Chapter Three
Anakin Skywalker
"River! Anakin was just telling me that he could fly any ship ever built."
"Any ship?"
"Of course. I raced pods back on Tatooine and I won my freedom because of it. Obviously, Qui-gon set the terms of that wager, but I know I can handle anything."
"I might see if you can fly mine, Anakin. She's a tricky craft though, very unconventional."
"Don't let him fool you, Anakin. It isn't that difficult and he likes to leave the brakes on when he flies it."
"Hey! River, I like that sound. And I've never heard the Tardis complain before you waltzed in."
"So should we go somewhere fancy? There is a small diner I've heard about that is where everybody goes at one point or another."
"Everybody?" the nine year old asked, "Sounds like a perfect place then."
"Master Qui-Gon, I couldn't find the boy."
Qui-Gon frowned, "He wasn't with the Queen?"
"She said a Doctor came by and took him for some food."
Qui-Gon nodded, dismissing the messenger and reached out through the Force to find the boy, "Obi-wan! Come, I'm hungry. Let's go visit Dex."
Obi-Wan looked confused, but shrugged, following his Master through the crowds of Coruscant, Kenobi remaining silent on why his Master would want to go here when it was obvious that the boy was missing. Things were certainly unusual at the moment as the council had agreed to interview the boy, despite his age.
There was a little resentment towards his Master for taking such an obvious interest in Anakin, but with the disturbances in the Force recently, everything was visibly chaotic and off-balance. As if there was going to be a major shift in the balance of the Force.
They arrived at the diner and Obi-Wan looked questioningly at his Master, "Is that the boy in the window?"
Qui-Gon nodded, "It seems like the Doctor has discovered the potential in the boy. We must use caution, what do your feelings tell you about those two we met in the Council?"
"He's dangerous, but I can't sense why."
"I agree, keep a close eye on him and watch what he says." Qui-Gon agreed.
"What about his companion. I sense a greater danger in what she is capable of, something fiercely loyal and protective of the Doctor." Obi-Wan said.
"Well, let us join them." Qui-Gon noticed they had been seen, the eyes of the boy landing on him and drew the attention of the strangers.
As soon as they entered, the Doctor was standing and trying to shake their hands, almost as if they were celebrities, Qui-Gon wearing a faint smile at how uncomfortable Obi-Wan was with the attention, "I was just telling Anakin here about the amazing ice fields of Hoth. Did you know that there is a Wampa ice creature that is missing an arm?"
"Really? And how would you know this unless you've been there. I've been under the impression that Hoth is very devoid of any life and that there haven't been any conclusive studies done on that world."
The Doctor frowned, cocking his head to one side as if trying to remember something, "Oh right, I must be getting my planets confused. I have been to so many frozen wastelands."
"When I become a Jedi," Anakin grinned, "I'm going to find that one-armed Wampa. And I'll see every single planet you have, Doctor."
Qui-Gon barely caught the dark look that crossed the Doctor's face at the mention of him becoming a Jedi, but did not say anything, hoping that the conversation would go more naturally in that direction. Instead, he looked at the female of the table, "What about you? Have you been to Hoth or any other frozen wastelands?"
"River Song." She smiled politely, though ignored the other part of the question. She was guarded, but Qui-Gon could tell it was just the way she was with most people.
"What can you share about the galaxy?"
"Certainly not as much as the Doctor. He's been around a lot longer than myself."
"Who are you, Doctor? And what are you doing here?" Qui-Gon asked bluntly, forgoing the rounded questions as they seemed to be going no-where.
"I'm on a date." The Doctor answered, "Why is everybody assuming that we're here for another purpose."
"We're suspicious of different."
"We're on a date and my ship decided to bring us right into the middle of the Council, while they were meeting I might add."
"Your ship landed in the middle of the Council?" Anakin asked in awe.
"Well, you haven't seen it yet." The Doctor grew a smile as he looked intently at Anakin, "The Tardis."
"What type of ship is that? I've never heard of it."
"Well, of course you haven't. It's not just some ship you could simply pick up. She's special."
"What do you know of the Sith?" Qui-Gon diverted the questioning again.
"Philosophically, they stand for everything that you don't. They're exactly the opposite of a Jedi in everything except you both discourage attachment. They like the red lightsabers, some think it has to do with it looking like the blood of their victims or some rubbish. I'm not a fan of them, but then again, there are some things that the Jedi do that I do not approve of either. Then again, you have to remember that they're people too. They embrace their feelings, while the Jedi try to deny them. Well, they embrace their feelings except for love, Jedi and Sith fear it, with good reason, it can certainly change even the most devoted of followers." The Doctor ended the sentence staring at Anakin, trying to stare at the nine year old as if sharing this information would help the boy.
"You claim we fear attachment?" Qui-gon asked.
"Of course. How else do you explain the forbidden rule when it comes to any relationship outside the Master-Padawan connection?"
The Jedi was quiet, having heard the argument before from others, while Obi-wan was considering what was being said regarding attachments.
"You aren't the one that needs convincing, Qui-gon." River said and then looked at the boy again, "Anakin, do you know what the Jedi are really about? Can you accept the rules they give you even if you don't agree with them?"
"They're about fighting for the helpless and defending the ones who can't defend themselves." Anakin answered.
"That is true." River said, "Mostly."
"River, no!" the Doctor glared at his companion.
"I'm trying to help him."
"You're trying to change history. His history." The Doctor answered.
"And your quick little scan of the Senator? What were you going to do with that information?" River turned to Qui-Gon, "Are you going to explain what being a Jedi is about for the boy? Him being older means that he might actually not want to do something like this for his whole life. If somebody needs help, Anakin, but by helping that individual you're breaking an order from the Council to help them. A mission that is in itself pointless to the degree where that life should be saved…"
"River no. Say nothing more."
She smirked at the Doctor, "I don't know what you're talking about, Sweetie."
"You've traveled through time, haven't you." Qui-Gon suddenly asked, reflecting on everything that had been said so far. Both Anakin and Obi-Wan stared at the Master for a minute before they too reasoned out the truth.
"You are a smart one, Master Jinn." River smiled slyly, "Take away all logical reasons and you arrive at the illogical."
"The Doctor mentioned changing history. Are you here to change something that happens in our futures?"
"Absolutely not." The Doctor answered, "There are certain fixed points in time that cannot be changed, River." He fixed her with a glare before looking back at the Jedi, "without serious consequences that is. Besides, as I have repeatedly said, I'm here to enjoy a date with my companion."
"Thank you for confirming my suspicions, Doctor." Qui-gon nodded, shooting River a smug smile at her victory over the man.
The Doctor in turn glared again at River, of course mad at himself for the answers he allowed himself to give as she knew every question that he would never refuse to answer once a subject was brought up. She smirked, "Don't give me that look. Qui-Gon would have figured it out later."
"So our future is already predetermined? And the Order is doomed?"
"Doomed?" Obi-Wan asked.
"They're both reluctant to share any information. Very guarded concerning future events," Qui-Gon continued, "The Force reveals a lot but even what it doesn't reveal can be found from even the unspoken. Always be mindful, Padawan."
"You are good, Master Qui-Gon." River congratulated.
"Then if you're not here to share events with us, why did you land in the Council?" Qui-gon asked.
"It wasn't my fault. My ship, she likes doing weird things like that. I think she likes to tempt fate with the time stream more than I do."
"You can't fly your ship?" Anakin asked.
"Of course I can fly her." The Doctor exclaimed incredulously, "She just likes to alter my directions occasionally. Think of it like gravity trying to alter the direction of your ship. You can see the effects it's trying to make and you adjust accordingly. Now imagine your ship noticing the changes that have to be made ahead of time and making the changes before getting a chance to and instead of meters off course like your ship, you're several years or planets off your intended destination."
River laughed, "The Tardis lands us usually where we need to be, when we need to be. But there are times when she detects events in the time stream that we need to be at, and sometimes catches the Doctor by surprise."
"But not you?" Qui-Gon asked.
"She responds better to a woman's touch." River smirked at the Doctor as he mocked her reply.
"What about me?"
"What?"
"Do I become the greatest Jedi ever?"
There was an obvious hesitation from both of them until the Doctor looked directly into Anakin's eyes, "Your name will never be forgotten thousands of years from now."
Anakin's eyes glowed at the announcement but immediately frowned, "You didn't answer my question."
"And take away life's greatest mysteries? Where would the fun be in that?" the Doctor smiled back.
