Chapter 1: A New Beginning
Note: First off I want to say that I do not own Star Wars, no money here. Secondly I would like to thank everyone who is following me over from Twisted History and letting you know that this story is not a part of the Twisted History Series, it is a stand alone story. Now with Twisted History and my new job as a NFL Draft Scout for Draft Updates may be a while apart. Now, please enjoy Star Wars: Rise of the Paladin.
Melona 26, 13 GRS
Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, the poster boy of the Jedi Order and hero of the Republic was sitting in his quarters at the Jedi Temple in the living room he shared with his Padawan Ahsoka Tano who was currently studying in the Jedi Archives. Anakin for once in his life was being patient and meditating on the decision he had made. He talked it over with Padme, his wife, and though she didn't agree with his decision she couldn't argue with his reasoning; if this is what Anakin wanted, she would support him no matter what happened.
A few days ago he and his Padawan had come back from Tatooine, a mission that reminded him too much of why he had become a Jedi, the goals he had made, the problems he wanted to solve, none of which he was able to do because of the Jedi Council continued to ignore them. Once he returned and gave his report on the treaty with Jabba the Hutt he left to go to the archives where he would hopefully find the answers to his problems.
That is where he had spent the majority of his days, gaining the suspicions of Historian Jucasta Nu. In his search he found many pieces of information including those on the planets of Lehon, Tython, Ithor, Dantooine, Dxun, and Dromund Kaas. He also studied many factors of how the Jedi Order was before the Ruuson Reformation as well as ancient Jedi like Lord Hoth, Revan, Jolee Bindo, Odan-Urr, as well as more recent Jedi such as Sifo Dias and his first master Qui-Gon Jinn. Anakin now had a plan, he only needed to find a way to accomplish it.
While in the Temple Archives, Anakin also downloaded several other pieces of information including farming, construction, and medical information. Everything he would need to save his home world and help them become an important part of the galactic community. He still however had a problem that would need figured out, how to keep the Jedi Council from interfering in his mission. Like Qui-Gon Jinn and Sifo Dias before him Anakin was determined to become a true Jedi Knight and not let the Council hold him back from his goals. He would for the first time in his life take his destiny into his own hands by following the will of the Force completely, not the Jedi or a slave master.
SWSWSW
After several minutes of waiting Obi-Wan and Master Yoda walked into the room, breaking Anakin from his meditation.
"Masters." Anakin greeted simply as he waited for them to sit.
"What is going on Anakin, from the sound of the message you left me it sounded urgent." Obi-Wan expressed as he sat down beside Master Yoda.
"Important yes, but I wouldn't call it urgent." Anakin responded as he stretched his legs.
"Sense nervousness in you, a conclusion on something you have come to, yes." Yoda stated as his eyes bore into Anakin's.
"Yes master I have." Anakin told him before closing his eyes, taking a deep breath and continuing. "When I became a Jedi my main objective was to go back to Tatooine and free the slaves, and to this day every petition I have given to the Jedi Council or Senate has been shot down. Even before the war started there was nothing anyone would to to ease the suffering of those on Tatooine and there was always a different excuse. Then when I look into those excuses combining them with the number of Jedi available at the time of each request I find that there were more than enough Jedi to do the job, yet the Council would sit on their hands, hauled up in their cozy temple while thousands suffer." Anakin explained while letting some of his anger show to the two masters.
"The Jedi ignore so much about the galaxy and what it is like to be human, it is not what I expected when I came to the temple, it is not what I was taught by either my mother or in the small pieces of advice given to me by Master Qui-Gon. So much fear and controlled ignorance out of so many who claim that it shouldn't exist, and that they are above such things. It stands out like a politician in a Hutt's thrown room. I believe it is time for action to be taken against these injustices." Anakin told the two Jedi Council members who sat there in silent contemplation.
"Act without the consent of the Senate, we can not." Yoda pointed out which caused Anakin to shake his head.
"I have done my research on the subject Masters, the Jedi were not always children that needed to ask their parents to play. The Jedi were once protectors of the galaxy and defenders of peace. I see now that this is no longer the case as the Jedi have become nothing more than puppets of the senate. Tell me Master Yoda, did you actually believe you could change the Jedi for the better as Grand Master? You are a great Jedi however when placed in a room full of Jedi who are so ignorant and fearful did you really believe you could break away from the Senate as you once tried?" Anakin asked his aged Master.
Yoda sighed and blinked before looking at Anakin. "Done your research you have, and done it well. Thought I did, that return the Jedi to the old ways I could. Realize now I do, that cannot happen. Refused my suggestions to alter the teachings the Council always has, and with the darkness getting stronger, to late to save the Jedi from itself I may be." the aged Master explained.
"So you are giving up?" Anakin asked the elder master.
"No more is there I can do for the order. Only guide it now can I. Impossible reform is in this time of war. Survive we will, as we are." Yoda answered not allowing either of the other Jedi sense his worry.
"My goals from my youth have never changed, but I sense the time it will take to accomplish my goal is coming to a close. I have been doing much meditating since returning from Tatooine after accessing some of the Jedi Archives and finding a form called moving meditation. While difficult at times to keep myself centered I decided to research another way to meditate and became aware of some notes that Master Qui-Gon had added to the Archives on the Living Force. After copying this information I have been using it to meditate as well as re-evaluate my own destiny." Anakin revealed which seemed to interest Yoda and worry Obi-Wan.
"Found yourself in the turmoil, you have?" Yoda asked curiously while leaning forward.
"Yes Master. I have found that while I may be the Chosen One as Master Qui-Gon believed my place is not here, among the Jedi. My connection to the Living Force is strong, but has always been suppressed because most Jedi don't believe that it is as important as the Unifying Force. Also having a master that relies more on using the Unifying Force for teaching I never realized how truly in tune with it I was before I used it." Anakin explained hoping that at least one of the two masters in front of him would understand.
"A powerful ally is the Living Force, keeps us in tune with the galaxy around us. Good that you found it, though use it correctly you may not yet understand how." Yoda explained to the younger Jedi.
"My place is out among the stars, my focus is on the here and now, where I will go will be up to the Force when it deems it time for me to be there. Like Qui-Gon Jinn and Sifo Dias before me I believe my place is helping others as a true Jedi Knight. One day I may even achieve the rank of Jedi Guardian, even if I am no longer among the ranks of the Jedi while achieving my goals." Anakin told them before turning to Obi-Wan who looked as if someone had struck him in the abdomen with the business end of a lightsaber.
"You have been a great master and friend Obi-Wan. Your wisdom, while I have not always appreciated it, has always been something I have remembered, and will try to put to use more. I will also give you my communications frequency after I get a ship in case you need me to save you again. Though no orders will be answered and no return messages sent. Don't need the Jedi Council tracking my ship and interfering in me actually doing some good in the galaxy for once." Anakin told his old master with a slight grin.
"I seem to recall that it was a pack of mynocks that saved us from that Dark Jedi, not your amazing prowess of writhing on the floor of a ship after being struck by Force Lightning." Obi-Wan responded with a forced smile.
"And what of Ahsoka? Need you still, your Padawan does. Leave the Order you can not." Yoda asked curiously as his eyes continued to bore into Anakin.
"I will, as the only thing I can give to the Jedi, hand Ahsoka's training over to the capable hands of Master Kenobi. I gave her the assignment to learn everything she could on Master Qui-Gon's teachings on the Living Force after I discovered them. She seems to be taking to the teachings well, but still asks many questions. I believe that you will be able to answer them Master, you were Qui-Gon's Padawan after all." Anakin told his former master who sighed in response.
"Will I never get a moment of peace. Between Qui-Gon, you, and now Ahsoka I doubt I will have any hair left by the time she is knighted." Obi-Wan told Anakin dramatically.
"A difference I sense. More focused are your thoughts. More defiant you are of the Jedi. Happened on Tatooine something did, to bring such a change. Tell us you should." Yoda told Anakin which caused the young Knight to breath a heavy sigh.
"In Jabba's Palace I remembered the beatings, I remembered my mother being raped to seal a deal with one of Gardulla's business partners, I remembered the Krayt Dragon that was used to get rid of slaves that became too bothersome. Why should others suffer for centuries all because the Jedi and the Galactic Senate want to pretend the problems in the Outer Rim don't exist?" Anakin explained making Obi-Wan stop to think and Yoda's ears to turn down.
"Pretend they don't exist we do not, but ending slavery and crime in the Outer Rim, we do not have the resources for. Fix the problem, we do not know how." Yoda admitted, though it seemed to pain him to admit such a thing to Anakin.
"Master with your help I can free the Outer Rim and reform the Jedi. I only need your assistance before I leave. I only need a copy of the Jedi Archives loaded into several data modules so that when I take Jabba's Palace I can turn it into a giant archive of knowledge. I may not be able to completely reform the Jedi but I can give those who want to be true Jedi Knights or more advanced Jedi Classes a place to become what they believe they can become while not being held back by arrogance or fear as I have been. Then those Jedi can return to the Order and earn a spot on the council enabling reform." Anakin explained to the ancient master who seemed to suddenly look older than a few moments before.
"Tell the Council of this, I can not. Get the information for you I will. A Jedi, you will no longer be. A rogue Jedi, we can not have." Yoda informed Anakin who sensed a bit of loss in the two masters and surprisingly to him, himself.
"Who are you and what have you done with Anakin?" Obi-Wan finally asked as he sat back feeling age beyond what he was.
"I'm still Anakin, I now however have more of a purpose than just following orders and fighting a war that was started by a being that the Jedi can not find. For all we know this Sith Lord could be running both sides of the war so that they will rule no matter which side wins. It is time for me to make a difference and fulfill the promise I made to my mother. To make a difference that I can not make while serving the Senate who has done nothing to earn the loyalty of the Jedi Order." Anakin answered causing Yoda to sigh before he and Obi-Wan looked at each other.
"Agree I do, that as a Jedi, make that type of difference you can not. Agree with this decision to leave the Jedi I do not, but accept your reasoning I do. A long journey ahead you have, give you time to collect what you need from the temple, I will. One week you will have, gather the information and equipment you need, you will be able. Continue to train your Padawan you will, until you depart. Inform the Council of my decision, I will. Leave you two alone, I must." Yoda told Anakin before hopping off the couch and hobbling out the door.
Obi-Wan leaned forward on the couch and rubbed his face with his hands not exactly knowing what to say at this point.
"This is for the best Master, you will see." Anakin assured Obi-Wan while hoping his old master would understand.
"I suppose there is no talking you out of this is there?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Sorry Master, but I made a promise to my mother, and while I can't free her I can free other slaves." Anakin explained to his old master.
"With a goal that noble who am I to argue. Just be sure to keep in touch and come back in one piece." Obi-Wan told Anakin as he stood up.
"Of course." Anakin answered mimicking Obi-Wan.
ASASAS
Over the next several days word had spread that Anakin was leaving the Order in order to help those on the Outer Rim that had been ignored for so long by the Republic and Jedi. Most Jedi disagreed with his decision to leave during the war seeing the Jedi as their only family but understood that the Outer Rim is where Anakin grew up and understood his desire to help what he considered his people.
Among those who was the most upset was Ahsoka. She had taken a liking to Anakin's non-formal style of teaching and while he assured her he had given Obi-Wan instructions about how he wished her to be trained, the young Togruta was still upset over the situation. She had buried herself in her studies since she found out that Anakin was leaving, trying to find anything she could about why Anakin would choose to leave at this time, after just making her his Padawan. After not finding anything after several days of taking time from her studies to search for a reason that Anakin would leave and coming up empty she decided that she should look up his family. Since Anakin left in the morning this was her last chance of finding out why Anakin was leaving her.
SWSWSW
That night after Ahsoka got back to the quarters she shared with Anakin she found Anakin packing another box full of droid parts, which happened to be the only things not in the cargo freighter he had purchased a few days earlier. Ahsoka quickly walked forward and stood in front of her master with her hands on her hips.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were going to find Revan?" she demanded.
"Because I'm not." Anakin stated flatly as he continued using the Force to help him pack.
"Oh really? I traced the Skywalker family line back to him and some Jedi Padawan named Bastila. There is no other reason for you to be leaving." Ahsoka told him in a matter of fact tone while crossing her arms over her chest.
"My mission isn't to find a dead Jedi that went missing four thousand years ago. It's to find a way to free the slaves and bring order to the Outer Rim." Anakin told her as he used the Force to pick up the two full boxes and take them out the door with Ahsoka right on his heels.
SWSWSW
When they reached the hanger Ahsoka stopped short when she saw the odd ship Anakin had purchased. The design itself was ancient yet the armor looked brand new with a new paint job. The ship was a mix of silver and black coloring and solar panels. With what Ahsoka could see impressive looking cannons strategically placed on the side of the hull.
"Say hello to the Fury Class Imperial Interceptor. I call her Arcane Angel. Custom made for me by Corellian Engineering Corporation. I personally oversaw the installation of several systems, mostly the military grade ones. She's the most advanced frigate in the galaxy. She can even hold out against a Victory One Destroyer. The design may be old, but she's got it where it counts." Anakin explained with pride to his Padawan who stood there with her jaw hanging open.
"That...that's a Sith ship." Ahsoka said slightly afraid and taking small steps back.
"The design was Sith thirty-five hundred years ago. I came across it in the archives about a year ago. I took all of the credits I had...made...on missions and had this created. The hyperdrive is a Class Three experimental drive that I perfected and modified into a drive that would be classified as a Class One Hyperdrive. She also has Star Destroyer grade laser cannons on the side and advanced sub-light engines. She has both a particle and ray shield to protect her. Last but not least she has a prototype Virtual Intelligence that I created to help instruct and run some systems." Anakin explained to Ahsoka who looked at Anakin with a raised eyebrow.
"You do remember that military grade weapons in the Republic are illegal if not used by the Grand Army don't you?" Ahsoka asked her master.
"You worry to much Snips. The only way anyone will know is if they board the ship or can trace through the cloaking device." Anakin told Ahsoka offhandedly.
"CLOAKING DEVICE!" Ahsoka yelled surprised.
"Not so loud Snips." Anakin whispered harshly.
"Do you know how much power that would take to operate." Ahsoka asked.
"It's covered. The engine room is twice the size of an average engine room and has five heavy power generators. I could run the cloak for weeks before the generators would need to recharge." Anakin answered with a grin.
"And how much did this cost?" Ahsoka asked once again crossing her arms over her chest.
Anakin mumbled something to Ahsoka not wanting her to know how much he spent.
"What was that?" Ahsoka asked expectantly.
"One hundred thirty-five million credits." Anakin finally said causing Ahsoka to gape. "Don't ask." Anakin told her quickly.
"Fine, can I at least have a tour before you leave?" Ahsoka asked impatiently.
"Certainly. Come on." Anakin responded proudly before leading her up the ramp.
SWSWSW
After giving Ahsoka a tour of the Arcane Angel he had two more people to see before he left in the morning. The first was Chancellor Palpatine who had been insistent to see him before he left. When Anakin walked into the office Anakin felt a slight chill run down his spine that he had not felt in previous visits. Perhaps it was due to the teachings he had been studying that had allowed him to sense more openly the power of the Dark Side.
Before Anakin could think on it however the Chancellor interrupted his thoughts. "Come in and sit down Anakin. Tell me, what brings you here this evening." he asked the young man for some reason who found it odd when he learned that Palpatine was working late again.
"I just came to say goodbye your excellency. I am leaving tomorrow on a mission and I may not be back for a very long time." Anakin explained which seemed to not surprise Palpatine in the least.
"The council knows it cannot hope to win this war with you inside the temple. You are a skilled warrior my young friend, you will do great things for the Republic." Palpatine praised Anakin as he sat back in his chair.
"Thank you Chancellor, but the Council has not sent me on a mission. I am leaving the Jedi so that I can take up a new mission." Anakin explained making Palpatine sit forward, genuinely surprised.
"But Anakin, what about the war? The Republic needs you." Palpatine implored as he leaned forward on his forearms.
"No it doesn't. Master Drallig is just as potent on the battlefield as I am. If he would be willing to drag himself out of the temple I am sure that he would be more than capable of helping to finish this war as I am. The fact remains that I have not done what I set out to do as a member of the Jedi Order and I am going to go do it." Anakin replied, unable to shake the foreboding feeling he was having.
"Well my boy, I wish you safe travels and when you return I want to hear about every detail of your voyage." Palpatine told Anakin sincerely before he sat back with his hands on his stomach.
Recognizing the dismissal Anakin stood and bowed before leaving the room, set on his final destination of the night where he would make sure it was a night he would never forget.
SWSWSW
The next morning Anakin had one last meeting with the Jedi Council before departing on his voyage. When he walked into the Council Chambers the entire Jedi High Council was there either in person or by hologram. He was dressed more like a smuggler than a Jedi Knight with a black long sleeved V-neck shirt and black vest along with a pair of black stretchy pants, black boots, and brown holster around his waste.
After giving them a slight bow Anakin was finally spoken to. "Master Yoda tells us you will be leaving us this morning. We would like to know where you are going and how you plan to accomplish these goals you have." Master Windu prompted.
"My destination is my own, as for my goal, it's to free the Outer Rim from the oppression of the Hutts and other crime lords." Anakin explained.
"Impossible. The Outer Rims have been controlled by crime lords for centuries, how is one person going to free the entire Outer Rim." Master Saesee Tiin exclaimed.
"A daunting task it is, but impossible it is not." Master Yoda explained to the other council member.
"Indeed, however the question remains, why now?" Shaak Ti asked as she watched Anakin.
"While in Jabba's palace I remembered what it was like for my mother and I to be slaves. Yet I ask the Jedi to help and the Jedi refuse giving different excuses why living beings should be allowed to suffer at the hands of slavers. The Jedi ignore all but the big picture only they don't realize that what is going on out beyond the Mid-Rim is part of the big picture. Qui-Gon Jinn once told me to live in the moment, that the Force binds us all together and the suffering of one will resonate within the Force, crying out for help. Then he asked me if I would go and try to help or let that suffering continue. I pointed you out to the suffering on Tatooine and you as Jedi turned a blind eye continually while forbidding me to help anyone. I have read of the ancient Jedi and how they would do anything they could to help even the smallest of being. Qui-Gon Jinn was a great Jedi, a true Jedi, if you had listened to him more instead of trying to control him and turn your views into his then perhaps this situation could have been avoided. However you did not and now it leaves me to fix the situation." Anakin informed the council while looking calm than he felt on the inside.
"And your goodbye is to insult us, after all we have done for you?" Master Kolar asked harshly.
To Anakin's surprise someone else spoke up before he had a chance. "What WE have done for HIM?" Obi-Wan asked skeptically. "It was Qui-Gon who bartered for Anakin's freedom, and who fought the entire council to be trained. Then even after that I had to refuse Knighthood if Anakin was not granted to be my Padawan just so the council wouldn't discard him back into slavery. Ever since then I have had to deal with a Padawan who has had to deal with continuous doubts and mistrust coming from this council. This council knew about Anakin's mother and refused to help her in hopes that it would teach Anakin a lesson about detachment. What you didn't count on was Senator Amidala changing course and going to help his mother, taking Anakin with her. Refusing to help his mother and letting her die was a mistake, as Master Fisto and I tried to explain to you, this caused my then Padawan great pain that even I can sense he has never recovered from." he told the other Council Members.
"What are you saying Obi-Wan?" Master Windu asked, forgoing formalities as he leaned forward not at all pleased with the meaning behind the words.
"What I am saying is that Anakin doesn't owe us anything because we have not done anything for him. I did my best to train him as my Padawan but I'm not sure if I was the right one to teach him. He was a special case and the perfect master to teach him died in my arms over a decade ago. Anakin does not owe the Jedi Order anything and if anyone suggests otherwise then even myself, as strongly as I am aligned to the council, would have to question the wisdom of the speaker. Anakin was not meant to be as emotionless as Jedi can tend to be. He needed a different type of teacher than the Jedi had to offer, he needed not only a teacher but also a parental figure. We did not offer him what he needed and because of this we failed him." Obi-Wan told Master Windu in Anakin's defense as he spared a glance at Master Kolar.
"I must agree with Master Kenobi. Before I was on the council I sensed as much from Anakin. I must conclude that this council failed Anakin. As the Jedi before us have stated, we must be the ones to share responsibility for all padawans yet we are now placing blame. That was never meant to be the Jedi way. Do we want a repeat of what led to the Old Sith Wars? Do we want to create something that could once again lead to our destruction all because we were too proud to admit our mistakes?" Master Fisto concurred with Obi-Wan sending the entire council into an uproar.
Yoda sighed listening in before tapping his gimmar stick into the floor three times to signal for silence and finally speaking. "Agree with Master's Kenobi and Fisto I do. Agree with young Skywalker I am forced. Done the galaxy a great disservice with our inaction, we have. Helped create this war through our inaction and devotion to the Senate the Jedi have. Fix this situation now we can not, trust young Skywalker we must." Yoda told the council.
"Are you saying that we as Jedi have become incapable of keeping the peace and protecting the galaxy?" Master Windu asked not sure if he heard Yoda correctly.
"Impossible with the Force nothing is, use words such as impossible the Jedi, as well as members of this council do. Cannot, impossible, thoughts that should not be thought. Weaken the Jedi these thoughts do. Help create the problems resulting in this war the Jedi have, now fix them we must." Yoda explained causing Master Windu to sigh and for the room to remain quiet.
"Why have you not said this sooner?" Master Windu asked.
Yoda's ears perked up at this and he blinked. "For centuries have I said this, to many councils. Taken serious I have never been. Sensed the darkness getting stronger I have, for one hundred seventy years have I been seeking the source. When gone my companions in the search were, only Master Dooku would believe. Spoken on the matter I have, listened this council has not. Now Master Dooku is gone, and only when the Sith emerge do you believe what the council found nearly two hundred years ago. For this ignorance the Jedi have failed and fixed we must hope it can be." the aged Grand Master explained causing the council to fall into an eerie silence.
"Then how do we fix it." Shaak Ti finally asked.
"You must allow me my mission, unimpeded by the Jedi. The Outer Rim is where the Jedi have neglected and the Outer Rim is what must be fixed. The best thing the Jedi can do is to end this war or make sure you do not lose it before I return. If even a handful of Jedi survive I may be able to find a way to end this madness." Anakin told the Council while looking around at the members.
"And why should we place all of our hopes in you? One who would leave us claiming to have a way to free the Outer Rim when you don't seem to know what you are doing yourself." Master Kolar asked incredulously.
"You don't have a choice." Anakin responded in a matter of fact tone.
Before Master Kolar could respond Yoda intervened. "A Jedi, you no longer are, Anakin Skywalker. Relinquish your lightsaber, you must." the aged Jedi master instructed Anakin as his ears dipped slightly.
Anakin pulled out his lightsaber, but instead of walking over to Master Windu he walked over to Obi-Wan and placed the lightsaber in his hand.
"Thank you for everything Master." Anakin told Obi-Wan with a bow.
"The pleasure was all mine Anakin." Obi-Wan responded with a slight smile before Anakin pulled away and left the chambers without another word.
SWSWSW
When Anakin reached the boarding ramp of the Arcane Angel he calmly walked up the ramp and into the cockpit.
"Computer, begin pre-flight check." Anakin ordered the VI.
A few seconds later the VI answered him. "All systems optimal."
As he was firing up the engines Anakin had a strange feeling trickling up the back of his neck that wouldn't go away. It was like he was being watched, yet he couldn't quite place it. As a precaution Anakin ran an external scan of the hull and found three tracking devices strategically placed by the Jedi. Anakin calmly activated the electromagnetic pulse designed to destroy tracking devices and let it run until all three devices were shown as destroyed. Shrugging off the remaining feeling for the time being Anakin lifted up the landing struts and took off over the Coruscant skyline. Before he reached the checkpoint monitoring traffic over the great city planet Anakin activated the cloaking device and set coordinates for his next destination.
After setting in the coordinates and activating the hyperdrive Anakin went to explore what was to be his home for as long as his trip took him.
SWSWSW
Anakin followed his senses as he looked for the source of what he had felt earlier in the Force. When he entered the cargo area he did a quick scan through the Force and was greeted by a distinctly female voice.
"I should have known you'd find me sooner or later. Though I was counting on getting at least one report to the council before that happened." the voice told Anakin.
Next Chapter: The Unexpected