Palpatine, now Chancellor of the Republic, looked around his office as he crossed his arms at his desk. He had thought things would turn out perfectly, could have sworn that the boy would play right into his hands, and now...
The boy was on Naboo. Palpatine could have cursed the trick of fate that put HIM on Coruscant, and that promising child- the Chosen One!- so far away, so ready for training and yet so unattainable. The boy was a gift from the Force, and yet was not within his grasp. Not for the moment, anyway. Palpatine considered his options, and counted on the fact that he was a patient man. Gaining power was more important than any prophecy, and if he was not trained such a one could not even effectively touch the Force much less bring it into balance. The rule of two meant that he could only find another apprentice, perhaps on just as worthy. Somebody to take Darth Maul's place...
Such a one existed. Palpatine had watched the man, Jedi Master Dooku, and was pleased. Perhaps Dooku could be fully turned. Perhaps the man could suggest an initiate as well, someone to watch and turn to his own devices in the future. Someone young, impressionable, already steeped in the swirling eddies between the light and the dark. Yes, that would do nicely. Dooku would become a Sith Lord, one of might and yet also disposable. Dooku was the next.
Time to put fate into line.
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With a stretch, a pair of pale blue hands folded around the practice saber and pressed harshly. The young owner of those hands raised the hilt into the air and ignited the blade, the light green contrasting as it crossed her gold eyes. With a bow, the match was begun, her saber lowering in defense as the student across from her made the first moves.
For almost a decade, Jailyn Meiral had studied in the Jedi Temple. Taken as a toddler from her home planet of Zenoma Sekot, Jai nonetheless held closely to the beliefs she had learned were held by her people. She was one of only three living Ferroans trained on Coruscant, by far the youngest and considered the most headstrong. The other two had conformed to the Jedi teachings, one becoming a master and the other soon to receive his knighthood. Jailyn, at age ten, knew it was unlikely she should even find a master willing to train her. Which meant many things. She was already something of a rogue, and a decision to leave the Order at age thirteen would be quite accepted by her.
Probably, she knew, what she would do if her miracle didn't occur.
Even her style of lightsaber dueling, as she attempted now, was unorthodox. She moved slowly, yet with deliberation. She never scored a killing blow, or anything that would even bring real harm to an opponent; some thought this made her weak. Any watching her at that moment, seeing the calculations in her eyes, knew very well she could make that sort of movement. She simply- chose not to.
The green swept through the air, meeting at times the gentle blue of its competitor, until at last the moment came. Jai swept one of her feet beneath those of her opponent, slipping nimbly to maintain her balance even as the other youngling fell to the ground of the practice chamber. Her enemy was down, and the blue saber blinked off. Calm, Jailyn called the hilt to her hand while his grip was still weak, finding herself armed with both weapons.
"You seem to have won your battle."
The voice was deep, and far too distinctive. Jai turned to see the Ixll Clan instructor Mace Windu, a blush painting her blue cheeks a subtle purple.
"Apparently," she admitted, adding the necessary, "Master" at the end in hopes of gaining some semblance of respect.
"Why not go in for an easier strike?" he asked, coming near and taking the practice sabers from her hands. Palms free, Jailyn turned to assisted Caileb, her opponent, off of the floor.
"There was no need," she explained.
"Your choice cost you time. Many opponents would have killed you without a thought when you gave that opening on your right side."
Jailyn thought back, realizing this assessment was true. She had no time to speak, though, as the practice hilt was tossed back towards her by the Jedi Master. He ignited the blade in his hand, assuming an opening stance; without a second to question, Jai mirrored his move just in time to defend against his strike.
Against a fierce opponent, older and more practiced not to mention his strength, Jailyn found herself paralyzed. Her movements became swifter, more defined; her mind flitted through her forms, wondering how to escape this onslaught even if it was in practice. Arms straightened, the wrists causing all the movement of the lightsaber as she backed towards the wall...
In a swift move, the ten-year-old used the wall as a base, performing a flip over the Jedi Master that took her just out of range of his blade. As she did, she lashed out to the side and caught him in a move that would disable though not kill with a normal blade, though it might well cause permanent damage. Master Windu turned to her with the beginnings of a smile, though it did not fully reach his face and completely missed his eyes. "You can still learn," he assured her.
Jai shook her head, but responded, "As you say, Master Windu."
Mace considered her a moment before leaving the room; Caileb followed, and Jai found herself alone in the quiet of the practice chamber. With a sigh, she took the saber to the depository for practice materials and exited.
Ixll was marked for those of the Initiates, the Jedi Hopefuls, who seemed to exhibit gray tendencies that had to be reined in. At this point int he training, most of the members had already chosen their places and renounced the ties to philosophies that were contrary to Jedi doctrine. In fact, of the original twenty members four had been taken as Padawans, and only Jailyn continued to hold to theories that were not accepted by the Council. Even as she skirted the edge of the line, Jailyn refused to take life- or even think about doing so. It made her instructors nervous, for it showed attachment.
Between her actions, and the words she spoke in anger and debated when confronted with the Jedi Code, it was unlikely she would be chosen. Still she trained, and still the Masters tried. Mace Windu had begun as an understanding ear, but now after two years of Jailyn being able to actually speak her mind rather than just childishly speak even he had trouble accepting what went on in the young girl's head.
Three more years, and Jailyn could practically see her fate. She would be reassigned to AgriCorp, or some such nonsense, and shortly after leave the Order. Yet still she tried, still she hoped, and held fast to her beliefs while training. She knew well that she was not alone, for even Master Qui-Gon Jinn had spoken some of the words she echoed and he was a great Master...
Qui-Gon Jinn. Jailyn had vaguely hoped he might take her as his apprentice soon, as his Padawan was soon to take the trials. Surely Obi-Wan would become a knight, and then Master Jinn would seek another learner to aide him? Yet those hopes had been dashed, first by the appearance of the Chosen One- who Qui-Gon claimed as his own- and now, sadly, by the news of his death. Master Windu had just returned from Naboo, where the great Jedi had fallen before Obi-Wan's eyes; Jailyn could think of no worse fate than watching your Master be cut down. Obi-Wan himself was far from his Master's style, being infinitely more in touch with the Council's wishes and certain to pick a much calmer Padawan when he came to look.
No. Qui-Gon had been a man who could take on a case such as Jailyn, but she knew that Obi-Wan wasn't such a person. Which left her to wonder what fate might await her, and how she would take it. The thoughts in her head, Jai moved quietly to the gardens in hopes of catching some meditation before dinner, wondering how she would be guided.
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Obi-Wan knew he wasn't ready to take on an apprentice. The mantle of Knighthood felt too unreal, to uncertain, else he may have considered taking the boy. Qui-Gon hadn't said it, but somewhere Kenobi wondered if that would have been his Master's wish.
I'm sorry, Master, but I must get used to this.
So he took on his next mission alone- and so it would remain for the next three years.
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Meanwhile, on Naboo, Anakin had gotten himself cleaned up and found a home with the family of the handmaiden Sabe. Her parents were very kind, taking him in and helping him make a life for himself. The mornings were filled with matters of politics, and art, and language, and all manner of learning that he trudged through in spite of boredom. Then, after lunch, he would spend the entire afternoon learning how to be a better pilot and finding out all sorts of wizard maneuvers.
Anakin Skywalker was a natural, as had been proven, and he only got better.
He rarely saw Padme, however. She was a queen after all, with diplomatic duties. When they did meet it was always brief, and the conversations usually tended towards laughter. Padme would rarely rub in his age, and in return he gave her respect.
Palpatine attempted to speak to Anakin at times, but they were both busy and the Chancellor was rarely on planet. Anakin forgot why he had been liberated once in a while, the abilities that had brought him out of Tatooine, as he relied on them more to create luck than actually manipulate the "Force."
It was a nice, quiet life and he enjoyed it.
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A/N: Thank you everyone for reading! Please continue to do so. And thank you to Nya, who has finally decided to betaread SOMETHING for me rather than complain when it looks strange on-site. ((albeit after she found the first chapter looking atrocious)) Now if only I could get someone to volunteer their eyes for Bittersweet, I'd be set.
Next: The Council discusses the Prophecy, and Obi-Wan is convinced to find an apprentice.
