The Dark Thin Line

Chapter 3: The Jedi

"I am sorry that I have startled you," I say utterly failing in my attempts to stay calm and suppress my nerves, "I need to see the Gate Council. Its urgent" I finished as I took a small step forward, now beginning to feel the pull of the Lantean terminal hidden under the floor.

"What in the-" a muscular dark-skinned young Jedi began to say then composed himself before continuing, "Who are you?"

"I am Phoenix Desala, and to whom are you?" I respond trying to sound more sophisticated than I actually was.

"I am Jedi padawan Mace Windu," the boy answered, "and this is Jedi Master Yoda, my master during my apprenticeship." Windu continued gesturing to the extremely short green skinned being standing next to him. Taking one more step just angered the guards further but, I sensed that I was standing right in front of the terminal. "Hey, don't take one more step, in fact don't move at all. We will sort this out in a minute," Windu commanded nodding I breath in deep and summon the terminal to my hand. With remarkable speed the slanted hexagonal rod rose, its gel interface meeting my hand, my brain instantly commanding the temple to activate the lockout protocol. The Jedi's lightsabers long since activated sizzled out, the temples lights blinking out one by one, the hidden shield generator activating closing off the temple from the outside world. The startled Jedi futilely try to activate their sabers only for the fear to completely set in. "Phoenix what did you do?" The padawan asked obviously scared out of his wits.

"I have activated the temple's lockout protocol," I stated flatly hoping that they wouldn't decide to charge me, "Please contact the Gate council, I require a meeting with them" I stated confidently, although knowing that this was wrong and that it would complicate things in the future.

"A meeting with this Gate council why need you?" The short green being asked.

"Unfortunately, master Yoda, that is only allowed to be discussed with the Council." I state, my high voice masking any tone of authority that I attempted to muster.

"Fortunate for you, a gate master I am. A representative to the Gate council to the Jedi Temple I am." Yoda responds as he steps forward, his wooden walking stick thumping on the soft stone floor. "A familiarity you have, your parents, where are they huuummm?" Yoda asked, "See them I do not, sense them I do not,". With that last line I started to breakdown, the tears welled up in my eyes and I could no longer keep my composure.

"Master," I say between sniffles, "They are both dead. They died defending our home, defending us." I say, the red carpet blurry from the tears, "They often spoke of you Master, and I am glad you are here."

"Knew them both I did, pained I am to hear of their deaths. A meeting with the councils arranged that can be. And exit the ship your brother can, hurt you both we will not." Yoda sighed, and so I turned back and give a nod toward my brother while remove my hand from the gelatinous pad leaving it exposed guarding the gateship. Now with my brother at my side I take the first tentative step outside the shield along with my brother. I hadn't noticed before, but the skyline was full of flying cars and the whole skyline was a single city. This couldn't be the planet that I had dialed, everything I had been told about it was that it was much like the planet I had just come from, with grass, trees, and lakes. Sure, it had cities but none this big, this expansive.

"Master Yoda is this planet Coruscant?" I ask confused.

"Indeed, this is Coruscant. Not like it was melena ago it is." Master Yoda replied as we continued through the high arched halls of the Jedi temple. It felt like we were heroes being paraded around the capital after a triumphant victory, yet all I felt was sorrow. We eventually reached a set of dark wooden doors with third generation gates carved into their centers. "To the Jedi's gate room this will take us, be carful of the active gates you must be. Always active two gates are, a permanent link between both temples they are." Master Yoda informed us, his apprentice stopping as we entered through the large doors.