Year Ten

"What is the Jedi Code, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked him. Anakin smiled as he answered. Soon he would be ready to join the others in their classes, he would be with the other Year Tens and not have to be taught by Master Obi-Wan until he reached Year Twelve when all the Padawans were chosen by a master to go on missions with.

"There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no death; there is the Force."

"Very good, Anakin. I think you are ready. You look very much like a Jedi now." Anakin knew that was true, but he was different, in everything that he did he felt it. He was different from his roommate Padawan Olin. He was different from all the Jedi. "Anakin you will be joining Master Yaddle with the other padawans. Now go," Obi-Wan said with a smile as he left to go talk to his pal, Dexter.

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Anakin went back to his room and he wondered what had happened to Three-pio. He was sure his mother was looking after him and Three-pio would care for Mom. He picked his tools and began tinkering with a broken droid he had found. A senator had thrown it away and he had told him he would be able to fix it. Anakin had heard of the under city races and he hoped to be acquire a swoop bike and race in them himself. After all, he had won the Boonta Eve race, and his own freedom. He didn't want to lose any of his skills. He knew they would come in handy as a Jedi. He didn't tell Master Obi-Wan because he knew that he wouldn't agree. Of course, they were illegal, but Anakin couldn't stay away. He knew the Jedi were suppose to be the essence of morality but was it his fault they were illegal. Anakin alse wondered how Padme was doing and his buddy Artoo. He was fixing the droid and if it was up to him he would have added some pretty cool features but it wasn't for him and it was worth five hundred credits, which he wasn't suppose to have. He was going to have to find someone or somewhere to keep the swoop bike after he bought it. He thought of the Chancellor who had told him if he ever needed anything...Anakin was drawn out of his reverie by the arrival of his roomate Ferus Olin. Anakin could speak Binary which had been a shock to Obi-Wan one day when a droid had asked them something and Anakin had immediately responded without a translator. Anakin had assumed eveyone undestood.

"Skywalker."

"Olin."

"Hey, some of us Year Tens were wondering," Ferus began but Anakin didn't even look up from his work. "You know nobody sees much of you."

"Master Obi-Wan does."

"No one our age sees much of you, not even me, and I'm your roomate."

"I'm busy."

"Master Kenobi can't keep you that busy." Anakin guestured at the mechanical parts in front of him. "Oh, well, we have heard through the Jedi grapevine. The say you are the Chosen One. The one to bring balance to the Force. The one prophesized about eons ago, when the Republic first formed before the fall of the Sith are you?"

"Maste Qui-Gon thought so," Anakin said, "I don't know. I like it here though, in some ways it's better than home."

"They say that you remember your mother. I have no memory of mine."

"Then you are lucky. You don't have to worry about her or miss her. You don't remember her kisses or the stories or watching her be deprived or beaten."

"Anakin,"

"I don't want to talk about it," Anakin said finally looking up.

"I fear for you, Anakin. As a Jedi you will need to conquer those emotions. There is no emotion there is peace," he recited.

"Ferus, save your fear for yourself," he snapped.

"Anakin, I meant no harm. If you ever need me I'm here."

"Well, I don't."

"I think we started out on the wrong foot. Some of the others were wondering if you'd like to go swimming."

"I'm busy," Anakin replied turning back to his work.

"It will be fun, Anakin. Come on, live a little. You only have one childhood."

"I don't even have one. Ferus, I can't swim."

"Really?" Ferus asked surprised.

"Well," Anakin replied, crossing his arms over his chest after putting his tools down, "where was I suppose to learn? There were sandstorms on Tattooine. The water there was very sacred, not enough for a boy to learn to swim in."

"Well, then. I'll teach you after we're all done. And Anakin, you can trust me, I'll keep your secret." Ferus left, glad to have the chosen one open up at least a little.