The serene Temple of Coruscant lay peacefully above the endless sprawl of the city-planet. Its elegant spires and sweeping stone courtyards shimmered under the filtered light of morning, a quiet monolith standing watch over the restless world below. Within its walls, the hum of traffic faded into distant ambience, replaced by the softer breath of calm—of meditation, of learning, of the Force at rest.
Deep in the meditation chambers, Master Yoda sat cross-legged upon a woven cushion, eyes closed, mind open. The eight-hundred-year-old Jedi Elder drifted among the currents of the Force, letting it wash through him. The warmth of the light side, the harmony of thousands of Jedi, the stillness that permeated the Temple—these were constants. Comforting. Familiar.
But beneath them…
A ripple.
A shadow inside the light.
Yoda's eyes opened slowly.
He had felt this once before—over a year ago now. A faint stirring, subtle enough to dismiss but impossible to forget. Today it returned, stronger and more defined, like a whisper in a forgotten language brushing against his mind.
Ancient… unfamiliar… yet close, he thought.
He tapped his gimer stick lightly against the floor as he rose, his small frame straightening with a slow breath. Whatever the disturbance was, clarity eluded him. Patience, he would need. Reflection. But for now—responsibilities called.
He stepped out into the corridor, the gentle flow of Temple life greeting him. Young Padawans walked in lines behind their instructors, knights discussed missions in hushed tones, and artisans carried sculptures toward the archives. Their presence filled Yoda with quiet pride; their light, strong as ever, softened his troubled thoughts.
A smile creased his aged face as he reached the High Council chamber.
Inside, he moved to his seat, setting his cane to the side. The chamber sat empty for only a moment more before the other members entered one by one—Mace Windu with measured steps, Ki-Adi-Mundi deep in thought, Plo Koon with calm dignity, Yaddle close behind.
The meeting began, but Yoda's mind drifted. A thread pulled at his senses still—a warning he could not yet decipher.
"Master Yoda… Master Yoda," Mace repeated, leaning forward.
Yoda blinked and looked toward his former student.
"Are you alright, Master?" Mace asked. "Is something troubling you?"
Yoda inhaled slowly.
"Felt something, I have. A bad feeling… Something coming, it is."
Ki-Adi-Mundi raised a brow. "The galaxy has known peace for a thousand years. What disturbance could concern you so deeply?"
Yoda shook his head. "Unsure, I am. Ancient, this feels. Never before sensed this have I."
Yaddle folded her hands gently. "Master Yoda's intuition is rarely wrong. We should heed his concern. Darkness tends to hide in the shadows."
Plo Koon nodded. "I agree. The currents in the Force have shifted. The legends of the Chosen One may yet prove relevant to our era."
Oppo Rancisis flicked his serpentine tail. "We cannot base decisions on prophecy alone. The future is always in motion."
Mace leaned forward. "Master Yoda… do you sense this threat is near? Or distant?"
Yoda lifted a hand to his brow, the feeling tightening again.
"Near… closer than we think."
Just as the last word left his mouth, Mace's communicator chimed sharply.
He tapped it. "This is Master Windu."
A young Jedi Knight's voice crackled through. "Master, apologies for the interruption. We've just received an urgent transmission from one of our Jedi in the field."
"Forward it to the Council chambers," Mace ordered.
"Yes, Master."
The comm cut. A moment later, the chamber lights dimmed and a hologram flickered to life at the center of the room—blue, static, distorted. After a brief pause, the recording began.
It was Khan Kage.
"Masters—Something— static —on Naboo. The planet has been blockaded by— static —I require help, they are taking— static —captives."
Suddenly a burst of blaster fire flashed across the projection. Khan ducked, turning mid-sentence—
—and the message cut out.
Silence fell over the chamber.
Yaddle exhaled softly. "We need to help Padawan Kage. This is no small disturbance."
Ki-Adi-Mundi frowned. "But we lack details. We have no confirmation of who is attacking or why. Intervention without Senate approval may violate protocol."
Plo Koon's voice deepened, concerned. "Still, an entire planet being blockaded cannot be ignored."
Yoda's ears twitched. He pushed himself out of his seat.
"Speak with the Chancellor, I will. More information, they may have."
Mace stood beside him. "We'll adjourn for now. Masters, we'll reconvene once we've spoken with the Senate."
One by one, the hologram lights rose again as Yoda and Mace Windu left the chamber, walking side by side through the winding halls of the Jedi Temple.
Behind them, the murmurs of the remaining council members filled the room—uneasy, uncertain.
Ahead of them, the path to the Executive Building awaited.
Something was coming.
And despite the calm face he wore, Yoda felt the tremor deep in his bones.
The tides of the Force were shifting.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In the Office of the Chancellor within the Executive Building, Master Yoda and Master Windu sat across from Chancellor Finis Valorum. Afternoon light filtered through tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Valorum looked exhausted—sleepless, overburdened, and already behind.
"We received a transmission from one of our Jedi on Naboo," Mace Windu began, hands folded calmly on his knee. "His message held concerning information of a blockade and the possibility of arrests being made. The transmission was partially distorted and was cut off early. We don't have the full picture. Have you heard anything, Chancellor?"
Valorum exhaled, rubbing his temple before answering. "Yes… actually, we have. I was informed only an hour ago that the Trade Federation has implemented a full blockade of Naboo. It appears to be their attempt to protest the new taxation on free-trade routes." His voice carried a weary frustration, the kind born from years of Senate gridlock.
Yoda's ears drooped slightly as he frowned. "Disturbing this is. Allow this any longer, we mustn't."
"I don't disagree, Master Yoda," Valorum replied, leaning forward. "But as of now, the Senate has no direct authority to intervene. The Trade Federation claims legality, however thin that claim may be. Pressing them without diplomacy may fracture the Senate further."
Windu's expression hardened. "If the reports of prisoners are true, legality is no longer their shield."
For a moment, Valorum hesitated. "Without solid proof it would be impossible to convince the senate. We also have not received a formal request for help from the Queen. I believe Queen Amidala may already be under pressure. She's young, newly elected. They may be using that to strong-arm her into compliance."
At Yoda's side, Windu exchanged a glance with the ancient master—unspoken concern passing between them.
Subtle worry flickered across Yoda's features. "More to this sense I do. Darkness From Naboo I feel."
Valorum swallowed. "That… isn't reassuring, Master Yoda."
"While I tend to agree with you, Chancellor," Mace said, "we do have one option. The Jedi can act as mediators. You can authorize negotiations."
Valorum nodded slowly. "That is precisely what I had hoped to ask of you. If the Jedi Order could send a representative to open talks—quietly—before the situation escalates, we may be able to resolve this peacefully."
"End this before escalating further, we must," Yoda agreed.
Windu straightened slightly. "Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan just completed their mission on the border systems. They should still be nearby."
"Hm." Yoda tapped his clawed fingers against his chair. "Urgent it is. Time on our side, it is not. Send Qui-Gon, we must."
Relief washed briefly over Valorum's face. "Thank you, Masters. If this can be settled before it reaches the Senate floor… we may avoid a crisis." He paused, his voice tightening. "Naboo is a peaceful world. Queen Amidala will not last long under siege."
Hidden behind his tone was a deeper fear—a fear that the Senate's paralysis might fail one of its youngest leaders when she needed it most.
Mace stood. "We'll contact Qui-Gon immediately."
Yoda nodded, staff tapping lightly on the floor as he rose. "Swiftly we must act. More at play there is, than simple trade disputes."
As they turned to leave, Valorum called after them—quietly, almost vulnerably: "May the Force be with her."
Mace paused at the door. "And with us all, Chancellor."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Out in space, a Consular-class space cruiser cut a steady line through the stars. Its engines hummed softly, a constant presence beneath the calm of the ship. Within its quiet corridors stood Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, hands folded behind his back as a blue hologram flickered to life before him.
The image of Master Mace Windu resolved, stern and composed.
"Master Qui-Gon," Mace began, his voice even but weighted, "a matter of great importance has been brought before the Council. Naboo has been blockaded by the Trade Federation."
Qui-Gon's brow furrowed slightly. He turned his gaze toward the viewport, where distant stars drifted by.
"That is quite troubling," he said calmly. "A blockade is no small gesture."
"The Council agrees," Mace replied. "The Chancellor has requested that you enter negotiations on behalf of the Republic. We believe your presence may prevent this situation from escalating."
Qui-Gon nodded once. "I understand. Though normally, a senator's presence would lend authority to such talks."
"The Chancellor wishes to resolve this swiftly," Mace said. "Without drawing the Senate into prolonged debate."
Qui-Gon exhaled softly, the kind of breath that came with acceptance rather than resistance. "Very well. I will alter our course for Naboo and open negotiations on behalf of the Council and the Chancellor."
"Thank you," Mace said. Then, after a brief pause, his tone shifted. "There is something else. Padawan Khan Kage is currently on Naboo. We received a fragmented transmission from him before contact was lost. If possible, we ask that you locate him and confirm his condition."
Qui-Gon's eyes narrowed just a fraction. "Khan is on Naboo… Then where is his Master?"
"Count Dooku informed us he had taken time away from the Temple," Mace answered. "He claimed it was for meditation and personal reflection. The council never thought something like this would happen while Padawan Kage was assigned to Naboo."
Qui-Gon absorbed this in curious silence.
"Master Yoda senses that this situation may be more than a simple trade dispute," Mace continued. "All available information has been forwarded to your ship's terminal. Proceed with caution."
"I will," Qui-Gon said without hesitation. "We will see this through."
"May the Force be with you, Qui-Gon."
The hologram flickered, then vanished, leaving the room quiet once more.
Qui-Gon remained still for a moment, eyes lingering on the stars beyond the viewport. A blockade. A missing Padawan. And beneath it all, a sense that events were being guided by unseen hands.
Footsteps approached.
Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped into the communication room, his youthful curiosity tempered by discipline. "Master," he asked, "what did the Council want?"
Qui-Gon turned to his Padawan, his expression calm but focused. "We are changing course to Naboo."
Obi-Wan straightened immediately. "Naboo?"
"The Trade Federation has blockaded the planet," Qui-Gon said. "We are to negotiate on behalf of the Republic."
Obi-Wan nodded, already turning toward duty. "I'll inform the pilots."
"Good," Qui-Gon replied. "And Obi-Wan—remain alert. I sense this mission will not be as simple as it appears."
Obi-Wan paused, then gave a respectful nod. "Understood, Master."
As his Padawan departed, Qui-Gon looked once more to the stars. Somewhere ahead lay Naboo—peaceful, beautiful, and now standing on the edge of something far greater than a trade dispute.
The ship subtly shifted its trajectory.
And with it, the course of the galaxy began to turn.