Jedi Knights of Earth: Duel of the Fates

Chapter 1 (now edited by Xtor49)

Three Super Star Destroyers, the last of the Imperial fleet, floated near some of the core planets. Around them were numerous standard Star Destroyers. Inside the SSD Iron Claw, an admiral sat at the head of a table, speaking to his fellow leaders. “We are at our wit’s end. All the Star Destroyers not eliminated by the Rebels have been incorporated into their already massive fleet. We’ve lost Corellia, Kaut, and several other systems.”

Another Admiral sat forward, lacing his fingers together and closing his eyes. “Seems our esteemed Madam Isard has gone and got herself killed at Thyferra. The Jedi order is slowly being reestablished. They have not two, but four, fully trained Jedi Knights, and two Jedi Masters. You are correct, Vice Admiral Taradock, the situation is indeed grim,” Admiral Thrawn stated, pursing his lips slightly.

His red eyes were glowing, I had been going to search for Jorus C’OBath, but now I’m not certain that would help. The Jedi Order being reestablished means that the odds have shifted entirely in the New Republic’s favor. As much as I hate to admit it, the Imperial Military had been under the sway of a Sith Lord for far too long. We won’t last without one. “What kind of DNA profiles do we have for our late Emperor, or Lord Vader?”

Warlord Zsinji blinked, looking up, “I’m not sure what you mean Admiral. We have nothing on file for the Emperor, but we have plenty on file for Lord Vader. The Medical Droids who initially did his operation set some aside for analyzing,” Zsinji watched as Thrawn delicately rubbed his chin, eyes half closed in thought.

Thrawn nodded as an idea came to mind, “Have all available DNA information sent to my Star Destroyer; I’m going to Camino to visit the cloners. Once I return, we’ll have Darth Vader returned to us.”

The group assembled looked both apprehensive and eager as Grand Admiral Thrawn left the room. Soon Captain Pellaeon followed him. “Sir, where are we going? I thought you be discussing strategy with the other leaders.”

Thrawn sighed, “They are too pigheaded to discuss strategy. We are heading to Camino, to visit the cloners.”

Pellaeon nodded, walking quietly behind. They left the Iron Claw and boarded a transport heading for their ship, the Chimera. Once aboard, Pellaeon quietly walked to the bridge. “Set course for the Camino system.”

--

Mace Windu stood quietly as the construction droid finished the final window for the Jedi Council chamber. Though much of the archives were destroyed, the back ups deep under the temple had fortunately never been touched. Once the archives had been repaired, the backups had been reinstalled.

Ranma walked in, quietly looking quietly around before walking over to the window and taking a deep breath at the sight. “Been here over a year and still can’t get over the enormity of the place,” he smiled turning to his former teacher.

Mace nodded, gently sitting down in his council chair, looking around at the empty placements. “Eventually you’ll get use to it, Ranma. How’s Akane doing?”

Ranma smiled brightly. “Handling the bundle of energy pretty well, little Usagi is a quick study,” he said.

Mace nodded. It had been a year and a half since they had returned to the Republic, finding that things had drastically changed. The senate had been reestablished, and a president much like the ones on Earth has been named. At this point, Yoda and Luke were looking for new candidates for Jedi Knights. Luke had gone to meet up with Han to greet a smuggler by the named Talon Karrde. Akane had already met her first trainee shortly after they arrived. She began to train Corran Horn in the Jedi arts since they had so many Jedi traits in common.

Ranma would take up Usagi Saotome’s training the moment she turned five. Mace himself was trading off with Yoda, training Leia, as it was the only one not truly involved at the time was Luke and Ranma. So to make up for it, Ranma would give Luke speed training. Yoda hadn’t been up to it on Dagobah, they weren’t sure, but the swamp planet seemed to drain him.

Shortly after leaving Dagobah, Yoda returned to his normal high energy self. Mace remembered Yoda telling him that his kind could live for 1200 years before dying. “Eager to train your daughter, I see,” Mace stated.

Ranma gave a shrug. “Not really. Luke missed out on a lot of his speed training so I’m more than happy to show him the error of his ways,” the pigtailed Jedi stated with a light smirk on his face.

Mace simply shook his head, “Is this just a social visit, or is there something else?”

Ranma gave a mock hurt expression, “Now, Master, can’t I speak with you without having another reason for being here?”

“You should know by now that your thoughts aren’t easy to hide, especially from me, my former Padawan,” Mace smiled.

With a dramatic sigh, Ranma pulled up a datapad and cleared his throat, “Seems the entire Imperial Star fleet was found hovering over Dorsk for a few days before Grand Admiral Thrawn left, and we have no idea where the wily old fox went to. The meeting, whatever it was about, was very brief.”

Mace nodded, sitting back, musing quietly to himself, “Guess we’ll just wait and see.”

“I got a bad feeling about this. I sense something very wrong in the Force,” Ranma stated, looking out at the traffic in the sky.

“As do I, but be patient; things will be revealed in time,” Mace stated closing his eyes, starting to mediate. Ranma quietly left him alone. Walking down the corridor, he spotted Master Yoda and Leia off to the side talking quietly and heatedly. Apparently being a Jedi Padawan and a Senator at the same time was a big no-no for Yoda.

“But Master Yoda, I can’t just take off for months at a time to train,” Leia stated.

Yoda sighed heavily, “Chose the way of the Jedi, you did. Now must hold the deepest commitment. Send someone to take your place in the Senate, you can,” Leia frowned slightly as Ranma walked up.

“What about you do think, Ranma?” Leia asked, eyes pleading with him.

Ranma shook his head, crossing his arms, “Don’t look at me. ‘Kane and I trained as Jedi together since we were both five. Besides, all this political stuff makes my head hurt.” With that, Leia groaned in defeat.

“I guess your right, Master Yoda, I did approach you for training. I’ll have Winter take my seat in the Senate,” Leia pulled out a comlink and set about making the arrangements, speaking directly to Mon Mothma.

Yoda gave Ranma a victory smile. “Information you have?” he queried, looking at the datapad.

“Yeah, seems Admiral Thrawn is scheming and we all know that ain’t good. The creep is just too clever. Almost makes wonder if he ain’t got Jedi senses sometimes,” Ranma stated with a wry smile.

Yoda shook his head, “Jedi skills he does not have, thankful for that we are. Clever he is in how he works.” He looked closely at the report, “DNA profile he asks for, from what I may ask?”

Ranma shook his head, “We don’t know. The transmission was cut off before Intelligence could find out. The spy was probably discovered. But what would they need with DNA anyway, Master Yoda? There’s only two things I know you can do with it back where I come from; you find families with it, and ya can solve crimes with it.”

Yoda nodded, “Indeed. Worries me this does. Join Master Windu in meditation, I will, to figure this out.” Yoda stated hobbling toward Leia as she began her lightsaber exercises. Ranma watched for a few moments before leaving, headed for the quarters he shared with his wife. Upon entering them, he saw the protocol droid they bought to look after Usagi when neither he nor Akane were home. The protocol droid was an ancient model but was the cheapest he could find, the serial numbers had rubbed off by time. Usagi giggled upon seeing him. Ranma smiled brightly, picking up his daughter.

“How’s my little bunny?” he questioned. The child threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. “Missed you too,” his smile softening.

“Query: Master Ranma, should I prepare lunch?” his protocol droid asked.

Ranma nodded, “Yeah, Gero, go ahead.”

--

Two X-Wings and the Millennium Falcon were flying through hyperspace, heading for a rendezvous with latest leader of the Smuggling Alliance. Hopefully they would get help in the supplies and weapons department, especially in the ways of Bacta stocks so they could continue to treat Krtyos virus patients. Han secretly hoped that two fully trained Jedi Knights and one partially trained Jedi Padawan with skills in Corellian Security methods would give him the edge in negotiations.

Luke doubted things will go his brother-in-law’s way. Many he had talked to heard Talon Karrde was a very shrewd and smart business man. Luke settled back in his cockpit, thinking about the last four years since the Battle of Endor. He had seen his father come back from the Dark Side, something Master Yoda had said never happened before. The moment Luke had taken the mask off, looking into the eyes of the man that had fathered him and Leia, he saw not the monster he became.

Questions had popped into his mind at that point, ones he knew Anakin Skywalker would never be able to answer now. After a moment he began to feel a prodding in the Force as they neared the planet they would meet Talon Karrde at. He opened hi comlink, “Akane, do you feel that?”

Akane was sitting behind Han Solo, listening to him and his Wookie companion Chewbacca banter back and forth over what to name Han’s children. She smiled softly at the excited banter, until she heard Luke speak up. She closed her eyes and nodded mentally. “Yes, it’s small but I feel it too. Could be nothing, but let’s all be careful,” she stated. But deep down, she had a feeling that what ever was making the tremor in the Force could only go fifty-fifty. Han gave her a look before staring quietly out the viewport grumbling distinctively.

“Great, just what we don’t need; trouble,” Han said with a sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He heard his long time friend bark about something, “That don’t make me feel any better, Chewie.”

Author’s Note: I’m taking this down the completely Alternate Universe route, Yoda hasn’t died and I even explained why. Vader will make a grand appearance later. Mara will make her own appearance next chapter. Also, many are wanting Ranma to go bad. Not going to happen:P.