Chapter 7: Ascension
A/N: Hello there! A quick thank you to my lovely reviewers: ILDV, skywalker05, & Wawoot! Also, I just had a look at my stats for this story... wow. 20 reviews! That is waay more than I ever dreamed I'd get. Let alone 929 hits. So.. a big thanks to all those who have been reading this story! I really appreciate it. :-)
The world seemed clear and bright-it was as if someone had cast off the gray raiment in front of her eyes and allowed the true light to seep through. She could see shining presences-people, possibly? Each blob seemed connected to each other, as if they were all joined by.. something. Curse her horrid memory right now! She couldn't remember a thing.. but felt that she should.
Then she heard gentle laughing, just before someone told her:
"Right you are, Padme. Give me a second, alright? Then all will be explained."
Suddenly, she found herself in a white room, one that seemed to be completely limitless. Before her, a man dressed in silver and black, wearing a black robe and a.. gleaming beak-like mask over his face.
Reaching up, he slowly pulled the hood back from his face and unclasped the mask, revealing a man with onyx hair and shining black eyes, reflecting lightning within them. His aura.. scared her. Suddenly, his eyes flashed blue and he smiled gently at her, not a trace of the Dark left.
It was none other than Revan.
"Revan?! What.. ? No.. Did I die again?"
If he was Darth Revan for a moment..
"Ha.. Nice to see you have your memory back! But, no Padme-you are not dead. Far from it, really. Do you have any idea how completely astonishing what you did earlier today was?"
"What I did? I killed some crazed Sith assassin who claimed I was Force-Sensitive.. who was truthful. I believe you and the Council have some explaining to do. Why did nobody ever tell me? Or even suspect?"'
"So you truly have no clue who you killed? Wow.. you remember that I fought during the Mandalorian Wars, correct?"
"Yes. He said his name was Darth Malak-he fought beside you and betrayed you. You ended up killing him about a thousand years ago."
"Padme, Darth Malak was one of the most powerful Force Sensitives of my day. I nearly was defeated by him. And you simply killed him-again. Trust me, that is far from taking out an ordinary Sith assassin.. You also ask why nobody, least of all you, knew you were that strong in the Force? We knew that as soon as you came here-only a very powerful Jedi or Sith could achieve that. Retaining one's consciousness in the Force is not an easy thing to do."
"Why didn't you tell me then?!"
"Patience.. we didn't inform you because the potential you wield.. you could easily take out most of the Jedi and Sith on both Councils and would probably give both Adas and myself quite a strain. We all felt that if you knew, the Sith could sense it and would try to kill you even more than they have been. It seems though, that they found out anyway and sent Malak after you, hoping to kill or turn you. I felt what nearly happened, Padme.
You nearly turned Dark, didn't you?"
"Yes, I nearly did..."
Cutting her off, he replied:
"But, the important thing is that you renounced it in the end. That was the other reason most of the Council didn't want to tell you-if you knew, we feared you would become arrogant about your abilities and turn. But, you proved us all wrong-and without any training. And for that, we have decided that it is now imperative that you have training to learn how to control your new-found abilities. With the Force newly awakened within you, we will help you in every way that we can. The Force is also on your side-you may have already felt the Light helping you. I think that is what was guiding you in your battle with Malak, especially with your lightsaber combat skills. So, Padme Amidala-do you wish to join the Jedi Order, become one of us? Train under the Council, learn from the Order? You may stay for all eternity, if you so wish. But, if you do not, you can still stay as a guest-we will welcome you here, no matter your choice."
"Master Revan.. are you serious? I can.. become a Jedi? Isn't that against the rules?"
"Ha.. Padme, in the Netherworld, age is of no consequence. We have found that out. Everyone has all of eternity to reside here-training, learning the ways of the Force, guiding the Living."
"Then.. I agree. I would like to know more of the Force, and seeing as I have quite a bit of time on my hands to do it, I would very much enjoy being a Jedi. I have been a Senator for so long, though.. it feels rather wield, to feel the Force flowing through my veins. Who will guide me?"
"The entire order-though you may choose a Master to specifically train under, for a time. The knowledge of all the Jedi lies at your feet, you must simply choose a path. Now-I am afraid we both must leave this dream world for a bit-the Council should be gathered by now and they wish to speak with you. Talk with them and think for a bit over which path you want to take. You have all the time in the Netherworld to journey through them all, but everyone must have a starting place. You'll be waking up in a minute."
And with that, Revan abruptly disappeared, leaving her alone in this.. empty world. Seconds later, she awoke to find Revan standing beside her.
"I am sure you have many questions, Padme, but I believe the ones I did not answer must wait for a little bit. Can you get up?"
"Certainly, why wouldn't I.."
As Padme rose from her bed in the Healer's Ward, she nearly tripped because of the exhaustion.
"Ahem.. may I be of any help?"
Smiling triumphantly, she stood, now completely balanced and replied:
"Thanks, Revan, but I believe I can make it on my own. Now, if you could show me where the Council Chambers are again.."
Leading her toward the chamber, she could only feel that her life could get even more interesting from this point onward.
In the Council Chambers…
"Padme Amidala, do you know why you have been summoned before the Council?"
"Yes, Master Qui Gon. I was told to come because I have a special ability within the Force. One that I was unaware of until Darth Malak confronted me last night, hoping to either kill or turn me."
"Master Revan talked with you, did he not?"
"He told me that if I wished, I could join the Jedi Order. Learn more about the Force. Have a safe haven against the Sith."
"And what is it that you wish to do?"
"Masters, I would love to become a Jedi. It would be an honor."
"And why would you wish to do this? You don't have to-many others have ignored that path." Master Luminara Unduli asked.
"Because, Master Unduli, I feel it is right within my bones. The Force has awakened in me for a reason and I feel that it is my duty to use the powers given to me for good. I was the one who allowed Palpatine's rise to Supreme Chancellor-I could have prevented it by not calling for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum that day. It is only right that I try to atone for that by fighting him and all the other Sith."
"Would you be prepared to spend your entire afterlife fighting the Sith? We all would understand if you didn't." Master Secura questioned.
"Yes. They took my Anakin away and converted him to Darth Vader. They killed me and separated me from my children forever. For them and the future we three could have had, I would spend an eternity of eternities fighting them. I can think of no better way to spend my afterlife, given the situation."
"So, it seems you are ready to swear your life to the Jedi." Master Siri Tachi observed.
As they all took Padme's words into consideration, each slowly nodding, as if in agreement, while silently using the Force to debate amongst themselves. Suddenly, they all snapped their gazes immediately upon her.
"Senator Amidala, to a conclusion, it seems that we have come. Accepted into the Order of Jedi, you are."
"Thank you, Master Vandar. I am grateful for your acceptance-all of you. I am willing to learn more of the Force. What am I to do next?"
"Well, Padme-you first must have a teacher assigned to guide you..." Revan stated.
Suddenly, Bastila interrupted:
"Revan-If I may, I would like to teach her. I sense she could have great potential with Battle Meditation, among many things."
"Hm... Battle Meditation, say you, young Bastila? Agree, I do. What say you, young Padme?"
"I would be honored, Master. When would you like to start training?"
"How would tomorrow sound?"
"Perfectly fine with me."
"I do believe that this Council meeting is finished. Padme, I strongly suggest you go to your new apartments and relax-Bastila will show you the way. Welcome to the Jedi Order." Revan stated.
"Thank you, Masters."
And with that, they all dispersed from the domed room, each following their own path, except for the Master and the new Padawan. They left after the rest, excitedly talking about the specifics of Battle Meditation.
Somehow, Padme felt that she had found her true path-the one she would walk for the rest of eternity. Smiling to herself, she thought:
"Thank you, Force. Though you took Anakin and the children away, you have given me a new purpose in life. Thank you."
With that, she and her new Master walked off into the now noontime sun, headed for the Archives.
End of Part One!
A/N: I rather hope you enjoyed this! On Revan, he.. well, it was what his mind is used to him appearing as-Darth, not Master Revan. Thus.. when mentally projecting himself into someone's dreams, it may take a second to regain control over his appearance.
Whew, 9 pages on Word.. Yes, this is only Part One, readers. I'm going to try and continue with Part Two quite soon. It will be on this story page-no sequels for each part. As to how many parts this story will have.. well, you'll just have to find out, won't you? It'll be a long story though, that much I can tell. And, there will not be seven chapters each. They'll vary, even more so in the next part.
So.. here's a quick teaser of what to expect:
"Welcome, Knight Naberrie. Know how long it has been since become a Jedi, you have?"
"Yes, Master Vandar-twenty years."
"What say you of them?"
"They were some of the best in my life. I have learned more from the Order than in all of my Senatorial career or my reign as Queen of Naboo."
"And what if you were to be able to regain part of that past?" Revan suddenly added.