Chapter 6

Disclaimer: All credit goes to George Lucas the creator of Star Wars

Anakin had no idea how he was going to explain this to the Jedi council. But there was something that truly stunned him and that was the fact that his headmaster had lied to the Jedi council about how Anakin came to be here. Ludforber had told Master Windu and Master Plo that Anakin had been kidnapped, escaped, found his way here, cared for by Rick, and enrolled at their school in case no one came to find him. Anakin had no idea how the Jedi could not sense the lie, but he still loved it all the same. Even if it had only been for a day or two, the idea of living with this new community of force users on Thython was Anakin's idea of heaven. He wouldnt have any bans on emotions, which meant that in the holidays he could visit Padme for weeks on end before going again. He could practise flying, which he loved, learn how to become more powerful and everything else that they had offered him. But if the Jedi made him leave to help with the war effort it would crush him, completely. In fact, Anakin silently vowed, if they did try to get him to leave, Anakin would leave the order just so he could stay. This place was worth that much to him. Imperus was becoming like a second home, except with homework. No doubt, the Jedi would be more interested in a community of force users living in secret on Thython than the fact of how Anakin came to be there. Well, most of them would be. Obi-Wan would definetly be checking up on Anakin quite frequently, should he be allowed to stay, and asking questions as to how he ended up there. Anakin just had to stick to what the headmaster had said and it would all be fine. He hoped.

It was unnerving enough when Master Windu and Master Plo had caught him screaming that he was the chosen one at someone who wouldn't leave him along before he admitted it, that was what he really needed an explanation for. He had, in a way, told them the truth. That the girl was bothering him so much that Anakin had only said it to get rid of her, that had earned him a lecture on controlling his temper. Obi-Wan had contacted him shortly afterwards to make sure that he was alright and ask why he had not contacted the Jedi for help. Anakin had lied, again, and told him that his communicator had been broken by his kidnappers, who, for the purposes of future conversations, where presumed dead. Obi-Wan had then told Anakin that he would be speaking with the council to give them the details on how he escaped and came across the force using community, which they wanted to know absolutley everything about. Then they would decide whether or not Anakin could stay, Obi-Wan had said that the chances of him being allowed were slim as there was a war going on. Anakin held the promise of leaving the order in his mind and when the time came for the council meeting he had told them everything they wanted to know and awaited their descision. Unfortunatley for him, Master Yoda had sensed that he was contemplating leaving the Jedi to stay with the force users. Anakin would not lie again and confirmed this, making the entire council ask what reasons he had for loving the force users so much. Anakin had explained their life styles, how they were educated, and how they had everything that appealed to him. Of how he had made friends who he loved like brothers, in the same way that he loved Obi-Wan, and of how he had made a promise to help someone who was different from everyone else feel better. The Jedi, Anakin knew, would never risk losing him if they believed him to be the chosen one. But even when they begged Anakin to reconsider, he refused and stated that this life away from the war was just perfect. Anakin had been told by no less than three Jedi masters that the war would find itself to Thython before long and Anakin gave another reason for staying. So he could help protect them. After an hour of debating ways around Anakin staying without leaving the Jedi order, they gave up. Anakin handed Master Windu his lightsaber and said goodbye to Obi-Wan before leaving to find Callum and tell him how he was staying. As he neared the door way he was called back by Master Plo and the council, who assured Anakin that if he ever wished to return that he would always be welcome to come back. Anakin thanked them for the offer but assured them that he would be perfectly happy here. They told him to bear the suggestion in mind and Anakin bowed before he left the room, wishing beyond hope that he would run into someone he knew, fast. His wish was granted, by someone who, after his out burst, he had not wished to talk to.

"Hey! Chosen boy!" The girl called as Anakin approached. Anakin sighed and resigned himself to this gruelling conversation that seemed inevitable.

"Hello, whats-your-name?" Anakin asked.

"I'm Leah. Leah Gale." Leah replied in a nicer way than she had greeted him.

"Nice to meet you, Leah. For the second time, at least. My name is Anakin Skywalker, not the 'chosen boy'." Anakin informed her.

"Sorry, Ani."

"What did you just say?" Anakin asked in awe.

"I read up on you, your mother's name for you was Ani and thats what your friends call you."

"I, thats- wait, you can read up on me?"

"Do you think I wouldnt be able to read up on the chosen one?"

"Well-"

"Never mind. I heard your conversation with the Jedi, you left them so you could stay here."

"You really are nosy arent you?"

"Only when I'm not friends with someone."

"Do- do you have any friends?"

"Well, no not yet. But I hope to, soon at least."

"I'm your friend, Leah."

"You'd be friends with a smart-ass like me?"

"Yeah, why not. It's nice to have someone to do your homework for you." Anakin said with a smile.

"I'll help you with it but there is no way I'm doing it all for you."

"Well, you might have to help Callum do it then."

"Callum? That friend of your?"

"Yeah, you'll love him I'm sure. But I don't really know where he is at the moment."

"Well, your meeting with the Jedi took hours. It's past lunch and dinner, I've finished lessons. Where do you think he's most likely to be?"

"Oh right! The dormitory, but girls cant come in, can they?"

"You could always petition for the dormitorys housing both girls and boys of our side to be joined together?"

"Joined together? I dont think I want a girl to see me getting changed, thanks."

"No, no. I mean, theres a room between our two dormitorys right? Well I'm sure if you asked the headmaster, he would open it up and attach two doors to it so that we could all meet in there and spend our free time there. I'm sure the headmaster would listen to you, you are the..."

"No, no, lets not go there." Anakin butted in. "I'll speak with the headmaster, but dont get your hopes up. Where is he anyway?" Anakin asked as they walked around a corner.

"Did somebody ask for me?" A voice from behind them asked. Anakin and Leah whirled around to see Head Ludforber standing there with an unsually happy smile on his face.

"Uh, headmaster I was going to ask you if we could..."

"It's quite alright, Ani. After the act of courage you showed today, I will gladly allow your side to be in a conjoined dormitory."

"A-act of courage, sir?"

"You left the Jedi order just so you could stay here and protect your friends from the war. Now that is a courage that no Jedi will ever know, too many rules dont you think?"

"Too many obligations more like."

"Well said, Ani. I'm sure Callum and all of your friends would like to know about your little meeting with the Jedi, today. They really believed that you were not coming back, a few of them even came to me and begged me to make you stay."

"Well, I'd do the same for them. Good night headmaster. Good night Leah."

"Good night Ani."

"Sweet dreams, Ani."

Anakin left them and practically ran for his dormitory, when he reached the doors he sensed despair and loss from inside. Ludforber had been right, they really wanted him to stay. Anakin opened the doors slowly and saw them all on the couch and floor whispering to one another, Orion lay asleep beside the fire place. How had he gotten there? But before Anakin could think of another thing they screamed at him.

"Anakin!" After several bear hugs and a bundle, Anakin sat down with them on the couch so that he could tell them everything that had happened to him and what was planned to happen to the dormitory.

"Really? You left the Jedi order?" Dylan asked in disbelief.

"And we're going to have a conjoined dormitory so we can see the girls at all hours of the day and night? You little..."

"Hey! That was not what I was thinking about when I agreed to ask the headmaster to do it, alright? Anyways, Callum, we still have that homework to do and I found someone who can help us." Anakin interrupted. Callum looked at him in wonder.

"You did! Your just as lazy as I am, or as stupid as I am. Either way. Who is it?" Callum asked.

"Leah Gale. She's a girl on our side, the one who kept on bugging me whilst we were walking along. Remember?"

"Oh yeah, she seems like a right..."

"No judging until you meet her! Promise me."

"Alright, alright, I promise. Geez, you've left the Jedi but you still act like one."

"No, I act like a humanoid, keep up."

"Hey! I'm a humanoid!"

"Really? We'd never of guessed!" Austin rolled his eyes.

"Oh shut up all of you. Your going to wake Orion." Arthur advised. Anakin glanced towards where Orion was sleeping and saw him stirring slightly, even though he was still barely older than a newborn, he looked as though he was not an animal to be messed with. Anakin sighed and heard a beeping noise from his pocket, a data pad that had been given to him by Master Windu at the request of Obi-Wan so they would be able to keep in touch. Anakin pulled out the data pad and saw that Obi-Wan had sent him a message.

Anakin,

I still cannot believe that you were stubborn enough to leave the Jedi order just so you could stay, in a school! No less. Some of the Jedi want to know why you, who has loved every moment of being a Jedi, would give it all up just so you could stay on Tython with the force users. The council are worried that people will follow in your footsteps and leave the order so they can join the community as well. If you have any ideas on how to stop this from happening message me ASAP.

Obi-Wan.

"Wow, for a way to keep in touch, your old master sure sounds like he takes everything seriously." Carlos commented.

"Yeah, yeah. Well, any suggestions?" Anakin questioned.

"Why dont you just get him to tell them that your only here to prevent the war from coming to Thython and left the order because you didnt agree with their rule about not falling in love?" Brayden suggested.

"That might work."

"Well, go on then! Type." Callum encouraged. Anakin shot him a look and began typing up his own message, with his own humourus greeting.

Obi-Wan,

I'm fine by the way, thanks for asking. I have an idea on what you could tell the other Jedi, tell them that I am only here to prevent the war from damaging their life style. If they ask why I left the order, tell them that it was because I didnt agree with the Jedi code on never knowing love, which I have, from my mother. You know its true so it wont sound like a total lie, as long as you keep a bit of truth in it they wont suspect a thing. Oh, and don't go in my room without a gas mask and fire extinguisher. It's for you own safety.

Anakin.

"What do you mean for him not to go into your old room without a gas mask and a fire extinguisher?" Aiden asked.

"I did a lot of experiments with droids while I was a Jedi. I didnt want him to get hurt or embarrased when I'm not there to see it so I thought I'd better tell him." Anakin shrugged. There was another beep from the data pad and this time Anakin was anxious to see what it was about. It was from Ashoka.

Anakin,

Obi-Wan wanted me to tell you that if you ever come back to the temple he's going to force you to clean every inch of it with a toothbrush. He also told me to advise you against setting your room on Thython on fire. I have to say though, his reaction was worth more than anything the Jedi can ever give me. He made me clean all the ships because I refused to stop laughing when his foot was on fire, I miss you Anakin. Not only were you the best master a padawan could wish for, but you certainly have a destinctive sense of humour.

Ashoka.

They all burst out laughing after this message, Anakin had to type through tears because he was laughing so much.

Snips,

Thanks for the update. I've never laughed so much in my life, well apart from the time Obi-Wan was vomitted on by a Rancor. I dont plan on coming back to the temple any time soon given that threat. I miss you too snips, I'm sorry that I left the order without saying goodbye. Good luck snips.

P.S. Tell Obi-Wan that I'll be using his toothbrush.

Anakin.

"Hey! Dylan! What was that P.S?" Anakin asked as he snatched the data pad from Dylan's hands.

"Nothing important." Dylan smirked. Anakin rolled his eyes and walked over to his bed. Placing the data pad gently under his pillow, he went back over to Orion and gently picked him up. After setting his pet down at the end of the bed, Anakin sat down on his bed.

"Something wrong Ani?" Callum asked in concern.

"I just...I never actually dreamed I would leave the Jedi order, I thought about it many times, but I never thought that I even could do it." Anakin's voice almost cracked.

"Dont worry, you'll be fine. You didnt even spend all of your time as a Jedi, did you? You were a general who disobeyed the rules and bended the Jedi code so you could do what you wanted." Brayden comforted.

"I suppose your right, I just need some time to get used to this. I'm going to sleep now-"

"Me too, we have elemental control tommorow and I do not want to embarrased whilst I'm half asleep." Callum interjected.

"I dont want to be half asleep when I watch you be embarrased." Anakin smirked. "Oh, and when we wake up, if theres an extra door or the door has been moved, do not worry. It's just the door we go through to the conjoined part of the dormitory I was telling you about."

They all nodded and Anakin and Callum got changed into their pyjamas. Well, sleeping trousers for Anakin. Orion yawned in his sleep at the end of Anakin's bed and Anakin couldnt help but smile at the thought of his pet being taught how to walk by the girls, or even better, himself. These were the thoughts going through Anakin's mind when he slipped into unconciousness and began dreaming of his new life.