Sith, Jedi, no! He's a pirate!
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THIS IS ABOUT 1-2 MONTHS LATE.
The parts from the comics in the last chapter were a bit edited as to better suit my story.
Guess who doesn't have access to the movie scenes? That's me. (Too poor for Netflix, Stan and Foxtel, :D) Had to use Wookiepedia, youtube and Wikipedia.
Thank God for the transcript.
Yes, some things are wrong, but I don't have the movie, and only the transcript, so yeah.
BUT, I DON'T CARE.
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Kamino
"So these are the measures you have chosen, old friend?" A tall man whose hair was a greying brown spoke with some visible disgust.
"You know my name, Master Dooku, and you know that the future is ever in motion, the Republic needs to survive, as do the Jedi." The reply came from an almost middle-aged, tan-skinned man.
The tall man now identified as Master Dooku gave a little chuckle, and responded, "Then Sifo-Diyas, call me Count Dooku, for like you, I also am no longer a Master."
Laughing at each other's situations, they continued their chat, and if one was there with them, then one could see the creation of an army, not just any army, but, a clone army.
Coruscant
The Dark Lord of the Sith stood as he admired Coruscant through windows from the high tower he was present in.
One day, Coruscant would be his, no, the whole Galaxy would be his.
Soon, it would be, and the first step was that he would have to become the Supreme Chancellor.
That was easy enough, Finis Valorum was weak, even if Sidious didn't do anything, he would become Supreme Chancellor eventually, but he so desired the position immediately, but still, he had to be patient.
But, he was angry, Gunray had failed. But, more than just that, he had felt a familiar presence on Tatooine.
For the former, he had sent Maul to take care of Gunray's mess, but the latter was something that also frightened Sidious.
The Man of Flames or so he or she was called by Count Dooku.
He could feel it all the way from Coruscant, a powerful fire that threatened engulf everything, so much power, so much passion, so much Ambition.
Yes, Ambition, was the key thing that Sidious could feel from the fire.
It matched his own, and for that, whoever this Man of Flames, was, he would be the first to die, but that was enough thoughts on him, he could sense someone coming near him.
"How interesting..." Sidious said to himself as he thought about the Man of Flames for the last time, his demeanour then gradually changed to that of a kind elderly man's, as the knock on the door came...
Anakin Skywalker
"Are you an angel?" Anakin asked Padme, who was currently disguised as her own hand-maiden.
"What?" Padme questioned the young boy.
"An angel, I heard the deep space pilots talk about them, they're the most beautiful creatures in the universe, they live on the moons of Lego, I think," Anakin answered, clueless of what he had just meant.
"Funny little boy, how do you know so much?" Padme asked with a smile.
"I listen to all the traders and star pilots... And pirates..." Anakin said excitedly, though the last part was said a bit dejectedly.
"Pirates?" Padme asked.
"Yeah, my brother kind of forces me..." Anakin replied somewhat sadly.
"Ok... You have a weird brother..." Padme said, slightly laughing trying to change the mood.
"I know-" Anakin stopped midway as he felt an overbearing pressure appear out of nowhere.
"I know what?" Ace said, appearing right behind Anakin, surprising also Padme at his sudden appearance.
Anakin gulped and shivered, but he didn't back down. Weird, timing, but then again this was his chance! "You know... That... One day, I'm going to become a Jedi and free all the slaves!" Ace merely looked on as Anakin began to stutter, but, continue, "Pirates... Kill and Pillages, I'll never be one!" It was a bold proclamation, and he lived just the way he was told, with reckless abandon, unfortunately, it didn't persuade Ace.
A single smack by Ace knocked down Anakin, with the former thinking of Anakin's words. Pirates, in this world and galaxy, they didn't pursue freedom, there was no need to, most of known Galactic Space was under the Republic, and therefore, safe. Instead, pirates pursued gold and treasure like some in his old world did, but none could truly be called a real pirate by Ace's standards.
To fight for a dream, stake your life in it, and either die for it or complete and live it. That was a real pirate.
But, for the better or the worst, they didn't exist due to the Republic. An extremely large organisation that had remained unchallenged for thousands of years, they were the reason that crime did not terrorize the galaxy, they were the ones that frightened the criminals and evil minds alike.
But, Ace knew that as every organisation continued in time and in size, there would be corruption...
Meanwhile, Anakin was thinking about how much it hurt...
As he was feeling his own head, Anakin looked to Padme who gave a chuckle, "You're both very funny, especially you Anakin..."
Ace gave his own laugh, and made a joke, "Who knows, maybe if you're lucky, Padme will buy you Anakin!" It wasn't a joke that Ace would make lightly, but, he had to make fun of something. His own brother was always the easiest target, and should anything ever actually happen to him, well, hell would come for them.
Anakin winced, he hated that word - slave. Though he and Ace one day promised to end slavery, Ace would always make a joke about it, as if he wasn't serious at all. But, Ace knew that Anakin would always be behind him.
"You're a slave?" Padme asked, surprised, Anakin simply felt different... Then again, there was much that she had yet to understand.
"I'm a person! And-" Anakin would have continued, but he was unfortunately interrupted, by everyone's favourite character.
"Woah!" Jar-Jar said as he accidentally put on a small droid, which jumped back hitting two others and began waddling.
Anakin would have said something, but he stopped his mouth as he saw his older brother walk towards the Gungan that was trying to grab the droid.
Qui-Gon
Watto was annoying and greedy, but Gui-Gon didn't have much choice.
"Republic credits? Republic credits are no good out here. I need something more real," Watto replied as Qui-Gon stated on how he would pay for the hyperdrive generator.
"I don't have anything else, but credits will do fine," Qui-Gon stated as to force persuade the Toydarian, unfortunately to no avail.
"No, they won't," Watto replied.
"Credits will do fine." Qui-Gon tried again, with the same result.
"No, they won't, what you think you're some kind of Jedi waving your hand around like that? I'm a Toydarian, mind tricks don't work on me, only money, no money, no parts, no deal. And, no one else has a T-14 Hyperdrive, I promise you that." Watto finished with.
Then, there was a tinge of anger.
Qui-Gon was rather never the same since his former Master left. Dooku leaving had been the most impactful on Qui-Gon, with those such as Yoda a close second. Sometimes, he wished he had left with him, the Jedi Order was also never the same.
When Dooku left, two spots were opened.
Created from Dooku himself, and Sifo-Diyas.
A few prominent Masters and Knights had also left, a small number, but they were all relatively well known in their own right, enough that the new generation of aspiring Jedi would have their ideas on what a Jedi was to be changed - forever.
Yoda had handled the situation differently to what he had expected.
For the first time in centuries, he stepped down.
Mace Windu was appointed the Order's Master, and soon to be Grandmaster.
But, most surprising, was that he had extended a Seat on the Council for Qui-Gon.
He still didn't know, how to react, and thus he didn't.
But, the invitation was always there for him, and though he was older than some of those sitting on the Council, he felt, he wasn't ready, yet.
Or, was he?
Ace Skywalker
Dissatisfied at the deal offered, Qui-Gon began to walk back.
"We're leaving, Jar-Jar."
Following so, a slightly burnt Jar-Jar and Padme left.
"I was really close to burning him..." Ace said to his younger brother, concerning Jar-Jar.
"That was a Jedi... I think!" Anakin said in excitement, as he looked towards Qui-Gon walking away.
"How do you know?" Ace asked.
"His laser sword..." Anakin said with even more excitement.
"Lightsaber," Ace corrected, not knowing how Anakin kept getting the word wrong.
"Shut up," Anakin replied with, as he began to follow Qui-Gon as Ace kept his Observation Haki ready the moment that Anakin left his sight, he was a bit weary, due to Qui-Gon being a Jedi. Or at least a Force-Sensitive, something Ace noticed the second he saw him.
Anakin Skywalker
"Gracious, my bones are aching... Storm's coming on, Ani, a big one as well. You'd better get home quick." Jira an elderly woman warned Anakin.
Anakin looked to Qui-Gon asking, "Do you have shelter?"
"We'd have to head back to our ship," Qui-Gon said, somewhat dismayed.
"How far is that?" Anakin asked.
"Near the outskirts," Padme answered.
"That's too dangerous, follow me!" Anakin said.
No more words were said after that, as they followed Anakin.
Ace Skywalker
"A sandstorm?" Ace said as he was taking a walk.
He opted that he should walk back, but as he was about to, he suddenly fell asleep.
Skywalker's Abode
"Mom! I'm home, Ace went for a walk, he'll be back soon, I think!"
"Dissen cosy!" Jar-Jar added.
Shmi entered, surprised at all the people...
She was just thankful, Qui-Gon brought food.
Meanwhile, Anakin had a droid to show off.
Obi-Wan
"It's a trick. Send no reply... Send no transmission of any kind," Obi-Wan stated as he thought of what his Master was doing.
Hopefully, Qui-Gon would return soon...
Skywalker's Abode
Where nobody else could hear them, two people through a comlink, communicated to each other.
"The Queen is upset... But absolutely no reply was sent." Obi-Wan said.
"It sounds like bait to establish a connection trace," Qui-Gon replied with.
There was a pause as Obi-Wan asked, "But, what if it's true, and people are dying?"
"Either way, we're running out of time," Qui-Gon answered.
Coruscant
"Tatooine is sparsely populated. If the trace was-" Darth Maul who was speaking, was interrupted, by his Master's voice. "Can you sense him, my young apprentice?"
"Sense who?" Darth Maul asked.
Senator- No, at the moment, Darth Sidious, replied, "Him. The Man of Flames his power is coming from that desert planet! Not against the Jedi for now, but I want you to find out, who, exactly the Man of Flames is!"
The last words were said with such sadism, they would belong only to a Sith Lord or an insane man, then again, what was the difference?
Darth Maul nodded, but, who was to say that on the way of finding out who the Man of Flames was, that he couldn't kill a few Jedi?
He simply had another job, and that was to find out, whoever this Man of Flames was.
Ace Skywalker
In the eye of the sandstorm, Ace stood.
For any other human, it would have likely killed them, if not then, at least severely would them.
The wind was strong, and as the sandstorm grew it became big, as it did its wind.
It was almost like a tornado of blades, but, to Ace, the sand merely went through his body as a fire would appear to the place where the sand may harm.
There was a degree of caution, Ace didn't want to create glass, and he was annoyed, in his past body, he wouldn't even need to transform into his logia body to defend himself.
But, his body was weaker here.
And, as he was sensed, he could also feel two, no three people sensing him.
But, first, "I should go home soon."
Skywalker's Abode
"And that's how I'm going to free all the slaves!" Anakin proclaimed.
"You're going to do what!?" Padme asked surprised.
"Meesa like that idea!" Jar-Jar exclaimed.
"That's a very dangerous plan..." Qui-Gon said, taking note of the plan.
Anakin, however, was undeterred, and the silence was broken, by Padme's question. "But, still, I can't believe slavery exists in the galaxy... The Republic anti-slavery laws..."
"The Republic doesn't exist here. We must survive on our own." Shmi replied with, then creating an awkward silence.
Anakin immediately broke it without hesitation, remembering Qui-Gon's laser sword.
"Uhh... Mister Qui-Gon... You're a Jedi Knight right!"
"What makes you think that?"
"I saw your laser- Lightsaber, and only the Jedi carry that!"
Qui-Gon leaned back slowly and smiled, "Perhaps, I killed a Jedi for it?"
Anakin, however, laughed oddly, "No one can kill a Jedi! Except for Ace!"
There was interest in the Jedi Master's eyes, and he explored his curiosity, "Who is this Ace?"
"My big brother! He always protects me, and I bet he's stronger than even you!" Anakin declared proudly.
Qui-Gon still with his smile, replied, "From what I've heard, I hope so..."
The memorable moment was then ruined, as Jar-Jar using his tongue took an apple.
However, Anakin easily began another conversation, "So, why are you really here?"
"I'm afraid, I can't tell you."
"Is it because you're here to free all the slaves?"
Qui-Gon said nothing in response.
"You aren't? That's ok! Because, it's going to be me and Ace that free them all! It's our dream or at least mine!"
"A dream? What do you mean by your dream?" Padme asked.
Anakin slammed his hand on the table, smiling, he shouted with no hesitation, "You know something that you strive for! You fight for it, stake your life in it, and you either die or succeed!" Then proceeding to take a sip of his beverage, due to his throat hurting a bit from that shouting.
"Anakin, what did we talk about slamming the table!" Shmi said in outburst, appearing scary to Anakin.
"Stop following Ace's example..." Anakin said quietly.
Qui-Gon's smile was still there, and relaxing it, he looked to everyone else and chose to do it, "You're very mature for a kid your age, I see there's no fooling you. I'll tell you the truth, you mustn't let anyone know of us..."
One Lengthy Explanation, That I Am By No Means Bothered To Write.
"That's simple then! All I have to do is just win the Pod-Race! I even have the fastest racer!" Anakin proclaimed.
'Anakin...' Shmi would have said something, but, Anakin wasn't like any other kid. She had confidence, and though it killed a part of her every time he participated in one, she was sure, he would be safe.
Qui-Gon looked to Shmi, who as if reading his mind, replied with, "I believe you can do it Anakin if anyone can do it, you can."
Padme was shocked, and Qui-Gon and Jar-Jar surprised, the mother had agreed so easily?
"Then, I suppose... We know what to do..."
Ace Skywalker
The sandstorm continued, but it was now dying out.
Ace was still in the eye, he opted to leave earlier, but he could feel it, someone was coming close.
It seemed that he wasn't leaving, until then.
Padme
"Are you sure about this? Trust our fate to a boy we hardly know! The Queen will not approve," Padme stated to Qui-Gon.
The Jedi Master with a smile replied, "The Queen does not need to know."
"Well, I don't approve." Answered the Queen.
Watto
"It's the fastest ever built, I recently acquired it in a game of chance..." Qui-Gon stated, lying to the Toydarian.
Watto buying the lie, laughed and replied, "I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it. So, you supply the Pod and the entry fee; I supply the boy. We split the winnings fifty-fifty, I think."
"Fifty-fifty!? If it's going to be fifty-fifty, I suggest you front the cash for the entry. If we win, you keep all the winnings, minus the cost of the parts I need... If we lose you keep my ship." Qui-Gon exclaimed.
Watto thought about, Anakin tried to not be nervous, but this was his no ordinary matter.
"Either way, you win," Qui-Gon said as to play on Watto's greed.
"Deal! Yo bana pee ho-tah, meedee ya. (Your friend is a follish one, methinks.) Watto replied in his language, that whilst Qui-Gon didn't understand, Anakin did.
Comlink
"What if this plan fails, Master? We could be stuck here for a long time..." Obi-Wan asked Qui-Gon.
"A ship without a power supply will not get us anywhere, and there is something about this boy..." Qui-Gon said, then ending the Comlink as he saw Shmi coming near.
Shmi
As Padme, Anakin, Jar Jar and R2 worked on the engines of the Podracer in the courtyard below, Shmi and Qui-Gon were having a conversation.
"You should be proud of your son, he gives without any thought of reward." Qui-Gon complimented.
"I suppose that is true. But, he's just as willing to take as well, get's it from Ace..." Shmi said chuckling a bit.
Qui-Gon wondered about that name, Ace. He had seen him for a bit, but there seemed to be nothing special from him, at least what he could sense at first glance. "I keep hearing about him, he must have been quite the influence on Anakin."
"He is. He also has it..." Shmi stuttered a bit.
"Special powers." Qui-Gon finished for her but surprised that both Anakin and Ace had it.
"Yes..." Shmi confirmed.
"He can see things before they happen, that's why he appears to have such quick reflexes, it's a Jedi thing," Qui-Gon said as to explain Anakin's powers.
"He deserves better, they both do," Shmi said.
"The Force is unusually strong in them both, that much is clear, who was their father?" Qui-Gon asked.
"I don't know, out of nowhere, I carried Ace and gave birth to him. Then came Anakin three years later... I can't explain it. But, can you make sure Anakin becomes a Jedi?" Shmi said almost stuttering - almost.
"I'm afraid-" There was a pause. He thought of Anakin, who was nine years old and of the tradition that he was too old. But... He remembered a certain few words he was told when offered a position on the Council.
"Change we must, from the old ways to the new, foolish I have been."
"Yes, I can help him, I will help him, Anakin to the best of my ability," Qui-Gon said, though surprised by what Shmi said next.
"He doesn't need help, he just needs... To become a Jedi, and he can do the rest..." Shmi said smiling.
Slave Quarters
"I'm going to win the Pod-Race!" Anakin declared.
"Wow, a real Astro Droid... How'd you get so lucky?" "I know, that's so cool!" "So wizard!" "Let's play ball!" Anakin's friends were much more interested in either the Astro Droid or playing ball.
"Hey, listen to me, I'm going to win!" Anakin yelled.
"You always win!" "Win already and free us!" "Yeah, you said we'll go on an adventure didn't you?!" "We're waiting, we'll free everyone!" Kitster, Seek, Amee and Wald said something, as Anakin began crying a bit, shouting, "You're damn right, I'm going to free everyone!"
Shmi
"See? I told you. He doesn't need help, he just needs to be on his way... And he can't be stopped." Shmi said.
Qui-Gon also smiled, what a pleasant surprise Anakin was.
"OW! I cut myself!" Qui-Gon heard coming from Anakin, causing for both him and Shmi to laugh.
Skywalker Abode
Beneath the vast blanket of stars at night, Qui-Gon tended to Anakin's cut. "Sit still, Ani, let me clean this cut."
"There are so many! Do they all have a system of planets!?" Anakin said looking at the stars.
"Most of them," Qui-Gon answered.
"Has anyone been to them all?" Anakin questioned, wondering what kind of adventure awaited.
Qui-Gon laughed, "Not likely,"
"I want to be the first one to see them all... Ouch!" Anakin exclaimed at feeling pain.
Qui-Gon wiped a patch of blood off Anakin's arm, calming Anakin, "There, good as new."
"Ani, bedtime!" Shmi shouted.
Qui-Gon then scraped Anakin's blood into a comlink chip.
"What are you doing?" Anakin questioned.
"Checking your blood for infections," Qui-Gon answered with a white lie.
"I've never seen..." Anakin questioned.
"Ani, I'm not going to tell you again, and where's Ace?" Shmi shouted again.
"Ok! And, I don't know where Ace is!" Anakin answered.
"Go on, you have a big day tomorrow. Good night," Gui-Gon said as he left the room.
Anakin rolled his eyes and then went to go to sleep.
Qui-Gon took the bloodstained chip, inserting into his Comlink and called Obi-Wan.
"Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon asked.
"Yes, Master?" Obi-Wan answered.
"Make an analysis of this blood sample I'm sending you," Qui-Gon said.
"Wait a minute..." Obi-Wan replied with.
"I need a midi-chlorian count," Qui-Gon stated.
"All right. I've got it." Obi-Wan said.
"What are your readings?" Qui-Gon waited, but, already knowing it would be much higher than his own.
"Something must be wrong with the transmission." Obi-Wan
"Here's a signal check."
"Strange. The transmission seems to be in good order, but the reading's off the chart... Over twenty thousand.
A smile appeared on Qui-Gon's face as he spoke with confidence, "That's it then."
"Even Master Yoda doesn't have a Midi-chlorian count that high!" Obi-Wan exclaimed.
Still smiling, Qui-Gon then noticed Shmi in the doorway, but didn't say anything on her, "No Jedi has."
What does it mean?" Obi-Wan asked, somewhat distressed.
"He's the Chosen One..." Qui-Gon answered.
By the time Qui-Gon looked back, Shmi was gone, and he began to ponder the situation.
Ace Skywalker
Ace stood, still waiting, but, his patience was awarded as a spaceship descended near him.
From the spaceship that landed, left a figure.
It was clear that it was a Zabrak, a red skinned one that wore a black cloak and a hood concealing its head area, but, it was clear that the Zabrak had glowing yellow eyes.
As the Zabrak walked towards Ace, about a meter or two, it stopped.
"I hope, I haven't kept you waiting." The Zabrak said as a gust of wind from nowhere blew and revealed it to be, Darth Maul.
Ace smiled.
His hands then turned to a black colour, not that Darth Maul could see it, as they suddenly became engulfed in flames.
"No... You came, just in time," Ace answered.
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NOTES:
Cliff-hanger ending!
I won't spoil, what will happen, but, don't forget, Ace is-
I've said too much.
But, anyway, more important things.
Shmi X Qui-Gon?
Important:
In case anyone thinks that Anakin is going to become a carbon copy of Luffy, like the OC in my other story, don't worry, he won't. This is because how the Force can influence people and their actions and emotions. Ace is exempt to a high degree for obvious reasons.
