Chapter Eight: Master or Apprentice?
The Doctor's call was answered almost immediately by Master Windu. A holographic representation of Mace Windu appeared before the Doctor, the entire figure of the Korun taking on a blue-ish tint. The picture crackled occasionally due to some distant solar radiation interfering with the signal on an almost miniscule scale. The Doctor paid little mind to it and focused on Windu.
"Doctor," said Mace. "I trust the situation has been taken care of?"
"Correctamundo, Macey boy!" exclaimed the Doctor. After reviewing what he had just said, the Doctor added as an afterthought, "Actually, remind me never to say that again, please."
"Duly noted, Doctor," said Mace with a small smile etched on his face.
"Also, before I forget, Master Windu, I need you to assemble the Council right away. Some rather urgent matters have come up and the Council must reach a decision as soon as they are able."
"With all due respect, Doctor," Mace replied to the Doctor's request, "you've been calling the Council together quite frequently under these urgent matters. If you have indeed taken care of the assailant and the Palace has been retrieved, what could possibly be so urgent?"
"The boy," the Doctor simply said.
"I thought we settled that matter," replied Mace.
"So did I," said the Doctor. "Things changed. I'll explain once the Council is in session." The Doctor could very easily tell that Mace wanted to continue questioning about the matter of Anakin and what had caused this change in verdict, but he decided to only comply and ask nothing more.
"Very well, Doctor," Mace said with a nod. "I'll contact you again within the hour."
With that, Mace's hologram faded away into nothing, leaving the Doctor in the empty communications room.
Or, at least, he thought the room was empty. But he could sense a presence within the Force. It was kind and fair, yet young and inexperienced.
Padme Amidala stood in the doorway behind the Doctor, trying to piece together the tail end of the conversation between him and Mace Windu. She approached the Doctor as she spoke.
"The boy you spoke of, Doctor," she asked with a subtle hint of curiosity, "I assume it's Anakin?"
"You have a knack for finding things out, don't you?" asked the Doctor with a grin on his face. Padme smiled in return, but her smile was short lived. It was clear that she was concerned about Anakin, just by overhearing him mentioned in a seemingly urgent conversation.
"Something hasn't happened to him, has it?" Padme asked, her curiosity now evolving into worry.
"No, no, he's fine," said the Doctor. "It's just...Well, you know how he's Force-sensitive. He was brought in for testing, but was denied entry because of his age. Well, recent events might have caused a change in the verdict regarding his future."
"Meaning he still has a chance to become a Jedi," Padme extrapolated. And there it was again. That connection and excitement of Padme's just by the mere mention of Anakin. The Doctor saw it earlier, brushing it off. But now, it was slightly too obvious to ignore.
"Right," said the Doctor. He then turned to Padme, and made just about one of the worst mistakes of his life. In retrospect, it would be a good thing that Padme Amidala had a bit of a rebellious streak.
"Your Majesty, can you promise me something?" he asked.
"What is it, Doctor?" responded Padme.
"If Anakin becomes a Jedi, he must sever all emotional attachments to the outside world. His friends, his mother, even the one he has for you," said the Doctor. "Can you promise me that you'll do the same?" Already an expert in cloaking her innermost thoughts and emotions, Padme's expression did not change at this suggestion. However, her tone was slightly unconvincing as she spoke.
"Emotional attachment?" she rhetorically asked. "I only show concern for him because...I pity him. So far away from his home, amongst strangers, it's a wonder that he hasn't run off in fear by now! I may show concern for him, Doctor, but I would show the same for any of my people, I assure you."
"You do show genuine concern for him," said the Doctor gently, "but your reason for doing so is about as far from platonic as you can get. All I'm asking is if you're willing to let go of that should he become a Jedi."
"Again, there is nothing for me to let go of," Padme pointed out, slightly defiant, but she then grew a bit quieter and admitted, "but if there were something there, yes, I would be willing to let go of that. For the sake of him becoming a Jedi."
"Good," said the Doctor, although he was wary of Padme's true intentions regarding Anakin. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"No. Thank you, Doctor." Padme replied, with a gracious nod. She then turned and left the room, in a bit of a distracted daze. She was clearly preoccupied with what the Doctor had brought up in their discussion. The Doctor could sense it from across the Palace where Padme was no doubt sitting on her throne, thinking about what they had said. He couldn't fully assume that what he was seeing was her affections towards Anakin, but he also couldn't allow either of them to take the risk of emotional attachment. The Doctor knew that risk all too well.
Every Rose has its thorns, he thought ruefully as he remembered a young woman from his youth who was violently taken away from him. He thought of her for only a second, however, having already moved his spirit on. He could only hope that Padme would be able to do the same, if his predictions were, in fact, accurate.
An hour passed until the Doctor received a communication from the Jedi Council. Captain Panaka had checked up on him a few times during that period, but other than that, the Doctor had had little interaction with anyone. He mostly just played a fun little strategy game called "scesh" against himself to pass the time. He pressed the blinking button on the console and there appeared eleven Jedi Masters, ready to hear the news of the Sith.
"Hello, everybody!" exclaimed the Doctor. "So nice to see you all." A chorus of "Hello, Doctor"s resounded from the holographic Council in response.
"I believe you have news for us, Doctor?" asked Ki-Adi-Mundi.
"I do, Master Mundi," said the Doctor, suddenly growing very serious. "About the assailant Qui-Gon encountered on Tatooine...I'm afraid that he was right. The Sith survived through the Seventh Battle of Ruusan and into today. The Sith Lord we encountered was a very powerful Zabrak warrior." At this, Master Koth visibly flinched.
"He probably hailed from Iridonia, although the Nightbrother clans of Dathomir might also have been his place of origin," the Doctor continued. "Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and I engaged the Sith in a duel in the Palace, and Master Qui-Gon unfortunately lost his life." The Doctor paused for a moment, memories bubbling to the surface. Even across the galaxy, he could feel the solemnity that radiated throughout the Council. Plo Koon and Saesee Tiin were especially affected by this news, as they both had friendships with the late Master.
"This brings me to my next bit of news," the Doctor said after a moment longer. "Just before Master Qui-Gon died, he gave a last request. Specifically, it was that Obi-Wan train Anakin Skywalker." The Doctor expected an uproar from the Council, but instead, he received some nodding heads of Council members who didn't vote to pass Anakin the first time.
"Perhaps best, it is," said Yaddle, a tiny Jedi Master known for her compassionate spirit and ability to work out conclusions at the same speed as the Doctor himself, "to grant Master Qui-Gon's request." Several more Council members voiced their approval of the idea as well.
"Granting Master Qui-Gon's request is the least we can do," said Adi Gallia.
"He discovered the Sith, and continued strong in his beliefs, even when we were skeptical," said Even Piell.
"Well, Doctor," Ki-Adi-Mundi said, bringing the rest of the approving opinions to silence for a finalization, "it appears that our previous verdict has been revoked-and for good reason. In Qui-Gon's honor, the boy may be trained. However, I assume you have more to tell us, seeing how Obi-Wan is merely a Padawan, certainly not an appropriate position to teach an impressionable young boy."
"What if I told you that it was Obi-Wan who killed the Sith Lord? It was him," said the Doctor. "I believe that puts him in a position to be Knighted, don't you think?"
"You witnessed the Padawan carrying this out, Doctor?" Yarael Poof asked, once the shocked murmurs of the Council died down.
"I did, Master Poof," said the Doctor.
"So then, it's assumed that you also witnessed him fulfilling the requirements of the other Trials, yes?" Depa Billaba commented as well.
"Oh, yes. Qui-Gon was correct when he said Obi-Wan was ready," confirmed the Doctor. In an unspoken agreement, the Council members exchanged many glances and nods with one another, leading up to Mace Windu finally saying,
"It's decided. Upon your return, Doctor, Obi-Wan will be Knighted and he will immediately take Anakin Skywalker as his own Padawan-provided Obi-Wan has consented, of course."
"I believe he is willing to carry out his late Master's final wish," said the Doctor. He meant it, too. Even appearing to them as a holograph, the Council could sense the sincerity in the Doctor's words.
"Very well," said Mace. "Express the Council's condolences to Obi-Wan for the loss of his Master. We will join you for Master Qui-Gon's funeral in a few days along with the newly-elected Chancellor Palpatine." The Doctor nodded his head, unsurprised at this turnout on the part of Palpatine. Palpatine seemed almost destined to win that election, given the invasion of his respective planet.
"Thank you, Masters," said the Doctor solemnly as he cut the link between himself and the Council. He sat on the floor and sighed, exhausted both physically and mentally. He decided to simply meditate for the rest of the day and try to find some peace among this tragic development.
A few days passed from when the Doctor spoke to the Council and when they actually arrived on Naboo for Qui-Gon's funeral. In that time, the Doctor learned that not only had Palpatine won the bid for Chancellor, but he won in a landslide election. It wasn't even a contest.
Nute Gunray and Rune Haako, leading members of the Trade Federation, had been apprehended during the battle. Most of the Naboo Royal Guards walked past their cell and simply smirked at the Neimoidians. The Doctor looked on them with pity. They looked quite miserable, but they had just tried to invade a planet, and that alone was enough to put them behind a ray-shielded cell on Coruscant for a very long time.
The Doctor had decided during his meditation that he wouldn't tell Obi-Wan about his Knighting until after the Council arrived. He was still wary of young Kenobi. Obi-Wan was still fresh from Qui-Gon's death, and the Doctor didn't want to upset him by reminding him of that fact too early. A few days would probably have given him enough time to recover.
Around noontime, the Doctor heard the engines of a star cruiser entering the courtyard outside the castle. The Doctor broke from his conversation with one of the guards to see what was going on. A ship had indeed landed in the middle of the Courtyard, and it bore both Chancellor Palpatine and the Jedi High Council. The Doctor met Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Queen Amidala, and the four of them bowed respectfully to the new Supreme Chancellor of the Republic.
"Congratulations on your election, Chancellor," said the Queen after they had risen. "It truly is a magnificent achievement for you and our people."
"No, no, Your Majesty," said Palpatine graciously. "It is you who should be congratulated. Thanks to you and our brave Jedi Knights, our people are safe once again. And together, we shall bring peace to the Republic."
Both Obi-Wan and the Doctor bowed once more as Palpatine turned to Anakin and said something that should have been simply courteous and kind, but it came off as suspicious.
"And you, young Skywalker," he said. "We will watch your career with great interest." For some reason, this rubbed the Doctor the wrong way, and he felt that Plo Koon and Ki-Adi-Mundi could sense it as well.
That was...odd, the Doctor thought to his fellow Councilmen.
I agree, thought Plo. Perhaps we should keep an eye on him.
At least for the time being, thought Ki-Adi-Mundi.
The Doctor then broke away from his mental communication with Plo and Ki-Adi-Mundi to tap Obi-Wan on the shoulder.
"Obi-Wan, may I speak with you in private?" asked the Doctor.
"Of course, Doctor," said Obi-Wan. "Lead the way."
So the Doctor led Obi-Wan to a room with a magnificent view of the waterfalls overlooked by the Palace. It was one of those sights that holographics just couldn't capture. The Doctor stood and looked out that window for some time before Obi-Wan stepped up to join him.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" asked the Doctor.
"I agree, Doctor," said Obi-Wan.
"I haven't seen a sight like this since I was last on Gallifrey," said the Doctor.
"Your home planet, Doctor?" Obi-Wan asked, only having heard stories of the Doctor's origins.
"Yup," said the Doctor, popping the "p." "It was beautiful. Orange skies blazing forth as the twin suns rose high above our heads. Purple meteor showers as the black night sky shrouded Gallifrey in a blanket of warmth and safety." Realizing he wasn't addressing the point, the Doctor found it again and continued. "Do you know why I brought you here, Obi-Wan?"
"I assume you wish to address my Master's last wish for me to train the Skywalker boy. And I also assume you don't agree," Obi-Wan inferred.
"Sort of," said the Doctor. "I spoke with the Council after our duel with the Sith Lord. They agreed that your actions were beyond heroic, and have promoted you to the level of Jedi Knight. They were a bit skeptical about you training Anakin, though." Obi-Wan turned away from the window and walked a few steps away, speaking to the Doctor, and also to himself as he proclaimed,
"I am honored by this promotion, Doctor. But, I gave Qui-Gon my word. With all due respect to the Council, I will train Anakin. Whether they are skeptical or not. And I will train him without the Council's approval, if I must."
"You've got a bit of Qui-Gon's defiance in you; I can sense it clear as day," said the Doctor, turning to face Obi-Wan. "That might actually be good for them. Anyway, in the end, I was able to convince them to let you train him. But only on the grounds that it was Qui-Gon's last wish. Anakin Skywalker will be your apprentice." Obi-Wan silently bowed his head in gratitude to the Doctor, who simply turned back to face out the window, once again in thought. He could only hope that the Council's skepticism was a mere overanalyzation, and nothing substantial.
That night, the funeral for Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn was held. In accordance with Jedi tradition, his body was burned in order to fully release his soul to the Force. The fire blazed around his body as the Doctor, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Queen Amidala, Palpatine, the entire High Council, and even the Gungans and R2-D2 watched in solemn silence. The Doctor himself stood with Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and Saesee Tiin, and they, like every Jedi in attendance, had their hoods up as a sign of respect. The Doctor watched as Obi-Wan quietly broke the news to Anakin that he would be his Padawan. The Doctor smiled a little, for he knew that Qui-Gon would have been proud of both of them.
"There's no doubt that the mysterious warrior was a Sith Lord," said Mace Windu. The Doctor nodded, and then a small thought prodded at his mind that he had previously overlooked.
"Yes, but there are always two Sith Lords at a time, like Master Koth suggested," responded the Doctor. "No more. No less. A Master and an apprentice." And as the Doctor made this point, both Mace and Plo nodded and dropped the conversation to remain silent for the funeral ceremony. But-if it was any quieter, the Doctor would've missed it-the Doctor heard a quiet but intense thought shot in his general direction,
So who was destroyed; the Master or the apprentice?
The Doctor slightly turned his head. And to his surprise, the voice belonged to his fellow Iktotchi colleague, Master Tiin.
You have a voice now, huh? the Doctor thought. Master Tiin nodded just slightly as they continued to watch the funeral in silence. Despite the upcoming training of the Skywalker boy and the impending threat of another Sith Lord, the Doctor couldn't and wouldn't focus on these things of the future. He knew the time would come for that. This time, however, was to say a last goodbye to his comrade, fellow Jedi, and friend.
Qui-Gon Jinn would be remembered for his actions and his faith in the will of the Force.
Always.
Well, there you have it. The eighth chapter of Star Wars (Starring the Doctor) Episode I. I would be saying my thank-yous and such, but there's an epilogue that needs posting. By the time you've read this author's note, I will probably have already posted the epilogue, so you'll be getting two emails from me today. You lucky ducks, you! Anyway, that's it for this author's note. I'll be doing my thank-yous in the epilogue, so go check that out. Until the epilogue, my friends!
