Title: "Star Wars: Episode II -- The Adversary Unveiled" (1/?)
Author: Melissa Lee
Date: 6-21-99
Rating: G
Spoilers: "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace"
Feedback: Of course I want feedback! I'd like to know if this prototype is any good. Queen_Amidala73@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Masters Yoda and Mace, and anybody else you may recognize belong to the genius of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd.
Author's Notes: While reading this, please take a caring eye; this is my first try at Star Wars fanfiction. I also write X-Files fanfic, but the viewing -- and adoration -- of Episode I: The Phantom Menace inspired me quite a bit. Excuse the lack of knowledge concerning the Jedi Code and such, but I know little of it past what is said in Episodes I, IV-VI.
Dedications & Thanks: What can I say? All the thanks goes to Laura, aka Yoda, ;) for her genius, vast volumes of Star Wars know-how, and great Episode II theories. This story is for you, Laura, for helping me work out that plotline and for not backing out of it when I got scared of the conflicting notes. I owe it all to you! :o) -- I would also like to send out a thank you to the talented Backstreet Boys for singing the song "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely" so many nights while I stayed up tapping at my computer, inspired by their masterpiece.
Summary: Anakin takes the role of Padawan learner to Obi-Wan as a young woman struggles to lead the rare life of a female Jedi knight.
*-~-*-~-*
The Force was flowing.
But that wasn't all. As Anakin Skywalker sat cross-legged atop a small, round stone at the center of a pond he heard and felt the cascading waterfall's dull thundering behind him. Under closed lids the boy's eyes twitched in deep concentration.
Suddenly, Anakin's right hand shot out of his sleeve to an area in front of him, slightly to the left. Eyes still closed, the motion sent a thick spray of water out to that specific area.
"You got me," came the defeated response.
Anakin's bright blue eyes popped open and an energetic smile lighted his youthful features. "Did I really?" he asked in astonishment.
Paddling to the shallow end of the pond, until he could stand, Obi-Wan Kenobi studied his apprentice's genuine surprise. After a few moments of locked gazes, he said, "Do your instincts tell you so?" Anakin looked into the swirling depths pensively, indecisive. "The Force doesn't acknowledge yes or no," Obi-Wan continued, "if you feel that you are on target, then you are." Waiting for a response from his Padawan learner, Obi-Wan was replied with only silence. "Did you spray me or not, Anakin?"
Now staring hard into the water, Anakin turned his gaze to Obi-Wan, his face uncovering a rueful grin. "You bet!" he exclaimed.
Hiding his amusement with an admonishing shake of his head, Obi-Wan walked up the bank of the pond, wringing the water out of his standard Jedi garments. Seating himself on the soft ground in the shade of the forest's thick canopy, he called, "That will be all for today, Anakin," acknowledging the end of the day's lessons in the way of the Force.
Anakin's recent days of apprenticeship had been spent at this very pond. Obi-Wan had created the exercise himself, knowing it would be a more interesting practice for the adventurous boy. Anakin seated himself in the middle of the pond, eyes closed, and concentrated on feeling the midi-chlorians surge through him. Obi-Wan, with the aid of an A99 Aquata breather, via his ever-present utility belt, would swim into the pond and remain there. When he broke the surface, Anakin, feeling his presence, would use the Force to splash his master with water. However, if Anakin's concentration was distracted or unfocused, Obi-Wan would shoot water at him. Thus, concentration was centered. Either way, somebody got water up their nose.
A neighbor to the world-wide city of Coruscant, Aquafolia's dense forests were Obi-Wan's ideal place for a Padawan learner's training. The young Jedi's own master had used his dying breath having Obi-Wan vow to train Anakin, despite the dangers Master Yoda had foreseen in the boy. The Jedi Council on Coruscant, however, had admitted Obi-Wan's request to train Anakin in the Jedi arts. And Obi- Wan was beginning to learn what an experience the very training was; not only for the apprentice, but for the master.
The first few months of training, Anakin's apprenticeship had taken Obi-Wan's attention away from being sorrowful of his master's death. But that was all it was, a mere distraction. Although he knew it was wrong, Obi-Wan was thankful for the distraction the training provided. He wasn't completely sure, but he had a feeling Anakin felt the same. The first month of Anakin's training held morose undertones; Qui-Gon was a current thought on both of their minds. Obi-Wan knew that only time would heal the wounds, but after six years, he still missed his master's presence, his wisdom, and his support.
The worry at the front of Obi-Wan's mind, however, was his own capability to successfully complete Anakin's training. Despite the number of years of training, Obi-Wan still wasn't positive whether or not he was trying his absolute hardest to make Anakin into the best possible Jedi.
Urgent to fulfill his vow, he had taken Anakin as his apprentice as soon as he had passed the Jedi trials. In moments of frustration he would question his own capability, wondering if he was experienced enough as a Jedi to handle Anakin and his 20,000 plus midi-chlorians. Then a flood of questions involving Anakin's clouded future, his perpetual fear, and other such pessimistic ideas would fight for command of Obi-Wan's thoughts. In the end, a cloud of melancholy would hover over him, until Anakin's training distracted him once more.
Pushing his concerns to the back of his mind, Obi-Wan made a mental note to voice his thoughts to Master Yoda upon his and Anakin's return to Coruscant the following morning. In the meantime, the dinner reserved at their ship was calling.
*-~-*
*-~-*
The morning sky was alight with magenta and bright orange flames, the sun's sinuous fingers reaching across the horizon's expanse and peeling the night's heavy blanket off of Coruscant. The double moons were sinking behind the horizon, and the numerous peaks and towers of the planet-wide city could be seen poking the sky's brilliant painting.
Anakin Skywalker pressed his nose against the thick glass of the Y-wing, excited to be back on the vivacious planet he had come to love over his months of visiting the Jedi Council. Anakin wondered idly if the Queen of Naboo would also be on Coruscant, considering her role in the Galactic Senate. His mind churning a mile per minute, Anakin's thoughts rested upon the small desert planet of Tatooine, and a woman there he missed more than anything.
Anakin turned to the Jedi manning the Y-wing's controls, noticing that his master seemed lost in his own thoughts, or in boredom. Anakin couldn't be sure which, judging from the man's usual blank expression. Seeming to have known Anakin was preparing to speak, Obi-Wan Kenobi looked down at his apprentice in the passenger seat, focusing his attention upon the boy.
"Master," Anakin began, speaking slowly in order for the words to come out right, "you have been training me for a long time--" Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. "--and I was wondering if perhaps we could take a short break, and I could go to Tatooine and visit my mother." Obi-Wan's face fell slightly as he turned this new thought over in his mind. Anakin, desperate to get to his home planet, continued, saying, "I've gained well enough truguts to pay Watto off... to free Mom."
Obi-Wan squinted his deep-set, sapphire-tinted eyes on Coruscant's horizon, pensive as always. "Ani, it is not my place to determine your freedom of will during the Padawan phase of Jedi training," he said slowly. "But I will gladly put in a word for you during the Council's revision of your training. However, you must remember that you are unlike most Padawan learners. Most children brought to us for Jedi training are very young in age, six months to a year old in some cases. These children do not know their parents; they haven't had the chance to. The advantage to this is that the apprentices develop a relationship with their master only. The master is their family. With you, you have a mother, on another planet. To the Jedi Council, this is an inconvience, and you must understand that they may not allow you to see her."
The dirty blonde-headed boy fiddled with his Padawan braid for a few moments, as if scolding it for getting so much longer in such little time. Obi-Wan watched, bemused. He clearly remembered his initial hatred for the apprentice's hair-style, and his rebellious ponytail.
"I understand," Anakin said finally, his head hung. Many nights he would spend at his holoprojector in the temple or on the Y-wing, promising Shmi Skywalker that he would return to Tatooine and free all the slaves. Anakin wasn't sure whether or not his mother took his promises seriously, but Anakin did, and he always kept his promises.
"Here we are," Anakin heard Obi-Wan mumble as he landed the Y-wing on the Jedi Temple's landing pad effortlessly. Switching off the engine, Obi-Wan receded to the cockpit, donning the traditional brown Jedi cloak and motioning for Anakin to follow suit.
Wordlessly, the two passed through the quiet marble halls of the Jedi Temple, glancing at meditating Jedi and regarding Council members respectively. They stopped at a set of tall doors of a shiny, unknown wood the color of molasses. Obi-Wan raised his hand to knock on the thick door, noticing Anakin's insecurity as he fidgeted with the sleeve of his cloak.
A clear "Come in," resounded through the doors. Obi-Wan gripped the handle and swung the door open, revealing the two Senior Council members. Watching Anakin step gingerly into the grand circular room before him, Obi-Wan forced down his own uneasiness, hoping that the Council would approve of Anakin's training thus far.
Though they were similar in height, Obi-Wan and Anakin were far apart in age; it didn't take a Council member to foresee that Anakin would become a tall, well-built Jedi as the two stood side-by-side on the outer rim of the room.
Apparently, Master Yoda and Mace Windu had an earlier audience. In the absolute center of the room, a Jedi stood weilding a blue lightsaber against four quick-moving remotes. The Jedi had a thick helmet on his head, and his face was masked from seeing the small floating remotes. Obi-Wan watched in amazement as the Jedi, cutting an impressive figure against the panel windows viewing the Coruscant sunrise, deflected every blast the remotes sent in his direction. At one moment, all four remotes fired simultaneously, yet the Jedi twisted his body and bright blue lightsaber effortlessly, and fluidly blocked each shot. After five minutes of Force-driven swordsmanship, the Jedi had completed in having two of the remotes detonate one another and destroyed another deflecting the remote's own blast. The last had been simply sliced in half.
"Flow strongly within you, the Force does," Master Yoda said to the Jedi, acknowledging the end of the remote session.
"Very good, indeed," agreed Master Windu, applauding softly. "Excellent job, Starquest."
Noticing the rapt attention Anakin was paying to the Jedi, Obi-Wan knew he wasn't the only one with a growing curiousity to learn the identity of this Jedi Starquest.
"Jedi Kenobi and Young Skywalker," Yoda addressed them, turning to the two cloaked in shadows, "Come. Like you to meet someone, I would."
Obi-Wan and Anakin locked gazes for a moment, reassuring each other in the Senior Jedi masters' presence. Together they walked to the center of the room immediately. Obi-Wan's keen eyes raked over the Jedi's sleek form as he shut down his lightsaber; he knew the other man to be a Jedi by his skills, although the Jedi wasn't wearing the standard Jedi garments. Instead, the Jedi was outfitted in black knee-high boots over form-fitting navy slacks, and a loosely-tucked white long-sleeved shirt.
The Jedi turned to face the master and apprentice upon their arrival, and removed the helmet hiding his identity. Long, black leather-gloved fingers slipped to the helmet, pulling it forward over his head revealing... a short, black French braid and an attractive young face. Least to say, Obi-Wan was taken aback. A girl>?? He knew Jedi women were admitted by the Jedi code, but it was extremely rare.
The female Jedi seemed to take Obi-Wan's subtle, yet clear bewilderment in stride, and she extended a hand with a polite smile. In a daze Obi-Wan shook hands with the girl, finding himself immediately drawn into her fathomless green eyes.
"Miryan Starquest," the Jedi offered her name, holding a strong grip on the other Jedi's hand. "Is it... Obi-Wan Kenobi?" she asked, inquisitive on his first name.
Giving Miryan a tight-lipped smile, Obi-Wan nodded and released her hand, saying, "Pleased to have made your acquaintance."
"I heard of your maneuvers in the battle of Naboo, and the fight with the Sith," said Miryan, the reference immediately saddening Obi-Wan. "Quite impressive."
"The life of a Jedi has its victories," he answered. Then, more quietly, "and its losses."
Miryan, however, had turned to Anakin, and was introducing herself to him, finding that young Skywalker was quite the charmer.
"I was the starpilot that blew up the Droid Conrol ship in the Naboo battles," Anakin told her matter-of-factly. "Maybe I could take you out in the ship I'm building?" he added hopefully.
A tiny smirk stole its way onto Miryan's face, and she replied, "I'm afraid I'm not too fond of starpiloting, as ironic as it may sound."
Anakin shrugged in response. "It's a pity."
Miryan resisted a smile of amusement towards the boy's antics, and turned to the Senior Jedi Masters.
"Come at dawn tomorrow, Starquest," Master Mace instructed, "and we will discuss your first mission."
"The Force with you, be it may," croaked Master Yoda in conclusion. Mace promptly echoed him.
Holding the thick fighters' helmet tightly against her side, Miryan bowed respectively to the Jedi Masters and exited the room, flashing a smile of farewell in Anakin and Obi-Wan's direction.
Casting one more look at the receding figure of Miryan, Anakin stepped before Master Yoda and Mace and went down on one knee. Obi-Wan followed suit mere seconds later.
"How long has Anakin been under mastership, Obi-Wan?" began Mace, fixing the young Jedi with a stern gaze.
Feeling Anakin's nervous presence beside him, Obi-Wan looked directly into Mace's inquisitive stare. "Nearing six years, Master."
"Attain all traits of a noble Jedi, does he?" questioned Yoda, his long ears stretching out as he spoke.
Obi-Wan hesitated for the shortest moment before answering. "Anakin possesses great strength and stamina," he began, "and he has no problem locating the living Force within him." He paused, aimlessly concentrating on his two clasped hands resting atop his knee. "However, he can momentarily be easily distracted with his impatience."
Yoda considered Obi-Wan's cautious words, sensing the truth within them. "Hmm..." he murmured pensively. Mace Windu stroked his chin, also deep in thought.
Peeling his gaze of Anakin, Mace turned to Yoda, whispering something inaudible to him. Yoda nodded slowly in agreement.
"Anakin," he said, "tested with a view screen, you will be. Obi-Wan, walk with me, you will."
Obi-Wan immediately stood up, casting his kneeling apprentice a look of reassurance. He could sense the worried thoughts passing through Anakin's mind and willed the boy's anxiety to cease. He only wish he could end his own unease.
Shoving his hands into the huge sleeves of the long Jedi cloak, Obi-Wan follwed the hobbling form of Master Yoda through the tall wooden doors.
The two Jedi walked side-by-side through the corridors of the quiet Temple. Finally, Yoda spoke. "A troubled mind, you have, Obi-Wan."
At first Obi-Wan was surprised that Yoda could read him so easily, then scolded himself for not knowing better. "I foresee a grave disturbance in the Force, Master," he said, focusing on the green marble tiles he walked upon.
Master Yoda also faced forward, pushing himself along with his ever-present gimer stick. "Sensed this upcoming disturbance, I have."
Turning his face slightly towards the Jedi Master, Obi-Wan's brow furrowed and he swallowed, then said, "I believe it is associated with Anakin."
Yoda wrinkled his button nose in response, saying, "Clouded his future is. Know for sure, we cannot." Obi-Wan's silence prompted him to continue. "Done well with him, you have," he said. "However, be not blinded by your success."
"Worried over your mastership, you still are?" he prodded.
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan answered, trying not to sound too disappointed. "I cannot help but question my own capability."
"An exceptional boy, Anakin is," agreed Yoda. "Patient with his impatience, you must be."
"I understand."
Master Yoda and Obi-Wan continued down the hallways, both lost in similar thoughts.
Yoda spoke last, warning, "Control his anger, Anakin cannot. Room for the Dark Side, there still is."
Anakin Skywalker and Master Mace Windu were having a stare down. The dark-skinned Senior Council member held a view screen in his hands, leaning his elbows on his knees. Glancing quickly down at the screen, which portrayed a blue-tinted waterfall, Mace looked back at the boy before him. He was nudging Anakin's mind, distracting him and pushing him away from deep concentration. Keeping tabs on the living Force was a hard-acquired skill that was valued highly among Jedi.
The apprentice took a deep breath in renewed determination and squinted his dark blue eyes, mentally reaching for the Force within him. As he sought for it, his mind drifted to the rainforest planet of Aquafolia, to the pond he had spent so many weeks training...
"A waterfall!" Anakin exclaimed. He surpressed the urge to grin at his success.
"Good," Mace said quietly, switching the view screen to a new image.
Just as Anakin began to focus on the screen again, he felt a familiar ripple in the Force. Turning to the tall wooden doors of the circular room, he saw Obi-Wan and Master Yoda walk in.
Mace shut the view screen, setting it down beside his seat. The boy was more atune to the living Force than he had initially expected. Master Mace himself had not felt Yoda and Obi-Wan's presence approaching.
Obi-Wan stepped to his place beside his apprentice, feeling Anakin's excitement. Eyeing the boy curiously, Obi-Wan wondered if he would spontaneously combust any moment now.
With some effort, Yoda pulled himself up into his seat next to Mace, wriggling in search of comfort. He looked to his colleague, who whispered, "The boy did very well," approvingly. Yoda nodded thoughtfully, looking quite pleased.
"Ready for lightsaber construction, are you?" Yoda asked Obi-Wan.
"A lightsaber! Wow!" Anakin blurted out excitedly. The three Jedi turned sharply to him, surprised with his outburst.
"Anakin..." Obi-Wan admonished his apprentice, loud enough for only the boy to hear. Anakin hung his head, a deep pink color rising into his cheeks.
Refusing to look at Anakin, Obi-Wan replied, "Yes, Master, I believe he is ready."
Satisfied with the Jedi's confident demeanor, Mace looked to Yoda before saying, "Anakin Skywalker, you will take six days of your training to gather raw materials for construction of your lightsaber. The Council will provide you with a one-man ship, for this is a solitary mission, an Astromech droid, and supplies for the six-day period. Upon arrival on Coruscant, we will review your lightsaber and test you for effectiveness of use. Understand?"
"Yes, Master," replied Anakin.
"Be on your way immediately," said Yoda. "And the Force with you, be it may."
Obi-Wan and Anakin bowed to the Jedi Masters, heading for the exit. Half way to the wooden doors, Anakin stopped, as if he had forgotten something. Obi-Wan gave him an inquisitive look, then seemed to remember. He nodded his approval, and waited beside the doors.
Anakin stepped back to the center of the room, awaiting the Masters' attention.
"More to say, have you?" Master Yoda questioned.
"Yes, Master. If you permit me to do so," answered Anakin smartly.
"Go ahead," said Mace Windu curiously.
"I have been training under Obi-Wan's apprenticeship for six years," Anakin began. "Before I leave on my lightsaber construction mission, I... I would like to take a few days to leave for Tatooine, and free my mother."
Mace turned to his colleague, a grave look engraved on his face. Yoda met his gaze, a similar expression on his own features. Within a few short moments, their minds were made up.
"Denied," concluded Yoda tightly. "Training! You must complete training!"
"You must devote your entirety to your training, Anakin," agreed Mace. "Only after you've become a full-fledged Jedi may you visit your mother."
Anakin stared hard at the two Jedi Masters. Knowing he couldn't question their authority, he gulped and bowed curtly, walking towards the door. It took everything Anakin had in him to control his anger, his pain. The rage seized at his being, clutching his throat and stinging his eyes.
He hurried to the door, shoving away the fear as he always had. Upon reaching the door, he only hoped Obi-Wan hadn't noticed the sheen that had collected over his eyes.
--To Be Continued... Episode II -- The Adversary Unveiled, Part II--
*-~-*-~-*
"Show me the meaning of being lonely,
Is this the feeling I need to walk with?
Tell me why I can't be there where you are,
There's something missing in my heart...
[On] guilty roads to an endless love,
There's no control, are you with me now?"
~"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely"
by the Backstreet Boys