Chapter 2

Coruscant hummed with the usual flowing traffic across the skyscraper tops and the city life below resumed as normal. Inside the Jedi Temple, the five-pointed structure which was one of the most famous buildings in the galaxy, life resumed as normal as well. It had been years since they learned that a beloved member of their council, Sifo Dyas, was killed while flying in an asteroid field. Since then, many Jedis had been trained and grown up into full Jedi knights, while other padawans continued their training in the wishes to become one.

Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi watched over his padawan in the temple as he trained. Anakin Skywalker was growing into a young man, though he still had a long ways to go to become a knight. Obi-Wan stood over the lightsaber training field watching from the observation balcony. He was dressed in his usual brown Jedi robes. His brown hair came down to his short-bearded chin.

Down below, Anakin, who was dressed in his tightly-worn, tan training robes with his buzzed blonde hair and his traditional padawan braid coming down the right side of his face, stood in the middle of the training field with his blue lightsaber wielded in his hands. All around him were moving laser bots and wall-mounted laser guns. The field was very long and wide. Anakin stood there like a duck in a barrel, waiting to be used as target practice for each of these guns.

Without advanced warning, the guns began to fire, aiming directly at Anakin. Anakin's lightsaber went into furious action. He spun around with blurring speed, deflecting away the laser blasts which came from all directions. Anakin ran down the field, leaping and dodging the blasts, hitting every one he could with his blue blade. He made a giant leap, sending two lasers back to their guns, blowing them away. He landed and rolled, with the lasers bouncing off the ground behind him. He slid back to his feel and stood in one spot, deflecting the lasers back, and then began to run back to the other side of the field.

He was almost at the other side when he felt a burst of energy. He cried out and leapt towards a laser bot. The bot sent a beam just passed his head. A narrow miss. Anakin shook it off and sliced off the bot's head.

When all was said and done, Anakin had destroyed every one of the guns in the training field. They sat smoking on the walls, while he stood panting in the middle of the arena, still holding his saber at his side.

Well done, my young Padawan," Obi-Wan came down to see him, "Looks like the repair droids will be busy again."

"How did I do?" Anakin asked, turning off his lightsaber.

"Good, though you still let your aggression take hold of you. When you do so, it distracts your concentration."

"I don't believe aggression is always a flaw," Anakin rebuked defensively.

"No, it can be helpful, if it can be controlled. But it should never be used at the expense of your focus."

Anakin nodded, his face dripping in sweat and his breathing still rapid.

The doors to the arena opened and a young Padawan around the age of twelve walked nervously inside.

"Master Kenobi sir," he said in a small voice, "Master Yoda has asked me to summon you to the council."

"Very well young Padawan," Obi-Wan answered kindly, "I am on my way."

"That is enough for today Anakin," Obi-Wan said when the youngling left, "Get some rest."

Obi-Wan walked through the halls of the Jedi temple towards the sky-lift which led to the council chamber at the top of the central tower. Inside the chamber was a ring of seats, each one accompanied by a Jedi Master. The skyline of Coruscant was seen in the circling window around them.

The head of the council was the small, green Yoda, the wisest of the Jedi. ON one side of him sat the black, bald Mace Windu, and on the other side sat the tall-headed, wise-looking Ki-Adi Mundi, who was only present in the room via a hologram projector.

"Welcome master Kenobi," Mace Windu welcomed Obi-Wan as he took his place in the center of the circle.

"Thank you Master Windu. Why does the council request me?"

"A task we have for you, Obi-Wan," Yoda said in his high-pitched and croaky voice, "A mission, which put off sending you on we have."

"I don't understand."

"Ever since the crisis on Naboo years ago, we have began an investigation into the return of the Sith," Mace explained further, "Master Mundi has been in charge of the investigation. But now we are reaching the end and require your help."

"But why my help?"

"The only one in the Jedi Order who has faced the Sith, you are Obi-wan," said Yoda, "Asked you sooner we would have, but a padawan to train you had."

"You may find clues we have not yet found," Master Mundi spoke in a voice which was crackly and distant, "There are two planets we wish you to visit."

"And which planets are those?" Obi-Wan asked.

"The only planets where we know the Sith lord you defeated was seen," Mace answered, "Tatooine and Naboo."

"Go to Tatooine first," Ki-Adi said, "We have found a device we believe belonged to the Sith lord, but it was destroyed when we attempted to find out any more about it. However, we believe another of these devices still exists. If you find any more clues, then come to Naboo. I am there currently and you can join me in my investigation here."

"Very well," Obi-Wan accepted, "Is Anakin to come with me?"

"No, we don't believe he is ready yet to face these places from his past," Mace told him, "We would rather he doesn't know about this mission just yet."

"I understand," Obi-Wan nodded, "I must say, returning to Tatooine may give me a chance to ease my conscience. He has long spoke of returning to Tatooine to free his mother. I hope I may learn that she is safe, even if I cannot mention it to him."

Yoda nodded, understanding Obi-Wan's sympathy.

"Good luck Master Kenobi," the hologramed Master Mundi said to him, "I hope to see you again here in Naboo soon."

"May the force be with you Master Kenobi," Master Windu added as Obi-Wan bowed and left the council.