Disclaimer: Disney owns Star Wars, not me. All the characters and places (except for my OC Analise Joy) belong to them.
"aaaa"-talking out loud. 'aaaaa'-inner thoughts. aaaaa-talking through a Bond
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Chapter Tweleve
"Greetings Master Jinn, Master Kenobi, Skywalker, and youngling." Qui-Gon could not hide a small grin of pride as Analise copied them and bowed to the Council. It was clear that she was nervous. The faint blush on her cheeks were gone and her skin was once again a ghostly pale color and she was trying her best to stay hidden behind Anakin who was doing his best to hide her. "How like the Temple do you so far youngling?"
"It is very peaceful here Master." Analise bowed before she spoke. Her voice was so quiet it was almost a whisper. If possible, her skin paled even further. Anakin shifted a little. It would be a breech of manners if he reached out and took Analise's hand. The best he could do was send her comfort and a little bit of his own confidence down their Bond. It worked a little, but she was still nervous. It didn't help much that Anakin could sense Analise's pain.
"Let us start by having you tell us your name, age, and home planet. Step forward." Mace ruled. He had been scolded a little bit by Yoda for making the girl so fearful when they first met. This time he would try to be kinder, less brisk. Analise balked, shrinking in on herself and trying to hide even more behind Anakin.
"It's alright Analise."
"Yeah Ana. Master Windu doesn't bite." Anakin's whisper carried. Plo Koon exchanged a look with his old friend Qui-Gon and the two had to choke back their laughs at the look on Mace's face. Obi-Wan sighed as other Council members ducked heads or turned away to hide smiles and muffle chuckles.
"Anakin, I think we will be talking about our manners again." Obi-Wan gave Anakin's braid a sharp tug while Qui-Gon gently took Analise's hand that wasn't gripping tightly to her book and drew her to the front.
"Go ahead Analise." She glanced up at Qui-Gon. The man nodded as he let go and Analise took a deep breath, stomping down the sense of familiarity and longing she had for Da.
"My name is Analise Joy Letz. I am 12, almost 13 years old and I am from Earth." A slight sense of confusion drifted along the Force that she picked up on. Analise spoke again without prompting. "Earth is part of a galaxy called the Milky Way. I guess it would be in what is considered here to be the Unknown Regions, beyond Wild Space. I read that your ships even with hyperspace are unable to make it to far into the Unknown Regions."
Mace raised an eyebrow and glanced at Yoda. "Do you have ships that able to cross it?" She tilted her head before shaking it.
"No...we have spaceships but they've only ever gone to Earth's moon. We have a space station in orbit over Earth and we've sent satellites into space for things like research and communication, many of those. Some of them even go beyond the asteroid belt to the outer planets. A rover was sent to the planet Mars." Analise sighed. "Only properly trained astronauts get to go into space. You need a lot of training and experience even if you're just going to the space station."
"You mean you do not travel between the other planets in your galaxy?" Ki-Adi Mundi asked her, hands on the arms of his chair as he studied her in the same way he had studied Anakin when he had first stood before the Council. Analise nodded.
"It would be hard. We have no hyperspace which means it would take years to travel between them and Earth is currently the only planet capable of life. We don't have the technology to create settlements on the other planets though it is thought that one day we could. Earth is mostly water with some land. We have lots of plants and animals. Everyone is human."
"Are there any Jedi?" MasterEven Piell asked, leaning forward. He smiled knowing that sometimes his appearance could frighten younglings a little. To his shock there was no fear from the girl. He realized she wasn't scared of any of them. She was just scared and nervous of being the center of attention.
Once again Analise shook her head. "There are no Jedi or Sith. No Force Users at all Master. Some people claim to be psychic, but generally they are fake and only out to con people out of money. I always thought I was weird, a freak because I get these vibes and stuff. Like I know when someone is nice and good or to be avoided. I can see different colored thread connecting people."
The Council exchanged glances. "If no Jedi or Sith there be, how know you so much?" Yaddel asked as she shifted a little. Like the other Masters she had been struck with awe and unease at how Analise seemed to know so much about the Force and the Jedi Order and the galaxy as a whole even though she said that there was no Jedi or Force on Earth nor any advance form of space travel.
"The movies and TV shows and books. This galaxy is just a story on Earth. A man created it all before I was even born and it just grew and got bigger over the years. 'Phantom Menace' for example is all about the blockade of Naboo and how Anakin was found and Master Qui-Gon's death." Analise ducked her head, a sad look stealing across her face before a confused one replaced it. "Only he didn't die." Yoda caught it.
"Like Qui-Gon you do?"
"Yes Master Yoda. I've always wanted to be a Jedi." Analise's eyes brightened and her voice grew louder. "Ever since I was a little girl and Dad first introduced me to Star Wars. After seeing 'Phantom Menace' and reading the books about Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's adventures I wanted to become a Jedi that was a combination of both of them. Brave enough to stand up against the rules when need to be and always kind to others. A negotiator and scholar, but a warrior if called for." Obi-Wan ducked his head while Qui-Gon folded his arms, placing his hands in his sleeves as a proper Jedi would as Analise's voice grew stronger and she lifted her head. It was clear hero-worship.
Yoda took a chance. Talking about Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had seemed to banish Analise's fear and nervousness, her shyness. She was revealing her true-self. A young human girl who was very bright and perhaps as much of a trouble-maker as her brother. "Master Jin, maverick he is. Against the Council and Code he often goes. Scolded many times he is. Not an example younglings should follow." He chose to ignore the scowling look sent his way by the mentioned Jedi.
"But whenever Master Qui-Gon breaks the Code, the rules it is always for good and things always turn out right. He is able to save so many lives, help so many people because he follows the will of the Force and not the Council or Code. I mean aren't all Jedi suppose to follow the will of the Force even if it goes against the Code or Council? Master Qui-Gon is a wonderful Jedi Master and I want to be a Grey Jedi just like him."
Yoda's gamble had paid off. Analise lifted her head up all the way and her sky-blue eyes sparked with defiance so similar to Anakin's and indeed so similar to the defiance that would spark in Qui-Gon's eyes when he debated with the Council. Only the tightened grip on the object in her hands and flash of fear betrayed that she wasn't so confident in standing up to the Masters.
Anakin chuckled while Obi-Wan looked startled at Analise's outburst. Qui-Gon looked like a proud father as he listened to Analise's defense of him. Yoda smiled a little pleased at the loyalty she clearly had for a Jedi she had never met until just clicks before the Council meeting. Mace, forgetting his earlier scolding gave her a stern look. "I see you certainly follow Qui-Gon in his willingness to debate with the Council." Analise flushed bright red in shame and embarrassment. She bowed deeply.
"I am so sorry Master Windu. I did not mean to argue." Analise rose from her bow, but kept her head ducked. Shame rolled off her and into the Force. She bit down hard on her lip, nicking it a little. Master Yoda thumped his gimmer stick on the floor.
"Teasing you I was youngling. Know this Master Windu should. Pleased I am that quick you are to defend Qui-Gon. Only a little more will I ask of you."