CHAPTER NINE
Anakin gazed upon the ruins of the old Jedi Enclave as he, Master Sadoon, and the others approached them from the Khoonda Plains. As they got closer and closer, Anakin began to feel a strong aura in the Force, an aura filled with despair.
Sadoon seemed to share his feeling, for he looked at the young Jedi Knight and said, "Many Jedi were killed here during Darth Malak's attack on Dantooine during the Jedi Civil War. To this day, their echoes can be felt through the Force."
One of the Imperial troopers chuckled in response. "So this place is haunted, right? No wonder Palpatine was freaked out by Jedi."
"Cut the chatter, Vex," snapped Ronn Jokar, leader of the stormtrooper squad, "or else you'll spook the ghosts."
The four Jedi and the troopers soon reached the abandoned enclave and began traversing its ruins. Anakin was amazed by the sight of Jedi holocrons and other relics of history littered across the jagged remains of what appeared to be the enclave's library, wondering how they had gone under both Palpatine and Darth Vorath's notice.
"Many thought these recordings were destroyed," Sadoon said in response to Anakin's unspoken question, "or else stolen by the Sith. Apparently, they were wrong..."
Arek Cobalt looked curiously at the scattered holocrons. "I'm not expert on Jedi stuff or anything," he said, "but wouldn't most of these have been destroyed during that attack?"
Kyle Katarn frowned as he pondered the question. "You're right," he finally said. Bending down, the Jedi battlemaster picked up one of the holocrons and attempted to activate it. The device turned on easily and the shimmering, holographic form of an elderly Jedi Master appeared.
"Beware, Jedi," the hologram warned. "They are coming...he is here...leave now...while you have the chance."
The figure vanished before Kyle could say anything to the holocron gatekeeper. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps began to echo throughout the Jedi Enclave's ruins. In a flash, all four of the Jedi's lightsabers ignited, their various colors illuminating the scarcely-lit room.
Ronn Jokar grunted as he readied his blaster rifle. "Told ya' we'd spook the ghosts."
* * *
Cal Omas sighed out of exasperation, not for the first time, as he situated himself at the central podium in the center of the Senate Chambers. Today was to be the Senate's last conference with the Corellian Council before coming to a decision on where the Galactic Alliance was to stay. At his side once again was Zana Arda, and filing into the room ahead of everyone else were the members of Omas' Advisory Council as well as a handful of major, influential senators.
Omas held his breath as watched Governor Saxan, Senator Dravvad, and the Corellian Council enter. Saxan walked up to Omas' podium with a cold, brisk air.
"Chief of State, I would like to appoint a new individual to speak for me in today's conference."
Cal Omas eyed her warily. "What do you mean? Are you saying that you are no longer governor of Corellia?"
Saxan gave a wry smile. "Not quite. I simply found someone who can express and represent the opinions of the Corellian Council better than I can."
Omas did his best to hold back a frustrated sigh. "Very well. Where are they?"
Saxan gestured to one of the Corellian guards, who opened to door to allow a tall, grey-haired man entrance.
Omas stiffened. Boos and hisses erupted from the Galactic Senate. Aidel Saxan seemed not to notice, nor did the person she was about to introduce.
"People of Corellia, senators of the Galactic Alliance, I would like to present the Corellian head of state, Thrackan Sal-Solo."
* * *
"Don't say it," Sadoon muttered.
Kyle began, "I have a bad feeling-"
"Please, be silent."
The footsteps sounded like they were approaching closer. Anakin tightened his grip on his lightsaber, its azure blade humming quietly. Still the steps grew louder and louder. He heard the troopers ready their blaster.
"On the count of three," Commander Naar murmured to his soldiers. "One..."
The footsteps sounded as if they were coming just from around the corner of the abandoned library they were in.
"Two..."
Anakin could even hear the person's breathing...
"Three!"
All twelve of the troopers unleashed a hail of blaster fire at a figure as it turned around the corner. Through the smoke caused by the many plasma bolts, Anakin saw the figure move in a blur and evade them. The four Jedi moved forward, hoping to stop the stranger, but it was too fast for them.
The being leaped onto a platform made from a damaged bookshelf and lunged towards the troopers, digging arm-mounted blades into one of the Alliance soldiers' chest.
"Jester!" one of the others cried as they pounded blaster fire heavier onto the murderer, who again moved too fast for even the Jedi to catch them. After making several tremendous leaps, the being finally landed right in front of the Jedi, allowing Anakin to get a good look at them.
The warrior was a bipedal humanoid, seemingly male, clad in silver and black silver and black armor with blades sticking from his shoulder pads, helmet, and gauntlets. Behind his visor glowed two, dim emerald lights which were most likely eyes.
The being caught Anakin's gaze and laughed mirthlessly as he charged towards him, arm blades poised to stab the young Jedi Knight. Before Anakin could defend himself, the unexpected happened.
Coming out of nowhere, a violet lightsaber blade twirled through the air and impaled the warrior in the back, piercing his heart. The lightsaber then flew back to its unseen owner as the warrior fell into Anakin's arms, already dead.
All eyes turned to a tall figure, dressed in black robes and crimson armor, with a hood raised over a masked face. Through the mask's slit visor, Anakin felt the hard, cold gaze of the stranger.
In a voice that sounded vaguely familiar to him, the figure spoke. "You should not have come."
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