Chapter 9 - Stand-off [2/2] (1/2)
=RK=
Nal Hutta
Hutt controlled space
A blue skinned alien male was sitting on a chair at a corner table with his back to the wall. He was giving evaluating glances to the other patrons of the cantina which was one of his favourite drinking holes. He sipped from a mug filled with a steaming black beverage and sighed with pŀėȧsurė. His last job paid an extraordinary good amount of credits considering that it was an easy grab of a Twi'lek who had tried to desert the CIS with stolen data. The dumb fool was back in the clutches of his former employers who were very interested in having a heart to heart chat with him.
Life for the bounty hunters Bane was good lately if somewhat boring. He smiled wanly to himself. Bane needed something harder to do in order to get his blood pumping and make him feel alive. After all, despite what most people thought he was not in this profession just for the money though it was a nice illusion. Besides, he did appreciate what credits could buy him.
A figure cloaked by a black, hooded mantle entered the cantina and scanned its inhabitants. Bane's right hand instinctively fell to the buŧŧ of his blaster as he studied the newcomer who noticed him and headed his way. There was something in the approaching man that made the bounty hunter feel uneasy.
”Bane, my master has a proposition for you. One that will make you a very rich man.” Rumbled a digitally distorted voice.
The bounty hunter looked at the man under his hat. The stranger had said the magic words.
”I am all ears. Just don't waste my time.”
The masked man chuckled.
=RK=
Part 4
Republic Cruiser Requiem
near The World of Thousand Moons
”That may be an issue.” muttered Pellaeon.
He was watching warily the multiple moons, asteroids and the shattered remains of dozens of ships orbiting Iego which created a veil around the planet.
”I didn't know that you were such a master of understatement, commodore.” I intoned absent-mindedly. ”Don't worry, I have no intention of taking the Requiem into that mess. I'll go with couple of LAAT's and a squadron of fighters as escorts. Get a CAP running. I hope that whatever had done in those ships is not around. We don't have time for such complications.”
”That's true, sir.” My XO agreed.
=RK=
Flying through the mess surrounding the planer and its moons was interesting. It was challenging even for me while I was not relying on the Force to guide my every motion. That gave me new appreciation about the skills of the clone pilots accompanying me.
Two LAATs and six fighters were the contingent I was taking down to the planet. The rest of Raider squadron was on patrol around the Requiem with the remaining small craft ready to launch at a moment's notice.
On the way through the asteroid field which was filled with shards of destroyed ships, we could see a lot of bodies, belonging to scores of different species, frozen solid in the void. It took us five minutes of careful piloting to pass through the ring of debris before we could fly reasonably fast again.
I frowned under my sealed helmet. The Force... It was tugging me in a specific direction. This was not the way it usually tried to warn me about something dangerous. The way it felt, it was like an overly eager puppy trying to pull you somewhere and show you something that had caught its interest. I checked the scanners. There was a power reading emanating from that direction. With a shrug I vectored my craft that way and ordered my troops to follow.
After a turbulent descent through the upper layers of the atmosphere my small force headed towards the heart of a vast city which looked like it was abandoned some time ago. It had a strange feeling about it – a mix of high tech looking building and ancient ones with a lot of spires rising kilometres in the air being a confusing mix from the two.
I landed my LAAT on the platform towards which the Force was guiding me followed by the second troop transport. The fighters circled lazily above us ready to pounce at the first sight of trouble. I got out of the ċȯċkpit and joined the twenty Clones who were already out and securing a perimeter around our transports. Half the Clones were carrying blaster carbines with the rest armed with a mix of heavy weaponry – missile launchers, laser cannons and heavy blasters.
”Sir, we are ready.” said the sergeant in command of the clone troopers.
”Good. Lets...” I trailed off.
”Is this some kind of a joke?” exclaimed one of my men.
It was a sentiment I shared when I took a good look at what was approaching us. Was this some kind of an elaborate trap!? Who had the gall to send a bunch of failing apart droids against us?!
The phalanx of machines were carried the sings of being rebuild multiple times with whatever spare parts were lying around. One of the B-1 had a left hand of a Supper Battle droid attached to its torso. Many others showed parts which were coloured differently from the rest of their bodies – darker or lighter depending on how old they were. The machine leading the procession had its head painted in yellow showing it was a command model.
”Welcome to Iego!” they started chanting.
”Do we blast the clankers or what?” asked a Clone.
”It will be a mercy.” added another.
”Hold your fire.” I said while looking warily at the two vulture droids in walker configuration moving behind the square of B-1's. This was getting weirder by the second.
I walked to the front of the machines and asked: ”To what do we own this reception?”
The command droid tilted its head to the left and looked at me.
”His excellency Jaybo wants to meet with you.”
”Is that so? Then by all means lead the way.” I made a sign for a squad to follow me, while the rest remained back under the watchful eyes of our air support.
Who was this Jaybo? I didn't recall anyone important with that name.
The machines moved with a precision that showed that their condition was not as bad as it looked like and parted leaving a way in the middle of their group. I could see behind them that there was a hammock suspended between the legs of the two vultures. A short, red haired boy was sitting on it and looking at us with interest.
”The Jedi are god damn idiots!” I grumbled. I could vaguely recall this scene from a cartoon I watched so long ago back in my original dimension. It was obvious that this Jaybo was Force sėnsɨtɨvė and I was equally sure the Jedi didn't take him in for training when they came here for the bloody root. Probably because he was too old. If the kid was really responsible for all these droids it showed some frighteningly good tech abilities for someone so young and potentially self-taught.
Leaving him behind might be an utter waste. I removed my helmet and took a deep breath of cool, clean air.
”Hi there!” I cheerfully smiled to the boy.
He ignored me and glared at the droids to his left.
”Ahem.” the boy cleared his throat loudly.
”Oh. Yes. Roger that!” The machines stammered.
The kind obviously liked his creature comforts and did his best with the resources available. I could work with this.
”This a nice set up you've got here. You have a good taste.” I said and nodded towards the wall to the right, which was covered with posters of scantily clad women from different human-like species. ”Where did you get the clankers?” I inquired.
”The Separatists left a whole warehouse full of the things when they left. It wouldn't do to let poor things rust away, would it?” Came the cheeky response.
”You erased their memories, probably with a macro protocol and reprogrammed them to serve you. Not bad for someone so young.” I thought aloud. It was one of the more simple ways to do what I was seeing. It still required interfacing directly with each individual machine but it cut down the time for reprogramming them significantly. It had its downsides – like making the droids much dumber, which was saying something in the case of the B1s.
”Are you a Jedi?” he asked and pointed at my lightsaber which I had started wearing on my belt. With another I built after finding myself in the future stashed in the secret compartment in my armour...
”Nope. What gave you that idea?” I denied.
Jaybo snorted in amusement.
”Lightsaber and clones who appear to be under your command.” he deadpanned. Well, it was a reasonable conclusion. It was a bothersome one too. I was no fricking Jedi!
”I do use the Force. However, I am most definitely not a Jedi, kiddo. We are looking for Reeska roots. Do you know where we could find some of those?” I patiently explained.
”Here. There. Everywhere.” He shrugged in a dis-interested manner and laid back into his hammock.
”I can pay you to lead us to the roots. Might let you hitch a ride with us back to the civilization if you wish.”
”No use. This system is cursed. Or so they say. No one can leave. The last one to try was a friend of mine. He did not make it far.” Jaybo frowned sadly.
”I know what shoots down the ships trying to get away from here. There is a weapon array on one of the moons. I have a cruiser beyond the asteroid field which can make a short work of it once it is located.” I said. Jaybo's words jogged my memory and I finally recalled what caused that mess in orbit.
The kid jumped from his hammock and looked at me carefully. We locked eyes for a few long seconds.
”You are not joking around, are you?” Jaybo asked with a trace of hope in his voice.
”Nope. And my offer still stands. Both of them.”
Before we left to search for the root I contacted the commodore and instructed him to scan the moons for the weapon preventing us from leaving the planet. One way or another that defence system was going down.
=RK=
The kid led us to a canyon to the east of the city. He pointed us towards a couple of green vines snacking down the cliffs.
”No climbing down for us boys.” I said to the clones and called one of the LAAT's. The canyon was more than wide enough for the gunship to fit.
I jumped in with a mixed group of heavy armoured troopers and clones carrying simple blasters. We flew down following the vines. Couple of brown creatures resembling mutated bats tried to scare the transport from their territory but few blaster shots discouraged the beasties.
It took us only a minute to find a cave opening in which the vines disappeared.
”Be careful in there. We do not know what may be nesting near the roots.” I said and vaulted forward.
I landed ten meters lower on the inside of the dark cave. The clones followed suit and started sweeping the surrounding area. I led the way and when I was near the place where the vines disappeared in the rocky ground the floor fifteen meters in front of me exploded revealing a twisted mass of vines and four huge jaws of carnivorous plants.
”Light up that thing!” I ordered. We should have brought flame-throwers.
The plant screeched when it was hit by multiple blaster bolts. Two rotatory cannons sliced into it with like a huge saw blades. Pieces of plant matter flew in all directions as well as drops of green juice which resembled blood. I pulled an incendiary grenade from my belt and threw it at the thrashing flora. It blew up with a subdued 'Whooosh' and engulfed the still alive being in blue flames. It let a last, ear-piercing screech before falling down in a burning heap.
Huh. So that's why I picked that grenade without even thinking about it back in the armoury. My subconscious obviously remembered more about this mess that my waking mind could recall. Weird.
The rock to my right exploded showering me with stone fragments and from it a pair of green jaws darted towards me. I jumped back away from its path and grabbed the hilt of my weapon. My lightsaber snapped to life and I slashed vertically at the ”neck” of the plant which tried to bite me in half. Its ”head” tumbled away from the thick vine that was its body and fell to the ground where it continued to snap its jaws in a futile effort to bite something. The sergeant shot it twice with his heavy blaster burning huge holes in its jaws. It gave a long, piteous hiss and finally laid still.
”Good work. Be on your guard. There may be more of those things around.” I told my people.
Thanks to the vines themselves I could feel life all around us which was practically identical to the carnivorous plant that tried to eat us. We loaded our backpacks with the precious roots and made our way to the waiting LAAT. If there were more of those plants in the cave they decided that discretion was the better part of valour and stayed put.
=RK=
We gave Jaybo a ride to the landing platform where the other LAAT waited for us with the remaining clones. I contacted Pellaeon who had bad news. Thanks to all the junk floating around Requiem was unable to get conclusive scans of the moons. It was time for plan B.
”So you believe you could lift the curse?” Jaybo bounced on his feet.
”It's a weapons' system. If by lift the curse you mean blowing it up all to hell, then yes. Unfortunately, my ship has a trouble detecting its precise location. We need a bait to find it.” I looked at the two vultures which were minding their own business. ”Say, kid, how many of those things do you have operational? And how much for them?” I asked cheerfully.
”A few. What do you have in mind?” Jaybo bounced on his feet.
I smiled at the kid and filled him in on my plan.
=RK=
Republic cruiser Requiem
near Iego
Commodore Pellaeon looked over the shoulder of one of his sensor operators. The powerful scanners of the cruiser were bȧrėly able to detect the four contacts flying fast from the planet. There were simply too many debris which were giving out sensor ghosts. However, there was no way to miss the massive energy surge emanating from the surface of one of the moons.
A yellow energy beam jumped from a weapon emplacement on the planetoid and started bouncing from pieces of ships and asteroids. It created an energy net in which the four Separatists fighters were shredded.
”Weapons lock on that location and fire at will!” ordered Pellaeon.
Huge, twin linked turbo-laser cannons rotated in their mounts and targeted a specific spot on the moon then fired. Blue bolts of compressed particles lanced through the void evaporating the junk standing in their path. It took Requiem nearly three minutes to blow a hole through the asteroids and debris before its guns could strike straight at the moon. A concentrated salvo from the cruiser board side hit the place from which the yellow beam emanated.
Three broadsides were more than enough to snuff out of existence the weapon holding the populace of Iego as prisoners.
Just in case, Requiem continued to bombard the moon until the side where attack came was a glowing ocean of molten rock.
=RK=
Unnamed city
Iego
I watched the fireworks with a smirk on my face. Many of the people stranded on this planet were outside watching the light show in orbit. They were talking excitedly when they saw the invisible from here Requiem BDZ one of the moons.
”And that's that kid. No more 'ghost'.” I declared.
I went in front of Jaybo who was looking at the heavens through a binocular. I knelt and floated my lightsaber over the palm of my right hand.
That got his attention and for the moment he forgot the fires in orbit.
”That's so cool!” the kid exclaimed, looking at my hand with huge eyes.
”Please tell me, Jaybo, has some strange things happened around you? Items moving by themselves? Have you felt that sometimes you see things before they happen?” I asked him quietly.
He looked away from my eyes and muttered something I could not understand.
”What was that?” I my lips twitched in amusement.
”Su'm times when I work on the droids a tool I need floats to my hands...” he murmured.
”It's nothing to worry about, Jaybo. That is just a sign that you could use the Force if you receive training.”
He perked at that and a huge grin appeared on his face.
”Does that mean that I can become a Jedi?!” he exclaimed and looked at me with star filled eyes.
I shook my head sadly.
”That is unlikely. You see, in all their 'wisdom' the Jedi refuse to train anyone who is older than a toddler. The oldest boy I knew that they trained was nine and they bȧrėly agreed to do it. You are how old? Twelve? Fourteen?” I asked carefully. My face was a mask reflecting how sorry I was about the Jedi's foolish policies.
”I became thirteen last month.” he grumbled sadly.
”Ah. It's all right you know. The Jedi are not the only ones who could train you in the Force.” I trailed off. ”You see...”
I smiled. I had his undivided attention.
=RK=
Part 5
Republic Cruiser Requiem
Blockade over Naboo
I watched news reports on what was happening down in Theed on a holo-display projected on the bridge. Most of the crew here were glancing from their station to see the events unfolding below us.
Small news droids, were buzzing around the city and catching on camera the tragedy in progress. It was the day after we came back from Iego and the hospitals on Naboo were already busy synthesizing copious amounts of the cure. However, for many people it would be too late. The water borne strain of the virus killed too fast. Already there were tens of thousands dead with the number raising fast. The few stasis tanks which were available to the doctors on the planet and whatever the fleet could spare were full but that bȧrėly covered twelve thousand people. It was not even a drop in the bucket compared to the millions infected. The most optimistic projections were looking at least a million and half dead with a twice that number of people that would take months to recover.
Reporters from all over the Republic had a field day. While thanks to the quarantine none were allowed on Naboo in person, that didn't stop them from sending down droids to capture the tragedy in person. I could see images of makeshift hospitals on the streets with GAR and local security personnel attempting to keep the order. Bacta and almost everything else we could spare could at best alleviate Blue Shadow's symptoms at best. There were lots of people dead either on the streets or in their homes and right now I could see groups of Clones gathering the bodies for disposal. The picture changed to an overcrowded military hospital set up in one of Theed's many parks. There were thousands of people either lying where they could or simply sitting on the ground while medics, soldiers and med-droids did what they could but in too many cases it was too little too late.
A mother was carrying the tiny form of her little girl who was covered by large oozing blue spots. She was frantically begging for help only for a clone to take a look and quick scan, before simply shaking his head. The woman fell to her knees and simply stood there on the ground, clutching her child.
Nearby a pair of little boys were shaking the unmoving form of a Zabrak male whose unseeing eyes were turned towards the camera frozen open in death. The horror show continued on and on and that was just Theed.
Once upon a time such images would have moved me. Nowadays... I've seen too much horror that made the tragedy on Naboo pale in comparison. Hell, I've caused worse too. All things considered, even when using only conventional weapons taking a heavily populated world would see much more tragedies than the whole of Naboo had the misfortune to boast. Then there was Crimson and that horror made every other bio-weapon I've seen or heard of inconsequential in comparison. It was a good thing that Crimson was eradicated a couple of decades before I ended in the future.
It was a clusterfuck of epic proportions. At least Amidala had calmed somewhat once Skywalker managed to escape from the hospital frigate where he was recovering and made his way to Theed. He was subject of the quarantine for now too so hopefully Anakin wouldn't be causing any troubles for the foreseeable future.
I shut down the holoprojector and looked outside the bridge through one of the windows. I could see a lot of transport ships, which were disgorging hundreds of shuttles chock full with relief supplies and doctors volunteering to help. The most important commodity was coming from the Medical Ship ”New Hope” - a two kilometre long titan filled with some of the best medical equipment and doctors in the galaxy. Its shuttles were disgorging fifty thousand more stasis pods which would help save a lot of people.
Before the start of the war there were twenty five of those mobile hospitals but they as well as any other medical ȧssets the Republic used to posses were primary target for the CIS. Only ten of the leviathans were still intact enough to travel through hyperspace.
My attention went to the tac-pad in my hands. On it a message from the Chancellor's office stared me in the face. In its endless wisdom the Senate had called an emergency session to discus the events of Naboo. I was to make my way there as soon as the situation on the surface had stabilized and bring Senator Amidala with me. So much for keeping Skywalker and his wife out of trouble.
I smirked and called Anakin. It took him couple of minutes to pick up his comm and then his holo image materialized in front of me.
”General Skywalker, I just received a call from the Chancellor. The Senate is gathering to discuss the situation on Naboo in three days. Palpatine suggests that it would be for the best if Senator Amidala makes her case in person. I trust you'll be able to persuade her what is best for Naboo.” I valiantly suppressed my amusement. No doubt the good Senator would have a lot to say to anyone suggesting she should abandon her people in their hour of need no matter how good the reason. Better him than me.
Anakin apparently shared my thoughts on the mater because he stiffened and I'm sure he was scowling at me.
”Is that all, general Veil?” Skywalker spoke in a clipped, irritated tone.
”There's nothing else of note. Good luck. Veil out.” I terminated the call.
I don't know what he said to his wife but only a few minutes later I got a brief message indicating they should be leaving Theed within the hour.
I returned my attention to the news, though this time I used my data-pad to access those feeds. It showed someone high in the CIS ranks. I had no idea who that was or even the species it belonged to.
”I repeat, no one within the Confederacy of Independent systems had anything to do with that monstrous deed on Naboo! We are ready to provide all possible humanitarian help to ease the suffering of the people of Naboo!” the insectoid continued droning apologies.
As if someone was going to believe it. With Vindi in custody and singing like canary it was a foregone conclusion that the CIS would get all the blame. My issue was that the crazy doctor had no idea who actually released the virus. I made sure he was telling the truth. I did dispatch search parties to scour the areas surrounding the river for kilometres upstream, had other teams checking all cameras within Theed too along with scouring for witnesses though the latter was a very long shot – even if someone saw something there was no guarantee they lived long enough to share it.
As far as I could remember, there wasn't supposed to be such a massive outbreak on Naboo. What Vindi knew supported my fragmented memories. How the hell did my presence cause this mess? What other surprises were waiting for me?
I spent couple of hours pondering those issues without reaching any useful conclusions then went to check up on Jaybo after the Skywalkers were through decontamination and tests to see if they caught the virus. With both of them clean I ordered Pellaeon to get us on our way and left the bridge.
=RK=
I found my apprentice in one of the hanger bays, buried into the mechanic guts of a LAAT's engine. Most of said propulsion unit's innards were strewn on the deck next to the gunship. I could see four technicians around Jaybo. They were looking at what he was doing and giving him suggestions on how to fix the craft. The kid was fast becoming the technician's mascot.
When I brought him on board the previous day, Jaybo had taken a long bath and a warm meal before heading to find something mechanical to thinker with. He had ended in one of the hangars where the mechanics had adopted him like a mascot.
My musings were terminated by the arrival of a certain furious Senator who stormed towards me with a single-mindedness common for a guided missile. When Amidala was close enough her right hand snapped in a perfectly executed motion to deliver a slap on my face. I caught her palm in my armoured fingers and rolled my eyes at her antics.
”Senator. You've spoken with your friends on Coruscant, I see.” I deadpanned.
Behind her scowling face I could see Skywalker hurrying to catch up. He was not too pleased either if his thunderous expression was anything to go by.
”You wanted to bomb Theed!” Amidala screeched in a distinctly unladylike way.
I do not think that she ever lost her composure in such a way in either the movies or cartoon.
”Definitely. If the cure turned out to be a bust and the Blue Shadow could not be contained that would have been the prudent course of action, Senator. The last time I checked you represented the whole world of Naboo and not only the capital. Would you endanger all inhabitants of your homeworld instead of doing what is necessary if the worst happens?” I asked her in an even tone. I was honestly curious how would she answer.
”There are five million people in Theed! You'd slaughter them just like that?” asked Anakin with a disgusted expression on his face.
”If that is what it takes to protect the remaining few hundred million people on the planet, Jedi. What would you do? Watch most of them die?” I sneered. He spoke as if five million people were too many to be considered expendable, which was a laughable idea. I knew for a fact that there were hundreds of worlds where more people died as collateral damage in this war so far than lived on Naboo.
”The Council was right about you! You are a heartless monster!” spat Anakin.
”I never denied the monster part. By most reasonable standards I am a monster.” I shrugged. Trying to hide it from anyone with even curious knowledge of my past simply wouldn't work. Fortunately or unfortunately for the Republic, I was the kind of monster the GAR needed.
”Amidala, despite being a Senator for years you are still a naive child. And you, Skywalker... Where is your valued Jedi stoicism right now? The universe does not care for your ideals or good intentions. Neither does the Blue Shadow. If it is not contained it will murder between sixty and eighty percent of all living beings down there!” I pointed at the deck and the surface of the world below us.
Anakin glared daggers at me. His right hand was clamped around the hilt of his lightsaber. I could see the emotions rampaging through his heart as clear as a day. Frustration. Anger. Love. And fear. The latest was like a parasite worming its way within the recesses of his heart. It was blinding him.
It was obvious that he had no experience with managing his emotions. They were drowning him, leaving him confused and open for manipulation. I had no doubt that as he was right now, Skywalker would be receptive to the lures of the Dark side. If I was so inclined, he was ripe for the turning.
”Tell me Senator. What would you have me do? Would you watch the virus spreading all over Naboo and choke your paradise of a world? Or if it comes to it would you have the courage to do what is necessary to save your planet? What about you, Skywalker? How many people must die so you could keep your ”high” moral ground? Please enlighten me?”
Jedi... They seldom could make the hard decisions necessary during a war or certain types of crisis without compromising themselves. However, those who could bear that burden without high risk of falling were those to watch for and occasionally fear. Right now Anakin certainly wasn't in the latter category.
”It will never come to that! There is help coming to Naboo from all over the Republic! Even if the virus spreads we'll be able to save most people! The cure is already in production!” Amidala countered.
”At what cost, senator? Did you even wonder where all those medical ships were before the current emergency? How many more would be needed if containing Blue Shadow at Theed and the swamps is impossible? How many people across the galaxy will die because necessary medical support is diverted here? The world is not black and white no matter how much some people try to pretend its otherwise.” I said looking Anakin in the eyes.
Amidala opened her mouth to protest but thought for a moment and snapped it shut. She looked down crestfallen. So she might be aware just how thin the logistics and medical ȧssets of the Republic were stretched. That actually made sense – Padme was famous for her humanitarian missions.
”That is not something I thought about.” muttered Amidala. But when she raised her head to look at me the fire was back in her eyes. ”I should have, I admit it. However, that does not change the point! Your cavalier disregard for life goes against all principles the Republic holds dear!” Her blazing eyes bored accusingly into me. If looks could kill, and if you were a Sith they just might, I would be a pile of ash scattered across the deck.
”Tell that to the masses all around the galaxy who are afraid that the virus would escape Naboo and crawl its way to their little corners of the universe. If you want to blame someone for this mess please target your righteous wrath to the real culprits – the CIS agents who created this abomination and later released it.” I turned my cold gaze at Skywalker. ”The aura of fear you are giving out is irritating. Your girlfriend is right here and safe so chill out.”
I gave him my best grin.
”By the way when is the wedding? Though considering Amidala's mood I am definitely off the list of invited.”
Skywalker growled at me and took a step in my direction.
”Is everything all right, sir?” asked one of the clones who was with Jaybo.
At least my apprentice looked like he enjoyed the show.
I kept my face a blank mask but internally smirked. I could sense the four clones and Jaybo behind me glaring at the pair.
”It's all right. We just have a little harmless chat. Isn't that right?” I gave my guests a disarming smile, which none of them bought.
Anakin shook his head and looked around us. Most of the clones in the hangar had stopped whatever they were doing and were looking at the spectacle with interest.
”Weren't the Jedi supposed to be calm and composed all the time?” Jaybo pipped in.
”You see, my young apprentice, when one of them...” I smiled at the kid and pointed at Anakin, ”... is confronted with their feelings, they have no idea how to deal with it. By suppressing their emotions they are caught off guard when, inevitably, their passion breaks to the surface. He is a case in point. You could taste his anger and fear. As well as his love and devotion to the delectable Senator. At least she could be sure that his feelings for her are genuine.”
I smirked at the couple who were doing a great impression of fish thrown out of the water. I could see a rapid succession of embarrassment, mortification and anger passing over their faces and the emotions I could sense coming from them were even more interesting.
=RK=
Part 6
Republic Cruiser Requiem
en route to Coruscant
”Oh, get over yourselves!” I shook my head at the shocked kids. ”The only reason the rest of the Jedi are not all over you two is the fact that most of those idiots won't recognize love if it hit them over the head. If they were not too busy pretending that they have no emotions you would have been found out few days after falling for each other.”
Skywalker had the good grace to look embarrassed by my words. Everything I told them was true after all.
Back on Earth when I watched Episodes Two and Three it bugged me how those love-birds could carry on for years under the collective noses of the Jedi. Now, when I had access to the Force, it was mind boggling. If at least few of the Order members paid any attention, the Skywalkers secret would have been out a week after their marriage. At best.