Attack of the Clones — Reborn

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

prologue

With the sounds of celebration fading in the distance, we watch as a newly knighted Obi-Wan Kenobi hops into a Jedi Starfighter and flies away from Naboo to land on Dantooine. He’s greeted by a warm and inviting Yoda, who sets aside his work for the reunion. Obi-Wan holds back tears as he explains the circumstances of Qui-Gon’s passing, and the feeling of serenity that encased him as he defeated Maul. Yoda listens to everything patiently, then offers to meditate with him.

As they commune, Yoda tells Obi-Wan that a Jedi must be committed to do what is good above all else. It’s a trap to think that doing what is right is enough — for sometimes the right thing can be the most terrible. Obi-Wan says that reminds him of something Qui-Gon used to say. Yoda nods and says he has learned much from his master, then adds that he wishes Dooku had heeded the same advice.

Obi-Wan is surprised to hear the name of his master’s former master evoked, so Yoda informs him that Dooku came and met with him about five years ago. It wasn’t a good meeting but not necessarily a bad one. Yoda is cryptic and evasive, so Obi-Wan doesn’t press the matter. Just before Obi-Wan departs, he asks if Yoda will ever return to the Order. Yoda doesn’t believe there should be an Order anymore, so no, he will never return.

And besides, he adds, if over eight centuries of service isn’t enough, than what is? At some point, everything must come to an end…

end of prologue

-STAR WARS-

The corporate slavers are defeated! After five years of righteous conflict, the Republic strikes a final blow to Czerka Corp and takes control of their galactic holdings. The Senate sets up a special advisory board to handle the massive task of dismantling the corporate monopoly, headed by the newly elected Grand Chancellor of the Republic, Sheev Palpatine.

Leading them to glorious victory is the heroic Queen Amidala of Naboo. She and her allies formed a coalition which crushed any fleet that stood before them, freeing much of the Outer Rim from the cruel slavers.

With peace restored to the Galaxy, the Jedi hope that the Sith plot can be uncovered before it is too late…

Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker has spent five years absorbing all he could from the Temple on Coruscant. He entered the academy as an adept, like a youngling would, and quickly distinguished himself for more than just his advanced age. The Council was willing to forgo his training altogether, but Anakin declined. He wanted to live the life of a novice and not receive any special treatment.

He is strong in the Force and patient about his lessons. His masters consider him an asset in classes because he helps teach the younger, less capable students. He’s happy and comfortable, but the Jedi Council see this as complacency.

To complicate matters, Sabé of Naboo is his closest friend and confidant. She moved to Coruscant to serve as an aide to Senator Binks, after a battle-wound scarred her face, rendering her unable to do her duties as a handmaiden.

They spend many evenings together, either in study or at play, and it is a cause for concern among Anakin’s closer friends, as well. They worry that he’s treading too close to the edge of oblivion, that innocent fun is the first step on the path to suffering and pain. He says they worry too much: He’s been doing this for years and what the masters don’t know can’t hurt them. Besides, he adds, there is a difference between rules you must follow, and those you shouldn’t get caught breaking.

…

Theed is a very different city these days, and Queen Amidala rules over a changed Naboo. Gone are the egalitarian society and the beautiful, artistic monoliths that dominated the skyline. Now, the capital of Naboo manufactures more arms and ammunition than they can train troops. The factories never rest and five years worth of captured and repurposed Czerka tech, bolsters their numbers. It is a hotbed of revolutionary activity and the center of the Republic’s Outer Rim expansion.

The Republic has reached more worlds in the Outer Rim in the past half-decade than the last millennia. Leading this war effort is the warrior queen Padmé Amidala. She and her Vice Regent, Boss Nass, and her Jedi protector, Master Plo Koon, have run such an effective military campaign against the the Czerka slavers, that some wonder what her rule will even look like in peace time?

With the end of the conflict, much of the Republic fleet returns home — Mon Cal, Hosnian Prime, Duros and Corellia, each have conflicts in their own systems and sectors that need resolution. So Naboo and the Inner Rim system of Nubia enter into an agreement: Nubia will make the ships, Naboo will outfit and man them, and together they’ll maintain their military supremacy. The agreement would require a secret meeting between the rulers of the two worlds, presided over by Master Plo Koon.

The day of the meeting they receive reports that Nubia is not responding to transmissions of any kind. Plo Koon advises they be patient, report to the senate and allow the Jedi to find out more, but Boss Nass and Padmé do not agree. Amidala believes there are any number of things that could be happening to block transmissions, and every single one of them requires a strike force. Koon intimates that Queen Amidala lacks imagination, but softens his stance. Nass adds that even if there’s an innocent reason for a full communications lock down on an otherwise peaceful world, they can just send the fleet home and call it a drill.

Plo Koon agrees and the Queen of Naboo sails to Nubia with her armada, ready for war.

…

A Jedi Knight is trying to send a transmission back to the temple on Pantora but blaster fire keeps interrupting him. It’s fighting for its life and fleeing, trying to get a message off-world, while its padawan struggles to keep up. The Knight falters to try to save its apprentice, and the communicator is destroyed in the process. The Knight turns to face its attacker — Jango Fett. Jango uses a weapon in his gauntlet that upends gravity and sends the Jedi off its feet. Then he lassos the Knight and sends a deadly current of yellow-lightning through the exhausted warrior.

The Jedi dies on its knees, then drops down to the ground when Jango releases his coil. The Padawan cries out and attacks but Fett quickly subdues and restrains the youngling. Jango slowly picks through the Jedi Knight’s things and asks the padawan if it considered the Jedi to be like family. The padwan responds through angry tears that the Jedi do not have attachments like families, because they are a weakness to be exploited. Jango laughs and asks what are all the tears for, then?

Fett retrieves the dead knight’s lightsaber, and snaps it in half in his hands to retrieve the precious Kyber within. Jango says just one of these little crystals could buy him a yacht, two could buy him a capital cruiser. He then breaks the young apprentice’s lightsaber, and the youngling weeps even harder. Jango tilts his head and offers that maybe the Jedi were right about attachments and weakness… That sets the youngling off. The padawan uses a burst of Dark Side power to toss Jango off a ledge, but Fett uses his jetpack to return and shoot the kid down dead. As he flies away, he uses his flamethrower to torch the area.

Jango boards the Slave One and hails Lord Tyranus, to inform him that he has the holocron he was sent to retrieve. Tyranus tells him to meet the courier on Nar Shadaa then to return to Kamino and prepare for battle. Jango acknowledges, jumps to hyperspace and lands on the festering, criminal city-world. The landscape is much like Coruscant but without the culture, the art, or the sunlight, as pollution hangs in the air like a never-ending fog. Jango exits his ship and is immediately accosted by Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Obi-Wan ask him where Maul is, but Fett says that he’s crazy — he’s just chasing ghosts. Jango tries to stand and fight, but Obi-Wan is more than his match, so he flees. They battle across the skyline and Jango nearly escapes by trying to bring down a building on top of them both, but Obi-Wan manages to brace the building and ensnare Fett. He returns to a refitted Corellian Corvette, dubbed The Shatterpoint II, and Raymus Antilles and the rest of the crew are excited to have Jango finally in their clutches. Antilles is Alderaanian, who’ve been enemies of Mandalore for nearly 10,000 years, so capturing a famous Mandalorian is especially sweet for him.

As they leave the system, Obi-Wan begins to interrogate his captive. Jango is very prepared to resist him and it convinces Kenobi that the Mando is working with a Sith Lord. This rattles Fett enough that Obi-Wan manages to probe deeper into his mind. The name “Lord Tyranus” comes to him first, and Jango cries out for relief. He says he was hired by a man who called himself Sifo-Dyas, and that he paid him double his usual rate — not that a Jedi would understand a thing like working for a living.

Obi-Wan is so unsettled by this revelation that he stops the interrogation there. As he contemplates calling the Council, they receive an emergency transmission from Plo Koon. It’s a recording. Master Koon and the Naboo war fleet are going to the aid of Nubia. He fears that no matter what is waiting for them there, Queen Amidala is going to find a fight. He asks that Obi-Wan come and help him with whatever crisis awaits them and MTFBWY.

Raymus offers the advice that their mission was to return with Fett to the Council for interrogation. They’ve been tracking this Sith lord for years, and they finally have his trigger-man in custody — this is their best chance at bringing Maul down for good. Obi-Wan offers that they might be tracking down the wrong Sith lord, but doesn’t elaborate further. Then he adds that Jango will still be in their custody if they go to Nubia first, and it is his duty to aid any Master of the Order that he can, and he can.

There’s no more argument to be had, so they plot a course and leap into hyperspace. As the hyperdrive engages, Raymus whispers something under his breath about having a bad feeling about this…

…

Anakin and Sabé both have work to do on their datapads, but they are happiest doing it together. They lounge in his quarters, being cute and enjoying each other’s company. Suddenly a breathless young human, Caleb Dume, and a pale-green skinned Twi’lekk named Teela Narrin, charge into the room and warn them that Sabé has to run for it. Caught up in the excitement she kisses Anakin goodbye, who beams from ear to ear, then she apologizes for the indiscretion and runs out of the room. Caleb and Teela are dumbfounded, but Anakin feels like a million credits.

That feeling comes crashing down around him when the door to his dormitory reopens to show a disappointed Master Kit Fisto, with his arms crossed. He brings Anakin before the Lower Council but they are delayed by a meeting. While they are forced to wait, Kit explains to Anakin that he’s earned lenience because of his special circumstances — humans usually are inducted as infants and done with their Temple training by the age of eleven or twelve, while he’s in his mid-twenties. But just because his behavior has been tolerated to this point, that does not mean it is excused.

The Lower Council denies Master Fisto’s request and Anakin is sent back to his rooms. An increasingly frustrated Fisto is taken to see the High Council while Anakin and his buddies settle in to play a couple rounds of sabacc. Skywalker can’t stop daydreaming about the kiss Sabé gave him until an indignant Master Luminara Unduli enters the dormitory and sentences all three of them to unscheduled cleaning duties. They are taken to the laundry room and forced to work alongside the Reservists and droids assigned there. The trio aren’t the only ones in detention, either, so Anakin quickly rallies everyone to turn the work into a kind of game to help pass the time.

Meanwhile, Kit Fisto meets with the other masters of the High Council. Ki Adi Mundi and Yaddle tell of a story of a Force-being who would be born amidst the darkness and return the galaxy to the light. The One would balance the Force forever by destroying the Sith. But it would come at a terrible price, too great for one being to bear.

The Council believes, as Qui-Gon Jinn once believed, that Anakin is the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Fisto is shocked, not only hear that the Council kept this secret for half a decade, but they have been treating one of their apprentices like a sacrificial lamb on the alter of destiny. The Council tells him that he is sworn now to the same secrecy as the rest of them, or else he faces unforeseen consequences. Mace Windu then suggests it is time that Anakin leave the capital. There are too many temptations for him on Coruscant. Plo Koon offers to take him on, not as a master but as an advisor, adding that Anakin might help temper the unpredictable Padmé Amidala. The Council agrees and the holo-images fade away.

…

On the bridge of Queen Amidala’s flagship, The Progress, handmaiden’s Eirtaé, Berilé and Queen Padmé are going over their most recent data on Nubia with the rest of the war council. Panaka and Typho are present as holo-images, Plo Koon is on-hand and Boss Nass paces among the flight crew, taking note of absolutely everything. Padmé jests that if worse comes to worse, they’ve got the guns and manpower to occupy the world for as long as necessary. Plo Koon is no fun, scolding that invading a Republic world is not within his purview. Amidala calls him a party-pooper then ups the ante, asking: what Master Koon would do if the Jedi Council demanded he assassinate her.

The mere suggestion causes a bit of an uproar, but once it dies down Koon explains that it is an impossible hypothetical, and therefore has no merit. Amidala acknowledges that the Jedi Council wouldn’t actually do that, but adds that her point remains — anything is corruptible. As that final sentiment lingers in the air like a rancid fart, the armada drops out of hyperspace to behold the system of Nubia.

The world is ringed by space trash and the Naboo fleet is forced to pull back to avoid shrapnel damage. A massive space battle had occurred recently, that much was clear, but not much else. Amidala sends out a call to any and all surviving beings in the system, and slowly they formulate a picture of what happened. At some point within the past few days, a fleet from Sienar Systems attacked and battled Nubia to an uneasy cease-fire. The blockade continued but neither side of the conflict was strong enough to defeat the other.

With the presence of the powerful Naboo fleet bearing down on them, both sides sue for peace and delegations meet on The Progress to negotiate terms of surrender. It does not take long to see that both Sienar and Nubia are willing to die fighting, so Amidala imprisons the delegations on her ship and demands that the Prime Minister of Nubia and the Chairman of Sienar come to her or she will invade and wipe out any military force that stands in her way.

The gambit works and Prime Minister Kelvin Marcosh meets with Padmé, Boss Nass, Plo Koon and Chairman Clarita Sienar, on The Progress. In the disarmament negotiations it is revealed that all of the galaxy’s largest military producers have reduced their output by over fifty percent. Kuat Drive Yards and Kuat Systems, Sienar , Sorosub, Incom and dozens of others have all reduced to unsustainable production levels and not from lack of buyers, but lack of resources.

The only places to remain relatively stable through this time are Core worlds like Cygnus or Corellia, or the well-defended Mon Calamari. Nubia is small and remote enough to appear as an easy target for a company on its last legs, like Sienar. Millions have been laid off already and billions more would be before long — it was an existential crisis, so the chairman had to act. It’s looking like there’s going to be nothing but losers coming out of this situation, when Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Shatterpoint II drop out of hyperspace and hail them.

Amidala and her handmaidens are pleased to welcome their old friend back to council and Plo Koon quickly appraises him of the situation. As negotiations come to a close an alarm is raised by the ship’s security team. There was an explosion in the hangar bay and a fighter was stolen, along with the prisoner Jango Fett! The fighter destroys a few Sienar and Naboo ships on its way out of the system the hyperspaces to safety.

Raymus wants to chase him down immediately, Obi-Wan is inclined to agree but Plo Koon urges patience. They will track Jango and his compatriots wherever they go, but in the meantime they must warn the Council and the Republic about all they’ve seen and learned. With the help of the High Council, they’ll be able to decide the best way to proceed with regards to Fett and this mysterious Lord Tyranus. Also, Nubia and Sienar will need all the help they can get to rebuild after all the destruction they wrought on one other.

Obi-Wan reluctantly agrees, mentioning that Raymus will be furious, but he knows it’s for the best. They track Jango and his savior to the Serenno system, the home of Count Dooku. Plo Koon mentions that’s interesting, because Dooku left the Jedi Order years ago and has mostly left the public eye. Obi-Wan then adds that he knows Dooku was once Qui-Gon’s master, and then relates the cryptic warning he received from Yoda five years ago. Plo Koon says that they must meditate on this, and the scene ends with Nubia and Sienar agreeing to peace terms.

…

We go to the Count’s citadel on Serenno where Dooku receives word that Jango Fett never met with his courier on Nar Shadaa. He is clearly displeased and summons the leaders of the newly formed Separatist alliance. They must amass their forces immediately; he commands and they obey. The Banking Clan and Trade Federation are backing him, helping to fund a massive droid army built in secret by the Geonosians. Then he summons up his courage and hails his master who is displeased to hear about Jango’s failure, but does not sound surprised.

The master intimates that Fett’s failure is truly Dooku’s, and that it will ultimately cost him his life. For now though, he must begin the next phase of their plan. Dooku will abandon his military post and enter the public life once more. In time the Separatist Confederacy will name him their Head of State. When Dooku presses his master on who will lead their forces into battle, the Dark Lord laughs and tells him that General Grievous will be with him shortly. The transmission ends and then Dooku gets word that an approaching Republic fighter is broadcasting Jango Fett’s clearance codes.

Dooku clears it for landing and watches as the Kaleesh (now General Grievous) and Jango Fett disembark. Grievous is tall and strong with his state-of-the-art metal frame, and a cape flowing gloriously behind him as he trudges forward. Besides a random cough here and there, he’s perfect. Jango looks unimpressive by comparison — Dooku immediately likes his master’s newest pet. Grievous is cold and unfriendly for his part, as he hates Force-users, but can recognize the immense power Tyranus wields.

Jango apologizes for being captured, but offers the Kyber crystals and stolen holocron as restitution. As he explains what happened, he finishes by telling Tyranus that he was able to trick Obi-Wan. It worked, he says, I only had to mention Sifo-Dyas’s name and the Jedi was too distraught to continue the interrogation. This seems to please Dooku, who then gifts the Kyber crystals to Grievous. Grievous bows gratefully, then Dooku tells the general it’s time he mobilize his troops.

Jango says he’ll be ready to get back to work as soon as he gets his ship back, but Dooku waves him off. Jango must go to Coruscant, he has a new mission to complete before his master can begin his great work. Jango promises not to fail him again, then departs for Nar Shadaa.

…

Back on Coruscant we see Sabé sitting in on a meeting with Senator Binks, presided over by Chancellor Palpatine himself. They are having a heated discussion regarding the current military structure of the Republic. Bail Organa and Chancellor Palpatine do not believe there is any need to begin conscription of a Republic Army. Binks and others believe otherwise, and offer the new crisis in Nubia as evidence.

When the meeting ends, a personal aide to Palpatine named Janus, pulls Sabé aside to ask about her relationship with Anakin. The assumption is that Palpatine himself is asking, so she dare not deny him. She informs Janus that they are still quite close and have plans to see a light show together that evening. Janus is pleased and compliments Senator Binks for having such a loyal Nabooian assistant, to which she corrects him by saying she was actually born on Alderaan, but grew up on Naboo serving in the home of the Naberries. The evocation of Bail’s homeworld brings him into the conversation and Janus takes his leave.

Sabé tells Anakin about the unsettling experience that evening as they’re walking to the show. He says he’s starting to feel like the capital isn’t a very friendly place, which earns a scoff from Sabé. She calls him insulated, and Anakin says she’s right, but he’s happy. During the show she asks Anakin if he’s ever considered leaving the Order behind. Palpatine would give him a job in a heartbeat, and maybe a return to the real world would do him good. He asks her if she would get a bonus if he put her name on his job application, and she drops the subject altogether.

After the show they stop by an outdoor wine-sink for some refreshments. Anakin and Sabé are looking at their datapads, when a message dings on Anakin’s that he clearly wishes she didn’t see. She asks him what that was and he has to admit that he’s been keeping in touch with The Guild. Now she’s the one that gets to feign indignance, so she lays it on thick. How dare you steal Jedi secrets? — she says and pokes him in the ribs. Anakin says it’s not stealing as much as sharing. She says she doubts his masters would see it that way.

Suddenly Anakin raises his voice and slams down his drink. He asks her precisely when the Jedi took ownership of the mysteries of the Force? How could anyone, or any group, possess such power? Is that what the Republic is about — establishing and protecting monopolies? Is it any different because it is a religion?

Sabé deescalates by asking Anakin if he’s ever talked to anyone about these questions? It seems like he’s got doubts that she couldn’t possibly help him with, but perhaps there is someone at the Temple that could? Anakin realizes how heated he got and apologizes with another round of drinks. They have a fun night and end up sleeping together. Anakin has to get back to the Temple before gets caught out of bed, but before he goes, Sabé asks him what took him so long to make a move — Was it Padmé? He kisses away her questions, then leaves.

As soon as Anakin exits her apartments he’s apprehended by Jedi Sentinels who bring him directly to the High Council. A bemused hologram of Chancellor Palpatine joins them as they discuss Anakin’s many transgressions and possible punishment. Palpatine offers a suggestion: Anakin be assigned to his staff as his personal body guard and ward. The Chancellor could teach him about statecraft and the complexities of galactic politics, and it would give him an opportunity to spend some time away from the Temple, which his actions show he clearly desires.

The Council deny this request outright. Mace Windu especially does not appreciate the idea, so Anakin asks to take his destiny into his own hands. He says that he is ready for the trials, that he can earn the rank of Knight without ever having a master. This too the Council denies without discussion. Ki Adi Mundi tells Anakin he must take a master before he will ever be anything more than a learner. But, being that they shall not force him to take one, instead they will send him to assist the Naboo in their quest to rebuild Nubia.

Anakin balks initially at the idea, but Mace adds that more than a dozen masters and knights have tried to take him on as an apprentice and failed. If Anakin refuses this offer as well, they will have to begin to consider expelling him from the academy and turning him into a Reservist. Master Saesee Tiin intimates that he could be assigned to the motorpool, or work as an Order pilot. But since no one really wants that for Anakin, he agrees to leave in the morning for Nubia. Before he even makes it back to his dormitory, he sends a message to Sabé to meet him and say their goodbyes.

They would never get the opportunity, because instead of meeting with Sabé at their secret place, Jango Fett appears and abducts Anakin. He knocks him out and stows him aboard the Slave One, then quickly makes for the atmosphere. What Jango does not realize is that Sabé was following him the entire way to the hangar and beyond, when she borrows a senate shuttle using her credentials and some quick thinking.

As she follows them into space, she considers calling the Temple, but does not know how much she can trust the Jedi, nor how much they’d trust her. She then considers Padmé but her feelings for Anakin make that idea untenable. Instead, she decides to call Obi-Wan Kenobi, the one Jedi from her past that she trusts to care about Anakin’s well-being. She is right.

…

The scene flips to Obi-Wan, receiving an emergency call from a breathless, teary-eyed Sabé. She tells him that she is tracking the Slave One, which just jumped to hyperspace headed for Geonosis. Obi-Wan is visibly upset, while Amidala is enraged — and not only to learn that she can’t trust Sabé around Anakin. Jango managed to crisscross the galaxy and infiltrate the Jedi Temple of Coruscant while they’ve just sat around signing agreements and distributing supplies. Plo Koon is worried about what will happen if he can’t restrain the warrior queen much longer.

In her rage, Amidala demands fealty from the remaining Sienar and Nubian forces in the system. They will mobilize for war and besiege Serenno to force Dooku to surrender. In the meanwhile, Obi-Wan and The Shatterpoint II will track down Sabé and rescue Anakin from Geonosis. Padmé asks that Plo Koon join Obi-Wan because it is the only way she’ll be comfortable with not going to Geonosis herself.

They are all forced to agree with the queen’s plan and soon the Jedi and the armada leap into hyperspace.

…

Obi-Wan and Plo Koon have to fight through a squadron of drones to save Sabé’s helpless shuttle over Geonosis. Together the three of them land on the planet and hunt down Anakin in the depths of the droid factory yards. The Jedi easily overwhelm his guards and release him, then the four of them do some scouting of the operation on their way out. The Geonosians have a massive army and are continuously adding to its staggering size. Sabé slices a panel in the wall that gives them access to the vents, and they climb over a large audience chamber.

There they witness as the leaders of the Separatist alliance meet with Count Dooku. He is explaining a plan to simultaneously consolidate military power while expanding their political reach. They know the hypocrisy and corruption in the Republic will naturally recruit many nations to their confederacy, so they must be vigilant. Nute Gunray offers to name Dooku their Head of State, but he says he will not accept that position till the full parliament gets to vote.

They continue to plan but Anakin is distracted by a sense in the Force. Obi-Wan says he feels it too — Jango is leaving Geonosis. They too make their escape, and Anakin takes the Jedi Starfighter by himself to chase down the Slave One. Jango and Anakin have a spectacular battle in the asteroid belt surrounding Geonosis, resulting in the young Jedi nearly destroying them both, but the wily Fett manages to escape and hyperspaces to an unregistered world.

Anakin almost leaps after him, but Obi-Wan, who is flying with Sabé in the shuttle, cautions him not to be hasty. They need to inform the Republic what’s going on here, and the Council will be able to offer further illumination on the mysterious world Jango’s headed toward. Anakin is reluctant to play the waiting game, and even Obi-Wan seems anxious about it once Sabé shames them for their trepidation, but it makes no difference. Before they can do anything, a massive space battle hyperspaces into the atmosphere above Geonosis.

The battle over Serenno was a rout and the Republic chased their prey here. All at once, the battered forces under General Grievous’s command come plummeting through the atmosphere, seeking shelter amongst the droid armies of Geonosis. Queen Amidala’s fleet chase him and his cohorts down, and the battle takes on a second front. The ground battle rages as Plo Koon, Obi-Wan and Anakin join the terrific combat. Dooku and the rest of the Separatist leadership manage to escape under the cover of the battle, and then Grievous sends out a retreat order.

The Separatist droids all leap into hyperspace on seemingly random headings, as the Republic forces capture the system and its coveted factories. Then Boss Nass uncovers the most important treasure among the trove, the command codes for all the existing droids in the Separatist fleet. All at once, the armada that Grievous and Dooku were planning to use to overthrow the Republic, comes into the possession of Queen Amidala. She’s defeated them before they ever got to start their civil war; and, become the most powerful being in the galaxy outside of the Chancellor.

As the Republic celebrates their victory, Chancellor Palpatine invites Amidala and her armada back to Coruscant. She declines, and then reveals that she has no intention of turning over the Geonosian army or foundries to the Republic. Rather, she lays claim to them by way of conquest and defies anyone to take them from Naboo. Plo Koon, of course does not agree with this decision, but can understand a queen not wanting to relinquish valuable assets in a time of war.

Also, something about having Anakin around makes Amidala feel invincible. They reconnect and Padmé makes it clear she wishes she was able to get some alone time in with him. Sabé is forced into the shadows by her old boss, once more. Anakin is oblivious to much of this because he’s just happy to be around his two favorite women in the galaxy, and focused on bringing Jango to justice. Obi-Wan says he will join Anakin and Plo Koon is happy with this result. Sabé offers to join them, but Padmé rebuffs her, sending her back to Coruscant.

The Council investigates the coordinates that Anakin sends them, and it’s determined that Jango escaped to a world known as Kamino. Somehow it was erased from the public and Jedi archives — a nearly inconceivable feat. More disturbing, hyperspace routes have been rerouted to avoid it entirely. The whole thing reeks of incomprehensible bureaucratic know-how and malevolence, but that is a matter for the Council to handle. Obi-Wan then offers his suspicions of Sifo-Dyas being Lord Tyranus, explaining that he has reason to believe that Maul had an overlord, and perhaps even Dooku still answers to his old master. The Council does not acknowledge his suspicions, but approves Anakin and Obi-Wan for a recon mission, and the two take off for the Mid Rim.

…

General Grievous is mortally wounded and flying a heavily damaged cruiser into the atmosphere of Kuat. His crew is dead around him, killed by his own hand when they turned to Amidala’s side, and now he must single-handedly land the wreck of a ship. As he drops toward the ground, it’s clear to see that the Kuat Drive Yards are outfitting an entire fleet of Venator-Class Star Destroyers. Grievous barely survives the landing, but Dooku is there to rescue him and once he’s stabilized, ships him back to their master.

Dooku then calls Jango on a handheld holocommunicator. He tells Jango to prepare for his arrival. Fett replies that he cannot believe how well everything is going to plan. Dooku reminds him that they have the Force on their side, then hangs up. We then follow Jango as he tells his ten year old son to pack up their gear and get the ship prepped. Little Boba nods before running off to do as his father commands. Jango exits his apartments and heads toward the central pod of the Kaminoan facility.

Lama Su leads Jango through the cloning plant and discuss the current status of the commissioned army. 200,000 units are ready for combat and a million more can be expected by the end of the cycle. In this conversation we learn that the clones grow twice as fast as normal humans, are genetically modified to be stronger and faster than average beings, and behavior modification makes them 100% loyal. They shall make him proud, they say glowingly and Jango agrees. Lama Su even mentions that it was a curiosity that he kept Boba unmodified, but Jango doesn’t expect a cloner to get it.

Then we see that Anakin and Obi-Wan have been hiding in the rafters above, observing the entire conversation. It takes all of Obi-Wan’s tenacity to convince Anakin not to attack, deciding that warning the Republic is more important than capturing Jango. They try to steal away to their ship, but are cut off by mobilizing troops. The Jedi are forced to watch as platoon after platoon of Clone Troopers prepare for… something.

That is when Dooku’s brand new fleet hyperspaces into orbit over Kamino and sends down landing craft to retrieve the troopers. There are dozens of Star Destroyers awaiting them and hundreds of ships flying in and out of the atmosphere. The Jedi know they can’t do anything with so many eyes about, and all communications would be monitored anyway. They have to watch and wait till the last of the Clone Troops take off and Dooku’s fleet leaves the system.

When Obi-Wan and Anakin finally make for their ship, they’re accosted by Kaminoan guards and forced to steal a submarine to escape. Obi-Wan and Anakin dodge angry Kaminoan warriors and the massive, unfriendly fauna below the raging seas, to finally return to their ship. They call Coruscant and inform the Council all that they’ve learned. The Council says there is no time to wait, they must mobilize the Republic for war.

Then Plo Koon interrupts the transmission to report that their fleet is under attack. Dooku has returned to liberate Geonosis and he has a whole new fleet with him. Mace Windu says he will inform the Chancellor and then bring a strike force to assist Plo Koon. Obi-Wan and Anakin also say they are on their way, and quickly make for hyperspace.

The moment after the Jedi Starfighter leaves the system, Lama Su and the Kaminoans begin to mobilize their entire operation for transport.

…

When Sabé returns to Coruscant she is immediately taken by Janus and a pair of red-robed Chancellor Guards. She asks them where they are taking her but no one responds. The longer they walk, the darker the hallways and stairways get. She’s panicking, terror has nearly paralyzed her by the time they open the final door.

It slides open and she’s in the penthouse of the Senate apartments, facing a kindly, smiling Chancellor Palpatine. He’s sitting at a desk and nods to offer her a seat and some tea. She cannot stop trembling with fear but it seems to be for no reason. As Janus and the guards leave, Palpatine asks her about her trip to Geonosis, then the door slides shut…

…

The battle in the atmosphere above Geonosis is hotly contested between the two powerful armadas. The conflict on the planet’s surface is even more-so. Dooku is forced to land if he wants to win the day, and it appears that’s exactly what he will do. The Republic is unable to hold their battle lines and are forced to retreat to the foundries to hold back the Clone insurgency. Before the Republic is forced to abandon Geonosis altogether, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker chase down and confront a fully revealed Dooku. They battle nobly with him, but he’s too powerful for them.

When he goes for a killing blow, he’s interrupted by a pissed off Mace Windu. Dooku tells Windu that he’s waited a long time for this — Mace says he hopes he doesn’t disappoint. They have a tremendous, complex battle of skills and sabers, but it ends in a stand-still. Before Mace can gain the upper-hand, Dooku escapes by dropping a column on Obi-Wan and Anakin, forcing Mace to save his comrades rather than win the duel. Dooku escapes to the safety of his Clone forces and the Jedi are forced to retreat from Geonosis with the rest of the Republic troops.

Just before Amidala abandons the system altogether, she throws a kill-switch on the Geonosian droid factories, destroying them rather than losing them to Separatist hands. Amidala and her fleet return to Naboo to lick their wounds and plan their next steps. Her allies return to their homes, and then it is discovered that in the commotion of trying to escape Geonosis, the commandeered droid command codes were taken to Coruscant and placed in the keeping of the Chancellor.

Thus the Clone Wars begin: The Clone Troopers fighting for the Separatist Confederacy, and the stolen droid armies of Geonosis and Czerka Corp to defend the Republic.

…

By the time the Republic Navy converges on Kamino, the entire cloning operation has disappeared without a trace. Dooku and Fett abandon Geonosis and are lost to the Galaxy for a time. Palpatine gives a senatorial address informing the entire galaxy of the events that just transpired. He declares Dooku a traitor to the Republic and democracy. The Separatists have made it clear that they do not respect the sovereignty of the Republic, and that is something they cannot abide.

Thus he proposes that the Senate vote on a declaration of war against these Separatists and any other world that would oppose the freedom their Republic offers. He adds that with his new friends at Czerka and Sienar, as well as the massive holdings captured from the traitorous Geonosians, the Republic will form a grand army to combat this new threat. The Senate applauds their glorious leader and the scene shows that the Jedi Council were watching the speech on a holoscreen.

Ki Adi Mundi and the rest of the Council tell Anakin that in light of his service, they are willing to confer on him the rank of Knight. Anakin declines, saying there is much more he needs to learn, and he finally thinks he might need a master. As Obi-Wan and Anakin leave their meeting with the Council, Obi-Wan offers to train him. Anakin asks if Obi-Wan really thinks he’s up for the job. Obi-Wan asks what’s the worst that could happen — Anakin shrugs and says they could get each other killed. Then they laugh and laugh and laugh.

Their fun is interrupted when another message broadcasts across the Holonet. This time Dooku is addressing the galaxy amongst the Separatist parliament. He boasts that it was easy to bring together their confederacy of planets, and anticipates it will only get easier now that he’s struck a crippling blow against Palpatine’s attack dog, the queen from Naboo. Dooku claims that the Force guides him and his troops and that is why they will continue to win victories until the galaxy is free of the Republic’s corruption. The film cuts out, replaced by an error sign and then a Republic symbol, but through the static Dooku’s laugh fills the air, until it morphs into the laughter of Sidious.

…

Grievous is under the knife again, and his master is relishing the pain that emanates from the broken Kaleesh warlord. The Sith Lord fills the lab with his dark presence that feels like burnt ozone on his lungs. Lightning chases up into the recesses of the ceiling as Grievous cries out in agony, eliciting a chorus of laughs from his evil master.

…

Sabé is there to welcome Anakin when he returns to the capital and as soon as he’s free from the Temple, they reconnect. She’s taken a position in Bail Organa’s cabinet and a hefty pay raise to go along with it. Also, she’s changed her appearance by dying and cutting her hair, and wears new clothes to reflect the trends on Coruscant instead of Naboo. Anakin says he likes the changes, and helps her move into her new apartments. They look like a happy, young couple from afar.

Amidala and Boss Nass are back on Naboo and for the first time ever they don’t have a Jedi interfering with their plans. So she abdicates the throne, handing it over to Boss Nass who then uses executive order to recall Senator Binks, installing Padmé in his place. Anakin helps her move into her new apartments on Coruscant as well. She intimates that her position will give her more opportunities to get Anakin to herself. Anakin rolls his eyes and looks at her sideways. He knows as well as anyone else that she’s only in the capital for one reason: to take Palpatine’s job…

Back in the Temple, Mace Windu steps down as Grandmaster of the Order, saying that the Jedi should not have a supreme leader during a time of war. The risk of corruption is too great. Plo Koon and some of the other masters do not like the idea, so it’s agreed that as a compromise, Mace will take on the roll of Champion of the Order. When the Council is dismissed, Mace makes for the Temple library and seeks an audience with Master Jocasta Nu.

He asks her why and how the records of Kamino were removed from the archives. She does not know the answer to his questions, but does know that Master Sifo-Dyas would. He was the last one to access those specific records, and that was nearly five years ago. Mace Windu is unsettled by this information and Jocasta asks why. Mace grimaces before telling her that Sido-Dyas supposedly died over ten years ago.

-STAR WARS-

epilogue

Obi-Wan activates his holocommunicator to call Yoda and bring him up to date on all that’s transpired. Yoda says he does not believe it is wise for him to take on an apprentice in a time of war, especially one with such a personal connection to him. Obi-Wan reminds Yoda that taking on a padawan is always dangerous, wartime or no, and that Anakin is unlike any apprentice the Order has ever seen. Yoda intimates that he knows what Obi-Wan is talking about, or at least so it has been foretold. But misread, some prophecies may be, while still others may unfold in the most unimaginable ways.

Confused, Obi-Wan asks Yoda what prophecy he’s talking about, but receives no clear reply. The transmission ends and Obi-Wan is left to ponder Yoda’s cryptic warning as he strokes his beard and watches Anakin fight a training drone with the blast-shield down over his eyes.

…The End…

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