Star Wars: A Different Choice

Part I: The Phantom Menace

Chapter 3: Qui-Gon Jinn's Funeral

The brilliant, clear blue sky changes to tones of gold and scarlet as Naboo's singular sun sets on the horizon. Surviving Gungans and humans now freed from their prison camps have begun cleaning up their dead, a tragic consequence for liberating the peaceful planet from the Trade Federation's malicious actions. While they are happy for their regained freedom and the return of their queen, the citizens of Naboo are also mourning the loss of loved ones who died or were killed during the blockade, the occupation, or in the battle of Naboo, which had taken place mere hours ago.

In Theed, Naboo's capitol city, the preparations for the funeral ceremony of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn are taking place. The Jedi Master was killed in the battle of Naboo earlier that same day when he was mortally wounded by the Sith Darth Maul. Qui-Gon had died in his padawan's arms soon after Obi-Wan Kenobi had defeated the Sith. Several Jedi, including Masters Yoda and Mace Windu, and other dignitaries travel to Naboo to witness Qui-Gon's funeral that will take place later that same evening. Obi-Wan has spoken very little after the death of his Master, only talking when he is officially ordered to like when he had to address the Jedi Council about Qui-Gon's death with the queen's holo projector.

Anakin Skywalker returns to Theed Palace only to be mobbed by the surviving Nubian pilots who gather around his ship, ready to greet, congratulate, and thank their newest hero, Naboo's hero. Since Naboo 's culture and laws values its youths at nearly the same level as adults and the elderly, the Nubian pilots are not shocked and only a little bit surprised that their savor is a little boy, as they were the same people who elected a fourteen year old girl to be their queen. Anakin is overwhelmed by all the cheers and positive attention he is receiving from his fellow pilots, trying to hang onto all the happiness as long as possible. The boy is already aware that he will later be attending a funeral to a great mentor who had freed him from slavery and gave him hope to live his dreams.

Speaking of dreams, Anakin has so far done nothing to change his visions from becoming true. However, he knows that at the funeral he must make a difficult, but different choice than the one from his nightmare. If he stays on the path he is on now, the boy will become a great Jedi, then secretly marry his true love, then fall to the dark side from the pressures of his conflicting duties and worries and will hurt the one he loves the most. However, the boy had also wanted to learn how to control his powers and help others in a way that only the Jedi could help him. While Anakin promised Qui-Gon that he will learn to use the force to fulfill the ancient prophecy he is part of, he never promised to become a JedI, though it was what he had wanted before his life-altering vision. Anakin wonders if there are any JedI who might train him to use the force without actually becoming an official Jedi. He hopes that by not being a traditional Jedi and by not following their strict code, he can prevent events that will lead him to the darkside. The accuracy of his visions when it came to the battle of Naboo have caused Anakin to doubt in his abilities to change and lighten his dark destiny. Anakin must change his fate, for Padmé's sake if not his own.

Padmé Amidala, the girl queen who haunts his every thought. She is a living angel, the only light in his increasingly darkening existence. How could he ever harm her when she and his mother were the only two people who he had ever really loved? How could he ever lose faith in her, doubt her when she is the only one who still believes in him after all the wrong he will do? If Anakin can change just one thing in his future it would be how he treated Padmé. Anakin vows that she will never know the pain of his force choke, the heartbreak from his fall to the darkside, nor will she ever feel his wraith of his accusations for anything. If Padmé still must die before him, he will not let it be his fault. He will let her go, even if it kills him in the process.

Even though all Anakin wants to do in this moment is find Padmé and give her a tight hug, he knows she is too busy right now. He may have to wait a long time before she will have time to spend with him again as Padmé, not Queen Amidala. As soon as they are reunited and alone together, Anakin has decided to tell Padmé his entire vision in more detail and hopes that she wont hate him afterwards. Anakin couldn't blame her if she does hate him for what he did to her in his nightmare, he could only blame himself as the future Obi-Wan had told him.

Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn's funeral is solemn and peaceful. The golden yellow light from the pyre interrupts the dark, rare moonless night, as none of Naboo's three moons are in position to be seen in the inky blue-black night sky, powdery white stars shimmering in the distance. Anakin stands next to Obi-Wan with the Queen standing next to the young Jedi and the Chancellor standing next to the Queen. The other mourners fade in the background as they watch Qui-Gon's body burn, his dull grey ashes and the bright orange flames from the fire of the funeral pyre float into the dark atmosphere.

"What will happen to me now?" whispers Anakin to himself, though loud enough for Obi-Wan to hear him.

Thinking that the boy was asking him the question, Obi-Wan quietly announces, "The Council has granted me permission to train you."

"Master Obi-Wan, I don't want to be a Jedi," states Anakin sadly but forcefully, "Is there any other way you could train to use the force other than by being a Jedi?"

"Why the change of mind, young one?" asks Obi-Wan curiously, "You seemed eager to become a Jedi back on the queen's ship. Isn't that why you decided to come with us and left your home behind?"

"It's more like a change of heart," answers Anakin passionately, the amount of emotion surprising the now Master-less padawan, "The Jedi are not allowed to have loved ones, they see them as attachments and attachments are forbidden by their code. I can't live without the people I love, Obi-Wan, it would tear me apart and push me to the darkside."

"I promised my Master that I would train you," states Obi-Wan conflictingly, "But I do not believe the Council will let me train you if you choose not to became a JedI. Are you sure of your choice Anakin?"

"I'm sorry Obi-Wan," Anakin replies sadly, "but I will not become a Jedi, not if it means abandoning those I care about."

Obi-Wan shifts his attention away from Anakin, who is still dressed in the sandy tan desert rags from Tatooine, back to the last remnants of his now former master. He wonders how the Council will react to the boy's decision and if there is a way to train Anakin how to use the force in another way, a way that the chosen one will agree to.

Meanwhile a few people away from Anakin and Obi-Wan are the two Jedi Masters and Council members Yoda and Mace Windu. Yoda is a wise and sometimes humorous old Jedi with emerald-green wrinkly skin, has a short, small stature body size that is hunched over with age that causes him to use a wooden walking stick, and has two distinguishingly big, point ears. Jedi Master Mace Windu is far younger than Yoda and is a dark skinned human with a deep voice, cold personality, and tall stature. They are investigating the identity of the Sith who Obi-Wan had defeated.

"There is not doubt. The mysterious warrior is a Sith," states Master Windu in his deep emotionless voice.

"Always two there are…no more…no less," acknowledges Master Yoda, speaking from centuries of experience with the force, "A Master and his Apprentice."

"But which one was destroyed," asks Master Windu thoughtfully, "The Master or the Apprentice?"