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JAIRA SWALLOWED WITH DIFFICULTY when General Grievous' ship jumped into hyperspeed. With each passing second, the distance between them grew inconceivable big, and they had no means of tracking the ship.

'Padawan Hux,' Obi-Wan said, and Eerie tore away her eyes from the spot Grievous had disappeared.

'Yes, Master Kenobi?' She hated being unable to do something for Master Meadowdancer but she'd soon get more action than she had asked for. At the other side of the moon they were hiding behind, lay the planet Ilum and the Separatists' blockade.

'Board your starfighter. You are leading the clone squadron of Master Bluelv's Starship. Jaira, you will be leading our squadrons alone.'

'Do you think she'll be alright?' Jaira asked, referring to her master. She turned around and raised an eyebrow at Obi-Wan.

'Yes,' he answered without doubt. 'If General Grievous wanted her dead, he would have done so already. She is a Jedi Master and part of the Council, he must have other plans for her, and I have a feeling we will find out what it is soon enough. Now, follow your orders. We have lost too much time as it is.'

'Yes, Master,' Jaira and Eerie said in unison. They inclined their heads in respect and made their way down to the launch platform.

Clone troopers and pilots ran back and fro, their heavy footsteps echoing throughout the massive room in their very own upbeat anthem while the engineers did the final check-ups of the starfighters. Their gloved hands worked in routine, their fingers non trembling and moving with precision.

The engineer by Eerie's ship nodded it was all good and moved on to the next one.

Eerie clasped Jaira's under arm and smiled at her. She smiled back, but Eerie could see the concern for her master was still nagging her in the back of her head.

'Good luck,' Eerie said. 'Focus on the here and now, make your master proud, even though I know you sometimes can't stand her.'

Jaira grinned and let go of her arm. 'You are right. I finally get to boss some troopers around without her telling me what to tell them.'

Eerie winked and climbed into her starfigher. 'Exactly. See you at the other side, my friend.' The glass roof closed with a whoosh and Jaira took place in her own starfighter.

They waited until every pilot sat in their ship and the rest of the troopers were away from the platform. The all clear signal was given behind the glass wall and the protective transparent blue shield disappeared, keeping the nothingness of space no longer at bay.

The pilots started up their starfighters and the squadrons took off, soaring into the darkness outside.

Eerie flew towards her squadron that was circling around Master Bluelv's Star Destroyer. 'Blue leader present and ready,' she said through the communicator.

'It is good to hear your voice, Eerie,' Brood answered, his soothing voice somewhat distorted due to the com, and Eerie smiled.

'Likewise, Master.' It had been a few weeks since they had last seen each other and it felt good to be reunited once again. She had missed her master's presence and council. Sometimes he was the only one who could see through her lies, keeping her on the right path of the Jedi ways.

'Red and yellow squadron ready and standing by,' Jaira's voice came through.

'Good,' Brood said. 'Let's greet the Separatists and give them a warm welcome. All units of the Republic fleet: engage.'

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ESTEL IGNITED HIS EMERALD GREEN LIGHTSABER, ready to burn through thick metal plates covering the Senate Building, but he froze in his movements when Freia's stern voice reached his ears.

'Estel, don't you dare.'

He gave her a curious look and gestured in the direction of the building with his saber. 'The Senate is trapped inside, we have to help.'

'Or. . .' Freia said, prolonging the word as if she talking to a toddler, 'they are safe inside. We don't know what's going on. For all we know there could be a incoming threat and you'd be helping the enemy by forcing open the lock down.'

Estel crossed eyes with Aramis who motioned he should indeed put away the lightsaber. 'She may be right,' he said.

Estel rolled his eyes but retracted his saber as asked and hung the hilt back on his belt. 'Fine, but how do we find out what's happening?'

'May I remind you we're not at some planet in the Outer Rim. We contact the Jedi Council and await for further orders, as is protocol,' Freia answered, matter of factly.

Estel tapped with his foot on the courtyard, placed his hands in his side and took a deep breath. 'Fine,' he grumbled again.

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JEDI KNIGHT MIKO PALMARAN RECITED THE PLAN one more time in his head before he signaled the five bounty hunters to take their places. Swift as the wind and almost invisible to the eye, they disappeared from his side to cover the meeting hall of the Galactic Senate.

Miko gathered his strength, pushing his emotions to the background as well, and he ran to the office of Chancellor Palpatine. Miko's white hair was messier than usual and his black robes swirled around his legs as he shot through the corridors.

'Oh no,' he muttered when Palpatine's and Master Windu's muted voices sounded through the hallway. Miko had forgotten about the Chancellor's direct communication link with the Jedi Council. The bounty hunters had blocked the main frequency but not this one.

'It is most curious, Master Jedi. The lock down was not ordered by me,' Palpatine said in the com link as Miko burst through the door. A shocked expression appeared on the Chancellor's voice but before he could utter a warning to the Council, Miko jumped on the desk and stabbed his purple lightsaber through the communicator. The device crackled but then died with sizzling sound.

'What is the meaning of this?!' Mas Amedda yelled, struggling back on his feet as he had been standing behind the door before Miko bursted through it.

The Jedi Knight ignored the Vice Chair and stared into the Chancellor's old eyes, meanwhile still crouching on the desk. 'Call a meeting of the Senate, Palpatine.'

'Master Jedi, what do you think you are doing? You have no authority over me, I will not do such thing.'

Miko jumped down from the desk, Force blasting Mas Amedda against the wall as he tried to sneak up upon him, and then pointed his saber to the Chancellor. 'Do it, or I will skin and slice of your fingers and toes one by one until you beg to call a meeting to make it stop.'

Something shimmered in Miko's eyes, revealing the dark side that still lingered in him, even after all his years of service as a Jedi Knight.

For a moment, Palpatine flashed a wicked smirk but soon it was gone. 'And what will you do if I do call a meeting of the Senate?'

'Exposing you as the Sith Lord you are.'

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A/N:

yikes, this was a bad week for updates. my apologies, again.

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characters introduced this chapter:

Jedi Knight Miko Palmaran by billysheiks

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