Anakin POV
My first day of working in the archives was the longest day of my life. I reported to Jocasta Nu at 0800, and she was there waiting for me at the front of the library. At first she walked me around the library, showing me where the different aspects of the information was stored: the maps, the census, the histories, the force holograms. Most of this I knew from my own time at the temple, so the refresher was pointless.
"Obi-Wan tells me that you are really good with machines," she said.
"Yeah," I said, suddenly excited that she is going to give me something good to do.
She walked me over to the area that had some datapads, and reach down into the cabinets and got out a spray can and thin washcloth. "These datapads get used constantly and are dusty. Spray them with this, and then wipe them with the washcloth. Come get me when you are done."
"Yes ma'am." I said respectfully. "Out of curiosity, how many datapads do we have in the Library?"
"417."
"Okay."
"You may have to scrub them to get the fingerprints and smudges off. And wash your hands when you're done, it's cold and flu season, and the younglings don't always have proper hygiene."
"Okay."
"Come get me when you are finished," she said as she walked off.
I sighed and got to work, even though I could swear I could hear Windu laughing in the back of my head.
I was on datapad 168, when I heard a commotion a few sections over. Several Jedi around me were turning their heads, but then going back to their work trying to tune it out. I looked around to try and find a library official to do something about the commotion, and then it occurred to me that I was technically a library official. So I went towards the shouting.
Two shelves over, two Padawans, a male human and female twi'lek were fighting.
"You're so stupid, Jessica! I can't believe you would say that!" said the boy.
"Well, it's true. At least I am not basing all my facts on emotion!" yelled Jessica.
"Hey," I said, walking towards them, "didn't anyone teach you two how to behave in the library?"
"Master Skywalker," said Jessica. They both bowed. "We did not realize we were shouting."
"Well, you were," I said. "What's this about?"
"Jessica thinks that we need to be scared of the Sith and let them rule the galaxy," said the boy.
"Yeah well Aiden thinks we need to kill them all which is stupid because we can't!" said Jessica.
"Your both wrong," I said.
"What?" said Jessica.
"Why?!" asked Aiden.
"If we kill the Sith they will just regenerate and run wild in another part of the galaxy, if we let them run free and do nothing innocent people will get hurt. That is why the council is letting us go on missions to capture the Sith."
"If they are captured, they can't hurt anybody," said Jessica connecting the logic.
"That's right."
"That's awesome!" said Aiden.
"Now Jedi aren't supposed to fight each other. Why are you in the library? To study something I bet," I said.
"Astronomy," said Jessica, "we have a test on the core planets tomorrow."
"Well you are not going to learn them by arguing about the Sith. Get to it, younglings," I said.
"Yes master," they said, bowing, then turned to their books.
I turned around to see Jocasta Nu standing there with her hands on her hips. "I was answering some complaints of some younglings arguing, and I saw that you handled the whole thing."
"Oh. I need to just let you do your job."
"No. It was a pleasure to watch the chosen one reflect on such important topics. You have such an interesting perspective as both former Sith and Jedi. And expecting father, I hear, congratulations."
"Thank you. Padme is doing all the heavy lifting."
"Maybe for now. But younglings born in the Force are different. We have discovered that they need their parents as well as Jedi masters and teachers. That is why Yoda and the Jedi Council reverse the decision to allow families back into the order. If the Sith are targeting you, they will also target your bloodline. Your children will need your guidance."
"I have made so many mistakes… I know I am not worthy of forgiveness."
"If you try to earn forgiveness, you will run yourself ragged and never get what you want. Forgiveness is given freely once you are truly repentant."
"When I saw Palpatine wanted to turn Luke or kill him, I understood he was evil and had to die. I did not understand until then. I don't understand until then."
"I remember the Darth Vader, who invaded the temple and killed the younglings. I fought him and was killed by him remember. He would not defy his master for anything. If you change for your son, then you truly changed. Others will see it soon. You must have patience young one."
"How can you forgive me? It is amazing. They are telling me to let go of my anger against Palpatine and forgive, but I can't."
"Let me ask you Anakin, do you trust the Force more than anything in your life?"
"Sometimes, but not always. Not the way the Jedi use it," I confessed.
"That's my secret. In my own power, I would never forgive you for what you did that day you attacked the temple. But, I see now that everything, the good and the bad is the will of the force and that if it happened it will be made right. You were the one who brought down Palpatine, twice. And we look to you to restore balance between the Jedi and the Sith."
"That's very humbling, and very scary," I said.
She smiled. "Right now, you do not have to face anything. Come in every day, help the younglings study, rest, get your mind right, then when the time is right, you can face the Sith again."
"Thank you for letting me work with the machines," I said.
"I will try to break my speeder one day," she said. "I know that's what you wanted to do." She looked at her chronometer. "Oh, its 17:05. Go home, I will see you tomorrow."
"Good night, Master Nu," I said.
"Good night, Master Skywalker."