Chapter 11

Having just gotten suspended from Jedi duties following disobeying orders and evading a mission, Anakin was at a loss for what to do. He couldn't go back to the Jedi Council as he was afraid he'd end up saying something to extend the suspension or worse, and he couldn't go to his wife, Padme, as he didn't want her to worry.

Now defeated, Anakin had sat in the office of one of the few people in the galaxy that he's been able to trust all his life, Chancellor Palpatine, as he explained just what happened. After the explanation, Palpatine replies, "Yes, that is unfortunate. Here I thought we needed as many Jedi as we can get our hands on to even stand a chance in this war."

Anakin sighs deeply. "That's what I said. I just…can't believe it. Of all the things that I've done for the Council, this is how they repay me? By not letting me fight in this war for…who knows how long?"

Palpatine shrugs. "Well, I suppose it is what it is at this point. I'm not saying that I completely agree with the Council's decision, but I suppose this is a case where proper consequences are needed."

Anakin then looks up and rubs his neck. "I was…kind of hoping that, maybe, you could talk to them and see if you can get them to change their mind."

Palpatine sighs. "I'm sorry, Skywalker, but I'm afraid I can't help you. Not this time, at least."

Anakin's eyes widen. "What? Wh-why?"

Palpatine replies, "It seems that the Council knew you would come to me, so before they gave you the sentence, they made it very clear to me that this is official Jedi Council business, and that I have no saying in the matter."

Anakin's jaw nearly hits the floor. "So…YOU'RE not even going to help me?"

Palpatine shrugs and sighs. "Again, my apologies, Skywalker, but I'm afraid my hands are tied. I would certainly help you if I could."

Now feeling even more defeated, Anakin sits back down and puts his face into his hands. "This…this cannot be happening."

Palpatine could see Anakin's trouble, so he offers, "Tell you what? I have a few minutes to spare, why don't we go grab some tea? It's not a mission, but I'm sure it will be nice to talk to someone."

Anakin could see the kind gesture, so he replies, "I suppose it would be better than just sitting here, feeling sorry for myself."

Palpatine nods. "That's the spirit." With that, Anakin walks away.

Meanwhile, in the Separatist base on the planet Raxus, Count Dooku stood in a large room that's used as a training ground for both himself and other skilled fighters.

In the room, there was a mess of slashed up dummies, crushed blasters, lightning burn marks, debris and slashed rocks that still had a bit of a glow from a laser type weapon slashing them, and in the center of this stood a silhouette of a figure.

Dooku comments to the figure, "You have proven yourself well, much moreso than my other fool of an apprentice, Ventress."

The figure replies in a deep female voice. "What do you want from me, now?"

Dooku lightly chuckles. "Wrong question. I think the better question is…what can you do for me?" The figure grumbles as Dooku steps up to her.

Dooku uses The Force to pull his curved hilted lightsaber to his hand as he says, "Kneel before me." She does just that as Dooku activates the red blade. He places the blade on her right shoulder and says, "By the will of the Dark Side…" then to her left, "…By the power of the Sith…" then to her head and raises the blade. "You may rise, my new apprentice."

She then stands, revealing a set of yellow Sith eyes when the light shone onto her. "What is thy bidding, Master?"

Dooku replies as he deactivates his saber, "There is a new Jedi by the name of Hiccup Haddock. He has already proven to be much more of a threat than I imagine. I want you to find this boy…and destroy him."

The figure clenches a fist. "Jedi, huh? The scum of the galaxy who want nothing but to destroy what we stand for…Haddock will not know what hit him. How shall I proceed?"

Dooku replies, "I…have a plan. Oh, and if you're going to take down Haddock…you're going to need this." He holds out a small case and opens it, revealing a blue, spiked lightsaber hilt, which the figure took and activated, revealing a blade as red as blood.

Back on Courscant, Obi-Wan and Hiccup were doing a few repairs on a ship to get ready for whatever mission should come their way next, something that Obi-Wan had been teaching Hiccup about.

The two of them were taking a break after doing work on the underside of the ship when Hiccup looks over to Obi-Wan and points out. "…You know, Anakin doesn't seem like a bad Jedi. Just a bit…reckless."

Obi-Wan closes his eyes and lets out an internal sigh to that comment. Hiccup guessed that Obi-Wan didn't really want to talk about it at this point, so he decides to drop it until Obi-Wan speaks up and replies, "Anakin's skills as a Jedi aren't what is up to question, it's his acts and constant disregard to direct orders that worry me deeply."

Now curious, Hiccup asks, "So…what is his story? Why is he the way that he is?"

Obi-Wan gives Hiccup a side glance. "Do you actually want to know?"

Hiccup nods. "I feel like if I understand where he's coming from, I can get a better sense as to why he acts the way he does now."

Obi-Wan looks down to the floor before sighing. "Very well." He turns to face Hiccup. "10 years ago, long before the war began, my late master, Qui-Gon Jinn, found Anakin as a boy on the desert planet, Tatooine, when Qui-Gon found him he and his mother were sold to a slave trader."

Hiccup raises a brow. "Anakin was a slave? Kinda hard to believe."

Obi-Wan nods. "Indeed. Anakin's mother told Qui-Gon that he had no father, just that she had him seemingly out of random."

Hiccup asks. "H-how is that possible?"

Obi-Wan replies, "Well, Qui-Gon was then led to believe that Anakin was born of The Force. You see, legend has it that one day, a Jedi born of The Force will come down and bring balance to the light and dark, a Chosen One."

Hiccup nods. "So, your master thinks that Anakin is this Chosen One?"

Obi-Wan nods back. "Exactly that. So, Qui-Gon managed to free Anakin and brought him to the Council, but since he was so old at the time, the council was afraid that his emotions may get in the way of his training and cause him to act…uncontrollably."

Hiccup glances down to the floor. "I can definitely see that…do you believe he's The Chosen One?"

Obi-Wan sighs again. "I have seen Anakin's skill with The Force first hand and, while I do admit that it is beyond that which I have seen from any Jedi, he just gets so reckless at times, and he hardly ever listens to myself or anyone for that matter. I want to believe that Anakin is the spark of hope that the galaxy needs but…sometimes I also wonder if he would've been better off if we just left him on Tatooine. Not as a slave, but as a citizen."

Hiccup runs this story through his head, trying to picture as much of it as he could, trying to think of some way he could respond to what he just heard, but that's when he heard a call coming from Obi-Wan's intercom.

Obi-Wan pulls it up and answers the call, showing a human Jedi. "General Kenobi?" The Jedi calls.

"Yes, I'm here." Obi-Wan replies.

The Jedi replies, "I'm in need of assistance on the planet, Jakeen. All of my forces have been taken out by some new enemy that I can't even identify. I can't even see where it is I-"

Just then, a flash of a lightsaber blade stabbing all the way through his back was shown, killing him instantly and making him drop the com. Obi-Wan asks, "What is it? Who is it? Dooku? Ventress? Grievous? Who is there?"

Then, the com appears to be picked up, revealing a blond, braided haired person who Hiccup could recognize from a mile away. "NO WAY!" Hiccup asks as he leans in closer.

The figure replies in a devious tone. "Bring. Me. Haddock." Before the com is smashed.

Hiccup blinks as a wave of familiarity rushes over him. He sits back as he runs that image back through his head as Obi-Wan asks, "Uh…do you know that girl?"

Hiccup nods. "Yeah…I do…her name…is Astrid…and she's from my world."

Obi-Wan's eyes widen to the fact. "Well…that complicates things."

Things are about to get heated, that's all I'm gonna say.

Thank you for reading this story up to this point, if you liked it then please be sure to let me know. Take care and I'll see you later.