Chapter 44

The four Jedi stared out through the transparisteel of the ship, looking out to the damaged ship where they watched a very unusual pair.

R2D2 stood next to Darth Vader as the Sith's helmet peered across the void and the Force, keenly seeing just who had found him. His cape drifted weightlessly behind him like an eerie, serpentine shadow.

If he let his mind wander, Obi-Wan swore he could hear Vader's iconic breathing.

"Well, he's here, so I suppose you were on the right trail," Qui-Gon remarked to the Dark Woman.

"He's just standing there though," Obi-Wan said, leaning forward with a narrowed gaze. "What's he waiting for?"

Anakin silently wondered that as well, but he could already feel an answer being revealed. As he tuned his senses more into the Force, shifting through Vader's sheer presence, he found that the Dark Lord's focus was not on them as a collective, but on one individual.

He slowly looked over to the Dark Woman. Her face was a mask of stone, her frown firm and her muscles tense. He caught her purple eyes glancing down, just once, at the controls.

She was debating about attacking Vader while he was in space, supposedly vulnerable. Which sounded like a bad idea. Ignoring that it was Vader, this ship had only lasers that were little more than deterrents for self-defense. True, against anybody outside a ship, they were deadly, but...

Vader wasn't just anybody.

Ultimately, her body uncoiled, and she choose not to make the attempt, either realizing the odds against her or recognizing that Vader wasn't the only one observing her now.

She let out a small exhale of displeasure. "I have to assume that he's already dealt with any important information we could have found in the wreckage."

"Yes, well, I don't think you or Vader are keen about just leaving the system without a word to each other," Obi-Wan pointed out as they watched Vader turning and heading back into the ship. "Now what's he doing?"

Anakin shrugged. "He has to have a ship somewhere."

R2 glanced between the ship he came from and the back of the Sith before taking off toward the Luminous ship. After a short flight through space, R2 landed on the metal surface and rolled over to a hatch designed for Astromechs to enter and exit, dropping down inside safely.

The astromech made a beeline for the pilot seats, the Jedi looking at him curiously as he produced something from his compartment.

"What is that?" Anakin asked with a frown, leaning around as best he could from behind R2.

"That...is a comlink," Qui-Gon answered, eyeing the hand-held device more than he meant to. It was non-holographic, grey with white audial receivers and transmitters.

"So, who wants to speak with the Dark Lord first?" Obi-Wan asked sarcastically.

The Dark Woman reached out and took it before Anakin himself could. "Darth Vader."

"Jedi," Vader returned, his voice containing the barest layers of civility. "I see you finally caught up with me."

She frowned at that. "I suppose it would be too much to think that this moon is any base of yours?"

"You are free to investigate, Jedi," Vader offered without concern. "Did you abduct Skywalker again?"

She refused to take that bait. "I never "abducted" him the first time."

"I sense there are many in your company that contest that view," Vader said knowingly.

The Dark Woman glanced at her companions. Anakin had a rather pointed expression while Qui-Gon rose an eyebrow, and Obi-Wan looked away with no comment. "Perhaps we should speak in person?" she suggested.

The comlink cut out at that.

"I suppose that would be a no?" Qui-Gon mused.

"Did anyone else notice you couldn't hear his breathing?" Obi-Wan observed with a frown. "Was the comlink in his helmet or did he just turn it off?"

"If that was his actual voice, he doesn't modulate it as much as I thought," Anakin murmured.

The Dark Woman paid them no mind, merely staring out of the ship with an intense look, watching the debris. "He's coming."

The trio grew silent, R2 letting out a low whistle of awe as they saw a ship coming out from the side of the ruined ship. It was large, too large to be a conventional starfighter. Thirty-five meters in length, and almost as wide. The ends of the wings and the nose were coated in angular plating, giving it an E-shape and making the wings give the impression of having pincers-claws on them. Varying weapons adorned it, and the entire thing was colored dark steel or black, with engines that glowed with a red ion trail.

To say it was intimidating was an understatement, the craft dwarfing their own like a shark debating to devour a morsel. The adult Jedi were debating just what their chances were in escape if Vader was less than neutral towards them. Though, that was only the adults. As for the Jedi child...

"I want one," Anakin remarked blankly.

"No, Anakin," Qui-Gon said with a sigh.

"Why, because it looks like a Sith Lord's ship? I could repaint it white and green to look more Jedi-ish," Anakin offered, finding that compromise reasonable.

"I don't think we could afford the damages you'd caused even with the weapons disabled," Obi-Wan countered before giving Anakin a curious look. "Also, green?"

"I'm not a fan of blue as a ship color," Anakin answered casually.

The Dark Woman just gazed long and hard at the ship, mind swirling with thoughts. Who had granted Vader the means to gain such a craft? She was hardly an expert in starship technology, but this was certainly advanced. Which translated to one of two possibilities.

Vader had the connections to have something like this made for himself specifically.

Or...

Vader had the resources and people to construct it himself.

Considering that she believed the wreckage of the capital ship around them to belong to Vader, she was inclined to believe it was both.

Without a word from Vader, the ship turned and began to fly away, heading towards the nearby verdant moon.

"Oh, so he did agree to talk," Anakin said idly.

Obi-Wan frowned uncertainly. "I feel that was more of a "come if you dare" gesture."

"We're going," The Dark Woman said, and her voice brooked no argument. "I assume this is not an issue?"

"If you're sure you can avoid doing something foolish," Qui-Gon answered evenly.

She gave him a look. "Do not forget that I am still a Master of the Order, same as you, Master Jinn."

"I haven't," he assured, yet it almost seemed skeptical in a way. "Have you?"

She refused to answer, taking the controls.

"Yeah, no, I'm flying," Anakin said. "Master, can I have the seat?"

The Dark Woman furrowed her brow at the Padawn. "Why?"

"You sense that, right?" Anakin answered as he and Qui-Gon traded spots. "That strange sense in the Force, coming from that moon?"

She nodded quietly, removing her hands from the controls.

"Master Jinn says I can fly whenever it's probably dangerous after the last three times we crashed," Anakin remarked pragmatically. "And Master Dark Woman? I will legitimately lose all respect for you if you try to tell me this doesn't feel dangerous,"

He said it casually, but none of them balked at that. While it wasn't common for every Jedi to encounter such problems, few were surprised they happened. After all, the Force took them to strange places, often where they needed to be.

Like investigating starship wreckage over a mysterious moon only to end with them all having a reunion with Darth Vader.

She glanced between him and the other two before nodding. "For all three of you, I question your wisdom in many things, but I will not question your piloting skills, Padawan."

"I do, but I enjoy my lunch remaining in my stomach," Obi-Wan answered with a grimace.

Anakin snorted. "R2, be on standby in case I have to make an emergency landing."

R2 whistled in concern.

"Yeah, it feels like that," Anakin murmured as he went off after Vader's ship.

The ride down to the moon's surface was a silent one. The lack of conversation had little to do with any feelings about meeting with Vader and was entirely about the unsettling feeling this moon was giving them.

They all watched cautiously for any sign of or sense of danger.

"Master," Anakin said with a frown as they flew a good distance above the trees. "This feels like Dagobah, but...different? Worse?"

"Dagobah is a planet filled with many dangers best left undisturbed," Qui-Gon remarked as he observed the land of jungles and mountains. "It feels as though this planet has already been greatly disturbed."

"The question is, did Vader cause the disturbance or seek it out?" the Dark Woman murmured.

"Looks like you'll be able to ask him yourself soon," Obi-Wan spoke up, looking out the left side.

Anakin stretched up and leaned to see what Obi-Wan saw: Vader's ship, a dark dagger against the sea of foliage, settled into a clearing. "At least he left us room to land."

The Padawan brought the ship down, the descent slowing into a lowering hover. The ship came to a stop as it fully landed, but none moved for an instant.

"Okay, I half expected us to be attacked by giant Claw Vines when we landed," Anakin remarked as a positive while rising from the chair.

"The day is still young, my Padawan," Qui-Gon said, the group making their way out of the ship.

As they went down the ramp, Anakin took in the sight of the jungle moon. No matter how many he saw, he couldn't help being fascinated by worlds like this that were so full of life, water, and color. Cities were a marvel to civilization, but forest worlds like this were a testament to life itself. To him, desert-born and sun-raised, planets like this and planets like Coruscant were equal in terms of the wonder they inspired in him.

That said, this planet still left him uneasy. Dagoboh was ultimately like most other worlds. There was always something dangerous if you didn't watch where and how you stepped. But this felt like a krayt dragon was watching them already.

That, or the whole planet was one giant Sarlacc.

Shivering at that notion, he looked up and saw the neutral look of Qui-Gon, raising an eyebrow at him, silently inquiring if he sensed something. With a head shake, they moved to follow after Obi-Wan and the Dark Woman as they approached Vader's ship.

"Well," Obi-Wan said as they stared at the closed ramp of Vader's ship. "Here's either still inside or already outside."

"Well, we could just ask," Qui-Gon suggested, holding up the communicator that had been forgotten in the last few minutes. "Vader, where are you?"

*Kuuuuuuh Kerrr*

Everyone went still at the iconic breathing and knew it wasn't from the communicator.

All four of them turned their gaze upward. There, walking to the edge of the top of the large starship, loomed Vader as a shadow against the sky.

Vader's power was all-encompassing within a certain area. After a while, if he wasn't actively trying to terrorize anyone with his powers, one just adjusted to the passive weight it applied to their senses within the Force. But it was always another matter when directly confronting the source of that power.

"Skywalker," Vader greeted, utterly ignoring the others.

"Vader," Anakin returned, looking up at the man with a curious, unafraid look. "It's been five years."

Vader nodded slowly. "Why are you here?"

"I'm going to assume the same as you, investigating the destroyed starship," Anakin answered honestly.

"I see," Vader acknowledged slowly. His helmet turned to the Dark Woman in a small but quick movement.

Her eyes narrowed, her hands tense but not touching her lightsaber.

Vader stepped off the edge and landed on the ground with an ominous thud, his knees bending slightly before he rose back to his normal height.

"Jedi," he said, and none questioned who he meant. "Are you here for a conversation or assassination? You will find disappointment in either case."

"..." she said nothing as she allowed her hands to relax, her presence in the Force unwinding. Even Anakin hadn't noticed how ready she had been to strike at that moment. "I'm not sure if you're a fool or arrogant."

"I am rather sure of which you are," Vader countered, turning away to the other three. "Should I assume that this is Kenobi's doing?"

Obi-Wan blinked. "Wait, why-"

"Yes," Anakin and Qui-Gon answered at once, even nodding in sync with identical smirks.

"Oh, thank you so much, both of you," Obi-Wan said with an eye-roll.

"Jinn wouldn't involve himself with her without reason. As Skywalker allegedly was not kidnapped, that leaves only you, Jedi Knight," Vader remarked.

"Vader, I already accepted the fact you are probably aware of every major thing that happens in the Jedi Order," Obi-Wan said evenly. "You knowing about me being knighted isn't surprising."

Vader kept his gaze for a moment before something about him appeared to radiate a touch of approval. "You have taken well to the Count's training."

"Yes, well, not enough for you to treat me much differently than the last time I pointed a lightsaber at you," Obi-Wan said with a humble smirk.

Vader turned his gaze to Qui-Gon. "I shall ask you this time, Jinn. What are you here for?"

Qui-Gon shrugged. "It's rather simple. I believe that there is an unknown assortment of starships like the destroyed one in this orbit. Now, if they belong to you, that is one thing. That's almost to the point of being expected. But if they are not yours..."

Vader crossed his arms. "An unknown force is more dangerous than a known one," he conceded. "They are mine."

"So, you admit that you are building an army?" the Dark Woman asked with narrowed eyes.

"That appears to be a common practice these days," Vader observed without looking towards her. "I am not here to conquer your republic, Jedi. I am simply preparing for when it falls into itself."

"...He's hardly the only one doing that, "Anakin noted slowly. "Though..."

Vader returned his lenses toward the Padawan.

"I don't think you came down to this planet just to talk to us, did you?" he asked knowingly.

Vader seemed to consider his words for a moment before suddenly turning, walking between Obi-Wan and the Dark Woman, and heading towards the forest.

"Where are you going?" Obi-Wan asked in confusion.

Vader only had one answer. "Follow or leave, do as you please."

The four watched him as he departed.

"Should we?" Anakin asked curiously.

"You want to," Obi-Wan said. Said, not asked.

"We've accomplished what we set out for," Qui-Gon pointed out, looking at the Dark Woman. "Vader claims ownership of the ships. That mystery is solved."

"..." she said nothing, staring at Vader's retreating back. "We should not leave this new mystery unsolved. Besides, Vader never bothered to explain what happened to this ship of his."

"That's a fair point, actually," Obi-Wan agreed, scratching the back of his neck. "I'd say I have a bad feeling about this, but for once? I don't think that's me."

"No, it's not," Anakin said with a frown before sighing. "Master? If we're staying, we should probably go with him now."

"Yes, like it or not, we're safer with Vader than on our own. I suspect he knows the dangers here better than us," Qui-Gon agreed.

The Dark Woman closed her eyes for a moment. "You three may remain with the ship."

All three men gave her curious, suspicious looks.

"I will not confirm or deny any intent to slay Vader," she said instantly, before looking at them with apologetic eyes. "But regardless of what is ahead or the dangers here, you three have no reason or need to face them."

Silence reigned over them before Qui-Gon shook his head. "I fear that if we leave you alone with him, you'll do something stupid and force Vader's hand," he said evasively.

The Dark Woman made no effort to deny that possibility.

"Besides, it's been five years," Anakin mused. "If Vader isn't secretive about the big ships, maybe he'll be willing to tell us some of what he's been up to."

It went without saying that Vader was more likely to say such things to Anakin, not the Dark Woman. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were possibilities, but Anakin was almost a certainty.

"Well, I guess that's that decided," Obi-Wan said with a sigh, "Anakin, I know you hate sand, but there are days when I hate jungles."

"We're all allowed to hate whatever climate or terrain we want, Obi-Wan," Anakin said in jest.

The two masters watched the two trail ahead for a moment, giving the two a minute. "Does it bother you, this unknown connection between your padawan and this Sith Lord?" she asked with a frown.

"No. If anything, it gives me hope," Qui-Gon said in amusement.

"...How?" she asked with consideration.

"Vader could have taken Anakin as his apprentice rather easily," Qui-Gon pointed out with a smile. "If he had, I wouldn't have had much faith in this ceasefire he issued between the Jedi and the Sith."

With that, they ventured after the other two, the Dark Woman in deep contemplation.

It didn't take long for the Jedi to catch up to Vader, his steady march remaining even after the jungle floor became less even and easy to traverse. Obi-Wan privately marveled at how Vader went about all but ignoring obstacles. If there was a root that couldn't be stepped over, his boot either snapped through it or propelled him over it without missing a beat. True, there was nothing innately special or impressive about it. But having been on many different worlds in his time as a still-young Jedi, Obi-Wan could tell one thing.

Vader was used to traveling in places like this. Any Jedi might be able to travel like this, but Vader was experienced with this. He had done this before. It made Obi-Wan wonder, just what kind and how many planets had the Dark Lord been to before he appeared on Naboo five years ago?

Perhaps sensing his thoughts, or perhaps noticing that their group had all come together again, Vader paused to look back at them.

It took them only an instant to realize he wasn't looking at them at all.

Three lightsabers activated just as a guttural roar rang out, followed by the thunderous snapping of branches and trunks.

The Jedi turned to find a giant creature. Anakin had no name for it, but it was blue and reminded him of a Rancor. Only it was quadrupedal, its scaly hide more smooth, but most importantly? The mouth was bigger.

Much bigger.

Before it could get within twenty feet of them, it was stopped.

The only surprise was that Vader hadn't done it.

The giant creature snarled and struggled in confusion as it found itself bound by a great many large vines and roots that were snaking onto its body.

Anakin turned his look to the Dark Woman, the only Jedi whose lightsaber was not activated. She merely held out her hand, her eyes narrowed in concentration.

It only took one look for them all to understand the situation. She could hold it, yes, but the moment she stopped trying, it would break free again.

And as Anakin stared into the creature's large, predatory eyes, he swore he saw something akin to hatred in those primal eyes.

He had no time to dwell on that as Obi-Wan leaped up and delivered a saber strike to the throat. The beast let out a strangled noise before falling limb, the vegetation retreating and allowing the creature to fall before them.

"I...okay, wizard, that is cool," Anakin said towards the Dark Woman, temporarily suppressing his dislike for this specific Jedi Master. "Can Master Yoda do that? I feel like Master Yoda should be able to do that."

She almost smiled at the reaction. Almost. "The Grandmaster has more of an affinity for stones than plants," she remarked, and the Jedi were unsure if she was joking or serious.

Regardless, Anakin turned his attention to the now-dead creature as he moved closer to the corpse. "What...is this thing, exactly?" Anakin asked with morbid curiosity.

"I doubt anyone has bothered to give its kind a name," Vader commented.

Qui-Gon looked to Vader, frowning at the Sith's unusual restraint in using his own powers. He could have slain the beast with little effort and would have if they weren't here.

But Vader ignored his silent inquisition as he watched Anakin approaching the beast.

"Padawan, tread carefully," the Dark Woman cautioned, knowing even a dead predator could still bite in its death throes.

"Tread carefully? Why are you getting close to it to begin with?" Obi-Wan questioned, standing ten feet from Anakin, ready to Force Pull him away at the slightest twitch.

Anakin ignored them for the most part as he found the top of the creature's head. "Huh. So that's why."

"What did you find, Anakin?" Qui-Gon called curiously.

"I think someone else has been on this moon," Anakin commented.

That had Vader's full attention now.

"There's a scar here, on the head. I think from a blaster? He must have remembered who hurt him and figured we were trying to do the same," Anakin reasoned. "That's my guess at least. I wasn't the only one that felt that, right? Like it wanted to kill us more than eat us?"

"No, I had that impression as well," Qui-Gon agreed. "I simply assumed it was territorial. But if it was scarred..."

The Dark Woman looked back up at Vader with a scowl. "Anything about this moon you feel needed to share?"

Vader regarded her evenly, and the Dark Woman could actually sense how unsurprised Vader was by what just happened.

He had known about her affinity for controlling plants, and still lead her to a verdant world and invited her into a forest.

He was utterly unbothered by the idea of giving her such an advantage.

And she could tell he knew how much that bothered her.

Then, however, something happened that made even the Dark Woman wary.

Vader stiffened.

Worse, yet, this close to him, she could detect a single emotion through the dark armor he kept up even around his very presence in the Force

And that emotion was...confusion.

Vader looked down, towards the forest floor, and they all did likewise.

Anakin felt it and winced. "Okay, now "I" have a bad feeling about this."

That was the last thing any of them had to say before the world started to rumble and quake beneath them in a sudden and violent burst of seismic activity.

Or, to be blunter, a groundquake had begun.