III
This chapter describes Anakin's first encounter with Leia. Then, Qui-Gon takes Anakin on a journey back in time, observing Obi-Wan's arrival as a child at the Jedi Temple.
A Journey Back in Time
Walking to the Ewok village in the company of Luke, Yoda, and Qui-Gon, Anakin was struck by the extent of the devastation around him. Shattered trees. Twisted remains of machines. Qui-gon left them to investigate.
Just outside the village, a group of young Ewoks had suspended a black-painted storm trooper helmet from a tree and attached a black cloth that hung down like a cloak. Ewoks were taking turns throwing rocks at this primitive caricature of Darth Vader, then hitting it with a stick and chortling with merriment. Anakin winced. But, Luke hurried on ahead, seeming not to notice.
A wooden ramp led up to the treetop dwellings of the Ewoks. Anakin noticed with a stab of guilt that Princess Leia Organa was among the first to greet Luke. She had proven surprisingly resistant to the mind probe with which he had, as Darth Vader, attempted to wrest information from her. Then there was the destruction of her home planet of Alderaan.…
As they reached the center of the village, Anakin noticed that Obi-Wan had joined them. Luke smiled gratefully when he caught sight of Anakin, Yoda, and Obi-Wan. Now seeming more relaxed, Obi-Wan also grinned broadly at Anakin. But then Leia approached and, with a sisterly gesture, drew Luke back toward the festivities.
Staring at the two retreating figures, Anakin felt a sudden stab of recognition. Leia! Of course! He had heard a rumor that Bail Organa's daughter had been adopted as an infant, but Anakin had never connected that gossip to Padme's pregnancy. Glancing warily at Obi-Wan, he wondered what other secrets the old Jedi might have kept from him.
Just then, Leia looked directly toward the spot where her father stood and seemed to shiver. Momentarily, Anakin was convinced that she saw him. But then she shook her head, apparently telling herself that she was imagining things. Still, the dread and horror in her glance had been unmistakable. Turning away, so that he could no longer see his daughter, Anakin discovered that Qui-Gon was again at his side.
"Shall we take a break from the festivities?" Qui-Gon asked pleasantly. Anakin nodded glumly, following Qui-Gon into the forest.
"Perhaps it is too late…" Anakin said, half to himself.
"Things are not always as they may seem." Qui-Gon said, regarding him pensively. "Would you consider coming with me on a short journey?"
"To visit more of the dead?" Anakin responded guardedly.
"Not in the way you think. Still, the fluidity of time is an interesting facet of the dimension in which we now find ourselves."
"I have no wish to relive my recent past,"
"I would not suggest that you explore your own past, at least not yet. But you and Obi-Wan may have more in common than you realize."
No longer buoyed up by the wave of euphoria that initially had shielded him, Anakin was seized by dread. "Obi-Wan hid my son and daughter from me." "Am I now to discover that he and Padmé …?"
"No. But the suspicions that you are expressing now could easily poison your relationship with your son."
"How can you possibly understand what I am feeling?"
"I do not claim to understand, but may be able to convince you that Obi-Wan's compassion for your children came from a source other than a wish to steal them away from you."
"How would you know?" Anakin muttered.
"Everything done on the physical plane leaves an impression in time and space. Therefore, those who have learned the proper technique are able to step in and out of the river of time," Qui-Gon explained. With a roguish grin, he pulled a pouch from his belt.
While Anakin watched, he took out a small gold rod and gazed at it intently. As he did so, the rod began to emit a pulsating glow. Small beams of light traveled up and down the shaft before converging at a point that seemed to satisfy Qui-Gon. "Put your hand on the rod, just above mine," he urged. "What you learn may surprise you."
His curiosity getting the better of him, Anakin reluctantly complied. At first he felt nothing. Then there was a dizzying sensation. He felt he was being stretched, as if he were made of rubber. When Anakin regained his balance and looked around, the Ewok village had disappeared. However, the scene around them was uncomfortably familiar.
Anakin recognized the stone facing of a service tunnel leading to the Jedi Temple. From the relative lack of security, Anakin could tell that the time period was well before the Clone Wars. As they watched, a panic-stricken young woman ran past carrying a bundle in her arms. Her long blond hair darkened with sweat, she pulled furiously on the bell rope next to the portal. A Temple door warden stepped forward to question her.
Sobbing, the young woman pulled the blankets aside to show him the contents of the bundle. As she was admitted to the Temple, a bell tolled loudly. A member of the medical staff was soon hurrying toward her. The young woman was swiftly guided to a nearby medical clinic.
"How did this happen?" the physician on duty demanded as he parted the blood-soaked blankets to reveal a small child.
"He … my former husband, started hitting him. When I tried to stop him, he started beating me …" Bruised and disheveled, with a swollen lip, the young woman reached out to touch the face of the little boy, one of whose eyes was swollen shut. She looked pleadingly at the physician. "Will he be all right?"
"You did the right thing by bringing him here," the physician said more gently. "But I can tell you nothing until I have examined him."
A member of the Medical Corps took her arm and led her to a nearby chair, asking, "How long ago did this happen?"
"Not long! When my former husband left … I ran… I was so worried…"
"Has anything like this … happened before?" the Medical Corps member asked quietly, noticing the bruises on the child's arms.
"Nothing so bad as this."
"But your … ah … former husband has hit the child before?"
"Yes. He has a bad temper…" As the young mother stammered out her story, the Medical Corps member took down her words and his expression wavered between sympathy and consternation. While she spoke, the child was examined by the physician. A blood sample was taken from both mother and son.
By the time Yoda entered the room, the young mother's sobbing had quieted and she was sipping a cup of hot tea. Yoda was handed a printed analysis of the two blood samples. He gazed inscrutably at the printout, then at the child, who had recovered enough to stare back at him. Although the boy's face was bruised and swollen, the blue eyes were remarkably clear and unafraid. Nodding to himself, Yoda sat down opposite the young woman.
"Your former husband, looking for you may be. He and his family will not wish news of this incident to become well known," he said, emanating compassion.
Anxiety filled the young woman's eyes as she gazed longingly at her son. "We have nowhere to go. At least, nowhere that I can take him."
"He will be safe with us. We can arrange for your transportation back to Amu Zon."
"What will become of him?"
"Would you like to see the children's quarters?" Yoda queried, beckoning toward a side door. The young mother lifted her son in her arms and followed Yoda. Up a flight of stairs, they could hear the echo of young voices. A short hallway led to a light-filled room with a dozen small cots. Next to each cot was a wardrobe where clothing was hung. "This is where he will sleep," Yoda explained, motioning toward an empty cot at the end of the row.
"Where are the children?"
Yoda looked questioningly at a nearby Service Corps member.
"Swimming lessons."
The young mother hugged her son close, murmuring, "He is very young."
Splashing sounds guided them to the pool. Nine young children splashed in the water, some wearing water wings, a few having graduated to swimming by themselves. Three Service Corps members encouraged their efforts. Watching them, the young mother began to cry. Her sobs caused her son to become visibly agitated. Quietly a nurse who had accompanied them intervened and took the boy from her.
"Nothing can be done before morning," Yoda said, moving toward the door. "Mistress Vita, please come with us. Tonight Lady Annalisa will stay in a guest room, along with her son. If you are willing, it would be helpful to have a trained nurse nearby. The boy seems to have suffered a concussion."
Biting her lip, the Annalisa Kenobi glanced uncertainly from the robust woman now holding her son to the ancient Jedi. Then, she straightened, gathering herself together. "I just want what's best for him," she said.
"My Lady," Yoda said with great seriousness, "your son would not be so healthy and calm if that were not true. Still, you were lucky this time. The child's father …"
"But he isn't! The marriage was annulled. Legally, little Obidiah has no father…" her voice trailed off.
"I understand. But this incident cannot be ignored," Yoda sighed. "As I am sure you are aware, your former husband's family is not without influence on Coruscant. I sense that, if you waver now, your lack of resolve will put you and your son at risk. I urge you to return to your home planet and take counsel. Meanwhile, your son will be safer staying here, as an anonymous foundling, than he would be beyond the Temple doors."
Taking a deep breath, Annalisa nodded, her beauty becoming apparent as her brow relaxed and her lips curved into a wan smile.
"Let me show you the rest of the children's quarters," Mistress Vita offered, leading the way down the corridor.
