A Gaze from the Other Side of the Galaxy

The Galactic Republic, a colossal entity that had ruled tens of thousands of star systems across the galaxy for more than 25,000 years. Since its founding, it had been jointly governed by the Galactic Senate and the Jedi Order.

April 15, 25018 of the Republic Era, 35 BBY, 0:4:15 {Note 1}. Coruscant, the capital of the Galactic Republic and the most advanced, prosperous planet in the entire galaxy.

The Jedi Temple stood alongside the Galactic Senate as one of Coruscant's grandest structures. Five towering spires rose above its massive trapezoidal main building, more than a thousand meters tall and over five hundred meters wide. This architectural design symbolized the supreme authority of the Galactic Republic's guardians—the Jedi Order.

An elderly man in his seventies, his beard and hair gray but his bearing vigorous and imposing, stood within one of the Jedi Temple's towers. In a somewhat cold tone, he reported, "Master Yoda, Senator Palpatine has agreed to lend his support in the Senate and push for the Judicial Fleet to dispatch forces directly to relieve Niele."

Standing by the hall's window with his back to him was a shriveled old man, green all over, less than a meter tall, with long ears and the appearance of a goblin. Leaning on a cane, he gazed down upon all of Coruscant through the window.

Master Yoda, the Supreme Leader of the Jedi Order and a highly respected elder. Upon hearing the report, he did not turn around, merely nodding as he said, "Hard work, Master Dooku. Very important, Senator Palpatine's help is."

His grammar was exceedingly strange. He always placed the subject at the end, making his sentences awkwardly inverted.

Master Dooku's response was equally cold. He merely nodded slightly, then turned to leave. When he reached the door, he paused sideways and said frostily, "If sending troops to rescue a planet besieged by pirates requires using personal connections to push a motion through the Senate, then tell me, where is the Galactic Republic headed? And how should the Jedi Order conduct itself?"

Master Yoda remained facing away from him. Only after a long while did he slowly say, "Call me Master, you should."

Dooku's cheek twitched. He suddenly turned around and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

After a long time, Master Yoda took a deep breath, turned to look in a certain direction, and his gaze deepened. He gently shook his head.

Outside the room, Master Dooku suppressed the fury in his heart as he strode swiftly down the corridor. Approaching him were a master and apprentice dressed in coarse cloth robes: a middle-aged man with loose hair and a spirited-looking young man with a crew cut.

Seeing Dooku approach, the middle-aged man hurriedly stepped aside and bowed respectfully. "Master."

Though irritated, Dooku still nodded in response upon seeing the middle-aged man, then walked straight out of the Jedi Temple.

The middle-aged man maintained his bow until Dooku had gone far away, then led his young apprentice into the room Dooku had just exited.

"Master Yoda, you wished to see me?" The middle-aged man entered the room and bowed deeply to Master Yoda by the window.

"A fluctuation in the Force, I have sensed," Master Yoda said.

The middle-aged man froze, then his eyes sharpened. "Could the power of the Dark Side have returned?"

"The power of the Dark Side, this is not. Chaos, all I see." Master Yoda closed his eyes and felt the Force.

"Chaos? Where? Why would this happen?" The middle-aged man frowned.

"Know, I cannot." Yoda shook his head. "Growing stronger, the Force disturbance is. With your own eyes, see it you must. To the Modell Sector, Master Qui-Gon Jinn."

The middle-aged man asked again, "What am I looking for?"

"Know not. May the Force be with you." Master Yoda sighed softly and said no more.

"May the Force be with you." Qui-Gon Jinn bowed deeply once more, then turned to the young man beside him. "Let's go, Obi-Wan Kenobi. To the Modell Sector."

"Yes, Master." The young man nodded.

Master Dooku returned to his residence and activated his communicator. A miniature projector displayed the image of a balding man in his forties, dressed in senatorial robes.

Dooku inclined his head slightly. "Thank you greatly for your help this time, Senator Palpatine. Otherwise, the tens of millions of residents on Niele would have suffered terrible casualties under the Biscara Pirates' assault."

Senator Palpatine smiled. "It was my duty, Master Dooku. I am also fortunate to have encountered a Jedi Master like you in such a corrupt age—one who dares to break with tradition and possesses such a strong sense of justice."

"But this is not what I wanted." Dooku shook his head. "This matter should never have been resolved this way."

"This is the environment we live in. It will not change through the efforts of just one or two people. Therefore, what we should be thankful for is that this matter has been resolved. Other, more serious matters—such as the recent dispute between Malastare and the Corporate Alliance—have already gone beyond our abilities." Palpatine said.

Dooku agreed deeply. "I agree with you completely, Senator. This is not a problem that one or two people can solve. We need more comrades."

Palpatine nodded approvingly. "That is precisely what I wished to say. But I believe that as long as we remain true to our original intentions, the opportunity for change will eventually come."

"I hope that day comes sooner." Dooku's tone turned chilling.

"It will. It will come eventually." Palpatine spoke meaningfully. "By the way, I recently heard that some trouble may have arisen in the Modell Sector."

"That is a desolate region in the Outer Rim Territories West, filled with anomalous Hyperspace Traps. As far as I know, there is also a massive black hole there. It has already fallen beyond the Galactic Republic's control. Is whatever happened there important?" Dooku found it strange.

"Important would be overstating it. I am merely somewhat concerned. If you could help me send someone to investigate, that would be best." Palpatine said lightly.

"I will send a few Jedi apprentices... Hmm, forget it. I'll send a few bounty hunters directly from my homeworld, Serenno." Dooku had initially intended to go through the Jedi Order, but immediately dismissed the thought.

"Thank you for your trouble, Master Dooku." Palpatine revealed that meaningful smile again, bowed slightly, and ended the transmission.

"Why have you asked Dooku to handle the Force disturbance that recently appeared in the Modell Sector?" An incredibly deep voice suddenly sounded from behind Palpatine.

"It is like training a Cyberian War Dog. Only by using it often will it gradually become accustomed to your demands... and in the end, your commands." Palpatine answered with a smile.

"Is that truly your only thought?" the voice asked again.

"Of course, my master." Palpatine bowed slightly, concealing his expression well.

"Very good. Since that is the case, the dispute on Malastare still lacks some heat. You will go add another spark to it." The voice in the darkness said.

"As you wish, my master." Palpatine's face retained its flawless smile as he backed out of the office.

-

{Note 1}: The dating system in the world of Star Wars uses the Battle of Yavin as its standard—the battle in the first Star Wars film, Star Wars: A New Hope, where the Death Star was destroyed. BBY means Before the Battle of Yavin. The year before that battle was 0 BBY.

After the Battle of Yavin, the dates become ABY, meaning After the Battle of Yavin. This era will not be covered in this book.

The Galactic Republic was founded in 25053 BBY and destroyed in 19 BBY, lasting 25,034 years. Thus, 35 BBY corresponded to the 25,018th year after the Galactic Republic's founding. According to the Republic's history, that year was therefore 25018. It was also the year in which this book began, though it was not the Galactic Republic's official calendar.

New readers can understand it this way: BBY is like BCE, counting backward; ABY is like CE, counting forward. That is enough—there is no need to worry about anything else.

As for 0:4:15, that was the Galactic Republic's official standard calendar, the Great Resynchronization. There is no need to learn about it, as I will hardly use this dating system in later chapters.

Bonus chapter illustration 1: Master Yoda

Bonus chapter illustration 1: Master Dooku