Titans of Darkness

Prologue

Author : There it is ! The sequel of the Knight of the Force. If you haven't read the first fiction, you will certainly have many difficulties to understand everything, though I believe it is still possible. This fiction is mainly a SIRIWAN story, but we will follow the next generation of the Jedi with young Luke, Leia and others that would soon appeared. Anyway, enjoy !

For fourteen long years, Coruscant had been abandoned by its shinning warriors, their Temple left empty as every Jedi had deserted after their general exile ordered by the Senate itself. Many would tell you they had simply disappeared, probably now extinct after a terrible battle against a Sith army on Byss, where the Republic had made serious investigations to find their locations. And others still had faith, claiming that the Jedi would always be watching over them, protecting them for threats they all ignored about. They became angelic shadow, a formidable shield against darkness while every other being in this galaxy believed it safe. And yet, the Republic had its knights too now. It had been six years that General Skywalker had decided to create a whole new Order, much smaller but as effective, to protect the Galactic Senate and the Republic's words. He was the famous leader of the Republican Old Guard, known as the Old Guard, a reference to the Jedi Order, and he had resolved many conflicts with his fellow guards. According to the rumors, they were only sixty-three, and the Guard was mainly composed with the former younglings in the AgriCorp. Those who hadn't been judged strong enough in the Force to become a Jedi, but Skywalker took them under his wings and had trained them into tremendous warriors. And there were also the hopes of the future generation, with Luke and Leia Skywalker, both training with other seven young people with Anakin Skywalker, though it was said Leia had expressed her desire to become the political representative of the Old Guard in the Senate.

During those fourteen years, the galaxy had changed greatly, as the former Separatist leaders had been judged, ending the terrible Clone Wars, and the Republic had seen Chancellor Organa bringing peace and preventing hundreds of others conflicts with a strong democratic policy. He had settle a system in wich every planet had a right to ask questions by their Senators, instead of being asked, while Palpatine had still the power. It was a simple thought, yet its effects had tremendously improved the peace in the entire Known Regions, even in the Outer Rime with the Hutt Cartel, now an official supporter of the Repubic, though they still claimed their independence.

So logically, when former Senator Padmé Skywalker of Naboo was elected as the new Chancellor, one year ago, nothing would have normally threatened such beautiful and no more fragile peace. Yet Anakin had never seen his wife so worried about their future, as rumors of rebellion were heard everywhere. Many had protested against her election, claiming that she wasn't strong enough, that she was influenced by the position of her husband, the leader of the Old Guard, but she had remained in place as thousands of worlds were behind her, as well as the very respected Bail Organa who was teaching his adoptive daughter Winter Organa, a great friend of Leia, the ways of the Senate. But it wasn't enough, as more and more senators had openly criticized the involvement of the Old Guard during the Senate Session, or Padmé's decision to stop the production of the clones. She had questioned every planets of the Republic : was the production of new clones still necessary? A massive negative answered had been sent, but the Senate was still filled by cupid, and power-hungry senators that Padmé tried the best she could to depose.

Padmé sighed as she walked on the blue silk groundsheet of the Jedi Temple's golden corridors. The place was now open to any visitors at any time, where they could admire the member of the Old Guard sparring, or levitating massive rocks over their head, and even meditating under the instruction of General Skywalker. And seeing her husband meditating would always brought a smile to her lips : fifteen years ago, it would have been a real miracle to stare at a sitting in silence Anakin Skywalker. But after the Dark War, as it was called, on Byss, Anakin changed and became the greatest Jedi, in all but name, that he was supposed to be. He became patient, calm, always thinking before acting, and would rather negotiate than igniting his blue lightsaber. In a way, Padmé was certain Anakin was doing it for his former Master, Obi-wan Kenobi who had left Coruscant after that Dark War. He had told her many times, Obi-wan alone had saved the entire galaxy, their family and his life. So he would honour him until his death, and it had begun with the gold statue of Kenobi proudly standing in a sleeveless robe, his arms behind his back, at the entrance of the Jedi Temple.

"Chancellor," a man, dressed with a pale yellow top under a dark brown tunic, a design very similar to the Jedi's tabard, and a pair of black pants and black leather boots. He was in his mid twenties, with long blond hair and piercing green eyes. "It is a pleasure to see you again. Shall I escort you to your husband?"

"Thank you, Ariss," Padmé replied, smiling politely, "I'll gladly walk with you again." He nodded and started to follow her, in a complete Jedi-like silence. Ariss was the first Guard that Anakin had trained since the departure of the Jedi Order, and despite his so-called low connexion to the Force, he had proven himself quite capable, and had avoid dozens of political crisis, just like in the Hapan system three months ago : another question of lineage and succession to the throne. Anakin always told Padmé how much he wass proud of the young man at dinner. And Ariss was the responsible of the young members of the Old Guard.

"So," the blonde man started, "I heard the Senate had summoned Mandalore in session in two days."

"You are well informed," she winked at him. "With the threat of rebellion among the Republic's rank, I must examine every suspicious behaviour of any world."

"But Mandalore is no member of the Republic, Chancellor," Ariss wisely recalled. "Are you certain they would answer? And what if the Neutral Confederacy find such … 'invitation' insulting?"

Padmé nodded. The Neutral Confederacy was a regrouping of all neutral worlds in the galaxy that had refused to become a member of the Republic, and such union became more and more powerful after the disappearence of the Separatists. They were not a threat, just an important economic ally to the Republic, but a war between them could be terrible.

"I hope this Mand'alore the Protector is as just and wise that the galaxy claims he is," she said thinking about the new leader of Mandalore who had risen after the death of Satine Kryze three years ago.

"I met that Boba Fett once," Ariss informed. "He is a great man. But his people had suffered too much during the Kilik Invasion, three years ago. In a way, I understand their choice to become warriors again, to properly protect themselves. When High General Kenobi fought against Darth Maul on Mandalore," Padmé heard the admiration in his voice, "there wasn't enough Protectors to stop the Death Watch and the Sith. So ultimately they fell against a greater army, against the Kilik. I don't think the Republic should blame him."

"We totally understood all of this Ariss," the Chancellor realised they arrived at the training room she was heading too, as she heard Luke and Leia sparring against their father. "But their production of Mandalorian steel is abnormally high, and the Neutral Confederacy had never been so rich. And with the recent admission of the Rothana Heavy Engineering to them, we must be sure they are not the rebellion we are looking for."

"Of course, of course," Ariss stepped aside to let Padmé pass the entrance. "Either way, the Old Guard will be protecting the Republic. I promise you Chancellor," and he left as swiftly as he had appeared.

So Padmé Skywalker was left alone, at the door of a wide room made of yellow stone, glowing under the sun of Coruscant. Such room was found at every corner at this level, and had been filled with thousands of young Jedi training with their Master in the past, but now only her family was present here, and yet it meant the whole world for her. Everytime she came here, she allowed her mind to wander blankly, forgetting for a brief moment about the rebellion, the Senate or the galaxy. It was just her son, her daughter and her husband. As usual, Luke, in his beige Jedi-like tunic was ferociously attacking his father, his green blade clashing with the blue one, as Anakin, dressed with a light brown tunic and a sleeveless blue robe, dodged the very accurate blow of Leia Skywalker. As a fourteen year old boy, Luke had never looked so alike with his father, with sandy blond hair, cut short just like Anakin, and with his gentle ocean eyes, while Leia was rather a younger version of herself with dark eyes and chocolate hair copying the same hairstyle than her mother. But it was quite the contrary with their characters : Leia was as fierce and passionate like her father in his youth, and Luke was much calmer as his mother. Yet when they were holding a lightsaber, Luke was the offensive learner of Djem So, and Leia was a practitioner of the delicate form of Soresu.

"Padmé?" Anakin asked for the second time while blocking Luke's green blade, and Leia's blue one. "Did you hear me?"

"Oh Anakin," she blushed, "no I'm sorry. I was lost in my thoughts."

The three members of her family immediately stopped fighting and came to lovingly hug her, and Anakin stole a quick kiss on her gorgeous lips.

"Are you worried about Mandalore?" Leia said, already aware of the next session in the Senate.

"Yes I am," Padmé replied caressing her dark hair, "but they must not know."

"I am certain Mand'alore the Protector has no intention to move against the Republic," Luke stated. "And I am certain he will not come on Coruscant."

"I agree with Luke", Anakin added, "they have always avoided any contact with us. Why would it change?"

"They are still not able to forgive us," Padmé bit her lips. "And I frankly think they are right. We should have sent at least a Star Destroyer to help them."

"Three years ago," Anakin grinned, "we had only two new Star Destroyers. And in the end, they managed to repel the Kiliks. A Star Destroyer wouldn't have changed the situation."

"They will never see it that way, Anakin."

"Yes, but it is not your fault," he said caressing her back, "and I am sure Boba Fett doesn't hold you responsible for these deaths. It was a terrible war, but interfering could have exposed the Republic's people to a deadlier attack. They chose neutrality, with its benefits and its disadvantages."

"Anakin," she started, looking at him with a certain amount of seduction. "Your wisdom is growing every day."

"Well," he replied, holding her against him, "I tried to listen to the Chancellor of the Republic," and he kissed her, causing Leia and Luke to run away in disgust, yelling how much immoral their parents were.

"Wait four or five years, and our kids would be stick to their lovers," Anakin joked, "and we will see how much disgusting this is."

"How can you blame them?" Padmé teased, "I recall a young Jedi Knight kissing a Senator much older than him."

"I think he was the luckiest man in the entire galaxy," and he kissed her again.

Author Note : Yes, a pure Skywalker moment in that prologue. Do not worry, this story is still a Siriwan fiction, but the Jedi cannot appeared that soon. (Okay they will appear very soon :p)

Anyway, the main plot of this sequel is settled, I hope you liked what I tried to reveal, and make you want to read the next chapters. Until then, do not hesitate to criticize, it had always helped me greatly.