#nute character

[masterjedilenawrites]

Discuss!

[threewinterssnow]

Hottest Star Wars Character (actually hot character edition)

The character with the lowest amount of votes is eliminated until only two remain, and then we'll have a weeklong showdown. If there is a tie, there will be a vote between the tying characters and the loser of that will be gone.

Yes, that is supposed to say Nute Gunray, but I was eating ice cream when making this and not paying attention

[better-call-mau1]

Sidious: “When my new apprentice Darth Vader arrives, he will...take care of you.” 😈😤😏

Nute Gunray and the Separatists, who apparently thought that being ‘taken care of’ by a Sith Lord meant something other than being sliced up: “Wow that sounds like fun! We’ll roll out the welcome wagon!” 😄🥳🤩

[gffa]

One thing that caught my attention while watching The Phantom Menace in the theater, a movie I didn't expect to find anything new with after how many times I've seen it and analyzed it, was that Sidious mentions multiple times that he has to change his plans to fit the new circumstances. It got me to thinking about how Palpatine gets credit for his carefully crafted plans, but often times not for how flexible he is in changing them on the fly, especially in time travel fics where someone destroys one of his plans and that's the end of it. Which, I'm not advocating against, I love a good Take That Wrinkled Walnut The Fuck Down However You Gotta Do It fic and I don't want them to change! But in canon Palpatine makes note of things he's not expecting, like:

When Valorum sends the Jedi as ambassadors, it's not part of Sidious' plan: DAULTAY DOFINE: This scheme of yours has failed, Lord Sidious. The blockade is finished. We dare not go against the Jedi. DARTH SIDIOUS: Viceroy, I don't want this stunted slime in my sight again! This turn of events is unfortunate. We must accelerate our plans. Begin landing your troops. NUTE GUNRAY: My lord, is that… legal? DARTH SIDIOUS: I will make it legal. NUTE GUNRAY: And the Jedi? DARTH SIDIOUS: The Chancellor should never have brought them into this. Kill them immediately!

On the Trade Federation ship, after Queen Amidala has disappeared from Naboo, Palpatine originally planned that she would be forced to sign the treaty, and then brings in Maul to deal with this. DARTH SIDIOUS: And Queen Amidala, has she signed the treaty? NUTE GUNRAY: She has disappeared, My Lord. One Naboo cruiser got pat the blockade. DARTH SIDIOUS: I want that treaty signed. NUTE GUNRAY: My Lord, it's impossible to locate the ship. It's out of our range. DARTH SIDIOUS: Not for a Sith. This is my apprentice. Darth Maul. He will find your lost ship.

On Naboo, after Padme allies with the Gungans: NUTE GUNRAY: We've sent out patrols. We've already located their starship in the swamp....It won't be long, My Lord. DARTH SIDIOUS: This is an unexpected move for her. It's too aggressive. Lord Maul, be mindful. MAUL: Yes, my Master. DARTH SIDIOUS: Be patient... Let them make the first move.

Palpatine's plans aren't static, they adapt and change with the events that happen, just as the other characters react to new information and head in new directions for it, so too does Palpatine and I think it's interesting to note that part of what makes him such a good villain is that he has an outline for what he wants to do, he sets up the dominoes of what he needs, but even when they don't fall precisely into place, he generally gets what he wants. He originally intended that Padme would sign the treaty, the Jedi wouldn't be involved, and that would lead to a vote of No Confidence to oust Valorum, using the sympathy for Naboo as a way to boost himself into the position. But he didn't really need her to sign it and still managed to use the sympathy for Naboo to get elected, it ultimately didn't matter what happened to the planet, so long as it was in danger while he needed it to be, he could use it either way. Nor, honestly, do I think he ever planned for Anakin Skywalker's existence, he had no idea they would find such a boy on Tatooine or how useful he was going to be, that was another way he changed his plans once the opportunity arose. Or a lot of his plots in TCW--he has Cad Bane steal the list of Force-sensitive children and kidnap them, bringing them to Mustafar for some sort of program to use them probably not too unlike how he uses the Inquisitors later. That plan is foiled by the Jedi, the babies are returned to their families, and Sidious' plans fall through, but that doesn't really change the outcome. tl:dr: I don't think Palpatine gets enough credit as a villain whose plans shift and change along with the new events that happen, just as much as the heroes' plans shift and change when new things happen. Yeah, he's a great villain because he creates an impossible trap for people, but also because the thing about him is that he's incredibly charming and charismatic and he knows an opportunity when he sees one, that any one given plan might fall through, but it's not necessary to his overall plot.

[antianakin]

I need scary Jedi. But not like... in a "RAAAAAAGGGGHHHH! I'M SCARY!" way. More like.... you're a bounty hunter after your target, you have killed Wookies, Gundarks, and many other dangerous species. The target? They are wearing robes, playing with children. Laughing and helping others. Sure they have a lightsaber, but you brought a slugthrower. Those are supposed to be effective against them. You line up a shot and... they're looking at you. They are smiling in such a friendly manner. But all you can feeling is cold. You suddenly realize, you're not the most dangerous person there. I just want more bad guys getting the shit scared out of them when they realize a Jedi is here to stop them.

I could see that for someone who's likely never MET a Jedi before and so all they know are the legends and stories they've heard.

I feel like this happens a lot less for Prequels Jedi because, even if there's fairly few of them and not everyone will even MEET a Jedi in their lifetime, they are still a known culture. You might not expect to see a Jedi in the street, but you wouldn't think it was impossible to see a Jedi in the street, either, necessarily. And you probably think you have a fairly good idea of what the Jedi are and what they do and why they might be on the street in the first place.

But it DOES happen to people like Luke. By the time Luke comes around, the Jedi have been nearly erased from the galaxy's memory. All that's left are some stories and those stories are likely highly exaggerated and they've gone through many different retellings that embellish and add things that never existed in reality. NO ONE expects a Jedi to show up anywhere because they're all supposed to be GONE. No one even believes the Force exists really and if they do see a Jedi, they probably think that the magical abilities they have are just made up. So when Luke starts using the Force to make things float or read people's minds or whatever, it's probably VERY unnerving. I know there's some comics where that comes up, even among some of the rebels he fights with. People ARE scared of Luke, even if they're fighting alongside him instead of against him, because he's something they can't understand and shouldn't exist.

There is a scene sort-of similar to what I think you're talking about in the films, and it is actually in the Prequels. It's when Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon start fighting back on the Trade Federation's ship at the beginning of TPM. Neither Nute Gunray nor the other Neimoidian with him have ever met a Jedi and they clearly underestimate what the Jedi are capable of doing and overcoming. So when the Jedi start fighting their way through the ship, both Neimoidians start getting REALLY scared. The moment when they close the blast doors and think that that'll DEFINITELY keep them out and then Qui-Gon just shoves the lightsaber in again and starts melting the door from the center shows that very clearly. The moment where Obi-Wan catches Zam Wesell in the bar during AOTC could be another example, too, I guess.

This is supposed to be the Jedi at the peak of their power, their Golden Age of sorts, so it makes sense that this is when we see them able to really fight back in this way. After this, from AOTC on, the Jedi are often struggling against forces they can't quite overcome, and we need to see that so that it doesn't feel crazy when they're ultimately defeated in the end.

It's an interesting concept, the idea of the Jedi being a little frightening sometimes, because I feel like there's layers to it. With the Prequel Jedi, it's more about people underestimating them because the Jedi ARE more known and so their enemies often think that they can get the upper hand on one even if they've never actually done it before. But in the Original Trilogy era, especially with characters like Luke, it's the opposite problem, where Jedi are such an unknown quantity now that anything they do is a little frightening, even to people who aren't their enemies, because there's just no context for them to use to understand what the Jedi are and what they can do. They're SO Other that it becomes scary even if the Jedi in question is on your side or trying to save you.

This seems to be less of a thing in Disney canon for some reason. Kanan, Ezra, Ahsoka, and Cal seem to experience this very little if at all. Luke doesn't even seem to engender that kind of response when he makes his grand entrance in the season two finale of The Mandalorian (obviously Bo-Katan and Fennec would be more familiar with Jedi, but Din is not and should've had a MUCH more freaked out reaction to what a fully trained adult Jedi is capable of doing). Maybe it'll come back one day.

[raphaeltheseraphim]

I’m actually hiding with Phillip right now 👀

(For the person running this account and the ones who have been deez nuted, I’m sorry if I’m annoying I just find ya’ll character reaction funny 😔)

(I get the giggles each time)

(If I’m annoying I will stop 🗿)

I’m not sure who Phillip is but I won’t hesitate to spear them too.

(You’re not annoying lol, I quite like these asks 😆)

[polymysteryinciscanon]

Just rewatched Glass Onion and Birdie's flirting with Benoit is such a fantastic character detail. Of course she immediately flirts with Benoit as soon as she sees him. Of course she continues to flirt even when he is visbily uncomfortable and unresponsive. Of course anyone with eyes could see that he's gay but she's either that dumb or rude enough to not care. Birdie's character is founded on such a strong of (sometimes dangerous) ignorance combined with a complete lack of sympathy for those she sees as below her. And the thing about her flirting with Benoit is it could go either way- either she doesn't realize he's gay bc he doesn't fit whatever her incredibly narrow view of a gay man would be, or she feels so entitled to attention, especially male attenion, that she doesn't think his sexuality is relevant. And the thing is, it doesn't even matter that he's gay, Benoit is so obviously uncomfortable with her flirting that the fact that she continues to do so (at least until he admits to owning Sweetie Pants and asks what Disruptors are, as well as calling her out on her behavior- moving from equal to outsider) is gross anyway.

The character work in this movie is nutes you guys

[nerds-yearbook]

The final film of the devisive Star Wars prequel trilogy was released on May 19, 2005. Of the first 6 Star Wars movies, Revenge of the Sith was the first Star Wars movie to be rated PG-13. It was also the first Star Wars film to not recieve a nomination of Best Visual Effects. The original cut of the movie tied directly to the end of the Genndy Tartakovsky animated Clone Wars (2003 - 2005) shorts and showed Shaak Ti (Orli Shoshan) being executed after failing to protect Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). The animated shorts also introduced General Grievous (Matthew Wood) and explained why he had respratory problems. The title was simular to the original title of episode 6 Revenge of the Jedi (1983), which was turned to Return of the Jedi as Lucas felt revenge was not a Jedi trait. The title was changed late enough that it altered the title of Vengeance of Khan (1982) to Wrath of Khan as Star Trek producers felt Vengeance sounded too close to Revenge. Lucas finally worked in a Wookie planet battle that was originally in the script for episode 3 Star Wars A New Hope (1977) and reworked as Ewoks in Return of the Jedi. Originally, George Lucas planned to write and direct the first movie and then story and executive produce episodes 2 and 3, like he did with 5 and 6, but after the panning the first prequel got, he wrote and directed 2 and 3 himself. The movie had the key points of ending The Clone Wars, turning Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen and James Earl Jones) into Darth Vader, the fall of the Jedi and the Republic, the creation of the Empire, the revelation of the Emperor and his disfiguration, the duel between Vader and Obi Wan (Ewan McGregor) that disfigured him, the death of Padme (Natalie Portman), the birth of Luke Skywalker (Aidan Barton) and Princess Leia Organa (also Aidan Barton), Luke's adoption by Owen (Joel Edgerton) and Beru Lars (Bonnie Piesse), Leia's adoption by Bail (Jimmy Smits) and Breha (Rebecca Jackson Mendoza) Organa, Yoda's (Frank Oz) exile to Degobah and Obi Wan to Tatooine, and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) getting his memory wiped. The movie introduced the planets Utapau, Mygeeto, Felucia, Saleucami, Kashyyk (though technically this first appeared in the Star Wars Holiday Special - 1978), and Mustafar. Action also took place on established planets Coruscant, Naboo, and Tatooine. Noteable deaths in the movie were Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), General Grievous, Padme, Agen Kolar (Tux Akindoyeni), Saesee Tiin(Kenji Oates), Kit Fitso (Ben Cooke), Mace Windu (Samuel L Jackson), Boga, Ki-Adi-Mundi (Silas Carson), Aayla Secura (Amy Allen), Plo Koon (Matt Sloan), Stass Allie (Nina Fallon), Zett Jukassa (Jett Lucas), Whie Malreaux (Coinneach Alexander), Bene (Olivia McCallum), Cin Dralling (Nick Gillard), Nank Tun, Passel Argente (Marty Wetherill), Po Nudo (Paul Nicholson), Poggle the Lesser (Richard Stride), Rune Haako (Jerome Blake), Rute Gunnay (Colin Ware), Nute Gunray (Silas Carson), Tikkes , Cat Miin, Shu Mai, San Hill, and Wat Tambor (Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood). Characters that continued on to the original trilogy were Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, the Emperor, Yoda, C-3PO, Tarkin (Wayne Pygram), R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), Owen and Beru Lars, Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly), Luke Skywalker, and Leia Organa. Critically, Revenge of the Sith is often called the best of the prequel trilogy and was the highest domestic grossing film in year release of 2005. ("Revenge of the Sith", Star Wars Movie Event)

[the-real-countess]

Hey, what’s your fave star wars movie? Also, what are your thoughts on the prequels?

Probably episode 5. Though for me 6 is a close second.

I grew up horrifying my parents by replaying phantom menace 100x a day, so I have immense nostalgia for that movie. That being said, when I try to marathon the movies my biggest roadblock is Attack of the Clones. Space opera offset with awkward poorly written romance with nonsensical fascist murder teenager doesn't really do it for me. But then Christopher Lee and Jango Fett and Nute Gunray show their shining faces... And I'm roped back in for their 5 minutes of screen time. Episode 3 is okay, is how I feel about it. I was so hyped on the Tartakovsky show for General Grievous them doing a big character shift on the big screen really doured me on it. Also I think the climatic lightsaber duel is too long at least with how they approached it but otherwise perfectly acceptable movie.

[threewinterssnow]

Hottest Star Wars Character (actually hot character edition)

Round 2! The character with the lowest amount of votes is eliminated until only two remain, and then we'll have a weeklong showdown. If there is a tie, there will be a vote between the tying characters and the loser of that will be gone.

Our first to be eliminated is Watto, who lost our tiebreaker after not receiving a single vote in the first round.

[tlaquetzqui]

“Star Wars is all about people with special bloodlines!”

Main Star Wars characters with special bloodlines (before the sequels):

Anakin Skywalker

Luke Skywalker-Amidala

Leia Organa (née Skywalker-Amidala)

Main Star Wars characters without special bloodlines:

Ahsoka Tano

Asajj Ventress

Bail Organa

Barris Offee

Boba Fett

Bo-Katan Kryze

C1-10P

C3PO

Cad Bane

Chewbacca

Cody

Crosshair

Dooku of Serenno

Echo

Ezra Bridger

Fives

Garazeb Orelios

Grievous

Han Solo

Hera Syndulla

Hondo Ohnaka

Hunter

Jabba the Hutt

Jango Fett

Jarjar Binks

Kanan Jarrus

Kit Fisto

Lando Calrissian

Mace Windu

Maul

Mitth’raw’nuruodo

Mon Mothma

Nute Gunray

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Omega

Owen Lars (Beru doesn’t quite rate enough screentime)

Padme Amidala

Pre Viszla

Qui-Gon Jinn

R2D2

Sabine Wren

Satine Kryze

Savage Opress

Sheev Palpatine

Talzin

Tech

Tup

Wilhuff Tarkin

Wrecker

Yoda

Ziro the Hutt

Did you catch that? There toward the end? Let me say it again.

Sheev Palpatine.

Yeah even he doesn’t actually have a special bloodline.

[ebisul]

TCW Rewatch: Season 1 Episodes 9-12

I have no comments to premise this other than I should really read the geneva conventions

Episode 9: Cloak of Darkness

* Prisoner transport of Nute Gunray

* Dooku sends Ventress to rescue or assassinate Gunray, very different tasks my guy

* Gunray interrogation, Ahsoka going a bit too hard on the bad cop role not very jedi of her

* The separatists want to ensure their secrets remain hidden which

* Nute Gunray is a Certifed Coward

* Argyus is a traitor, kinda expected but i can’t pinpoint what was so off about him, bad vibes fr, this is like the third traiter we’ve had in one season the republic needs to vet their men a bit better

* “Innocent Pawn” yknow except for the multiple counts of attempted murder, the invasion, the probable war crimes, the definite war crimes…

* Gunray was rescued, though could be tracked in a Republic ship bc theyre all dumb of ass

Episode 10: Lair of Grevious

* So war crimes are totally a thing and in the galaxy far far away

* Dooku is using jedi as bait to catch Grievous?? To test him

* Grievous killed Nahdar, Fisto escaped

Episode 11: Dooku Captured

* Anakin gets captured, Obi Wan goes to search for and rescue him

* It was a setup to capture Dooku

* They for sure knew how to block sith lightening in fact we see them do it a lot and just never taught luke lol

* This episode is peak obi-ani bickering

* Dooku captured by weequay pirates, ransoming him to the Republic

* The weequay attempt to drug obiwan and anakin likely to ransom them as well but obi and ani switch their drinks

Episode 12: The Gungan General

* Dooku keeps warning Obi Wan and Obi Wan continues to Not Listen

* The weequay also capture Obiwan and Anakin to ransom them as well, presumably their drinks were drugged but that implies that they either foresaw which drinks they would switch and that they would swap them OR all of the drinks were drugged

* Obi Wan’s attitude with Dooku this whole episode is the same as Anakin’s attitude with Obi Wan

* Interesting character dynamics, i love obi wan and dooku interactions

* JarJar being in charge is concerning because of his sheer incompetence and unfortunate luck

* Obi Wan lets Hondo go, also reminds him Dooku is not as honorable and will likely seek revenge, which is probably why he let him go

War Crime Counter:

Separatists: 4

Republic: 0

no new warcrimes this time that im aware of at least

[cruella1989]

Star Wars 30 Challenge:

Day 2. Favorite Movie

That’s a tough one. I love all three of the prequels pretty much equally, but if I had to choose, it would probably be Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

I know that I lot of people disagree with me but, I think it’s a great beginning to the Skywalker Saga. It does a good job setting up the relationship between Anakin, Padme, Palpatine, and many other important characters, as well as their motives.

Personally, I love all the characters in Episode 1, especially Jar Jar, Palpatine, and Nute Gunray (no joke). But, even the more minor ones like Sebula, Watto, and Boss Nass are lots of fun, in my opinion.

I know it’s not a perfect movie, but I still love it. Besides, none of them are flawless.

Day 1. Favorite Character

[imaybelactoseintolerant]

Commander Luthal

Chapter Three: Master

By the way, this is also being uploaded on AO3, under the same name and username.

Oh, and any interactions she has with other characters I've created are really only for her childhood, and they likely won't pop up later. It's just so I'm not cramming every single Jedi ever named into her life.

Word Count: 3054

Masterlist

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Arwen was seven when the Jedi Council called her to the Council Chamber, the first time she’d been there since she was accepted into the Order.

The room felt… heavy when she entered, even with only Master Yoda and Master Windu inside. The latter eyed her with suspicion. Cringing a little, she wondered what she had done wrong. She recounted the days events in her head; she’d woken up and eaten with Tarrock, she’d attended all her lessons, handed in an assignment, she’d stayed behind an hour later after saber practise by herself, she’d asked Master Nu for help finding some Kaleesh histories in the archives, then she had gone to dinner. She’d been walking back with Tarrock to their room, talking about the recent trade blockade and battle on Naboo; the Trade Federation had been defeated, but it had been several days and any more details were scarce. All Tarrock had to tell her was that Viceroy Nute Gunray had been taken into custody, and then a temple guard had pulled her aside and told her the Council had summoned her.

Still, she couldn’t help but ask, “Have I done something wrong, Masters?”

“Remain to be seen, that does,” Master Yoda said gravely.

Swallowing, she stood before the two with her arms folded in against one another, trying to look calm.

“Your previous teacher,” Master Windu said, and Arwen frowned. She hadn’t talked about him since they’d asked her about it when she was admitted into the Order, but she had thought about him. Sometimes she felt guilty—what if he had come looking for her, and found she had disappeared? Maybe he’d been testing her, and come back to check on her progress, assure her he was just seeing how she would handle learning without him, only to learn that she’d joined the Jedi Order? Maybe—

Could the Council tell that she felt guilty? That she still thought of him occasionally, and wondered what had happened to him?

“He was a Zabrak, red skinned? With black tattoos on his face?”

Her eye twitched. She didn’t think she’d ever told them that… maybe they’d asked Madam Oren, she had seen his face before, just briefly… she nodded slowly, eyes flitting between the two Masters with uncertainty.

“Yes?”

“What was his name?”

Reflexively, her lips pressed together. She’d promised him, years ago, that she would never tell anyone his name.

“I thought you said I didn’t have to tell you that?” She asked quietly, eyes lowering to the floor. She didn’t want to tell them, but what would happen if she didn’t? Would she be kicked out of the Jedi Order? Oh, how disappointed would Madam Oren be? Would he even want to teach her, if he had indeed been looking for her, now that he knew she had abandoned him for the Jedi after only a few months?

“Changed, the circumstances have,” Master Yoda said, standing from his chair then ambling over to her. He stopped at arms length, resting his three clawed fingers atop his walking stick, “Encountered him, the Jedi have. Information, we have gathered, and eager, we are, to determine its validity.”

Master Yoda held out a holoprojector, and the small disk activated, showing a miniature, blue tinted form that she instantly recognised.

“Master Maul,” she said without thinking.

“The same name, were we given,” Master Yoda said, exchanging a short look with Master Windu, “Master, you call him?” Master Windu stood suddenly, stepping over to Master Yoda’s side.

Flustered, Arwen nodded, “That’s what he said to call him, when he was telling me about the Force.”

“And what did he teach you? How did he teach you to use the Force?”

Master Windu, whilst a stern and rather unemotional man, had never intimidated her much before now. He’d always been an authority figure, but never someone she was scared of. He was on the Council, an accomplished duelist from what she’d been told, and second only to Master Yoda himself in wisdom. Arwen had no reason to be intimidated by him, he’d earned her respect simply by being a part of the Council that had allowed her to join the Jedi Order.

But now, as he looked down his nose at her with narrowed eyes, lips pressed tightly together, Arwen could feel her heart pounding against her ribcage, could hear her blood pumping in her ears, and she fought the overpowering urge to take a few steps back, to ready herself to run.

She drew in a shaky breath. She hadn’t done anything wrong. She didn’t know why Master Maul teaching her changed anything. They’d always known she had an instructor before them.

“He taught me how to meditate,” she swallowed thickly, “He told me about the Jedi being most recognisable Force users, but that some other planets, like Dorin, have their own groups of Force sensitives, like the Baran Do Sages. He taught me how to see the Force beyond my hands, because that’s what I used to think it was; invisible hands that sometimes made me move out of the way faster, or that I could feel when I focussed.”

“Anything else, is there?” Master Yoda asked. She thought for a moment, then shook her head, “Sure, you are? To meditate, how did he instruct you?”

“The same way I was told to here, except…” her heart ceased its pounding for a moment, and then clenched painfully. Master Maul had taught her something different about the purpose of meditation, “Instead of letting go of my emotions, he told me to use my emotions, because they would make me stronger.”

There was a long stretch of silence in which the two Masters exchanged a heavy look.

“Passion, did he say, would make you powerful?”

She nodded silently.

“Troubling, this revelation is.”

“But why, Master? You knew I had a teacher before I came to the Order—”

“We assumed he must have been a former Jedi, or at least trained by a Jedi informally,” Master Windu said, “Not that your former Master was a Sith,” his voice was only a tad harder than usual, but it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Not only that, but the last word was said with such finality, such pointedness, that Arwen leaned back slightly.

“What’s a Sith?”

Master Windu looked at her with suspicious, doubtful eyes, but Master Yoda spoke, “Knowledge of the Sith, for older initiates to learn, this is. Remember, do you, your lessons in the Force?” When she nodded, he continued, “Two sides, there are. Light and Dark. Light, are the ways of the Jedi. Balance, we seek in the galaxy. Peace and harmony, we strive for. The way of the Jedi, this is. Of the Dark side, is chaos and passion. Pain and suffering—that is the way of the Sith.”

“Master Maul told me there was a Light side and a Dark side, but he didn’t… I never knew what he was teaching me, I swear! He didn’t tell me the rules or—”

Master Windu held up his hand and her mouth snapped shut.

“Was this ‘Maul’ alone?”

“When I saw him, he was.”

“Did he ever mention others to you?”

“No? Like who?”

“Neimoidians? Politicians? Traders?” She shook her head, “A master?”

Her frown deepened, but she answered, “I never asked. I guess it makes sense, he would have learned from someone, but he never said anything.”

“Troubling, this is. Always two, there are. A master, and an apprentice,” her back could have been turned and she would have felt the weight of their eyes, “An apprentice to the Sith, you were groomed to be. A master he had, we do not know,” Master Yoda stroked his chin thoughtfully, eyes closing.

Arwen bit the inside of her cheek.

“Darkness, I do not sense in you. Darkness, I did not sense when we accepted you. To blame, you are not, for the way you were taught,” she let out a shaky exhale, relieved, “The way of the Jedi, continue to follow, you must.”

She was nodding before he finished speaking.

“And you must not speak a word of this to anyone but myself and Master Yoda—is that clear?”

“Yes, Master. I won’t say anything.”

Seemingly satisfied, Master Windu nodded once, “You may leave, Initiate Luthal.”

She made for the exit quickly, eager to escape the lingering grave energy still in the room, but once the door opened, she stopped, then slowly turned, “Masters?”

“More to say, have you?” Master Yoda asked.

“Did Master… did he mention me?” Had he been looking for her, is what she wanted to ask, but it sounded too hopeful in her head, and she wasn’t really sure what she wanted the answer to be.

The two Masters stood in silence, heads angled towards her.

She should have taken the hint and left, ignored the heavy weight settled in the pit of her stomach at the thought of him coming back for her, only to find her gone, and she should have forgotten about him. But Arwen lingered in the open doorway, waiting for them to answer.

“Speak, he did not,” her heart dropped. Master Maul, despite terrifying anyone she had seen him so much as look at, was quite talkative with her, “Mindful of your feelings, must you be, Arwen. Attachment leads to fear. Fear leads to suffering. The way of the Dark side, this is.”

Arwen nodded and bowed before leaving the Council Chambers, her throat tight and eyes glassy. She beelined straight for the Room of a Thousand Fountains. No matter what time of day, there was always a quiet, empty place there.

Despite being deep within the Jedi Temple, with no access to sunlight, the seven storey tall greenhouse, complete with a dome ceiling, was bright, warm and alive. The Room of a Thousand Fountains felt more natural than even the forest that lay not far from the orphanage she had grown up in. The dome itself contained a sophisticated holoprojection suite that mimicked the day and night cycles of places far more beautiful than Coruscant, with vivid blue skies, swirling clouds, vibrant sunsets and sunrises, and a score of different weather ambience. The ground was primarily soil, but stepping stone paths were woven around the trees and shrubbery, with gazebos and benches placed here and there, for members of the Order to stroll through, and plenty of places to meditate.

Arwen had learned from Master Plo that the best places to meditate when one truly needed to, were off the path; amongst the flowers, or on beds of clover and grass, at the base of a tree with great gnarled roots, at the foot of a waterfall, or at the side of a babbling brook. There was no shortage of picturesque locations, and there was nowhere else on Coruscant with such diverse and dense plantlife.

The night cycle had already begun when she entered, and there were few others she saw on her long walk towards her favourite place, nestled deep within the giant greenhouse, under the arched cover of a tree only six feet tall that bloomed with wide petaled pink flowers, and near to a waterfall barely taller than she was. She knelt upon the soft ground, and wiped away the tears that finally spilled.

She desperately wiped them away, hoping no one would hear her or, worse, find her.

Had it just been a coincidence that Master Maul had happened across some Jedi, or had he come looking for her? Had he seen the power the Jedi wielded, and decided she wasn’t worth chasing after, or had he never come looking for her at all? Which hurt worse?

Chest heaving as she fought to silence her sobs, she realised it didn’t matter. Either he’d been looking for her and given up, not even speaking to the Jedi to get a message to her, or it had been a coincidence, and he didn’t care where she was.

Why did it hurt so much? Master Maul had said, repeatedly, that was all he would ever be to her; a master, her teacher. When he promised to take her away one day, he’d been very clear that he would never be her father, or family, but she’d still latched onto him nonetheless, clung to their scant hours together, waited by windows on the days she thought he would turn up, ask question after question when he took her back to the orphanage just so he could stay even a little longer.

He said he would take her away one day. What changed?

She swallowed her cries—pathetic, Master Maul would have said, control your emotions—and thought over what she’d been told. Master Maul hadn’t spoken, so to have known his name someone had to have told them. What had they said… politicians, traders, Neimoidians? What did they have to do with any of this?

She mulled it over in her head, but couldn’t come to any kind of conclusion that wasn’t completely fantastical.

When Arwen had managed to silence the worst of her sobs, she began her much needed meditation session. Her breaths were still shaky, her eyes still watery, and her hands shook, but she knew she couldn’t just try to sleep this one off, not until she’d calmed down a lot more.

She spent hours in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, knelt upon the soft ground, hands resting upon her legs, mind reaching out to the Force and letting it soothe her shaking body and calm her frayed thoughts. When the Force had lulled her mind into a less volatile state, she began sorting through her emotions the way the Jedi had taught her—picking apart her feelings, finding what precisely they were a reaction to, and letting them go into the Force. They would do her no good here. Jedi did not meditate on their emotions to gain power. Jedi meditated for inner peace.

Some time through her meditation, she’d moved her hands from her legs and to the ground, letting the soft grass tickle her palms as she rested them there. She felt the life at her fingertips, felt its steady rhythm, its gentle lull. She anchored herself to it, let her breaths synchronise with the gentle sway of the Force as she let her mind brush over it. Nowhere else in the Temple was it so peaceful, so alive with the Force, with life itself.

Her mind suddenly ached for a planet other than Coruscant, or Eshan. She’d been told there were planets that felt like this room, only grander, and on a far larger scale. Where the earth and water, plants and animals, the very core, were deeply entwined with the Force. How peaceful would a planet like that feel? What would it feel like to have the Force itself wrapped so fully around her?

Arwen longed for such comfort. Surely in a place like that she would hardly have to meditate—the Force would simply melt away her frustrations, her sorrow, her longing.

But the Jedi Temple was what she had—and it was more than enough.

It was late by the time she had sorted through her emotions, and it was only when she saw Crèche Master Kuula outside the door to her shared room that Arwen realised she was in trouble for the second time today.

Master Kuula, dark skinned, with dark braided hair and warm amber eyes, wasn’t an unfair woman, and so let Arwen explain herself. She told her that Master Yoda and Master Windu called her away after dinner to speak to her, and she had been meditating on their conversation in the Room of  Thousand Fountains since then, which wasn’t a complete lie, and while Master Kuula wasn’t happy about it, she respected the fact that she’d been told not to speak of the conversation they’d had.

Arwen wasn’t let off without punishment—she’d still missed curfew by several hours—and spent the next afternoon helping take care of some of the infants in the crèche to make up for it.

It was days later when news of the death of Qui-Gon Jinn was announced to the Order; he’d died on Naboo during the fight where Queen Amidala took back her planet from the Trade Federation. His padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, was knighted for his part in Naboo’s victory. Anakin Skywalker, nine years old, was the oldest child to be admitted to the Order—ever, from what Arwen knew—and immediately taken on as a padawan to Master Kenobi. Master Dooku grew visibly more distant in training sessions, and several weeks later he left the Jedi Order.

Master Oppo Rancisis, a member of the Jedi Council like Master Dooku had been, was given the position that Master Dooku had filled, instructing Arwen and her crèche mates in lightsaber combat. Though he was certainly accomplished and respected, Arwen could not stop herself from wanting Master Dooku to come back. He’d been one of the best duelists in the Order, and there was a part of her that was incredibly prideful at the fact that he was teaching her. Fine teachers made even finer students, and aside from Master Windu, she didn’t think there was anyone better to learn from.

Even so, Master Rancisis’ saber skills weren’t something to scoff at, and she paid as much attention to him as she had to Master Dooku, even if he didn’t command the room like her former instructor had.

When the yearly tournament came around again, Arwen placed first once more, beating out some of the older initiates in the early pairings, though Thranta Clan had still only came second, this time losing to Heliost Clan.

Arwen vowed that next year they would do better—she’d be eight by then, just old enough to become a padawan, and while it was unlikely she’d be picked straight away, she couldn’t stop herself from hoping. She’d train harder, more often, and make sure she was still the best. A master would see her skills, her dedication, and she would impress them. They’d check her progress. They’d approach her. They would ask her. She would say yes.

If that kid—what was his name? Skywalker?—had been picked straight away, without any kind of training whatsoever, how hard could it be, really, to impress a knight or a master?

[legendsofthegffa]

Cloak of Deception Review

By Z.H. Brown

It is the twilight of the Republic. While the Core worlds enjoy a so-called "Golden Age", those worlds on the fringes of galactic civilization are beset by hardships and exploitation by greedy corporate factions; within the Galactic Senate, corruption has taken root, and any attempts at reform or improvement are stymied by self-interest and apathy; and unbeknownst to the Senate and the Jedi Order, the Sith are working from the shadows to bring their Grand Plan to fruition.

In the Outer Rim, an undeclared war is being waged between the citizens of the exploited worlds and the corporate entities exploiting them for the benefit of the few. During a routine mission, a Trade Federation ship is attacked by a group known as the Nebula Front, who manage too not only ruin the shipping run but also make off with a fortune of rare ingots; the Jedi Order has dispatched Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi to combat this small but potent threat, despite somewhat sympathizing with the culprits.

In the Galactic Senate, the Trade Federation is causing an uproar over the threat to their profits and demand to be able to properly arm themselves, despite the reservations of some who don't wish to see the TF and other corporate entities accrue more power. In the middle of this politicking is Senator Palpatine of Naboo, secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Sidious is of course playing all sides: slipping information to the leaders of the Nebula Front while also pushing the Trade Federation on in their calls for armament, while as Palpatine striking a balance between the more extreme Senate factions while also subtly manipulating Supreme Chancellor Valorum; he proposes a summit be held on a world closer to the Outer Rim so that all sides can come together and find a solution, while also planting the seeds of Valorum's political demise by laying incriminating evidence of self-enrichment.

The Jedi Order is pressured into intervening on the Trade Federations behalf and dispatches a team of Jedi to bring the Nebula Front leaders to justice. However, the Front is already ready for them and the Jedi find themselves outnumbered and outgunned while Sidious' agents carry out his orders for their seeming benefit. At the summit, the Jedi manage to save the Chancellor from an assassination attempt, though Sidious' manipulation causes the deaths of nearly all the Trade Federation leadership, except for Nute Gunray who steps in as Viceroy. With the summit a bust, the leaders of the Republic return to Coruscant where the accusations against Valorum are levied while Sidious' suggests taking a bold action against a mostly powerless world to Gunray: the home of Senator Palpatine, Naboo.

I'll be honest: I've read this book before and remembered the opening and ending quite vividly, but the middle part just didn't grab me as much. I was surprised and delighted to see so much politicking, but the story involving the Nebula Front just wasn't something I found particularly interesting. I was more fascinated at seeing more of the pieces falling into place that set the stage for Episode I.

And let us not forget the other Sith that we're also active at this time; Sidious' master, Darth Plagueis is still hard at work in his midichlorian experiments, leaving the political maneuvering to Palpatine, while Sidious' own apprentice, Darth Maul, is dispatched on a mission of his own (which we'll cover shortly).

Cloak of Deception is essential reading for those wanting to see how all of the pieces of the Sith plan fall into place as the flip-side of what we saw in the novel Darth Plagueis. While some may find the main story more engaging than I did, I still enjoyed the Palpatine moments, and as I said the beginning and ending have always stuck with me. Next time, we'll find out what Darth Maul was up to during this time as we look at Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter.

Connections to the GFFA

One of the characters swears by “the moons of Bodgen”…maybe he meant to say Bogden?

Palpatine warns that Senate fractionalization will lead to “secession.”

We get a bit where Qui-Gon reminisces on his youth, and yet no mention of Dooku…

Jorrus C’baoth appears; his story continues in Outbound Flight.

Valorum recalls the time of the New Sith Wars, which ended with Darth Bane’s secret victory.

Vergere appears, with her story continuing in Rogue Planet.

The Stark-Hyperspace War is briefly mentioned.

By this point in Legends, Palpatine knows Tarkin.

We find out the “scandal” that is dogging Valorum in Episode I: the Sith have manipulated it so that it appears that his family company is profiting from his position and inside-knowledge.

Final Score: 7.5/10

[wolverina2002]

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Category: Gen

Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types

Relationships: Kit Fisto & Nahdar Vebb, CC-3714 | Fil & Nahdar Vebb

Characters: Kit Fisto, Nahdar Vebb, CC-3714 | Fil, Original Clone Trooper Character(s) (Star Wars), Original Mandalorian Characters (Star Wars)

Additional Tags: Episode: s01e09 Cloak of Darkness, Episode: s01e10 Lair of Grevious, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Master & Padawan Relationship(s), Clone Troopers Deserve Better (Star Wars), Clone Troopers Speak Mando'a (Star Wars), Platonic Cuddling, Serious Injuries, Blood and Injury, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Pain, Medical Inaccuracies, Clone Trooper Decommissioning (Star Wars), Protective Kit Fisto, Loss of Limbs, Injury Recovery

Language: English

After Nute Gunray escapes, Kit Fisto and his former Padawan stumble into an unexpected trap. Luckily, they have back-up.