Star Wars Invasion: Episode V, Chapter Ten and Epilogue

CHAPTER TEN

   As soon as Anakin and Animus had returned to the palace where the others were waiting, the Ortolan known as Xilus came running up to them, moving as fast as his stocky blue legs could carry him.

   "Animus!" the obtuse pachydermoid said excitedly. "Zerev has gotten a message from one of our operatives!"

   "What does it say?" Animus asked, sounding intrigued.

   "You're not gonna believe this," Xilus said, lowering his voice into an almost conspiratorial tone. "The Dark Jedi Order is planning on making an alliance with the 'light' one."

   Animus stared at the Ortolan incredulously. "When did you get this message?"

   "Mere minutes ago," Xilus said. "Zerev wishes to speak with you about it."

   Anakin and Animus followed him to the room which they had left the others in. While Animus walked over to speak with Zerev and Durus, Anakin walked over to the large table and took a seat next to Sev Nep, who was playing a card game with Jast Kyjar.

   The Sullustan glanced at Anakin as he sat down. "How did your little trip go?"

   "I don't feel like talking about it," Anakin muttered.

   "That bad, huh?" Sev took out a card-chip and placed it on the table. "I'll have spades," he told Jast.

   Jast, who had nearly half of the deck in his hands, fumed as he obliged the request. After putting down a black spades on to the pile of cards, Sev placed his last chip, which was a seven of spades.

   Jast threw down his remaining cards, muttering in Huttese. "Lucky," he said bitterly. "I could have won, you know. Kalvin just...shuffled the deck wrong."

   The stormtrooper known as Kalvin glared at the smuggler. "My teammates and I have been playing card games like sabacc and such for years. I've always shuffled. And I never got complaints."

   Snorting disdainfully, Jast crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat, disgruntled.

   Sev turned back to Anakin, glancing between him and the still-conversing Animus, Zerev, and Durus. "What's going on there?" the Sullustan asked.

   "No idea," Anakin said. "Xilus the Ortolan said something about a message from one of their 'operatives.'"

   "Oh, so there's more of these weird guys?" Vex said sardonically. "Well, that just made my day."

   The stormtrooper quickly silenced himself, however, when he noticed that Animus and the others were returning to their table.

   "Right then," Zerev said. "I do believe it's time that we leave Mortis."

   "Great," Jast said in mock excitement. "Though you still have yet to give me a satisfying answer. What are we going to do? I know we have to stop these Glorian guys, but how?"

   Zerev smiled. "According to one of our operatives, Lysira Naris' friends seem to have found a workable solution."

   "And what would that be?" Sev asked when the Siniteen paused for effect.

   "The two Jedi Orders are going to reach out across the galaxy and rally everyone- every political faction, every Force-based organization, and so on- to fight against the Glorian Empire."

   Anakin and the others stared at him in silence. Finally, Sev said, "Doesn't that sound...I don't know, risky? I mean, I can see people like the Corporate Sector siding with the Alliance. But guys like the Hutts? Fat chance."

   Zerev nodded. "It is indeed a risky plan. But I'm sure once the Hutts- and people like them- see evidence of planets disappearing, and then realize that theirs might be next, they'll then relent and agree to ally with us."

   "Yeah," Jast said. "It might take half the galaxy to disappear that will convince them, but I'm sure they'll see the pros of an alliance."

   "What say we drop the pessimism?" Durus said sternly. "I'm sure there were plenty of people who thought Palpatine was unbeatable. They were wrong. They probably thought no one could stop Darth Vorath. They were wrong."

   The Zilkin walked across the table and stared hard into the smuggler's eyes. "For as long as the galaxy's existed, good has always managed to triumph over evil. Remember that."

   Jast nodded, his eyes wide, no doubt out of amazement that such a small being could be so intimidating. 

   Once Durus had backed off, Zerev said, "So, shall we move on?"

   "Sure," Anakin said, "as long as we have transportation."

   Animus gave him a wicked grin. "Oh, we definitely have transportation."

   As if on cue, Xilus brought out a datapad and pressed a button. Suddenly, a blue portal appeared out of thin air, similar to the one Anakin and the others had seen on Kashyyyk.

   At the same time, Animus began morphing his body. Wings sprouting from his back as he grew and changed shape, a massive Duinuogwuin, often called Star Dragons, soon replaced where a man had once stood.

   "Climb on," he growled to those in the room, "and hold on tight."

*  *  *

   "I never did get to find out what your plan was."

   Kro Sadoon glanced at Master Baran, who stood alongside him at a balcony that oversaw the Jedi Temple's gardens and Ossus' two setting suns.

   "Beg your pardon?" the Kel Dor Jedi Master said.

   "About compromising with Tasen Denon," the Grand Master replied.

   "Ah, yes." Sadoon had indeed had a plan. It was to oblige to Denon's request for Jacen Solo to join the Dark Jedi Order, but only after they had given the Jedi the answers they desired and as long as they returned the missing Jedi who had not joined the Dark Order. Meanwhile, Jacen would have acted as a spy and make sure the Dark Jedi were not up to any wrong-doing. Sadoon had thought him to have a more open-mind that could help him resist the dark side.

   However, as soon as the High Council and Tasen Denon had returned to the Council Chambers, the latter received a message from his masters; the two Jedi Orders were to meet on the planet Tython- birthplace of the Old Jedi Order- and hopefully forge an alliance.

   This rather abrupt change in events seemed strange to Sadoon, but at the same time, relieved him. Now that he thought about it, his plan was indeed rather unorthodox. To use Jacen Solo- a fellow Jedi- as something to be merely exchanged...he wondered why he had thought it to be a good idea in the first place.

   But there was no need to think further on it. He never had to make that decision anyway.

   And, as such, there was no need for anyone else to know...

   "To be honest," he finally said to Baran. "I believe I have forgotten what it was."

   The Grand Master smiled. "I've had that happen to me before. No matter, it is no longer important."

   "Of course not," Sadoon murmured, staring out at the setting suns. "Why should it be?"

*  *  *

   "Do you still think we should've left him there?"

   Wallen did not immediately respond to Xemer, instead staring out at the mesmerizing spinning tunnel of hyperspace. Back on Dromund Kaas, Kane Skywalker had decided to speak privately with the mysterious beings in order to get a better understanding on what they wanted to accomplish. When he returned from the chamber, he told Wallen and Xemer to return to Coruscant without him, assuring them that he would be all right.

   To be honest, Wallen thought, that alone is enough to tell me thing won't be all right.

   However, he didn't say as much to Xemer. Instead, he said, "What could we do? Kane is a Jedi, and usually, when a Jedi makes their final decision, it's nearly impossible to get them to change their mind."

   Xemer slowly nodded, though he didn't seem to fond of that prospect. "So, what now?"

   "Now?" Wallen sighed as he leaned back in his seat. "Now all we can do is stand back and let events run their course. We'll act only when we need to..."

   After all, he added mentally to himself, we're all merely pieces of someone's dejarik board.

EPILOGUE

From the Observations of the Watcher

   One has to wonder and ask, "Would the galaxy had thrived if all of its people stood united as one single faction?"

   It probably could have. But it would have never been able to happen.

   The way I see it, the people of the galaxy are like the snowflakes that fall on Ilum; each and every one is unique. They all have a set of qualities that differentiates them so much from the rest, you would be hard pressed to find two that were identical, and thus it would be difficult to make them work together.

   Then again, just like snowflakes, when you pile all of them together and mix them around...you realize that there's almost nothing that can set them apart.

TO BE CONTINUED...