Star Wars Destiny: Episode V, Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE

The nighttime streets of Coruscant were silent as an old, rough-looking man walked towards an apartment located near the Senate Building. Ringing the doorbell, he soon stepped in after being answered by a maroon-colored protocol droid. The droid led the man down an hallway and into a room occupied by four others. 

One of them, a Calibop dressed in scarlet senatorial robes, was the first to notice the newcomer.

"Ah, welcome, Bel Iblis," the bird-like being squawked, gesturing to an empty chair. "We have saved you a seat."

"Thank you, Senator Gavrisom," Garm Bel Iblis muttered as he sat down. "You know, it is quite unsafe to be here. Chief-I mean, Chancellor Valorum doesn't trust you when you're out of his eyesight."

"I keep telling him that, but he never listens," said a female Mon Calamari senator, giving Gavrisom a slight smile.

The Calibop sighed. "Indeed, it is dangerous. But I had to call this meeting, Eerin, for how else are we going to stop Valorum from becoming another Palpatine?"

"Is that even worth it, let alone possible?" asked a short, plump man with a draped mustache. "Some senators saw Palpatine's corruption ahead of time, including Bel Iblis. And yet none of them were able to prevent the Empire..."

"That may be true, Novarl," said Senator Lyria Valsk, a tall, female Devaronian, who stood near Gavrisom, gazing out towards Coruscant's lighted city. "However, I don't see Valorum as a corrupt man like Palpatine, but more like a child who refuses to let go of his toy. Or, in Valorum's case, the Republic."

Bel Iblis stroked his chin. "That's a nice way to put it."

Everyone chuckled softly, though Novarl did so very nervously. The maroon protocol droid entered the room again carrying a tray of drinks. Each of the senators and Bel Iblis took a glass and sipped from it, preceding a long, solemn silence.

Bel Iblis was the one to break it. "So, what of the mysterious deaths that have occurred over the past few months?"

Senator Eerin sighed. "Well, my husband Gron Marrab died after a bomb planted in his speeder went off..."

"And Va Zooranno seems to have vanished from Telos," Novarl said quietly, squirming in his seat a little. "No doubt he met an unfortunate fate."

"Not to mention the vague deaths of former senators Beruss and Graven," Gavrisom added. "I sincerely doubt that it was natural causes that killed them, like the HoloNet claimed."

The Calibop senator sighed. "No wonder Mrs. Organa Solo stepped down. Our Republic has indeed entered its darkest age..."

"Is it truly our Republic?" asked Valsk. "From the sound of Valorum's speeches, it seems as if he's declared it to be his Republic."

"I believe you are right, Lyira," Eerin said quietly. "Whether he is as corrupt as Palpatine or not, something must be done."

Bel Iblis nodded. "The only question is: what?"

*  *  *

"We're coming out of hyperspace," Han announced to Karsa, Chewbacca, and Thrak. The stars began to slow down before the Vulture as the planet of Mandalore came into view. The homeworld of the Mandalorians was covered in green, showing signs of several forests and jungles. Bodies of water flowed around it, while the tip of what appeared to be barren, white land crawled from the other side.

"Huh..." Han said as he observed the planet. "No offense, but I was expecting something...more."

"It might not look much from here," Karsa replied, observing Mandalore's lush, green surface. "But once you get to know our history and culture, our planet's environment might seem a bit more fitting."

The Vulture descended through the clouds and arrived at a spaceport located on the outskirts of an untidy city. As the three men and Chewbacca stepped down the landing ramp, they were immediately greeted by at least a dozen warriors, all clad in armor visually similar to Boba Fett's, and with their blasters raised.

The lead Mandalorian, who wore blue, scratched armor over a dusty gray jumpsuit, spoke in a rough, growly voice. "State your business! Who are you and why are you here on Mandalore?"

"We've been sent by our head of state to ask an alliance between the Republic and the Mandalorians," Han answered, taking a page from Leia's diplomacy book. "However, if you want us to leave, I don't mind-"

"Hold it!" the Mandalorian snapped as Han turned to leave. "Who is that man with you?"

Han glanced at Karsa, who gave him a warning glare. "Oh, him? He's no one. Just some mercenary I met on Nar Shaddaa."

"He's not just a mercenary," muttered a female Mandalorian in black armor. "He was one of us."

"You're right, Raven," replied a burly man in light brown armor. "You sure have some guts for comin' back here, Karsa. Better hope that you don't lose 'em!"

Karsa said nothing; instead, he simply stared at the Mandalorian warriors with a look of fear and contempt.

"So," the lead Mandalorian said. "You say that you've been sent to talk with Mand'alor? Does your head of state think we're that willing to listen to what he wants from us?"

"Yeah, exactly," Han said dryly.

The blue-armored man tilted his helmeted head. "All right, then. Follow me."

No one would had been able to describe the surprised look on Han's face.

*  *  *

Luke Skywalker sat in meditation within the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin Four. This was to be his last day here before moving into the nearly-finished Jedi Temple on Ossus. He had been hoping to gather more knowledge from the other temples on Yavin, but he never found the time to do so. Perhaps it was better off that way, he thought. After all, many past Jedi Masters had said that knowledge could be a dangerous tool, especially when in the wrong hands.

As he sat in silence, Luke's mind began to flashback to events that had long since passed. His meeting with Ben Kenobi, the Death Star's destruction, his father's death, rebuilding the Jedi Order, his journey to Praetus.

His mind stopped there. Praetus...where he had found Ben, Yoda, and his father, who were all leading a rebellion against the Sith god Ra-Sal. It had been fifteen years since then. He wondered if they were still fighting. The only way to find out was to die...

His heart froze. What would happen if he did die, for good? Who would take his place as head of the Jedi Order? Would Toah be able to succeed him? His apprentice was aspiring to to become a great Jedi Knight...

Just then, Luke felt a strange feeling fill the air. It almost felt like someone had hit him in the back, really hard. Suddenly, he felt a terrible realization cross over him, and he knew then that it was unlikely that Toah Jarsan would be taking his place...