Chapter 3 - Emotion yet Peace; Peace is a Lie, There is only Passion (1/2)

Part 1

Kaliida Shoals Medical Center

Ryndellian Sector

near Naboo Star System

The victorious remnants of the bomber wing and its escorts landed in one of the empty hangars of the half evacuated Hospital facility. I parked my fighter next to Skywalker's Y-Wing and after shutting down the engines I popped open the canopy and got out. I moved around Anakin's bomber and met him and Master Koon, who was congratulating the young Knight for his ”excellent” leadership abilities.

”Excuse me?!” exclaimed Ahsoka. ”Delkatar was the one who knew that the original plan wasn't going to work! He warned us!”

”You are correct smarty pants.” snarked Skywalker.

”It depends on the point of view.” declared Plo.

”Indeed, Master Koon. Skywalker, a word.” I said after hearing their exchange.

The younger man turned around to face me.

”Yes? What is it?”

”Tell me, how often have you led clones or other pilots who are not force sėnsɨtɨvė in battle?” I inquired.

Skywalker frowned at my question.

”I've been a general for less than a month and I was ȧssigned a fleet to command three weeks ago. So a few tims.” Anakin answered after a moment of reflection. ”We didn't get any new training.”

”That figures. Did you have any military training before being given command? Has someone tried to hammer in your head that most people could not perform as well in combat as Force Adepts? We were fortunate that Grievous didn't send more vultures to intercept us, not to mention the pylons supporting the Ion cannon were actually vulnerable to our torpedoes. If that cruiser didn't try to fire just after the we hit its weapon this station would be gone and Kenobi's ships would be in a heap of trouble.” Not to mention the excellent odds of us being shot to pieces by that behemoth on our way out.

The Jedi Knight looked positively mutinous. It seemed that no one had taken him up to a task in a long time. At least I could see him thinking, which was a good thing. There were many more ways the bomber raid could have gone to hell than I could think of from the top of my head and as far as I could tell the plan to take out that thing if we failed consisted of throwing two tiny fleets at it. Given that both Kenobi and Skywalker were really commanding battle groups, not proper fleets, it would have been a disaster – the Malevolence looked like it could take out their combined forces conventionally.

”Skywalker, you need to understand that expecting normal people to be able to keep up with you, will only get them killed. There are few aces that might be able to pull off stunts just like you in the ċȯċkpit of starfighter and that is before the Force is factored in. So in the future plan accordingly or you'll get a lot of good men killed.” Me in particular, which was the important point.

I shook my head. ”I'll never know whose idea was to put you Jedi as generals without first giving you at least basic military training!” I grumbled.

”That's not fair! We do good work out here!” disagreed Ahsoka.

I removed my helmet and looked her in the eyes. ”Look kid, I am not disputing that you are doing your best and thats often better than could be reasonably expected. However, the way this war is being run is Insane! How many people will die because you have to learn the craft of war on the battlefield, where every mistake is paid with blood and lives?” I asked.

”I... but...” muttered Ahsoka. ”Arghhh!” The young Togruta clasped her hands into fists and growled.

”Too damn many...” whispered Skywalker.

The smirk which was on his face ever since the Ion Cannon was blown up was gone. I suspected that he was recounting all the battles he's been part of since the start of the war. I had no doubt that a lot of Jedi had been killed and battles lost because the newly minted commanders of the GAR had no idea what the hell they were doing. That explained the attitude of Yularen towards the Jedi too. While he followed their orders, the Admiral had no respect for the Order members. Probably he has been part of battles in which the Jedi's lack of experience (and the disturbing tendency of some of them not to listen to advice) had let to easily avoidable losses. Then, considering his rank, Yularen would have undoubtedly read a lot of reports showing debacles caused by the new generals. No love lost there either.

”Then see to it that you do not make the same mistake twice. And listen to the military commanders you have access to. For example, it is very unlikely that Admiral Yularen has gotten his rank without knowing what the hell he was doing.” I continued to dispense free advise.

Why couldn't have I ended up at least few years before the war began? Then I would have had more viable options than joining either side of the war or going somewhere to hide while Palpy build his Empire. I guess I still could try the later, yet this conflict offered too many opportunities to simply ignore. Ah, no point in grumbling about what might have been.

Skywalker gave me a sharp nod and left. He had a thoughtful expression on his face. I found myself alone with Ahsoka and R2-D2 who whɨnėd after Anakin. I grinned at the short astromech droid.

”So, you have your manipulators full with him, haven't you?” I asked the droid.

”Beeb-boo-br-bep!” It pointed its photoreceptor at me.

”I see. My condolences. It's hard to keep a hard-headed Jedi in one piece.” It would have been much harder if I had ended up in better position to make first contact with the Confederacy.

”Booop! Wheep! Breep! Boop!”

”So your mistress wants him intact. Well, good luck with that.” I chuckled. Did R2 D2 put with Anakin just because Padme Amidala asked him to? That sounded right coming from properly programed droid.

”That's Master Skywalker. He is one of a kind.” said Ahsoka with a sad expression on her face. ”Was it different in your time?”

I nodded.

”Military strategy and tactics were taught at both the Sith Academy on Korriban and the Jedi Temple. It was a different galaxy I think. It's not like I've got the time yet to see what happened after my mishap. You've had it easy. What was it? A millennium of peace? If you said that such a thing was possible during my time you'd be called mad and laughed out of the compartment. For us, the Sith, the very concept of peace is a lie. There is only passion. Conflict. It's how we grow and evolve. But that is also a trap. For way too many Sith conflict meant a war with the Republic, battle with other Sith, you get my drift. While that also helped to make us stronger and understandable mistake given the situation, that understanding was flawed.”

”That is the contrary to what we are taught in the temple. There is no emotion, there is peace.”

”What. The. Hell?!” I ground out every word as if I was shocked and furious. ”So the idiots are still teaching you to suppress and ignore your feelings?!” You would think the Jedi would learn but no. Apparently the Empire didn't considering there was a Republic running things nowadays.

Ahsoka shrugged her shoulders and gave me a small, helpless smile.

”Emotion, yet peace. That was the first creed of the Jedi I respected from my time.” I looked at Tano who was staring at me with huge eyes full with undisguised interest. ”If I recall correctly the version of the Code you've been taught was the way an empathic and telepathic Jedi re-iterpreted it to serve better people like him, not for general consumption.”

”Really? What was the Jedi Code from your time? Why did you learn it? How did the Jedi back then dealt with emotions?” Ahsoka did her best performance of puppy dog eyes and peered at me expectantly.

It should be criminal to look that cute. To wear such an outfit at her age too. Down boy, there will be a cold shower soon.

”They accepted their feelings but trained themselves not to be influenced by them when making important decisions. We however, accept our passions. We do not fear them, nor let them rule us but use them as a fuel for our power.” I explained.

”That is certainly different. We are taught that emotions lead to the Dark side!” exclaimed the Padawan. ”What about the Code? Come on, tell me!”

”That is lie. Denying your emotions? Ahsoka, you are a living, thinking and, most importantly, a feeling being. What do you think happens when your emotions become too much to handle after you've denied them all your life?” I asked quietly. ”It makes you that much easier to turn to the Dark Side and if there's a war on, you might not need a Sith or Dark Jedi trying to seduce you.”

Ahsoka shook her head in denial. ”Nope. Not me. I'm still waiting to hear about that Jedi Code of old!”

”It is ironic, you know. For you Jedi, my kind are despicable servants of the Dark side. Do you wonder what we, the Sith, think about that? Each one of us is in conflict for control with the Dark side. It never ends. It is what defines us. And here is the biggest difference between our world views; How it all started. The Jedi believe that you either have to suppress your emotions or learn how to disregard them. We on the other hand seek to control our feelings. We accept and revel in them. But we do not let our emotions control us. To do so means that we have lost our eternal conflict. ”

We stood, shoulder to shoulder, and watched through the force field how the flashes of light made by Obi-Wan's fleet as it tried its best to deal a death-blow to the Malevolence.

”You are trying to corrupt me, aren't you?” asked Ahsoka in a small voice.

I chuckled. ”That depends on ones point of view. I am trying to teach you to think for yourself. If that's all it takes to demolish the Jedi Dogma you've been spoon fed in the Temple... Well in that case you could reach your own conclusions. Do you still want to hear about the Code?” I inquired while wondering what possessed me to... what was really doing? Trying to get myself an apprentice? Nah. It would be too much bother especially with the way the Order would jump on my case for corrupting one of their own.

”Of course I want to hear it. As long as its the Jedi Code not a Sith one!” Tano gave me a pointed look.

”Emotion, yet peace.” I smirked. ”The difference is quite profound, don't you think? Both from the Code you've been taught and from the Sith one. Through passion I gain strength. For me, emotions and conflict are the foundations of my power. It is dangerous path though it beats having to waste years in navel gazing and meditation for the same amount of power through the Force. Then that same time could be used to improve yourself. Or to have fun.”

”That's certainly different.” There was contemplative expression on her face as she thought over my words. ”What's the rest?” Ahsoka continued to pester me.

”There's no ignorance, there's knowledge. There's no chaos, there's harmony… Shall I continue?” I inquired when I could feel her distress growing. Such a curious reaction to something so deceptively innocent.

”I need to think. I'll be back to hear the rest. I think.” Ahsoka 'harumped' and walked away.

Tano was a bright kid. I hoped that she'll be able to see the Jedi teachings for what they truly were.

=RK=

Part 2

The Negotiator, Obi-Wan Kenobi's Flag ship

Ryndellian Sector, near Naboo Star System

From the bridge of the Venator class star destroyer, our target looked positively huge. The Malevolence dwarfed the three cruisers which were unleashing hell on the crippled dreadnought. Its stabilizers were destroyed yet that did not deter the Flag ship of General Grievous from attempting to flee.

For the last few hours, the Negotiator, Resolute and their sister ship Dauntless were sending barge after barrage of blue turbolaser bolts at the battle cruiser, yet the colossal energies bombarding the enemy had no apparent effect. The sheer bulk of its energy-dispersing armor was absorbing the onslaught without a scratch. It was meters thicker than any smaller ship could boast in its wildest dreams, then there was the sheer size of the ship itself which would be able to take a lot of punishment even after its armor was compromised. Frankly, finishing mission killing it would be much easier but the Republic lacked the firepower at hand for even that lesser feat.

The disheartening sight which could be seen from the command tower of the Negotiator was observed by four Jedi one Sith and a Republic admiral. We all knew that the best bet of dealing with this monstrosity was with the help of reinforcements. Unfortunately the nearest fleet, which was under Jedi Master Luminara was engaging a Separatists force in a nearby system. No help was coming from that direction any time soon.

”They are not making a jump to hyperspace. Their hyperdrive is down.” declared Yularen.

”For how long?” I asked. ”The fleet could batter at that thing for a week. If nothing changes its crew will have more than enough time to repair their hyperdrive.”

”The enemy ship is losing speed.” reported on of the clones manning the bridge.

”Concentrate all fire on their command tower!” ordered Kenobi.

The fire from the three star destroyer's slackened for few seconds while the turrets acquired new target. Then death rained all over the bridge of the Malevolence. We stared at behemoth. The effect was underwhelming.

”At this rate we'll be here for a long time.” I said with a hint of exasperation in my voice. We were unbelievably lucky that the attack run on the Ion Cannon disabled the rest of the dreadnought's weapons. Otherwise that thing would have made a short work of the Venators. These carrier/battleship hybrids were clearly outclassed by such an adversary. ”You should redirect fire at the engines.”

”That might be prudent. With the engines crippled it will be much easier to outmaneuver and we might get another chance at it if it flees to hyperspace.” Yularen nodded and looked at Kenobi.

”Do so.” The Jedi sighed. ”We need more ships.” He muttered.

What happened next confirmed something I was suspecting – it's been too long since I've seen anything about this era otherwise I might have remembered an important detail of the current mess we were in. It all started innocently enough. Ahsoka, who was looking over the sensor feeds was the first to detect a small transport ship exiting from hyperspace on top of the Malevolence.

”Are those enemy reinforcements?” asked Anakin just as the Admiral opened his mouth to do so too.

”No...” the Padawan trailed off. ”It's just one small craft. It looks like a Naboo ship...” Tano grimaced.

”Cease fire!” exclaimed Kenobi. ”What in God's name is she doing here?”

Now I remember. It figures. Thanks brain. I decided to play dumb because there shouldn't have been a way for me to know who arrived unless I wanted to play the card of the vague Force related visions from this era I was going to be using to cover any unexpected insights. It was better this way I think – no need to make myself stand out more than I had to for the time being.

”Is that a friend of yours?” I asked innocently. Or as innocently someone like me could.

”Ahsoka, contact that ship!” snapped Anakin, rudely ignoring me. I couldn't blame him really – if my wife had just jumped on top of an enemy ship in the middle of a battle, even one as weird as this one, I wouldn't have patience for a snarky Sith either.

”Naboo transport, identify yourself! You are in the middle of an active war zone!” The communications officer spoke urgently over the comm.

”This is senator Amidala from Naboo!” a distorted female voice came over the comm system. ”I need ȧssistance!”

A small hologram of hissed to life over the control station on which Ahsoka was working. To tell you the truth, the former queen looked better in real life that in either the Clone Wars or the movies. While her features were generally the same, they were a softer and had few miniscule differences which made her look stunning. I could see why a nine years old Anakin thought that she was an angel.

”Padme! What are you doing here?!” Anakin exclaimed.

”I am on diplomatic mission!” Amidala sounded peeved at her predicament. ”Which your battle interrupted!”

”Tell that to Grievous. I have the feeling he won't be impressed.” I snarked.

”Anakin, what is that bounty hunter doing on your ship?!” Amidala glared at me.

Skywalker winced. I wondered how he was going to explain who I was and why I was tolerated. I did not think that Padme would feel generous towards a Sith. Not after that mess on Naboo while she was still a queen.

”Later, just get out of there.” Anakin implored.

”You have bigger problems senator.” I added unhelpfully earning myself a glare from Skywalker. I couldn't help it – messing with the Jedi was turning out to be an unexpectedly fun pastime.

A moment later we could see her rocking in her seat. There were even more alarms blaring in the ċȯċkpit of her transport.

”It's a tractor beam.” I deadpanned. ”Our cyborg friend intents to use the senator as a hostage I recon.”

”I won't be used by the likes of Grievous as a bait! Continue the attack! Destroy that monster!” Amidala's mood suddenly changed. Did it just register who caught her ship?

I could feel a rage awakening within Anakin. He gripped his right fist so hard that the metal of his prosthetic fingers ġrȯȧnėd in protest. He fought with his anger and subdued it into a controllable, cold determination.

”Admiral, order all attacks stopped.” Skywalker sounded deadly calm.

That's one way to properly channel your anger – I approved.

”Grievous will use this opportunity to repair the hyperdrive.” I said.

”What would you have me do, Sith?! Destroy the cruiser while Padme is on it?” Anakin snapped at me. ”Oh, but we can't – we've been shooting at it for hours!”

”I propose that we go with plan 'B'.” I calmly ignored his sarkasm.

”And what is that?” asked Kenobi who looked relieved that I was not baiting Skywalker.

I pointed behind my back at the smoking Malevolence.

”We go over there, save your girlfriend and deal with Grievous the old fashioned way. We either capture or destroy that ship, whatever's practical.”

”Padme... She... She's not my girlfriend!” Anakin spluttered.

Then he headed towards the exit and I followed suit. It was time to see if Skywalker was all that he was hyped out to be.

”And where are you two going?” asked Kenobi.

I could sense a tiny bit of forlorn hope that Anakin was not about to do something dangerously stupid. That was promptly dashed.

”Someone has to save her.” Skywalker shouted over his shoulder.

”And I have an appointment with Grievous. I hear he's a warrior of some renown. I'm going to put that to the test.” I added. Taking the cyborg out would be a good way to get myself some goodwill with the Republic and enhance my reputation. It would be fun too – three birds with one lightsaber thow.

”I knew you'd said that.” Kenobi muttered and followed us.

Behind us Master Koon showed his pessimistic side ”I am afraid that they are making a terrible mistake.”

The last thing I heard from the bridge was Asoka's voice: ”Master Skywalker's brainstorms are an acquired taste. You'll get used to it. Hopefully...”

=RK=

”Skywalker, you need a new ship.” I ġrȯȧnėd when we ended in the ċȯċkpit of the Jedi's flying scrap pile. What is it with an ugly rust buckets and 'heroes' in this universe?!

”Well, it flies...” trailed off Kenobi. He apparently wanted to defend the choice of personal ship that his former padawan had made but the words refused to exit his mouth once he carefully looked around. ”Anakin, the last time this thing at least looked bȧrėly space-worthy.”

”What can I say, master? These things happen.” Anakin shrugged.

”Only to you Anakin. Only to you. I gather that you have a plan?”

I smiled at the banter between master and padawan but it was short lived. It reminded me about one of the few regrets I had – I had never taken an apprentice, which in a sense was the ultimate test for one of my kind; that crazy Jedi I made fall and used to follow me around under Baras orders certainly doesn't count.

”In fact, I have.” Anakin nodded happily.

”And a plan B?” Obi-Wan asked.

”And a C and D? Having contingency plans is important, Skywalker.” I added my obviously unwanted advise.

”That I don't have yet. Why don't you two grouchy old men figure it out while I get us to that cruiser?” Skywalker grumbled.

”You, know Kenobi. It's your fault.” I smiled at the bearded Jedi.

Said ”elderly” man slumped in his chair.

”So they keep telling me,” he grumbled. ”Where did I go wrong?” he asked of the heavens.

'Where do I start?' I thought.

=RK=

The Force was with us. That is the only explanation why the first part of Anakin's plan went flawlessly. We just flew to the Malevolence and docked to an airlock in a sector of the ship where the sensors were down. We didn't get noticed by one of the thousands of droids crewing the leviathan. If we were somewhere else I would have said that it was pure luck, but with the Force in existence and sometimes playing favorites...

Kenobi agreed with me. He also didn'tt like Anakin's piloting. That was captured spot on in the movies. The boy was crazy.

We exited Skywalker's scrap pile and found ourselves in a small elevator. Most of the floors to which it led were blocked by debris or fires. We headed upwards in a search of a free passage until the elevator stopped on one of the upper decks and the doors opened. We were greeted by a pair of unarmed B-1 droids.

To my surprise, the robots really bantered just like in the cartoon.

”I knew it! It's them!” said one of the machines while it was carefully stepping back.

”Oh, no! There are three of them this time!” added the other, which was waving its hands in resemblance of panic.

The Jedi make a short work of the unfortunate synthetics and we raced down a long hall. The side corridors were blocked, so for the moment we didn't have much choice in picking up our direction. We had ran couple of hundred meters from the elevator when Skywalker's comm started beeping.

”Master, we have found the Senator. I am patching you through.”

Skywalker's flame was on one of the lower levels. While I listened to the exchange between the married couple I wondered how no one besides Palpatine figured out that those two were madly in love. I could hear it in the inflection of their voices; the way Anakin's aura flared protectively when he spoke with (or about) the senator while she was in trouble. My lips twitched with amusement. Amidala was not glad that we were here to rescue her if the angry shouting was anything to go by.

The lovebirds finally agreed that we should meet into a big open space that was detected by Ahsoka in the middle of the dreadnought – probably a tram line to shuttle men and equipment. It was the only practical way for something this big to operate.

Few minutes and five unfortunate droids later we were overlooking an internal monorail system which had multiple levels. Not too bad way to move a vast quantities of supplies and spare parts quickly but to me it looked like that the empty space in that compartment was too big for the task. Perhaps if it was used to transport more vulture droids or very big single parts, because there was no other way to justify such cavernous tunnel… or perhaps it didn't matter – it wasn't like the Malevolence hurt for internal space.

Finally Anakin decided to use his Jedi senses and confirmed that Padme was nearby. Considering that beside us and Grievous, she was probably the only other living sentient being on the super cruiser, it should not have been hard to sense her position. I shook my head in exasperation and pointed to a corridor on the other side of the monorail tunnel. Then I cringed seen Amidala's companion. It was the contender for second place in the race for most annoying being in the galaxy. C-3PO. I started crafting plants for disposing of goldenrods. If Padme really needed a protocol druid I probably should find her a nice HK model which could mask as such.

Kriff it! I was starting to miss my faithful companion HK-117. I wondered if by any chance his data core has survived the millennia.

I should have known better. There was no way for those two lovebirds to reunite without drama. A squad of B-1 droids choose that moment to appear behind Amidala. The husband and life had just laid eyes upon each other when Padme had to duck under not particularly accurate blaster fire. She was forced to abandon her position and jump on a speeding train. The annoying droid stumbled after her and fell on another of the loaded transports.

The two Jedi activated their lightsabers and started jumping all over the trains speeding on the monorails. I drew my heavy blaster pistols and followed suit, but much more careful. I never understood why most force users did not carry at least a pistol as a backup weapon. You never knew when you needed to take out something at range and there are some things resistant to the Force.

Another group of clankers showed at one of the corridors overlooking the monorail. One of their numbers was dumb enough to shoot at the Jedi and was promptly blown away by its returned blaster bolts. The apparent leader of the squad said something that suspiciously sounded like 'I told you so!'.

Those were its last words, because a second later a hail of bolts shot from my blasters demolished it and its remaining companion. My weapons, which were designed to take out heavily armored troopers made short work of the mass produced cannon fodder.

Then I was jumping over the carts of a speeding train, which were loaded with various crates. I was submerged in the Force, using it to guide me to a safe course.

Soon enough I caught with the Jedi just in time to see Amidala jumping from the train she was riding. I noticed that the monorail it was ridding was a blown up in front of it, making it a twisted, burning wreck.

Anakin plucked his wife from mid-jump and guided her to his embrace using the Force. I had a good vantage point to watch the cuddling couple when I landed on the wagon behind them.

From above them Kenobi shouted that he was going after the golden droid. A waste of time in my opinion.

Anakin was about to kiss Padme and give me a bit of blackmail material when Obi-Wan interrupted them. The damn protocol droid was in a trouble. Fatal I hopped.

That was not the only snag. Kenobi had overheard droids talking about the hyperdrive. Soon the Malevolence would have a way out of here and this whole exercise would be for nothing. The Jedi Master, who was closer to the hyperdrive told us that he'll deal with it.

”Skywalker, get your girlfriend to safety. I'm going to ȧssist Kenobi. With any luck Grievous will be there.” I shouted to the lovers so they could hear me over the noise of the rail.

I left the married couple behind and ran back to the monorail tunnel. If the scans taken by the fleet were accurate, I could reach the FTL engine by passing through there. It appeared to be the shortest way from my position.

=RK=

Today the Force was with me. I didn't have to fight my way to the one of the best guarded locations on the ship. Instead shortly after I came back in the tunnel I saw a train heading my way from the side of the cruiser where the hyperdrive was located. Obi-Wan was on it and Grievous was chasing him. The cyborg had a light saber in each hand and was demolishing the containers that stood in his way. I raced towards my prey.

Grievous had Kenobi cornered on the train engine when I reached them. I vaulted over to the high tech locomotive just as the Jedi jumped away. For the first time since finding myself in this universe I drew my lightsaber from its hiding place. Gripping its curved handle gave me a measure of comfort I had not felt in a long time. I grinned maliciously and pressed my weapon's activation buŧŧon. With an angry hiss a crimson blade snapped to life.

=RK=

Part 3