CHAPTER FOUR

When they got back to Coruscant, the council was upset they had not completed the mission they had set out on. Even when Qui-Gon told them he had found the Chosen One they were skeptical. He explained the whole story to them and they agreed to listen and give Anakin Skywalker audience. He felt nervous when he first stepped before them and they could sense this.

"Too much fear this boy has." Yoda spoke.

"This is his first time away from home. He is wondering what you think of him. I know this, but I can also sense this. Why can you not?" Qui-Gon asked them.

"It's not only that, Master Jinn." Mace Windu addressed him. "This boy has much fear permeating from his very being, the kind of fear that could lead to the dark side."

Yoda nodded in agreement. "Fear, and anger. If channel his anger correctly he cannot, disaster will result."

Anakin stood silently, but was getting angrier and more offended by the moment as they all said the same things. Qui-Gon hand motioned him to calm down inside, but he was still in turmoil. He wanted to lash out at them but knew it was the worst thing for him. He and Qui-Gon exchanged glances, and he smiled at the council.

"Too old he is." Yoda pronounced. "No patience, no self control has he. Be trained he cannot."

"I second the motion that he not be trained. He's too dangerous."Windu agreed.

Anakin did not look happy. "Whatever, then. I don't want to be a Jedi anyway. No girlfriends, no stuff, no fun. I'm out of here!"

Obi-Wan, who had stood patiently and silently in the background, went after him. Qui-Gon tried one last time to convince the council. "You may be right about what you sense in him, and what he did only reinforces that opinion in you all, I know. But because he is this way, he is more dangerous not being trained! Would you want that kind of anger and power to fall into the hands of the Sith?"

Windu put his hand to his chin. "Good point. We don't even know who this Sidious is who was behind Maul and who is now behind Dooku. We can't afford to have an angry and powerful young man like that using the force in the wrong ways."

"Mmmm, right you are." Yoda said. "Trained he will be, Master Jinn, YOUR responsibility he is, yours and Kenobi. Together you must work."

"Wait" spoke Mundi. "We cannot lose them both to one padawan. They are too valuable, among our best and most experienced Jedi."

"Neither of them currently have padawans anyway." Fisto pointed out.

"That is because their missions have been too dangerous." Windu explained. "Now, they will take time to train this boy, and others will be transferred to their missions."

"As you see fit." Mundi said. "I am not in agreement. I say leave the boy here at the temple until his force power is evaluated."

At that time, a healer walked in with the test results and handed them to Yoda. Yoda's eyes bulged and he almost dropped the paper. "So high a midichlorian count has never been seen. The Chosen One of the force born he must be. With the Jedi he must remain. Important this is."

All of the others on the council nodded to the oldest master. Qui-Gon was given approval, and he thanked them all and went out to look for Anakin and Obi-Wan. He found them far down the street, where Anakin had run in his anger and was caught up to by Obi-Wan.

"Good news. The council has agreed you must be trained."

"What? How..."

"Do not question the force, this is the first lesson to learn. Come back with us to the temple, Padawan Anakin Skywalker."

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan smiled at him and patted him across the back. Anakin seemed pleased he had been accepted, but not at all sure he wanted this commitment. "What if I don't like being a Jedi? I don't know if I can live by all those rules you have."

"It's not bad, it's a good life. You will do just fine. Now let's go." Qui-Gon assured him. Having no real choice alone and lost in a very strange and overwhelming city, the farm boy from Tatooine followed them back to the temple that would now be his only home.

Anakin stood in front of the small mirror, covering his face with his hands. He didn't like what he saw. All of his golden curls were gone, and his cropped hair made his ears, lips and nose look so much bigger. One piece of hair had been saved to become his padawan braid. It hung down to his shoulder, though he was told it must grow longer. A strange stumpy ponytail stuck out on the back of his head. He wanted to cry, and he knew if his mother could see him, she would- and Owen would laugh. What a ridiculous style this was, he thought.

Looking down at his clothing, he was no more pleased. He found the oversized sleeves awkward, who could fight like this? The long cloak which covered his entire body seemed even more cumbersome, and he couldn't get used to having to walk around with it on. He wanted his hair, and his lightweight, thin, better fitting desert clothes back. Then he looked at his utility belt. This was where he would carry all that he would ever call his own, and it wasn't much. There was a slot for his lightsaber, which he would have to build himself. He bowed his head and tried to keep from sobbing.

He glanced around the room and saw only a plain bed with a dull brown blanket. There was nothing else but a cushion on which to meditate. They told him he was supposed to think beyond worldly goods, to the greater reaches of the force. This was going to be a hard sell for Anakin. At least at home, he had things he could call his own. He had only one possession left, and he pulled it out to look at it. It was his picture of Queen Amidala he treasured so much. He knew he could never let anyone at the temple see it, or they would take it from him and lecture about how bad attachments were. He couldn't agree with that, but he knew better than to fight them over it. He must be humble, at least for now. Hearing a knock at the door, he quickly put it away down a pocket inside his pants. "Come in." He said when it was safe. It was Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. They looked at him and smiled.
"Well, congratulations, you're an official Jedi padawan now."

"Is that supposed to be a good thing?"

"Don't you think so?"

Anakin shook his head. "I hate this stupid haircut! I didn't know they were going to do this to me! Why? You guys both got long hair, and beards too!"

Qui-Gon explained. "I wasn't any happier about it when I was young, either. Once you are a Jedi Knight, the braid will be cut off, and you will be permitted to grow your hair or have it in any style you choose."

"How long is that going to take?"

"That is up to you, young one. The harder and better you train, the sooner it can happen."

"But I'm starting so late, and they don't even like me."

"Then we shall show them." Qui-Gon winked, and Obi-Wan smiled.

Anakin flopped his arms around like a bird. "What's with these sleeves? They are not aerodynamic for fighting, how can you handle a lightsaber with them? And doesn't that cloak slow you down, or trip you? I am sorry but I think your Jedi styling stinks."

They both laughed.

"Do they by any chance come in other colors?"

They both shook their head at him. He sighed.

"The first thing you need to do is stop thinking about yourself, because the Jedi are selfless." Obi-Wan told him. Anakin's eyes looked perplexed.

"I'm not supposed to care about myself, what I like, what I want? I can't.."

"Don't say can't, there is no can't." Qui-Gon tried to reach him. "Look young Anakin, I am not completely satisfied with the rules of the order either, and I am called a rebel. But I manage to work within the system to help, and so can you. Give it a try?"

Anakin was glad to hear this. At least he had these two friends on his side. "Okay." He managed a smile. His companions were relieved at this, but not at all convinced he would always be so positive. They knew they had their work cut out for them, with Anakin, and the council. It would be a long hard road for all of them, but one that must be traveled. The Chosen One must not fall into the hands of the Sith!