Hero of Naboo Chapter 15 Preview

"By the Force, he's good," Dooku stated as objectively as possible.

"You sure a member of the council should be praising a Sith, Master?" Qui-Gon asked with a scowl as he leaned against a window, watching the affair with a troubled look.

"Qui-Gon, I'm watching knights, guardians, consulars, and at least three masters of the Jedi Order being defeated by one lone warrior who, to be frank, has displayed relatively minimum mobility in this fight," Dooku countered dryly. "And even if I ignored that? Unless I'm mistaken, he's incorperated elements of nearly every style to his technique. As a duelist, I'm forced to admit his skill."

Qui-Gon winced as he felt the Dark Side crash against the temple again, glancing up at where he sensed the mass of unseen darkness. "And drawing all the Dark Side to him just to bash the temple with it?"

"That's more my Master's area of expertise. I'm not even sure to make of what it means, estocially or as a battle tactic," Dooku admitted with a frown. "His power has swelled to its zinith, but...."

"It's swelled ONLY to his zinith," Qui-Gon finished stoically. Despite all the might and terror that Dark Side inspired, the power of its own champion had not broken any previous heights Qui-Gon had sensed in Vader's power.

"Master! Master!"

The pair glanced away to see the younger Jedi Master's padawan came running towards them. "Obi-Wan? What is it? And where is Anakin?" Qui-gon asked in concern.

"Helping a youngling," Obi-wan said as he came to a halt. "But that's not important. Masters, we have to stop this," he urged.

"Do you have some power over this Sith Lord, Young Kenobi?" Dooku quibbed with a raised eyebrow. "Otherwise, ending this nonviolently seems unlikely."

"With respect, Master Dooku, I wasn't referring to Vader," Obi-wan corrected grimly.

Both Jedi Masters regarded him as a bewildering subject to study, Qui-gon feeling searching intently through there bond. "You want to stop them from attacking Vader?" the maverick jedi summarized with a scrunched brow.

"Masters, look. I mean really, LOOK," Obi-wan stressed while pointing out the window.

Rather confused by the normally conformist student's odd behavior, both looked back out to the battle as Vader counter and defeated everyone that came at him with a precision that only experience could bring. "Yes, we are well aware he has avoided slaying anyone, Padawan," Dooku acknowledged, only to raise a brow at Qui-gon look of deep throught as his old student studied the scene. "Qui-gon?"

"Is it really that simple?" Qui-gon murmured.

"Hmm, and here I thought only Master Yoda could still put me in this position," Dooku remarked in interest. "What is it, my old friend?"

"He's only attacking when attacked," Qui-gon pointed out with a sigh as he whiped a hand all over his face. "And if that is true for what happened with those first four-"

"Mace Windu is about to fall into a trap," Dooku deduced grimly. "All Vader needs is a valid reason for coming to the Temple, and this entire situation legally become one man defending himself."

"Its Vader, of course he'll have a reason," Obi-wan said knowingly, obviously a bit frustrated.

"Which means-," Qui-gon paused to sigh. "-the only way to keep this situation from getting worse is stop this now."

Dooku stared as understanding kicked in. "Well, this will certainly be a new level of "maverick" even for you, my former Padawan."

"Technically, this is Obi-wan's idea."

Meanwhile

"A Sith? What is a Sith?" Sol Sixxa questioned with a scowl.

"I would not be surprised you don't know of them, My Friend," Duke Brumel stated, stroking his beard. "They are an ancient, mysterious enemy of the Republic. Or, rather, the Jedi. Not many records of their culture exists. Most worlds only have them listed as events, long forgotten wars with the Republic."

"The Red Jedi," Cifo muttered. "That is what the Duros I grew around called them. Stories of an Empire of Jedi-like warriors, always hungry for war. Especially with the Jedi."

"Hmm, history has not been an issue our people could persue," Sod Gert commented, trading looks with his fellows. "But I do believe I recall them, if only in mention that the Ruusan Reformation occured at the end of a war with a group called Sith."

"Are you sure you can trust him, Queen?" Sixxa questioned with a head tilt.

"For now, yes," Amidala answered diplomatically. "If what I understand is correct, Darth Vader claims no alligence or connection to the political entity the Sith may have one been, only to the culture of one."

Cifo made a noise that might have been a hum, obviously feeling a connection to that notion as a Neomedian in biology only.

"I don't like how he seems to have just come out of nowhere with no explaination," Sixxa countered before nodding to himself. "But I've been to Tattooine, once. If there was ever a time to have turned on you, it would have been there. And you obviously have more reason to trust him than us."

"Very well. We should call this meeting to a close, as the senate will soon be called to vot-" Brumel started before the door suddenly opened, a purple Twi'lek woman appearing with a white dress. "Zafi, what is-?" he started with a scowl, his voice halfway between scolding and concern.

"Forgive the intrusion, Duke Brumel, but there's been an incident," she interrupted firmly.

Instantly, the entire group was on alert, trading warry looks amongs each other. "In the senate?" Brumel guessed.

"No, the Jedi Temple."

Padme's eyes went wide, instantly knowing who the only source of this could be. She watched, eyes glued to the messenger, as the tail-headed alien moved to activate a holofeed in the center of the room, showing the HoloNet News. There, on full display to the watching Galaxy, was Darth Vader amongst a great many Jedi. Around him was a swarm of rocks and boulders that circled him, blocking and bashing away the Jedi that dared to approach him.

"Is...is he taking on the entire temple?" Sixxa asked, lookly truly gobsmacked for once, his jaded demeaner giving way to disbelief.

"I doubt Vader, after everything else, is doing this without reason," Panaka added in, more to himself than anyone else. 

"Regardless, it seems your ally just became a political liability, Your Highness" Cifo remarked apologetically.

"Don't be so sure, Cifo Klatt," Amidala countered, nodding back to the image.