Plagueis' Estate - 42 BBY

It was done. Plagueis had felt that the Force had negatively responded to his attempt at creating life through the Force. Honestly, it had sent a shiver down his spine and caused the Dark Lord of the Sith to worry about the future and what it would entail. Throughout his endless research: he had finally unlocked the secrets of immortality. He was not only able to keep himself and others from dying but he could also resurrect them from death. Yet when he attempted to take it a step further and truly become a God in his own right: he was cruelly rejected by the very Force itself.

In silence, Palpatine watched his master muse in silent thought. He had felt that their attempt at creating a being through the Force had been successful but everything about Plagueis' own reaction seemed wrong.

"Is something wrong, my Master?" he asked the older Muun. For a few brief moments, Plagueis said nothing to his apprentice, musing over the events that just happened.

"We shall see in time, Sidious." he answered stoically before the two headed towards the hangar of Plagueis' estate. Only time would tell if their attempts at creating the Chosen One were successful. And if it was: why did he feel such a sense of foreboding when it came to it?

They wouldn't find out until much later how much their actions would affect the things to come. How in trying to completely tame the Force they had only sealed the Sith's fate. How they not only succeeded in creating the Chosen One but another that could rival the potential that the Chosen One possessed. In essence: they would be 2 people who were one in the Force.

Tatooine - 41 BBY

Shmi was screaming at the top of her lungs as the contractions were beginning to take their toll on her. She had known for the past week that her son was due to arrive at any moment and now it was time. The pain was much worse than she had heard it would be from the other slaves that were mothers. It was like her bones wanted to break as her flesh wanted to tear. There was nothing to keep her forehead from being matted with sweat or to keep the tears from falling from her eyes.

"Come on Shmi. Just a few more big pushes and you're done." the midwife told her, verbally encouraging her as much as she could. Shmi weakly nodded her head and tried her best to get her breathing under control, tightly gripping the edges of the bed as she let out a strained groan as she resumed trying to push her son out of her body. It hurt more and more with every effort she gave but after what felt like an eternity, she couldn't help but smile when she heard his cries pierce the air around them. He was safe and he was here. The midwife quickly wiped him off and swaddled him before gently placing him in his mother's waiting arms.

"My...little….Anakin." she breathed out heavily, content but exhausted from delivering her child.

Corellia - 41 BBY

At the same time that Shmi was giving birth to Anakin, a senator on Corellia was in the hospital giving birth to her own child. Cynthira Kross had been born and raised on Corellia, only traveling offworld soon after she began her first term as senator. In all honesty: she was too busy to have time for things like romance and hobbies. So you could imagine her surprise when she wound up pregnant of all things.

"You did good, Senator Kross." the medical droid told her as it handed her her child. She took a few moments to look over the boy, taking in the dark black hair and the hazel green eyes as well as the tan color skin he had.

"Laurent Kross." she said with sadness in her tone. She had come to the realization months ago that she wouldn't get to spend her life with her child. Even in utero: the child showed powers only associated with the Jedi. If her suspicion was correct: they would be coming to take Laurent and train him….which would be safer for the boy than being the senator's son. Constantly being attacked by assassins and political rivals alike. After getting a nice long look at her sweet baby boy, she looked at the medical droid and began speaking with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"If there are any Jedi on Corellia: put me into contact with them via holo. If there isn't: prepare to send a holotransmission to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant." she told the droid. With the orders that it was given, the medical droid exited the room, leaving the mother and son alone.

Within the next hour, the droid had returned with a personal holocommunicator and promptly handed it to the senator.

"Thank you." she stiffly told the droid in a low tone. Letting out a few shivering sighs, she pressed a button to initiate the holotransmission.

"A pleasant surprise, this is. But welcome it, I do." Master Yoda called out over the holotransmission.

"It is good to see you again Master Yoda. I….I have news." she responded.

"In the hospital, are you? Sickness of some sort? Or something else, is it?" Yoda asked her, clearly being able to sense her conflict through the Force.

"I have just given birth. I believe my child may be like you. I think I've known for the past 4 months." she admitted. For a few moments, Yoda mused in silent thought, taking in the information and carefully considering what steps to take next.

"Send someone to check, I shall. Prepared for that, are you?" he asked her.

"Of course. He'll be safer at the Jedi Temple. Learn to defend himself in ways I couldn't understand. It would be….for the best." she sadly responded.

"Stronger than most, you are. Achieved a strength that many can not, you have." he answered back before the transmission between them was cut. That was that. The decision had been made and she couldn't take it back now. So for as long as she could, she continued to cradle her baby until it was time for her to say goodbye.

Jedi Temple, Coruscant - 32 BBY

At first: it wasn't easy for Laurent to grasp the concept of how to open his mind to the Force. It was hard not to feel discouraged about it either when his fellow Younglings seemed to be progressing even quicker than he did. However, he didn't allow himself to wallow in those emotions.

If anything, it only served as a motivator to work even harder and practice until he could successfully pull off whichever technique that he was being taught. There had been many late nights where he remembered staying up to get extra practice in, which led to him accidentally falling asleep during morning meditation a few times.

It paid off in the end though as he not only caught up to his fellow Younglings but slowly began to even surpass them as of recently. It was almost surreal if he were being truthful with himself. It also brought a sense of pride with it but only because he knew he worked hard and believed in himself as well as the Force.

"How about you Laurent?" a blonde-haired, gray-eyed human girl asked him. This quickly drew him out of his thoughts and left him with little option but to give a nervous chuckle.

"Sorry Sybine. What was the question again?" he asked with a half smirk. She gave out a light scoff which elicited a few laughs from their fellow Younglings.

"Did you hear the rumors going around the temple? About the Chosen One? About how they're bringing him here?" she asked him, playfully slapping him upside his head as she finished talking. After letting out a quick wince of pain, he rolled his eyes at her and rubbed the back of his head with his left hand.

"How could I not hear about it with all of the times it's been talked about in the past 2 days?" he responded back dryly.

"Don't tell me you're jealous?" she asked him.

"Why would I be? He's still just a person like we are and we shouldn't treat him any differently because he's the Chosen One. Who knows how much pressure that comes with." he answered quickly. Nobody around him spoke after that, leading him to believe that the conversation was effectively over. It seemed that he had really given them something to chew on.

Hyperspace - 32 BBY

Anakin had situated himself on a spare seat inside of Padme's ship, tightly gripping the blanket that he was given to try to warm up. Emotionally: he was feeling up and down. He had just won his freedom by becoming the first human to not only survive but to win the Boonta Eve Classic. However, sadness came in having to leave his mother behind. He could win his own freedom but not his own mother's. Not only that but he and Qui-Gonn were almost killed by whoever it was that attacked them.

"We'll be coming out of hyperspace shortly. It shouldn't be too long until we're on the surface of Coruscant." Obi-Wan told Qui-Gon.

"Good. I need to bring the boy before the Council as soon as possible." Qui-Gon responded before making his way to where Anakin was sitting. He knelt next to the boy, leveling his gaze with Anakin's own.

"How are you feeling?" he asked Anakin.

"Cold sir. I also miss my mom." Anakin told him.

"That's understandable. She is the one you love the most and this is your first time being away from her. I promise you though: you are never alone even if it feels like you are. She will always be with you in here." Qui-Gon told him as he pointed to the area right where Anakin's heart was. This brought a small smile to the boy's face. Qui-Gon offered him a smile of his own before patting the boy's shoulder and standing back up to his full height.

"I do apologize about the coldness of space though. We will be arriving on Coruscant shortly so it should warm up soon." Qui-Gon told Anakin before making his way back to the cockpit of the ship.

Within the next half hour: they had successfully landed on a landing platform near the Senate building. Over the duration of their flight through hyperspace: Anakin had talked to Padme and told her how he might become a Jedi. He had a crush on the girl but he knew that they were going to have to part ways once they landed. As they descended onto the massive cityscape, Anakin's eyes widened in surprise and awe at how grand it all looked. It was vastly different from what he was used to seeing on Tatooine. There were even speeders of all makes and models flying about everywhere.

As the group exited down the landing ramp of the Queen's ship, they were welcomed by 2 older men and a group of guards that stood at attention behind them.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed to the 2 men causing both Anakin and a Gungan that accompanied them named Jar-Jar Binks to follow suit and bow also. They then moved to the side to allow the Queen of Naboo to approach them both.

"It is great to see you alive, Your Majesty. Once the communications had broken down, we grew very concerned. I do hope to hear the report of your situation. May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum?" the younger of the 2 men asked her.

"Welcome, Your Majesty. I'm glad to finally meet you in person." Valorum told her.

"Thank you Supreme Chancellor. I do wish it could be under better conditions." she responded.

"Given the nature of your situation, I have called for a special session of the Senate so we can hear your position." Valorum told her. Palpatine then took control of the conversation and led the Queen away towards a vehicle that would fly them to the Senate building. Anakin, as well as Jar-Jar and the handmaidens, followed them silently and as they boarded the craft, Anakin looked back at Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan who had stood back with Chancellor Valorum. Qui-Gon waved him off as a way of silently giving him permission to go with them.

"I must go and report to the Jedi Council immediately. The situation has become much more complicated." he told the Chancellor.

Jedi Council Chambers, Jedi Temple

"The stranger that attacked us was trained in the Jedi arts. I can only assume that he was a Sith Lord." Qui-Gon told the members of the Jedi Council. Most were personally here in attendance while those offworld had attended via holotransmission.

"A Sith Lord?" a Jedi Master by the name of Mace Windu had asked him.

"That's impossible. The Sith have been extinct for over a millennium." another Jedi Master by the name of Ki-Adi Mundi interjected.

"I don't think the Sith could have returned without us knowing." Master Windu said.

"Clouded much, the Dark Side has. Wrong, we may have been." Master Yoda told them.

"Rest assured, we will make full use of our resources to find out who attacked you. May the Force be with you." Master Windu added in.

"Thank you Masters." Qui-Gon told them before he and Obi-Wan bowed to them. Obi-Wan moved to leave the council chambers but had stopped when he saw that Qui-Gon hadn't moved from his spot.

"Master Qui-Gon. More to say, have you?" Master Yoda asked him.

"With your permission, my Master. I have encountered a vergence in the Force." Qui-Gon told them.

"And you believe it is centered around a person?" Master Windu asked incredulously.

"A boy. His cells have the highest concentration of midi-chlorians than I have seen in a lifeform. I believe that he was conceived from the midi-cholrians." Qui-Gon explained to them.

"You refer to the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the Force? You believe it's this boy?" Master Windu asked Qui-Gon.

"I don't presume…" Qui-Gon began to say only to be interrupted by Yoda.

"But you do. Revealed, your opinion has been." Yoda responded.

"I request that the boy be tested, Master." Qui-Gon stated.

"To train as a Jedi, you request for him?" Yoda asked.

"Finding him was the will of the Force. I have no doubt about that." Qui-Gon told them. For a few moments, the council looked around at each other as if they were having a silent conversation. When those moments ended, Mace let out a deep sigh before speaking up.

"Bring him before us." he told Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon bowed before the council once again, making his way towards the Senate building with Obi-Wan in tow.

"You know they're not going to go through with this. You know you'd be on the council by now if you'd just follow the Code." Obi-Wan told Qui-Gon.

"You have much, much to learn, my very young Padawan." Qui-Gon responded with a light chuckle.

Later That Day

Laurent had just finished his meditating session, making his way towards one of the sparring rooms so he could work on his use of Form 3 of lightsaber combat. However, he had stopped as he had felt something through the Force. Something telling him to make his way towards the entrance to the temple right now. His teachers always encouraged trusting in the Force and that was something that he had come to take to heart. With no hesitation in his movements, he quickly broke out into a run as he made his way towards the entrance.

By the time he had arrived at the entrance, he was starting to feel winded but he was glad that he followed the feeling he had. Master Qui-Gon, his padawan Obi-Wan and a young boy accompanying them had just made their way inside of the temple.

As his eyes wavered over the boy's form, he felt something else. Something stirring inside of him that he had never felt before. Yet for some reason, it was triggered by seeing this boy. Before he spoke to them, he gave both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan a bow out of respect.

"Master Qui-Gon, it's good to see you again. May I ask who this is?" Laurent asked the Jedi Master.

"Hello Laurent. I am well and I hope you have been as well. As for who this is: I will let him introduce himself." Qui-Gon responded, motioning for Anakin to come over to him. Laurent warmly held his hand out for a handshake to let the boy know that he bore no ill will towards him.

"My name is Laurent Kross. I'm a Youngling here at the temple." Laurent told Anakin in introduction. For a few moments, Anakin looked at Laurent feeling uneasy since he wasn't used to receiving such a warm welcome. Slaves were usually seen as less than trash in the galaxy. However, he couldn't help but feel like he could trust this boy and shook his hand in the end.

"My name is Anakin Skywalker. I'm here to get tested." he responded back.

"I hope you get in Anakin. I have a feeling that we'll be good friends." Laurent answered back.

"I hope so too." Anakin responded, a small smile slowly forming on his lips.

"Time to get going Anakin. We must not keep the council waiting. It was good seeing you again Laurent. Keep doing well in your studies." Qui-Gon told both of the boys.

Laurent nodded and bowed to both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan before they headed towards the elevator that would take them to the High Council Chamber. As he watched them leave: he had a strong feeling that this wouldn't be the last he saw of Anakin before he turned around to make his way back to the combat training rooms. Now more than ever: he was filled with an excitement that was struggling to be contained and he couldn't wait for what the future held in store.