Star Wars: The Jedi Chronicles:Enter The Shadows (Books 1-4)

Chapter 3 First Encounter

Scene: a clearing in the woods of the third planet of the Glade system. The air and ground isdamp dispite them landing on a landing platform. The five Jedi just landed there starfighters, and the young team are preparing to face the danger that they can already feel... a creeping chill down their spines, a burning hatred, a heaviness in the air.

Willie: (to Shain) Now, you wanna tell us what’s going on?

 

Shain: (shivering) Do you feel that?

Katy: If by “that” you mean the stuffiness in the air and the Dark Side of the Force (which I’ve never felt this strongly), then, yes, I can feel that. Now, what’s got you so tight? What’s so bad about this place? I mean, outside the obvious.

Shain: (sighs) Ok. We’re here to take out a Sith lord called Censes Fade. I was reading about him on the way here; he’s grown to be the strongest Sith in history since his turning to the Dark Side, eighty nineyears ago. But he’s had no way off this planet, and no one lives here so hes got no ship to get him off world. The council payed no attention till about three days ago when there was a sudden spike in the Dark Side here and it’s getting stronger by the day. Master Yoda said--

A sudden burst of Force power sends all five of them flying through the air. From the shadow of a tree comes a dark figure, wearing a long white-gray robe with a hood that covers his eyes. The cape, sleeves, and legs are torn. Underneath his hood, his eyes are harsh, and have a cold, black glow unlike any other sith’s. His name is Censes Fade.

Censes: (coldly and mockingly) What are you Jedi doing here? No, wait... I know why. You’re here to get me off this wasteland, aren’t you?

Eve: (nervously while getting up) Uh… we could if you want?

Katy: (telepathically to the other Jedi) I think this guy might be why we’re here.

Willie: (telepathically to Katy sarcastically) Ya think?

Cody: (standing up) What’s your name?

Censes: My name is Censes Fade.

Willie: (sarcastically) Why, hello, Censes! My name’s William Crompton. But you can call me Willie for short, or Will, for shorter. These are my friends: Eve, Katy, Cody, and Shain.

Censes: (smiling darkly) I know who you are, Jedi. I have known for thirty years.

Eve: (arching her eyebrows in surprise) That’s weird, ‘cause the oldest one here is eighteen...

Censes: (sounding bored) I knew you all would come one day.  I met each of you and the friends you left on Coruscant in a vision.

Cody: (uncomfortably) So… what brings you to this neck of the woods, anyways?

Censes: Eighty nine years ago, I was a member of the Jedi order, just as you are. The chancellor sent me and two others to this dreadful place for some pretense of a mission. We were attacked by a Separatist flag ship. We didn’t have any time to react. The two Jedi died in the explosions of their starfighters, and I was hit and crashed here on this slimy mud hole. Here, I have sat and rotted for sixty years.

Eve: (surprised and disgusted) Really? ‘Cause you don’t look a day over twenty-six.

Censes: (smiling) I have a twenty-seven year old body due the power I found on this planet.

Willie: Eighty nine years ago? That’s about when Order Sixty-Six and Operation Night Fall began.

Censes: (sharp, puzzled) What is that?

Shain: Order Sixty-Six was when the Clone Army betrayed the Jedi Order. One by one, they murdered the Jedi all across the galaxy. About two weeks before Order Sixty-Six was issued, you disappeared. That was when Anakin Skywalker fell to the Dark Side... Operation Night Fall was when he marched the clone troopers down to the Jedi Temple and killed every single one, right down to the smallest youngling.