The Most Dangerous Jedi That Never Was
by IAMJEDI
(The events of this story occur hundreds of years before the Battle of Yavin)
Chapter One: First Contact
There came a time in the history of the Republic when all things old seemed to become new. A time when the outdated ways of accomplishing tasks were being replaced by more inventive and exciting things. Ships tended to fly faster, were more heavily armored, and hyper space lanes were more abundant than ever before. Different planets and species now regularly imported and exported valuable commodities, while trying to establish impressive economic bases of interests. Thus, the Senate would be governed by leaders who sought bigger and better ways to expand this ever growing Republic.
Even though more hyperspace lanes existed, there still remained many unexplored regions of the galaxy that the Senate deemed could be valuable allies and or formidable enemies. The Senate believed this decision would be determined by whoever chooses to make first contact with the other. The leaders met and believed it best that this contact be made by the “peacekeepers of the galaxy”…the Jedi. A petition to the Jedi Council was made on behalf of the Senate by the Chancellor himself.
There was no real disagreement between the Jedi Council and the Senate as the Jedi felt that exploration was not only needed but also required in order to survive. However, this conclusion was not reached until the Jedi Council first meditated in the Force. The Council’s spokesman was a little Jedi Master by the name of Yoda. The Senate was more than happy to oblige Yoda’s request for a more than adequate ship with the proper hyperdrive and supplies, including a protocol droid, as well as an experienced pilot.
The pilot was a heavyset Rodian named Cree. Cree was much bigger in stature than practically all other Rodians the Jedi Council had seen before. Cree had also earned quite a reputation as a fearless pilot and soldier. There was nothing uniquely different about the protocol droid except for the fact that it had been the same droid that Cree had worked with on numerous special ops missions for the Republic. Cree called the droid D-12, but he would often simply give it the designation of “droid” when giving orders. Accompanying the pilot and the protocol droid on this mission, which the Senate designated as “First Contact”, would be a Jedi Master and a Padawan of the Council’s choosing.
The Jedi Council finally made its decision after a unanimous vote was reached. The council chose Jedi Master Dak Wallace and his Padawan, Tanath. Wallace was born on Corellia, but his earliest memories are only of life at the Jedi Temple. Wallace was a tall, athletic man of about forty-two standard years and was highly respected among all Jedi. Tanath was a muscular Twi’lek who had quickly earned a reputation as one of the most feared up and coming Padawans in the Jedi Temple. Tanath was believed to be sixteen standard years old, but already had the appearance of an imposing natural born warrior.
Dak decided he would consult Master Yoda once more before discussing any last minute details with his Padawan. Yoda sat still in his quarters with his eyes closed in deep meditation before silently speaking. “Troubled you are by the mission I sense.” Master Yoda seems to always be able to answer my questions before I can even voice them, Dak thought.
“Master Yoda, I can’t seem to shake this feeling that a great power, shrouded in darkness, is awaiting us on our journey’s end. Master, you know that I don’t question the Council’s decision to aid the Senate’s “First Contact” mission, but I only ask for your wisdom in leading this mission.”
“The Force your guide will be…success or failure matters not…only the Force.” Dak expressed his gratitude to Yoda and finally went to meet his excited young Padawan at their ship. Dak had only recently begun to understand the wisdom behind Yoda’s riddles, but couldn’t help but wonder how success or failure did not matter. Did Yoda forget that the future endeavors of the Republic were riding on this mission’s shoulders?
The ship was a modified transport vessel from Naboo that had been equipped with hidden laser turrets and cargo bays perfect for smuggling enough ammunition for a small army. The ship was a shiny black color that made it difficult for any vessel to see from a distance without the proper scanning equipment. Tanath suspected the ship had many upgrades that would be considered illegal if this were not a mission supported by the Senate. Dak’s first question to Cree, after introductions were made, was an obvious one…”What is this protocol droid doing armed to the hilt and dressed in military fatigues?”
“Just a few personal upgrades I made and you can never have too many blasters handy! Nothing to get your Jedi robes all bunched up about”, Cree laughed.
Now seemed to be a good time to go over a few rules and expectations regarding mission “First Contact”, Dak Wallace explained, “This is first, to be a mission of peace and not confrontation. Secondly, I expect total cooperation, obedience, and attentiveness. By attentiveness, I mean that we will be representatives of the Senate, the Republic, and the Jedi Council when first contact is made. Am I understood?”
“You understand this!” Cree shouted. “I was chosen by the members of the Senate because I am the best at what I do. And what I do is mostly the black op dirty stuff that you Jedi have no clue about…assassinations, blackmail, kidnapping, transporting, and yes, even a little bounty hunting on the side! So get this straight Jedi, when we land on a planet with more hostiles than you can shake a stick at…you’ll be thanking me for all this!” This last statement was said as Cree stood up and opened his own long black jacket revealing multiple firearms, accessories, and bombs (complete with detonators). Cree then walked over to the floor, moved aside some black paneling and opened one of the hidden cargo bays to reveal a shocking amount of weaponry and one very large explosive device.
Tanath, who had remained respectfully silent until now shouted, “By the Force! What can three beings and one droid hope to accomplish with all this barbaric nonsense?” Cree laughed while inspecting the holster on the hip of his droid before strapping a harness of stun grenades and thermal detonators across its chest.
“Please tell me what exactly you find so funny?” exclaimed Tanath.
“You got it all wrong kid…it’s not what will three beings and a droid do with all this barbaric nonsense, but what can I do with all this barbaric nonsense. See kid, this big piece of nonsense is a fail-safe device just in case we don’t succeed…this little beauty will blow up close to a quarter of a planet’s population if she’s ever activated. Oh, and just in case you get any weird ideas Jedi, the codes (as well as a few dozen self-destruct sequences) are programmed into my trusty droid over there.
Jedi Master Dak had used this opportunity to wean as much information as he could from the talkative Rodian and had now decided he had heard enough.
“This has been a wonderfully pleasant topic of conversation, but I believe the time has come for us to make our leave. But know this Cree; respect is not given until it is earned. The Force has brought us all together for this mission for a reason and it is not for us to question the Force or, in your case, the Senate. So set a course for the Out Rim and past that, we will rely on the Force to be our guide.”
“Alright boys, get ready for a long, boring ride because we may be on auto pilot for a while. Hey droid, keep me updated on the ship’s status. You Jedi drink Corellian Ale? Because I brought a whole case load!”
“Please understand that I mean no offense by this question… But what’s story Cree? And by all means leave no stone unturned, because I got to hear this!”
“Tanath, perhaps it would be best if you concentrate on your meditations and leave our pilot to his duties.”
“Hey Jedi Master, the kid has got a fair question.” Cree mockingly said. “Just understand my story may give the little guy some nightmares. I’ve been told my home-world is Rodia, but I’ve never seen the place to my knowledge. My childhood was spent in the shady underworld of Coruscant where I was a master thief and pickpocket. I never knew the difference between day or night because in the underworld of Coruscant that only light you ever see is the neon lights from all the shady establishments, bars, cantinas, pubs, or worse. I didn’t see the lights from the sky until I picked the wrong man’s pocket. An Iridian Jedi caught me red handed when I tried to swipe what I thought was a nice shiny blaster. Turned out to be his lightsaber and the next thing you know I’m stuck in the Jedi Temple cleaning Padawans’ living quarters! I never found out that Jedi’s name…probably for the best because I’d hunt him down and kill him if I did know that know. The Jedi Council told the Iridian fellow that I was too old and stubborn to become a Jedi. So apparently, this Jedi taught me the next best thing…cleaning sanitizers and making beds. So pardom me if I have an intense hatred for you Jedi! I escaped the temple a couple of years later after I gutted a couple of Jedi guardsman with a lightsaber I lifted off some dumb Padawan. Afterwards, I fell in league with a few wanna-be bounty hunters until my services eventually caught the eye of a very important member of the Senate. And as you can see, my skills were recognized to such an extent that I’m here with you today. Just understand that your precious Republic is filled with a darkness you cannot even come close to understanding. I’ve done things under the radar of your all powerful Force that would make you sick!
“Okay, we get it…you are a big bad tough guy who the Jedi don’t want to mess with with!”
“Remember your training Tanath. I apologize for my Padawan’s attitude. Cree, I thank you for sharing what must have been a difficult past to endure. However, I must ask that you excuse Tanath and me as we have matters regarding our journey we must discuss. I anticipate our journey will be a long one, as you mentioned, so I’d recommend you set the autopilot and get some rest.”
The Jedi exited the ship’s bridge area and made their way to the ship’s designated dining quarters. Cree grinned while lifting a thermal detonator from a shelf without touching it as the Jedi left him to his work. “Those Jedi are as blind as my master foretold”, Cree thought to himself as the detonator hovered above his open hand.
Days had now passed since the mission “First Contact” made its final stop before exiting the comforts of mapped space. Final preparations were made just outside the Inner Rim on a small Republic Colony located on the planet Kiffex. An unexpected encounter with an asteroid belt gave Cree the opportunity to demonstrate his uncanny skills as a pilot. The ease at which the Rodian piloted the craft left the Jedi again questioning their crew member.
“Master, I can’t shake these feelings of uneasiness in the Force regarding this Cree character. Some of our expert Jedi pilots could not have piloted that asteroid field any better than Cree did. Not to mention, I have noticed the conversations this Rodian has with his droid…disturbing.”
“I appreciate your concern for the situation Tanath, but I would prefer you stay focused on your Jedi studies and the task at hand. I will worry about this Rodian and the darkness that has begun to shroud this mission. There has definitely been a shift in the balance of power in the Force ever since we crossed through that disturbing asteroid belt. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear that Cree had piloted through that asteroid field hundreds of times before. I want to speak to the Jedi Council on a private channel in my quarters…until then, you stay alert my young Padawan.
Yoda remained silent on the small screen for what seemed like minutes before replying to Jedi Wallace’s concerns. “Sensed this unbalance in the Force have I. Strange the stories you tell of this Rodian pilot are. A grave mission steeped in the Dark Side of the Force ”First Contact” may be. Must come to some agreement the Jedi Council must. Clouded your presence has become in the Force. Unable to pinpoint your location the Council is.”
“Masters, I implore you to…” Before Jedi Master Wallace could finish his sentence, the ship’s alarms began to sound and the ship began shaking as if caught in a planet’s gravitational pull. A loud explosion could be heard as Dak began sprinting down the ship’s hallway towards the bridge.
Master Sekeel yelled out “Master Dak! Master Dak! Sekeel, who seemed to be both visibly and emotionally distraught over Wallace Dak’s concerns, uncharacteristically began speaking out of turn after the unexpected explosion. “Master Yoda, the ships’ signal remains untraceable and over your objections, I must beg the rest of the Jedi Council to allow my former student time to respond before reacting to this situation.”
Jedi Master Yaddle then spoke, “Master Sekeel, no objections have been made by anyone in this Council. Your behavior since your former student embarked on this journey has been less than acceptable as of late. Too emotionally attached you may be to this situation to make an adequate decision on behalf of this Jedi Council.”
Yoda, now more determined than before, spoke. “Master Yaddle speaks for us all. The Dark Side oif the Force this is. No more discussion this requires. Another Jedi will we send to investigate these matters. Go and confront this darkness face to face will Yoda!”
Master Sekeel threw himself at the mercy of the Jedi Council one last time. “Please, at least let me go and investigate these matters myself. As Dak’s former Master, the responsibility should fall to me alone. The Jedi Council should allow me to investigate this matter before reporting any success or failure to the Senate. We all know the Senate will overreact to the extent that they could endanger this Jedi Council or themselves.”
After looking at all the Jedi Council members, Yoda nodded his tiny head and quietly said “Go now…limited your time is. Grant this request the Jedi Council will. May the Force be with you…But do not underestimate this Darkness.”
As Jedi Master Sekeel exited the Jedi Council, he could hardly keep from smiling as he made his way to his personal starfighter. “The Jedi Council is as blind as they were when I first began my training. I really must chronicle this foolishness on a holocron because this truly is too hard to believe. Their eyes will be opened, as will their chests when I reveal myself to them. Only then will they realize that there is no Jedi Master Sekeel…there is only Darth Venticus.
Wallace Dak ran down the ship’s corridors finally reaching the bridge only to find his young Padawan lying in a small pool of his own blood. “What in the name of the Force is going on here? And D-12, would you please see to Tanath’s injuries whatever their cause may be from?
“Negative on that order droid! Don’t presume you can simply order D-12 to do whatever you want Jedi, especially at this moment. Something down there on that planet either has us locked in tractor beam or the planet has sucked us into its gravitational pull! Either way, I need my droid in the copilot’s seat if that’s okay with you!”
“What about Tanath! You will explain yourself and please cut the sarcasm now Rodian. Oh, and Cree, do not try my patience right now…”
“What about your Padawan? The dumb kid hit the floor like a brick when the hyper drive blew. As much as I’d love to keep the kid’s blood from staining up my ship’s floor, I got bigger Bantha to fry right now Jedi. So why don’t you just strap in and shut your…”
“Enough Rodian! Get up from your seat D-12, before I remove you myself. Good…now go assist my Padawan. Let me make myself clear one last time. I don’t care how bad you think you are Cree! From this moment forward, you will address me as Jedi Wallace, you will address my Padawan as Tanath, and last but not least, you will shut your mouth! Am I understood?”
Try as he might, Cree couldn’t arise from his pilot’s chair or open his mouth to respond to the Jedi. The rage burned within Cree to the extent that he could no longer contain his anger. “Not yet…I can’t reveal myself to this foolish Jedi yet!”
Suddenly, Dak Wallace released his hold on the Rodian. “Now that we have an understanding…what’s our situation?”
Cree cleared his throat and rubbed both wrists while balling his hands into fists as if contemplating how he would kill the Jedi. “I…apologize…Jedi Wallace. I can’t get a read on the origin of our attacker, if it even is an attacker. The ship has lost hyperdrive and we’re slowly losing power. Any of your vast Jedi wisdom would be…”
Cree was interrupted by the droid, D-12, who loudly reported in, “young Tanath is resting nicely after I administered a bacta pack to his wounds, which will heal in exactly 3.6 hours.”
After a period of brief silence, Wallace finally gave the order. “Okay crew, please power down everything on this ship except what is needed for essential life support. We’re going to ride this storm out and see where she takes us. No one leaves this bridge until we land. Now, D-12, please go bring Tanath back to the bridge, bacta and all.”
The ship was being “pulled” by an unknown force to a planet that was on no star chart that Wallace could recall. The ship’s computers had no information regarding their destination either. Mission “First Contact” had accomplished one of its primary goals thus far…exploring the uncharted vastness of the galaxy, as the Republic knew it.
“Looks like we’re getting ready to enter the planet’s atmosphere, Jedi Wallace. Might I recommend we suit up in some environmental gear and equip ourselves with a few supplies? Uh…the big guns would probably be best!” That last statement was made as Cree flipped three switches with Jedi-like speed, spun around in his pilot’s chair, and fired the turret gun at the incoming flying beasts.
“We got company, everybody! Tanath, try and get yourself down to the ship’s laser cannon. Cree, power this baby back up and let’s see that evasive flying you are known for. D-12, I want you working doubletime on this ship’s hailing frequency…Go! Go! Go!”
The crew moved and worked as if they had been a cohesive unit for years, but Jedi Master Dak Wallace did his best to not let his true emotions betray him. “I dare not tell this crew that the planet is soaked in Dark Side energies. Never before have I felt such and evil…it’s as if it’s feeding on the planet itself!”
“All clear…I’m putting her down in that marsh. Stag! Landing gear is jammed. Better hang on tight because this might hurt a little! AH! Stag! Stag! Oh my…”
“Enough with the language! We’ve been on the ground for a good ten seconds now, so please, will you shut up! Now, someone tell me why I’m on a bacta high on a planet with flying beasts in a stinky swamp in the middle of nowhere!”
“Your training Padawan…remember it! You were knocked unconscious when the hyperdrive blew as a result of some Dark Forces pulling us onto the planet. We just need to…”
“Don’t mean to interrupt Jedi Wallace, but what Dark Forces are you talking about?” Cree asked.
Jedi Master Dak Wallace saw no reason to hide the darkness he sensed in the Force any longer. “Ever since we crossed through that asteroid field, I’ve felt an increasing disturbance in the Force in the form of the Dark Side. This planet seems to be soaked in Dark Side energies to the extent that even these beasts of the air give off an aura of darkness.”
“Dark Side or Light Side means nothing to me! A flesh wound is a flesh wound no matter who’s holding the blaster. So, let’s lock and load already! A still target is a stupid target!”
“Perhaps I would’ve worded it a bit differently, but it’s a good idea nonetheless. Tanath, please grab out gear, D-12, you will stay with the ship and report anything unusual, and Cree…just try to keep up.”
The Jedi and their pilot companion walked for what seemed like hours unable to gain any sense of adequate direction. The planet’s jungle-like undergrowth was layered so densely that it was hard to see what was but a few feet away. The sounds of predators seemed to echo the ever-darkening sky with their screams of terror. However, the “First Contact” crew appeared undeterred by any of the distractions that seemed to follow their every footstep. Both Jedi moved at times with blinding speed, carving through the thick undergrowth in search of the clearer path. Cree stood with blaster in hand watching the Jedi’s every move with an uneasy look in his eyes. The Jedi finally found a worn path that seemed to be leading them in an obvious direction. That direction, however, felt all wrong in the Force to both Jedi. At that moment, Dak Wallace felt as if this mission was destined for failure.
“This pathway leads only to the Dark Side. We must all return to the ship immediately and try to get a channel open to the Jedi Council before it’s too late! Now!”
“But Master…” exclaimed Tanath.
“No but’s Padawan. Abort mission…abort mission.”
At that moment, both Jedi heard a voice and immediately saw the hologram image of Jedi Master Sekeel come forth from the gloved hand of Cree. The young Padawan, Tanath, felt a sense of relief, thinking their savior had arrived in the form of the old master. Dak Wallace’s heart sank when he heard the darkness in his former master’s voice and saw the evil flash over the face of their pilot, Cree.
Wallace then shouted, “Run, Tanath! Now!”
Cree pulled two blasters from his side with blinding speed and precision and began firing on both Jedi. The Jedi burst off in two separate directions in a blur of the Force. Cree followed the Padawan, first seeking to pick off the weaker of the two with a taste of the darkness the Padawan had never encountered. The Padawan did exactly as Cree expected and turned to face his attacker. At that moment, Cree dropped both blasters and reached behind his long coat with both arms revealing two red light sabers. The Rodian threw both sabers to the left and right of the Padawan. The sabers were thrown not to kill, but to distract. The Padawan was so stunned by the maneuver that he failed to notice the Rodian draw the small blaster from his forearm. The blaster delivered a death blow right through the Padawan’s head. Obviously, another deadly and illegal upgrade was made for such a small blaster to deliver such a devastating, vicious death shot.
No time had seemed to pass at all since Master Wallace had told his Padawan to run and yet Dak knew instantly that his Padawan was no more. A decision had to be made. Jedi Master Dak Wallace simply sat down in a Jedi meditative posture and began to focus all his thoughts and energies on the minds of the Jedi Council.
“Masters…Masters…please hear my thoughts…Masters…”
Those thoughts were quickly interrupted by the pilot of the “First Contact” crew…Cree. For the first time, the Rodian’s muscular build felt strangely imposing to the Jedi. Cree stood with his arms crossed and just laughed at the Jedi who was still sitting in his meditative posture. Only now his eyes were opened and he was staring into the eyes of the Rodian. The Jedi Master slowly began to get up and simply drew his light saber from the belt inside of his brown cloak. The blue light saber hummed as the Jedi and the Rodian stood and began moving closer to one another.
Cree finally spoke, “You can’t win now Jedi. My master has foreseen this moment.”
“Then let me meet this master of yours so that I may show him how much I disagree!”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible…yet. First, let me tell you why you will put away your light saber and…”
“Enough!” shouted the charging Jedi. Wallace force pushed Cree into a tree at least ten feet away and looked as if he was ready to deliver the deathblow. Cree quickly regained his wits and rolled beneath the hum of the light saber, which destroyed the tree that Cree had been leaning against. Cree reached in his long, dark coat and took out what appeared to be a vibro sword and a light whip. Cree began moving the sword and whip in unison and, at times, seemed to wrap the whip sround the blade of the sword while attacking the oncoming Jedi. A blur of color and light now sparked in the dark, black sky. The Rodian’s anger burned in a fury and rage which seemed to take the Jedi by surprise.
However, Wallace was not chosen for this mission because he was expendable…he was exceptional in almost all aspects of the Force. Wallace ducked beneath the crack of the light whip, spinning his own saber behind his back after rolling beneath a vibro sword attack. The result of the Jedi’s incredible timing came at the expense of the Rodian’s leg, which fell to the ground beside Cree who still stood screaming on his one good leg. Cree then dropped face first and held the cauterized wound where his leg had once been. Wallace turned to deliver the final blow when suddenly he felt as if the Force was holding his arm in place. Unable to move and feeling the increasing pressure flow through his arm, Wallace had no choice but to drop his light saber.
“Hello Wallace.”
Standing before him was a man shrouded in darkness, wearing a black cloak and appearing from nowhere as if he had been hidden from even the Force…”Master Sekeel.”
“You have grown into quite an impressive Jedi Master in your own right. I have watched your progress ever since you were my own Padawan. But, I digress…that’s not why I’ve gone to such lengths to bring you here today. I want to offer you what the Jedi Council has been so blind to see from the very start…power. I did not simply choose you as my Padawan because the Force deemed it so. I chose you because I saw inside you that which others did not…power. I have penetrated the walls of the Jedi Temple and played every Master for the fools that they are. They are all pawns in a game larger than even they can imagine. Power…absolute and indescribable power…”
“These words mean nothing to me. These are the words I want! First, tell me why my Padawan had to die. Then, you can tell me why this whole scheme of yours stinks of the Dark Side. Now!”
“Ah, that’s the Dak Wallace I remember. What a deep anger burning within you. Have you ever stopped and wondered why such a gift can’t be channeled? Why does the Jedi Code teach us that such emotions are forbidden? I can teach you to channel that anger inside you so that you can become even more powerful.”
Wallace reached out with the Force and his light saber was suddenly ignited in his hands. “My answer Sekeel…I want my answers!”
“I would advise you to put your weapon away Jedi. Still, I think the answers you desire are not too much to ask for. Your Padawan, although talented, was merely a pawn in this game of power. This scheme, as you so eloquently put it, is no scheme at all. If this was a scheme on my part, then you would already be dead. This game of power is an opportunity for you to become my one true apprentice so that together we may rule this ignorant galaxy. The Senate is already mine for the taking and the Jedi Council are so blinded by their foolish ways they surely deserve whatever punishment I see fit for them. I can tell you still don’t quite grasp what I’m saying. Power isn’t found in the Jedi. Power isn’t found in the Force alone. Power is this…the Sith!”
“Sith? How can you be Sith? The Sith died out long ago due to their own foolishness. Some even say they were but a myth. I cannot believe these lies. Master Sekeel, how can you even believe such things? You even have a seat on the Jedi Council. The former Master Sekeel I remember would never say or do such things.”
“Don’t you see Wallace? There was no Jedi Master Sekeel. There has always been and will always be Darth Venticus…Dark Lord of the Sith! The plan from the very beginning was for you and I to destroy our greatest enemy from the inside out. The Sith have now walked amongst the Jedi longer than they can even imagine…waiting for the right time to strike. That time is now! I will systematically pick off the Jedi one by one if I must until there is nothing left. The Sith will rule the Senate as well as the entire galaxy. I’m sorry I couldn’t reveal myself to you until now, but this is the way it had to be…this is the way it has always been. Time is of the essence, so I must have your decision now. I now need you answer, Dak Wallace. What will it be?”
Without hesitation, Jedi Master Dak Wallace delivered his answer in the form of quick kick to the stomach Darth Venticus followed by a spin kick delivered to the still hooded head of the Sith Lord. Wallace then looked to drive his saber like a spike into the heart if his fallen enemy, but was shocked when he was sent flying by a blue lightning emanating from the hands of the Sith Lord. Venticus laughed as he stood and dusted off his black cloak while blood now streamed from a cut on his lip. Darth Venticus wiped the blood from his mouth and looked at the now crimson stain on his gloved hand. Venticus then smiled as he removed his own light saber from the black cloak.
“So be it…Jedi. Now you, just like your pitiful excuse for a Padawan, will die!”
“No!” shouted the Jedi as he charged to attack the Dark Lord of the Sith. The two sabers now clashed, moving back and forth too quickly to follow. Both men dodged and parried each other’s blows with blinding speed. No quarter was given and no quarter was gained as the two fought the dangers of the jungle. Animals roared, cringed, and fled at the sights and sounds of the two combatants. “Let go of your hatred, Jedi!” shouted Darth Venticus as he blocked a flurry of incoming blows. “Feel the anger flood through your veins and embrace the darkness inside you!” Wallace screamed out like a violent predator attacking his prey and nearly decapitated the talkative Sith Lord.
“Enough of this!” said the Dark Lord as he spun away from a blow and sent the Jedi flying with a furious force push. Darth Venticus then uprooted a tree with but a thought and sent it flying in the direction of the fallen Jedi. “Time to get a taste of true power, Jedi!” The Sith Lord raised both arms and trees slowly began uprooting on all sides of the beaten Jedi until Venticus quickly brought his hands together in a deadly clap of destruction. The trees hovering all around the Jedi suddenly all came crashing down around the Jedi. All that was left was a pile of destroyed trees and no sign of the once great and powerful Jedi Master.
Darth Venticus again dusted off his black cloak and slowly put his light saber back into its rightful place. Venticus then pulled out a communicator. “D-12, please run the override sequence entitled “Venticus”. I will meet you shortly with our cargo.” The Sith Lord then turned to his fallen henchman, Cree, and knelt down beside him. “All is well now, my loyal servant.”
“Did the Jedi…” Cree struggled to say as he regained his consciousness.
“The Jedi are of no concern to us anymore. The time has come for me to take my rightful place of power in the Senate. Now the blind Jedi will finally see! Did you splice the video footage as I asked?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Darth Venticus sat in the ship once occupied by the Jedi with the traitorous Rodian pilot, Cree. “All is ready, Darth Venticus. The ship’s autopilot is set on course. The Padawan’s body has been made ready in the pilot’s chair.”
“Good. Good. All is as I have foreseen. The spliced video footage will show that the two Jedi armed the bomb when it was actually you showing the foolish Jedi how to arm and disarm the weapon. See how trusting they are? The Sith will relish in the defeat of such an ignorant enemy. The obvious Senate markings we’ve now placed on the ship will no doubt give the ship away to our enemies. The ship will be sent on a mission of peace in the name of the Senate to their greatest enemy. When docking, the fools will discover what appears to be a Jedi who has killed himself and left a message if war on behalf of the Senate. By the time the fools realize what’s on the videodisc it will be too late. Word will reach around the galaxy that the Jedi have led an exploration mission under false pretenses in the name of their own personal vendetta…that vendetta is war. The Jedi will fall into disarray and will be ripe for a hostile takeover. That takeover will come in the form of a Sith led invasion against the Senate. The sympathizers to our call for justice and order will be great and the Sith will again rule the galaxy. And it all started with a man named Sekeel, the most dangerous Jedi that never was.”