Dr Midnight
Explorer
PROLOGUE 1
“Begun, the Clone War has.”
Yoda sat back in his seat. The tension of the conflict had clearly taken a toll on the wizened Jedi master, leaving him weary and worn. For the first time, he looked his age, or so Plo Koon thought to himself.
Koon spoke in his modulated voice. “Master Obi-Wan, we must talk of this again, and soon. For now, however, we have done all we can and must take rest.”
Obi-Wan Kenobi nodded and said “I understand.” He turned and left. The expression on his face said that he did not truly understand, not about how the overwhelming victory at Geonosis could be perceived as a defeat. To his credit, he says nothing, Koon thought. That one’s defiance died not long after Qui-Gon. He now listens and accepts, though he does not agree. Kenobi may make a councilmember yet.
Koon turned his attention to Master Yoda, sitting in his chair overlooking the grim ceremonies below. “He does not see the meaning of your words.”
“He needn’t.” The small Jedi master said. “Never seen war, has Kenobi. Not in his lifetime. Not true war.” Yoda looked out over the centuries of marching clone soldiers, walking aboard their transports like so many well-behaved ants.
Ki-Adi-Mundi spoke. “Most of us haven’t. This is a galaxy-wide conflict. It’s bigger than anything I’ve ever known, and will swallow many lives.”
Mace Windu stood over Yoda's shoulder, staring off at the transports rising up into the sunset, full of soldiers and war. He asked “Do you fear?”
Mundi paused and thought. "No."
"I do. At least, I think so. I haven't felt even a trace of fear in so long that I no longer think I can recognize it." Windu set his mouth in a grim line and looked at his fellow councilmembers, the only people he would ever confess such a thought to. Only Yoda did not regard him with surprise.
Plo Koon said "I have a cold feeling in the pit of my third llophen. I do not think it is fear. It feels rather like a certainty that some ill will come of this war."
"Hard to see, the future is," Yoda said in that way of his. "Easy to know is the treachery of war. Easier still is fear."
Mace nodded and said "I think we would be wise to heed our feelings, and know our fear. Only when we let that fear overtake us do we stumble." He watched for a moment as a large wedge-shaped transport lifted up into the orange sky. "I think we should take steps to protect the future of the Jedi."
"You speak of the Child of Prophecy," Ki-Adi-Mundi said. "You think he may be in particular danger throughout the conflict."
"Yes. Furthermore, I think if he should come to harm or death, we may be in greater trouble than we know. The loss of the one who would bring balance to the Force would cripple us. I think we should take pains to see him safely back to Coruscant, so that he might be in our care."
Mundi considered this. "I do not think he is in terrible danger. Skywalker has proved himself a capable young man, strong in the Force. He fought nobly in the battle on Geonosis."
"For one," Mace said, "I have heard that Skywalker acted foolishly and impulsively. I see him as being a willful boy, and have never believed he was a true candidate for the Child of Prophecy. This brings me to my second point... I wasn't talking about Skywalker."
END OF PROLOGUE 1
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I loved KotSQ and was a faithful lurker, even in those short other SH's. Can't wait to see this one Doc!
