V.3-C.21│War I│

"A few of us are missing?" Mace said to all of the High Council Members of the Jedi within the temporary room set up by the Empyrean for their discussions. "Does anyone know where Master Mundi has gone to?" Mace asked.

"No." Some of the remaining High Council members said no, and some of them answered Mace's question with a shaking of their heads.

"Master Mundi, be here he should." Yoda replied.

"Has no one watched the news here? I saw that the clones from the Republic were in fact taken here, by the Empyrean." It was Master Plo-Koon who interjected here and gave yet another piece of information for their proceedings today.

Most of the Jedi had settled into the Empyrean Academy, slowly being influenced by the ideals, culture and knowledge within. Surely there would be more and more Jedi converting into Empyrean civilians and learning from the Academy due to proximity being no problem anymore.

There is also the fact that the Jedi's influence is now reaching its minimal phase.

No matter what rank of Jedi you were, here, within the Empyrean temple or academy, there is only so much for one to do. They could see the differences in treatment, even when they also saw that there are students also learning the dark side of the Force as well.

Something that they had learnt to be evil by nature.

"Heard of this I have." Many others also agreed with Yoda that they had heard about this piece of news. So much so did this shock them that some Jedi Knights were sent out to investigate just what was going on.

Specifically some Jedi had gone over towards some places to get information on where the clones were so that they could question them. At this point there was no point trying to force the clones to do anything, and they would also be able to discover the massive grand plot behind what Palpatine wanted to do.

Of course by having the bio-chips exposed, Palpatine should be in some deep water by now but that is not the case. In fact, it pretty much increased the loyalty of those under him, the fear and the respect towards him.

This may have been a bad move on Anakin's part because it incentivized people to not disobey Palpatine, but at the same time this was also cancelled out by the fact that the clones were able to escape in the first place.

A lot of things is going on, and because of this ever factor needed to be taken into account. Whether this be positive and negative, as everything could change at a moments notice.

"Master Kenobi! You have arrived." Depa Billaba said as she stood up, along with the rest of the Jedi High Council as well.

Everyone had left Obi-Wan behind because they needed to escape but now that he is actually here, that only meant he had completed what he said he was going to do. "Yes. Masters, I bring some rather pressing news on what has happened."

"Well? What is it then?" Mace questioned Obi-Wan.

"The Sith Lord, Darth Sidious wanted some of the Jedi younglings but also not only that, there are more of them. More Sith." Obi-Wan reported his discoveries, leaving out the woman that had come along and helped him save those younglings.

"More Sith? Tell us more." Mace said and got Obi-Wan to tell them more about his encounter.

It was at this point that Obi-Wan started to divulge everything that had happened, even going so far to tell them about Jar-Jar Binks and Ferus Olin. Two well respected people within the Jedi, and one within the Republic.

It was something shocking but going by the events taking place across the galaxy, this was certainly not the biggest or most surprising thing to happen. Some of the Jedi within were of course against the idea that a respected Jedi like Ferus would become a Sith, especially since he had left the Order a long time ago.

Becoming a Sith couldn't possibly be the reason for him leaving, and the High Council is correct in assuming that. Ferus had left because of the Jedi and because of Anakin. This is a complicated topic in on itself and then there is Jar-Jar, with whom some of the Jedi had even met and conversed with.

A senator Jar-Jar was, and because of this the Jedi started to think more and more on the times they had seen Jar-Jar standing side by side with Palpatine. It only made them realize this was also probably a part of Palpatine's plan as well.

To use and bring Jar-Jar over to the dark side of the Force, and none of them could even feel that he was Force-sensitive. Of course this was mainly because of the Sith Temple underneath the Jedi Temple of Coruscant, however after that was destroyed they should have been able to sense Jar-Jar at the very least.

That was not the case, and instead it was because Palpatine wanted Jar-Jar to focus on masking himself in the Force above all else. Palpatine couldn't allow the clumsy idiot known as Jar-Jar get in the way of his plans for mass destruction and then reformation from Republic to an Empire.

"And that is all, at least that is all for now. From what I have been able to tell there has been no other movements made by Darth Sidious in regards to this." Obi-Wan finished his explanation of everything.

"It would seem like Jar-Jar has an especially powerful hatred for those that have seen his mess-ups. For those who has seen his clumsy little accidents." Depa Billaba said as she contemplated the situation.

Just as all of the other Jedi also contemplated the situation. "Sith, more Sith and more." Humming Yoda then continues. "Other accounts of Sith, there is. Speak with Count Dooku, we must."

"Yes. The Count may have some idea of just how many Force-sensitives have been trained under the guiding hand of Darth Sidious." Mace continued. "We must also send someone to try and find Master Mundi, as I have a bad feeling about this."

"Master Mundi is missing?" Obi-Wan questioned, surprised that this is happening for he had thought all of the Council members had escaped Coruscant.

"Yes. I also believe that you should watch the news as well." Mace got up and started to walk away. "I will be meeting up with Qui-Gon Jinn, as he is supposedly control of the light side branch of teaching here within the Empyrean Academy."

Humming, Yoda also stood up and started to walk away as well, meaning that this meeting is over. Everyone knows that not everyone needed to do something. Sometimes patience is key, however Obi-Wan was tasked to head over towards and watch the news.

The others would be doing their own preparations for they would be starting to assault Palpatine and his forces. Mace would be staying on Tatooine for a little bit to discuss things with Qui-Gon and Count Dooku.

Everyone had their own directions to go towards, and the person that is going to go after Mundi is in fact Yoda. No one else was going to track Mundi down, and Yoda had the faintest of ideas just where such a zealous person had gone towards at the news of the clones being a part of the Empyrean now.

Combine this with the fact that the Empyrean practices both light and dark side arts within the Force, the clones had become an excuse for Mundi to go after Anakin.

'Hope, I do, Master Mundi, does not try.' Yoda thought to himself as everyone went their separate ways.

[]

Back within Sky Palace, all of the Jedi within the throne room were exposed to something strange. Specifically the floor below them had a strange pattern to it.

It looked as it was made up of some sort of metal material that can reshape itself as whatever it wants. It was like the palace in on itself was alive and they had entered a place that they couldn't stay within.

The floor opened up with no hassle, completely disappearing before their eyes as if their foresight abilities couldn't work here.

"What is happening!?"

"Try and jump back!"

"I cant!"

Multiple voices were heard as they started to fall into the abyss, but they would all safely land, while above them the light that they still had went completely black as night. There was no way for them to see now and they could only rely on their lightsabers now, because of the uniqueness of the situation.

"Where are we?"

"Master Mundi. I think that we should have waited for some more backup..." Someone tried to say in the dark, as even though they could barely sense things, they are still able to do so.

Usually other Force-sensitives near Anakin would have their foresight abilities kind of muffled due to his energy-field. However, ever sense the Sands of Time, the energy-field no longer affected other Force-sensitives like that.

"It is ok. We will take down the Sith Emperor. Not just the false Chosen One, but we will also take down the Sith Emperor back on Coruscant. Steady yourselves and be prepared for the trials to come." Mundi of course responded and needed his current forces to try to remain clam.

Looking around, the place they were in was made up of mechanical, alive metal parts. Bits and pieces and it seemed like this place was truly alive due to the presence within the Force they felt.

"Something doesn't feel right..."

"Yeah..."

It was silent with only the breathing and noise coming from the lightsabers being heard. Everyone is on high alert, awaiting their opponent to show themselves.

"Be quiet!" Mundi didn't want any of them talking aloud, and would rather they stay quiet due to trying to sense Anakin.

However, no one could sense Anakin, even if Anakin was right next to them they would be unable to sense it. This is because of the unique way Anakin had made his Nanosuit in combination with his very own stealth abilities.

"You all shouldn't have come. You should've just stayed with the rest of the Jedi, but instead you decided to come after me..." Anakin's voice was heard and everyone was spooked once again.

They looked ever which direction it may have come from, as the place they were within didn't exactly have the best acoustics for them to pinpoint Anakin's location. In fact, the echo, plus darkness and Anakin's ability to manipulate this underground living metal allowed him to transmit his voice from anywhere he wanted.

Thus no one would ever be able to find him if he stayed down here. Not unless they manage to destroy this place that is, but the Jedi here dont need to know that.

"Show yourself you coward!" Mundi exclaimed, trying to draw Anakin out of hiding and so too did the other Jedi that came along also start to exclaim expletive's to try and draw Anakin out.

However it was useless in doing so, but what the Mundi and his Jedi band did not notice was the fact some of their companions started to disappear.

Their numbers were starting to be reduced, one by one.

"Hey! Where did John go?"

"John? I thought I was not seeing Billy?"

"Billy? What happened to Hector, Yisele and Renare?"

As if realizing something was off, Mundi then exclaimed "Damnit! Is this how you do things now!? The Chosen One hiding in the dark just as the Sith would!?"

"Whatever do you mean?" Anakin responded, his voice grating on the ears of those still around as they were especially annoyed if not angered at their comrades just disappearing left right and center.

Not a single noise could be heard, not a single breeze or anything that would indicate to anyone they had been taken out.

"Come out already! Come and face us properly and stop hiding in the dark!" Mundi was starting to get desperate now, as at this rate he would have no Jedi army to back him up. In fact, he hadn't even told anyone he was coming to confront Anakin, so there was no way he would be surviving this encounter unless he gets lucky someone.

Mundi even had to leave all of his wives and children, not that he actually cared about them or anything, but it is still something extremely distressing.

"Master Mundi! I think that-" This person voice was cut off however, as if something had taken them which only further served to freak out the rest of those within this place.

"That is it!" Mundi exclaimed again. "Start hacking at the walls and lets start running in another direction! There must be a way out of this place!"

"Ok Master!" Several voice were still there, creating the illusion that there is safety in numbers.