STAR WARS ALTERED UNIVERSE EPISODE I: THE PADAWAN

Every decision in this universe begins with a carefully, thought-out review of choices. Each person has a choice to do what is right or to do what is wrong. They have the choice to make a name for themselves or to be humble. To live or die. To love or to let go. Star Wars is a story of choices. And how those choices affect our very lives and those around us. This story is no different. A complicated choice befell our heroes. To choose the life they want so badly or to live out faithfully their duties to the Republic. They chose duty.

A decade passes and hope is slowly being restored to the galaxy. Strangely, the start of the Clone Wars brought about the flourishing of the Jedi Order. An influx of Force-sensitives were taken in under the various Jedi Temples of the Republic's galaxy, but with the balance tipping in favor the the Republic, the Separatists gained two hundred star systems more, including Malastare and the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyk, much to the dismay of the Jedi Order. The Senate voted for a new Chancellor, naming Senator Bail Organa as Palpatine's successor after his demise. Senator Amidala is still under service and has just came back from Naboo when her ship was attacked, senselessly murdering her fellow comrades and close, personal bodyguard. She is sure it is the work of the charismatic Count Dooku and General Grievous, leaders of the Separatist movement. Even with the Clone Wars dwindling to a few battles every now and then, there are still those who wish that the Republic be turned over to the Separatists. A certain Jedi Master has been requested to keep tabs on her during her stay at the Capital. He, himself, has returned home from an extended stay on Felucia, aiding Masters Kit Fisto and Aayla Secura with a skirmish.

After defeating and extinguishing the Sith Order, along with the aid of Jedi Master Mace Windu, seven years ago, Anakin Skywalker has been raised to the rank of Master and has since been teaching a young girl named Siv Miraluka as his apprentice. Though the Council believed it unwise, he insisted, seeing potential in the young girl. We meet back to find Siv, lost in her daydreams, entertaining thoughts, ten years after first being chosen...

chapter one
A Very Auspicious Day

Siv Miraluka looked expectantly up at her master. She gazed into his eyes, trying to retain all his words to memory, but could not because of him. She thought he was beautiful. Handsome. Charming. And had such a grip on her that he couldn't understand nor grasp. She looked down, fearing her reverie was in danger. She smoothed her tan tunic, shuffling a bit, knocking the heels of her brown, rugged boots against the marble flooring of the temple. She quickly stole a glance again, brightly remembering how handsome her master was the first time she met him.

He was about twenty-nine years of age, a young age for a master, but nevertheless, still grand in his technique. She could watch him all day, practicing parries and complicated footwork toward the invisible opponent. She would sit still, gazing at his long, blonde hair and watching him reach deeply into the Force and perform jumps and move objects without the slightest apprehension or sweatdrop. He was the best thing that had ever happened to the Order and they knew it, she would tell herself. He was the prophecy fulfilled, ages ago when the Order was in its infancy and the Book of Whills was being penned. She would recall the stories he told her about the many dangerous missions he had went under to save his beloved mentor and master, Obi-Wan Kenobi and the token of his affection, the Senator.

Siv inhaled deeply, capturing all the rugged scents of her master's cloak, tunic and sweet cologne he wore on days he would spend in the senate, capturing his lover's gaze. Days that took him away from the senator were unbearable and how Siv had eventually become to hate and despise the senator from Naboo so fiercely. She had thought of many ways to take him from her, but only a handful of Jedi mind tricks and an extremely well-trained knight could take the senator out and relinquish her master from his obsession with the former Naboo queen.

"Do you understand? Your saber is your life and you must not risk losing it again."

He was scolding her again. She felt his cold gaze fall to her shoulders and she huffed and sighed.

"Yes, Master. I will not lose it again, Master," she routinely said, once again taking hold of the gleaming weapon that laid in her hand again. He had given it to her as a gift the first day she was accepted as a padawan and chosen away from the other younglings that might have held her master's gaze. She was very proud of her profound knowledge of the histories of the Jedi Order and the Council. That was what impressed him most, she believed. She was a quickstudy of the lightsaber but picked up rather slowly on using the Force to guide her in her practices and exercises. That was the least of her worries.

Siv came from a long line of Jedi Knights in her family. After a certain age, a Jedi was allowed to retire. If they chose to do so, they would still keep their title and lightsaber, but be free from the normal rules of the Order. They were then allowed to marry if they choose. Most did not. That long ago tradition was started, kept and upheld by her great-grandfather, whom was a Jedi, as was her grandfather. Then her father, then herself. It usually was the place of the male in the family to take up the lightsaber, but she was the only one to be born from her mother. Her mother died giving birth to her, so it was her father that took her up to the council when she was a baby and to see if she had the potential. Her midichlorian count was eight-thousand fifty-six. Very low for a Jedi, almost too low. But, at the persistence of her father and her heritage for grasping lightsaber techniques quickly, she was considered for padawan training when she turned six years old.

"Siv, are you listening?" said her master.

Siv's gaze pulled from the marble floor to her master's eyes. They were stern, yet cool and refreshing. She longed to have him look at her as he did the senator. She would accompany him on meetings to the Senate and she would see her master stare at the former queen with a desire he couldn't have. She knew a Jedi was forbidden to love. Moreso, love that binds two beings together so tightly that it could turn a person to the light or dark side of the Force.

"Yes, Master. I will not lose my saber again."

"No, Siv. You were not listening. Shall we try again or are you going to stare intently at the wall behind me?" said Anakin.

"I am trying to concentrate, but I simply cannot. Maybe I am tired, Master. Aren't you?" she said, as an innocent look pasted her face.

"Well, we have been practicing most of the day with your lightsaber. You can rest for an hour, okay? Then meet me outside the Senate at four o'clock, hm?" said her master.

"Yes, Master. And thank you."

Siv bowed and turned to leave for her dorm in the girls' padawan hall. She roomed with another girl from Coruscant, but didn't see her much as she was being trained by Master Windu. Master Windu was known to lead unusually long lessons in lightsaber techniques and, for that reason, many padawans were very skilled in the lightsaber when they became full Jedi. She knew many things about the Jedi Knights, their history and their pasts. The ones that interested her were the untold stories. She asked Master Yoda about them one day and he said that they were of no importance to a padawan. That it was a need to know basis and she didn't need to know. But, of course, she did.

Siv would venture to the libraries and found precious few books on these untold stories. The ones about bringing back a loved one from the dead interested her the most. She would spend hours looking up information about a Jedi rogue that posessed a great power with the Force. So great, that he had the capacity to bring back the dead and save lives. Other Jedi Knights saw this as unnatural and expelled him from the Order. He went out and gained revenge by teaching all he knew to an unknown apprentice and saw to it that the apprentice became as great as he was. It was said that one night, the apprentice became aware of how great his power was and murdered his master. In cold blood.

Siv searched the library for the names of these two, but could never find them. It was as if the Jedi had something to hide. Something dark. Something "on a need-to-know basis."

She retreated to her room and sat on the edge of her bed. It as quaint and comfortable, especially after a long run around the Temple. It was at those times she fully appreciated her quiet roommate, whom seldom spoke but only practiced. Ideas flooded her mind each day about ways to kill the senator, but she always wished them away, knowing full well what the penalties were and that she wasn't trained to kill, but to protect and defend the beloved Republic. Siv looked at the lampstand and saw the picture taken before she was born. It was set in a sleek frame that held a kind, ruddy-faced man in dark tan Jedi attire and a brown-haired, pale woman. She was told she looked so much like her mother. She had her mother's hair and infectious laughter. Her spunk and adventurous nature. Siv looked thoughtfully at the picture and rolled over to her side.

If I only knew where to find that senator, I'd...

She shook her head and tried to reach deeply into the Force to clear her mind of these whimsical notions and start thinking of ways to learn to use the Force better. She stretched across her bed, letting her weapon clatter to the floor. She was well on her way to becoming a full-fledged Jedi soon, as far as years went. She had been training since she was six as a Youngling and was still learning many things each day, but never could concentrate on them fully because of her master. His warm, inviting eyes. His mesmerizing scent after a long run. How she wanted to caress his cheek and show him how real love was supposed to be. Not that of a pigheaded politician whom has spent their summers in camps and working as a flunkie to the Senate.

------

Anakin Skywalker rubbed the back of his neck and felt a slow trickle of sweat bead down his forehead. He watched his first and probably last padawan walk to her dorm down the hall. He had never felt like a failure until now. He had tried for many years to correct her lack of disicipline, but he just couldn't get it right. Perhaps it was his doing so many years ago with Obi-Wan that sent this padawan karma back at him in the form of a headstrong teenager. He made his way to the Senate Hall, pushing his brown cloak to the back of his shoulders and surveying the room. It was quite an expanse and held senators from all over the galaxy. His eyes, however, were transfixed on the one to the left, high in the seventh row, the one from the planet of Naboo.

"This Senate will now come to order!" shouted Mas Amedda, advisor to the Supreme Chancellor. "The twenty-second meeting of the Galactic Senate has now begun."

Chancellor Organa stood, raising his arms to calm the senate boxes and ask for news about the Clone Wars from the outer reaches of the galaxy. This included Naboo.

"I would now like to hear of news from the Inner Rim systems. Will the Senator from Naboo report?"

Senator Amidala's face was awashed in concern as to what had occurred earlier and how she couldn't bear the loss of anyone else close, including her handmaiden and friend, Sabé. She trusted the Chancellor almost as much as her handmaidens. He was a great aid to her and the Jedi Order many years ago and still worked hard to make the galaxy fair. She stood up and leaned into the speaker.

"My crew and bodyguard were vital to my protection and to the welfare of democracy. I trust that they are remembered as the brave people they were. Who is trying to murder me is a question I am still asking. As is why. For now, the influence of the Clone Wars on Naboo, is that it has yet to reach our borders and that we are doing exceptionally well after the Trade Federation attack years ago. I will keep you updated on every aspect of the people of Naboo." She turned, sitting down and lowered her head, holding it in her hands, sobbing quietly.

She musn't have had time to grieve. She must miss her so much. I don't think I can look at her much longer, crying like that. Especially when there is something I can do about it, Anakin thought, angling himself toward her box. He listened to the rest of the meeting and, and an hour later, he walked toward her box to greet her.

------

Siv looked at the light out her window. The purples and reds of the night were creeping in and she knew it was an hour later. She got up, readjusted her attire, and walked to the Senate Hall to meet her master for another lengthy practice. She had just turned the great marble column just before the hall when she spotted her. The object of her rage that consumed her every time she saw the woman. The woman looked unhappy about something, holding her head in one hand and snaking her other arm around a handmaiden. The handmaiden, which looked exactly like her, was also unhappy about something, but her face didn't show what the problem was.

Siv turned and laid up against the marble column, holding her breath and reaching into the Force to calm herself. She knew these feelings were bad, but she also knew how much she hated the senator for taking away the gaze of her master. He had been all Siv's for many years and now that she was back in the picture, he looked only for her.

Something must be done about her. She could ruin him! She thought, validating the reasoning for dispatching a senator quickly.

Besides, she probably is ruining her planet anyway and won't serve a better purpose other than tangle up the Republic in beaucratic tape!

Siv placed the hood of her cloak back over her head and walked briskly toward the Senate Hall, where she would meet up with her master and not feel the need to speak to the Senator again. Not after what happened the last time they bumped into each other.

------

Anakin bounded through the doors like a kid on his Life Day and ran out to greet the senator.

"Senator Amidala! Senator Amidala!" he waved his hands and looked toward her face. She turned to face him, her face mixed with sadness and joy as she realized it was her long ago friend, Anakin Skywalker.

"Jedi Master Anakin, how good to see you!" she said the tall, sandy-haired man running toward her. He caught up with her and, almost forgetting his place, hastily bowed and smiled widely to his good friend.

"How have you been?" she added, catching a glimpse of a certain teenage padawan walking toward them both.

"Very well, even with my hands full with my padawan learner. You remember her, don't you?"

Senator Amidala peeked behind Anakin, remembering that awful afternoon when she had spoke to the girl, just making casual conversation about the Senate's rulings for the day, since the padawan had attended. The padawan had said that she could never seen how such a greedy, malicious senator like herself possibly be any worse than the Trade Federation's army.

"Yes, I do remember her. Quite well," she waved her hand to the girl slowly and turned back to face Anakin.

"She has been a bit mischievious lately, but I think she will make a good Jedi. At least, I hope," he said with a chuckle.

Senator Amidala chuckled back. "I seem to remember a certain padawan whom was very michievious and got himself and his master into trouble."

Anakin's cheeks blushed. "I don't know who you could be possibly talking about," he replied.

Anakin looked at her with those eyes again. Eyes that knew better, but couldn't bring himself to part ways with the senator's. He forced his mind to other agendas.

"So, how have been things on Naboo? I am glad to hear that the Clone War hasn't made an impact there. I don't believe it could take much more," he said, reminding her of the Federation's attack nearly twenty years ago.

"You would be surprised, Master Jedi, on how the populace recooperates and flourishes even under the harshest of conditions," she said, smirking.

"With a leader like Queen Amidala, what country wouldn't flourish?" he said, flirting, gently.

Senator Amidala looked at him again, gazing into those inviting blue eyes. So calm. So still. Like nothing could ever make a ripple in those eyes. Except her. She knew he liked her, if not loved her since a decade ago. They both had expressed feelings, but knew that they couldn't live a lie. Anakin Skywalker was a padawan learner. Padmé Naberrie Amidala was just starting her rule as senator. They both could not leave their viable posts to pursue something that could, quite possibly, turn into something deeper and more real than either of them imagined. Duty before love. That was the way it was and always would be.

Siv cleared her throat, startling the two from their reverie. She looked to the senator, bowed slightly, and then turned to her master and bowed again.

"Are we going to continue our lesson, Master? We were going to work on my using the Force to move and grasp things."

"Yes," said Anakin. "We will continue shortly after I have said goodbye to the senator. It would be in your best interest if you didn't interrupt again, my very rude apprentice."

Siv stared at him, mouth agape, and wondered why he would make a fool of her in front of her. She bowed, hastily, and walked toward the lounge where other students were relaxing after a hard day of practice.

"Where were we senator?" he said.

"You were impressing me," she quipped.

Anakin could feel his cheeks turning pink again and he asked her to accompany him to breakfast the next morning, his treat. She obliged.