as I do that when two instructing Masters adopt such diametrically conflicting views of an apprentice, that one of them is always wrong. I am troubled by Cin Drallig's statements in light of the reports that Skywalker took to consistently helping his peers in Force-technique segments where he'd already mastered the skill being practiced, however. Becoming restless and angry at not being allowed to progress more quickly would have been behavior in line with the Battlemaster's assessment, but Astaal was adamant he didn't pick up on any of that."
There followed several long moments of silence. During which Yoda seemed to search for the right words, before finally answering in a longer string of ideas than the Korunnai Master had heard from him at once in many, many years. "Young in years, Skywalker may be. Much older in many ways, he certainly is. Flashes from the Crystal, I have seen. Comprehend them all, I do not. One thing, learned I have. To the need of others, he will respond."
Seeming rather surprised by this mix of endorsements and cryptic statements, Mace eventually replied "I'll defer to your wisdom then, as always. May the Force be with you." Cutting off the transmission as soon as Yoda had nodded his acknowledgement.
Leaving Yoda staring down at the wheel-shaped Kaiburr Crystal at his feet, then off to the southeast. A considering expression on his lined and well-weathered face.
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Dac/Mon Cala, Morjanssik (14 Days Later)
Palpatine's dark blue eyes swept across the Quarren leader's office. Taking in every detail in a single glance, before returning to the being sitting in a chair shaped from a large dark bluish gray coral. Said being was staring at a datapad resting on a rectangular desk of the same material like it was a venomous serpent that might bite him. Gray-green facial tentacles twitching and writhing as Kanit Wolg struggled to contain an outraged fury his guest could perceive like a fine wine, but who only looked on with a well-practiced sympathetically understanding air.
"I tried to warn you, Manager. For all their talk about peaceful cooperation and mutual gain, whenever the Mon Calamari are asked to choose between the off-worlders they so adore, and the hard-working Quarren who provide them with the very resources to build the ships the Republic so values them for, this will be the result. This is why, no matter how desperate my personal straits, I tried to refuse your exceptionally gracious and honorable offer of sanctuary from the Jedi. Don't you believe the lie which has cozened trillions as to their being servants of the Republic. They've grown dissatisfied with ruling from the shadows, and now seek to return the galaxy to it's Pre-Reformation state. I discovered the army of clones they've commissioned to do the job, so as the first Chancellor to slip their control in centuries, I must die. Along with any and all who might seek to aid me against their nefarious ambitions." The Sith Lord's declamation was delivered in a tone as cultured as it was wounded. Pale hands artfully clenched into fists as he gave a picture-perfect rendition of shared outrage mixed with great guilt.
"B-, but biological warfare? The Blue Shadow Virus/Legends , no less? I-, I can't believe the Senate would ever approve of genocide. No matter how much of the government has fallen under Jedi control, there's no way such a thing could be kept from the public!" Kanit sputtered in thickly accented Basic. Disbelief had joined outrage and anger in the mind of the unfinished city's leader, but Palpatine could feel that disbelief weakening, and the datapad on the desk was the reason.
"I don't mean to be impolitic by bringing up something we all know, yet never ever discuss in polite society, but you know as well as I do that humans, and when pressed, the near-humans stick together. If there is a racist rot in the Republic, then I am sad to say my own species is responsible for it. Controlling so many Core worlds, heading up so many of the intergalactic corporations, and even credibly contending with the Hutts for control of the criminal element, humanity has grown arrogant beyond all measure. It doesn't serve the Core agenda to make a point of it, but if it comes down to recordings of dying Quarrens or human Jedi claiming innocence on their Order's behalf, I don't think I have to tell you how many people would rather look the other way than face a truth which won't serve their own interests. This is just one of the countless crimes committed by the so-called keepers of the peace, and the evidence is sitting right there" Palpatine replied with a sad shake of his head and a flash of self-disgust as he subtly used Force Persuasion to dampen the part of Kanit's mind looking for some other explanation that would fit the facts.
On the still-open datapad played pictures of members of the Jedi Medical Corps as they gave vaccinations to Mon Calamari waiting in line. Ostensibly, they were providing education-entrance vaccination to the children and a series of yearly booster inoculations to all the adults on Dac. What numerous other video files, cargo invoices, and several other critical recordings made clear however was the critical element missing from the Quarren inoculations. That being a vaccine to the Blue Shadow virus.
Already, the first reports of Quarren being stricken with severe distress of the breathing-sacs were coming in. Placing Kanit and the other Quarren leaders in the difficult position of not knowing who to trust. The evidence of Blue Shadow vaccine in an acquired Mon Calamari booster was undeniable. Making the prospect of confronting the Medical Corps a dire one. If the Republic, the Jedi, or both were willing to go this far in secret, then what were they capable of if overtly confronted?
Feeling his righteous anger growing on behalf of his sickened and dying people with every beat of his heart, Kanit eventually bowed his head with his clawed hands visibly shaking in his lap, and said "I will call the other Quarren leaders together for an emergency conference. Get your protege and the cure his Coalition can provide my people here. See my people saved from this ancient scourge, and you have my word, I shall speak for secession. The Mon Calamari have finally gone too far!"
----------
Geonosis (22 days since Palpatine's flight from Coruscant)
Sora Bulq, AKA Darth Ximshak, was seated at the point of a V-shaped table. Down the right wing of the table sat the representatives of planetary governments such as Geonosis (obviously), Cato Neimodia, Saleucami, Mygeeto, and Colla IV. While down the left wing were the spokes-beings of the Corporate Alliance, Trade Federation, Commerce Guild, elements of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, and the Techno Union. In between the two table-wings was a large hologram-generation unit. Above which in exceptional blue detail hung the reason for the meeting.
Standing suddenly, the tall, well-muscled Weequay pointed an accusatory finger at said holograms and stated with grim finality "I give you the Jedi Solution to galactic strife. Ending the Post-Reformation order in favor of a return to Jedi Lords and Ladies ruling entire sectors, with Jedi Chancellors once more and forever after the executive authority. Oh, I don't doubt they believe they're doing the right thing, but that will be little comfort to those who fall afoul of their zeal for their peace, their order, and their justice! The Republic can spin the ousting of the lawfully elected Chancellor however they like, but the Kaminoans are neutral. They've no reason to lie about the fact it was a member of the Jedi High Council who commissioned the quarter-billion clones even now maturing and being trained on Kamino, with successive batches planned. Neither is there any reason for the cloners to lie about the fact those clones were created for a single purpose. Serving as the Grand Crusaders of the Republic, as their Jedi Masters end what they see as a morass of strife in the only manner they can envision."
The fallen Weaponmaster thought he was preaching to the choir by this point. The Representative Council had already heard testimony from the Kaminoan Commission Agent. They'd seen the holographic footage of what was transpiring on the flooded planet. All of which was little more than a lit match flicked onto a pyre already doused in fuel. Angry murmurs of grudges past and present melded with fearful mutterings concerning the intentions of the Core, Inner Rim, Expansion and Colony worlds. All of it fed and amplified by the deft touch of Darth Ximshak. Using what his Master had taught him to push events down their natural path, only faster and more aggressively.
Suddenly sensing he might have overestimated the room's unity, the tall, lean, gray-skinned warrior-statesman raised a hand to cover his lipless mouth. Faking a cough while doing so, the Weequay's deep set brown eyes settled on the Techno-Union representatives seated furthest from Wat Tembor. Amidst reactionary calls like "We must be able to defend ourselves," and "Teach the Core they can no longer exploit us," these men and women whispered urgently among themselves. Watching the ongoing chaos and clamor among the other representatives not in consensus, their concern that the situation was spiraling out of control grew more obvious with every passing moment. Now that he knew what to look for, the Sith detected less obvious vibrations of caution and trepidation in the Neimodian representative, and two of the Corporate Sector representatives. Sandwiched in between those far more fervent than themselves, these holdouts remained watchful and attentive to every development, but otherwise gave away little as to their true feelings concerning the matter under discussion. Suppressing an urge to frown, the Weequay ex-Jedi made a mental note to engage one on one with each such recalcitrant. They were fearful, as Nerf always were during a storm, so it was his job to keep them together and ready to be made us of as their herder.
When the pandemonium finally subsided a bit, he pressed on in a firm, authoritative tone, asking "You've heard the evidence. What shall our response be?"
Although fear and fury mixed headily with hatred, avarice and bitterness, it would take time and care to wean the more cautious away from hopes of a peaceful separation. More examples of "surreptitious Jedi and Republic aggression" like the biological disaster facing the Quarrens would undoubtedly facilitate the process of burning the fat and corruption from the galactic order. Change was always painful, and the weak always sought to avoid pain. This axiom made it the responsibility of those with stronger wills and clearer vision to do what was necessary to overrule such self-destructive cowardice in favor of the greater good.
Stepping from the shadows at the room's far end, a pale skinned young woman with short silver hair and enticingly vulpine features glided up to her Master. Handing him a data-disc, she bowed her head for a moment, then looked out over the arguing representatives and murmured low enough only he could hear. "Is it truly so easy to control all these powerful beings, Master? You're hardly even drawing on the Dark Side, yet they scramble over each other to do your will."
Glancing over at the adolescent Dathomiri assassin who would be Sith, he murmured back "Show an arsonist an unprotected building, and he'll burn it, Asajj. Always remember that, sooner or later, everyone lives down to their worst self. The galaxy is simply separated into those willing to admit as much, and those who are not." Glancing left and then right, he added more thoughtfully "There are also those who honestly have no idea which category they fall into, or even what they truly want. Beware such conflicted souls, my apprentice.
Daring greatly, the young killer inquired in a tone touched by the combustible feel of the emotions in the room "You speak about being conflicted as if from personal experience, Master. Should I include you in that everyone you speak of?"
"Absolutely! The Jedi are past masters of turning those with the greatest potential into conflicted souls desperate for the High Council's approval. The better to ensure all they train remain the servants of those even weaker and more conflicted than they. Beware them always, for they deceive with honesty more effectively than most liars.
He ignored the way his apprentice stiffened. Knowing she must deal with the weakness of her past on her own, else be destroyed by it.