The story thus far (through chapter 9):
Luke was raised on Tatooine by his Uncle Sidious, who was incapacitated after dueling with Anakin on Mustafar. On his deathbed, Sidious revealed that Luke's father, Darth Vader, had been betrayed and murdered by Anakin Skywalker, and convinced Luke that he should avenge his father's death. Luke traveled to Coruscant to kill Skywalker, also hoping that the Jedi might train him in the Force. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan learned that the Sith apprentice was on Coruscant and began to track him, intent on destroying this threat to the Jedi Order.
Luke was confronted by Obi-Wan, but upon learning that Luke was the offspring of Vader, Obi-Wan could not kill him. He knew that Luke was the son of Anakin and Padme. Before he could reveal the truth to the youth, a mysterious force pushed Luke and forced his lightsaber into Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan's death was felt by the Jedi, and Anakin vowed to track and kill the Sith who had murdered his mentor.
Obi-Wan's funeral cortege was viewed by Luke, who then did a bit of exploring in a small park where Anakin found him. Luke had no idea that this Jedi was the one he had vowed to kill and, though Anakin knew this was the Sith who had killed Obi-Wan, he did not know that Luke was his son. But something about the youth melted Anakin's resolve to kill him immediately, and he took Luke to the Jedi Temple. On the way, they talked and each noticed something familiar about the other. Luke felt safe and protected when Anakin touched him.
Luke faced the Jedi Council. Anakin pressed the Jedi to accept Luke, but the others were not happy when Yoda decided the youth could stay at the Jedi Temple, though not as a padawan. He made Anakin responsible for Luke, and Luke was horrified to learn that his captor, the man who defended him in the Council chambers, was none other than the murderer of his father and the object of his revenge!
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Crossing Twilight - Chapter 10
He had never taken a padawan, and Yoda had never pressed him, sensing, perhaps, his feelings on the matter. Guiding a young student would have been too painful, too much like raising the child he had lost, though he was certain that Yoda was not aware of his reason. But now, for whatever motive, Yoda had pressed this youth on him, a boy from Tatooine who reminded him of everyone who had been torn from his life. His mother, Obi-Wan... Padme.
Maybe it was the Yoda's way of eradicating the last of his regrets and teaching him how to be close to someone without attachment.
Anakin was not sure he could accomplish either goal.
"You can't stay in the padawan dormitory." He stalked down the long corridor, Lars trotting to keep up.
"Why not?"
"You would contaminate them." He had to keep the child at a distance with whatever emotional weaponry he possessed, even curtness or unkindness. Anakin grimaced, appreciating the irony of using emotions to cultivate detachment. "You've been trained by a Sith."
"Right. We wouldn't want to ruin their Jedi brainwashing."
He ignored the small defiance. "You will have quarters near mine, where the masters can monitor you."
Luke was silent until they began descending a wide staircase. "When I was outside, somebody told me that you're from Tatooine, too."
He didn't answer, hoping silence would forestall any further conversation.
"And that you were chosen for something. For what? To be a Jedi?"
Why was it difficult to ignore this young one? "An ancient Jedi prophecy said that the Chosen One would bring balance to the Force."
"And that's you?"
"Apparently," he replied, his word clipped, his tone harsh.
At the bottom of the stairs, Luke darted in front so he had to stop. "So what did you do? How did you balance it?"
A question he had asked himself many times. "Perhaps by halting the takeover of the Galactic government by the Sith. Or perhaps I haven't done it yet."
"Huh." Luke turned and they walked for a few paces, the boy's brow furrowing as he thought. "Well... eliminating Sith and having only Jedi doesn't seem very balanced."
Out of the mouths of babes, as Mace would say. Since he couldn't disagree, Anakin ignored the comment. "Less talk and more walk," he ordered.
"What's the rush? You're just going to lock me in a room. I have a lot of questions. You could explain why-- "
"This is why I never wanted a padawan!" Immediately he regretted his loss of control, but it was too late to take back the outburst. "I don't have time for your questions."
The boy was silent for a moment before he said, very gently: "It's okay that you don't have all the answers. I don't mind. No one knows everything."
He wasn't sure what irritated him more, the boy's reasonableness or his perception. "This wing houses the masters and their attendants. You will-- "
"Attendants? Are they servants or slaves?"
Anakin pushed a door panel that revealed small but adequate quarters. "They are attendants. This will be your room. My suite is next door. However, you are not to disturb-- "
"Are you from Mos Eisley?"
"No. You are not to disturb me. I will..." Truth be told, he had no idea what he was supposed to do with the boy if he was not allowed to train him. "Remain here until I return for you."
"What should I call you? Anakin? Or Mr. Skywalker? You can call me Luke."
Anakin slapped his palm on the panel. The door slid shut, muffling the boy's continuing chatter.
They couldn't keep the youngster locked up like a condemned prisoner, waiting to learn his fate. A decision needed to be made. He headed back to the council chambers to speak to Yoda.
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When the door closed, Luke heaved a great sigh of relief. It had been quite a strain to pretend that nothing had changed since he'd learned the name of his captor/guardian. He spared the plain room only a brief glance before he flopped on the bed and stared at the gray ceiling.
So that was Anakin Skywalker. Jedi, fallen Sith, killer. The man who had changed his life, the reason his parents were dead and his uncle had spent his life in pain. The reason for his journey to Coruscant.
Now what? He had been prepared, or at least resigned, to kill a faceless, brown-cloaked Jedi, but nothing had readied him for a man with sad blue eyes who saved his life. Of course, Luke reminded himself, Skywalker only knew him as Luke Lars, not as Luke Vader, the son of the man he had betrayed and murdered. When he learned that--
Luke sat up. There was no reason for Skywalker to discover his identity. He would never know that Luke was waiting for the opportunity to take revenge. Patient.
He slid off the bed and walked into the 'fresher, where he stared into the mirror, studying his reflection. Was that the face of a killer? When the time came, could he complete his mission or would he falter?
The answer was not to be found on his face. He turned away and sat by the table, thinking and waiting for Anakin Skywalker to return.
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"I'll do a blood test to measure his midichlorian level. And also check his parentage," Anakin added. "Perhaps he is Palpatine's offspring. Or Dooku's. There's definitely Sith blood in him."
Yoda stood by a window, gazing out, hands clasped behind his back.
"If we can turn him, he will make a powerful Jedi," Anakin persisted. "I believe he is sincere and talented enough to be a padawan, but I'm on the Council, I don't have time to supervise a student. One of the other Jedi should do it."
The elderly being turned and stared at him, his ears drooping. "Anxious to be rid of the boy, are you?"
"No other Council member has ever taken such an inexperienced padawan. He will require much training. Plus, he's very inquisitive and-- "
"And patience has never been your strength," Yoda finished. "Nurturing the boy, a good education it would be-- for both of you."
Anakin felt his cheeks flush. "I don't want to train him," he said flatly.
"The decision to train him has not been made. A Council decision it is, not yours or mine alone." Yoda walked slowly to his chair and sat. "If trained he is to be, a strong hand will he need."
This was not a battle he could win today. "I'll administer the blood test then."
"The results to come to me, not you," Yoda said with sharpness in his tone.
"Yes, Master." Hiding his surprise, Anakin bowed and left the chamber, wondering at Yoda's odd demand.
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"Ow!" The prick into his thumb was only fleetingly painful, so his protest was simply for effect. "Next time, warn me when you're going to stab me. What's this for?"
"We're determining your midichlorian levels," Skywalker replied. "Doctor, the results are confidential, for Master Yoda's eyes only."
"Yes, sir." The woman busied herself with processing the data into a computer. In a few seconds, a datachip emerged, and the physician sealed it in a small container.
"What are-- "
"Midichlorians," Skywalker anticipated Luke's question, "are microscopic organisms in your blood cells that indicate the level to which you can communicate with the Force."
"Really? The Force is in my blood?" Luke was fascinated by the idea.
"In your cells." The Jedi watched the physician closely and when she walked across the room, Skywalker pressed a button and another datachip popped silently out of the computer.
"What's that?" Luke eyed it suspiciously.
"Doctor, if your assistant would escort Lars to his quarters, I have other business to attend to." Skywalker looked at Luke. "Your behavior reflects on me, and I have high expectations."
Luke nodded, accustomed to living up to the strict expectations his aunt and uncles had placed on him, especially Uncle Sidious. He watched Skywalker leave and, when the physician went to fetch her subordinate, Luke pushed the same button the Jedi had and was rewarded with another datachip. Maybe it was a blank, but then again, maybe it had some interesting information on it.
It wouldn't hurt to check.
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