A/N: I decided to write the second and third episodes of Star Wars when I realized they weren't coming out for another whole (frickin') year. These are how I would like them done; I'm not sure if they contradict the star wars book universe, of which I have read nothing. I'm dividing the episode into chapters so it's easier to read and so I have continued pressure to write them. (*hint *hint pressure me to continue writing if you want me to continue. Death threats work nicely, as does undue praise. If you don't want me to continue, leave me alone in my dark little corner and I'll be quiet . . . for awhile at least.)
Star Wars Episode II: An Empire's Birth
A long time ago, in a Galaxy Far, Far away . . .
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine continued to strengthen his power, controlling the majority of the senate in all but title. Queen Amidala of Naboo is the strongest of his opposition, working to convince others that the power of the republic has gone beyond it's intended strength.
Meanwhile, Anakin Skywalker trained under Obi-Wan Kenobi to become a Jedi Knight. His strength in the force and his youth are cause for concern among the Jedi Council members, who fear the return of the sith lord, who has remained in hiding for the last ten years. But the sith lord is ready to come out again, and bring rise to an empire . . .
~*~
Anakin woke up slowly. Obi-Wan would come to wake him soon, but he preferred waking himself. The sun was creeping up over the horizon, birdsong greeting his ears as the light touched his skin. The sun seemed to illuminate his tan a bright gold and his short honey colored hair a soft fire. He yawned as he pulled a loose shirt over his head, hiding his strong muscles and adding a source of heat he'd come to hate once training began.
Anakin sat down on his thin sleeping mat to watch the sun rise and the forest wake. "Consumed by contemplation a little early, aren't we?" Obi-Wan asked cheerfully, handing him some bread.
Frowning at the bread; the same food he'd had morning after morning after morning, Anakin said dryly, "Yeah; contemplating how nice it would be to consume some real food."
Obi-Wan chuckled. "Maybe Amidala will be more forthcoming with 'real food' when you see her again."
Smiling at the prospect, Anakin asked, "This event you speak of . . .it wouldn't be today, would it?" He looked up at his master hopefully.
Obi-Wan smiled in return. "You are a quick learner and a good pupil." He stated. "You deserve a visit to your friend."
Anakin paused to finish chewing the hunk of bread he'd torn off. "Yeah . . . 'friend'." He said with a wry smile and waggled eyebrows. He leapt up off the mat, tossing the remaining bread down. "I'll race you to the cruiser?"
Obi-Wan shook his head, becoming more serious. "It is also time for you to speak to Yoda again. You must remember to control your emotions, especially any-"
"I know, I know. 'Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering'. I've heard it a hundred times. I'll be in control." Anakin had to force himself not to grit his teeth as he spoke.
All the precautions they preformed because of him were aggravating. Being kept on Naboo to train, to keep him away from the republic's slowly growing base and all the dark influences they feared him contacting. Having him examined by Yoda twice a year for signs of undue anger and fear, to make sure he wouldn't travel to the Dark Side. The council making Obi-Wan train him slowly, keeping him from learning anything too powerful until they deemed him worthy of it. Except for Obi-Wan, he felt as if everyone thought he was a time bomb, and would explode to evil if he wasn't watched over like a toddler playing around the fire-pit.
Except for Obi-Wan, and of course, except for Amidala. She made his training on Naboo enjoyable, even welcome, for all that she was too busy to see him as often as he would have liked.
Obi-Wan rested a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "Have patience with the council Anakin. You know how important – first one there gets outta breakfast duty for a week!" Obi-Wan burst through the trees, laughing as he ran.
Anakin laughed as well, pumping his legs to catch up. He kept his eyes closed, letting the force guide him through the fastest path to their small cruiser, letting it guide him through the dense forest and over the uneven ground. Obi-Wan did beat him; but not by nearly as much as he should have with as much of a head start as he'd had.
Anakin smiled at his master's – his friend's – praise. Anyone else would have frowned, would have said he'd gone to fast and told him to be less eager. He had found that out the hard way. But with Obi-Wan, it was easy to be his self, be happy, not worry about the Dark Side and the Republic and staying in control of everything at once.
"Now, young apprentice," Obi-Wan began formally, signaling that he was to be given a task and be obedient. "Fly the cruiser there blindfolded and deafened. I'll put my hand on your shoulder when we get too close. We wouldn't want you to crash into any civilians, after all." Obi-Wan administered the ear-plugs and tied the blindfold around his eyes.
Anakin breathed in slowly and cleared his thoughts, concentrating on feeling the force, seeing beyond his sight and hearing beyond his ears. Letting go of his conscious mind and letting his instincts guide him, they arrived to just outside the city safely.
"That was excellent Anakin." Obi-Wan said approvingly. "Completely flawless. I hadn't expected such mastery even from you."
Anakin shrugged. "I've jogged through the forest without my senses. It's the same thing, really."
"Most people would have trouble applying the skills to a bigger situation with such ease."
"Yeah, well we're lucky I didn't. Otherwise we'd be burning up right about now. Come on, I wanna get my chat with Yoda over with as soon as possible."
"And you're chat with Amidala started as soon as possible."
"You've read my mind."
They jumped out from the cruiser, and began running into the city, the sun beginning to beat down on them.
"You would get me all sweaty before seeing Amidala." Anakin breathed.
"So don't sweat!" Obi-Wan told him with a smile. They slowed down as they reached their destination, the palace wing where Yoda stayed during his bi-yearly examinations. Why does he come all the way to see me? Anakin remembered asking, back when he was ten. The world is a dangerous place for you to travel through. Had been Obi-Wan's answer. Anakin knew the deeper meaning of it now though.
He wasn't trusted enough to stay on the Light side of the Force. 'Anger leads to hate.' He told himself, recognizing that emotion brewing within him. 'And hate leads to suffering. I will not cause suffering. I will bring an end to it.'
Anakin followed his master through the maze of hallways leading to Yoda's room. The Jedi Master was sitting calmly, waiting for them, not surprised by their early arrival.
While Obi-Wan and Yoda passed through formalities and greetings Anakin cleared his mind, cleared his emotions. He was ready when he became the subject matter.
"Advanced far, has he." Yoda said slowly. From the tone of his voice, he made it clear that it wasn't a complement.
Obi-Wan nodded. "He is a quick learner. He was a great mechanic before becoming my apprentice of course; so the construction of the light saber was a simple matter for him. And with his level of midi-clorians, his training in the force can only be expected to go rapidly."
Yoda nodded, repeating more quietly, as if to himself, "Advanced far, has he." He looked back at the two standing before him, addressing them once more. "Too far. A powerful mind, learning from a mind not done learning itself. Much regret of your actions, have I, Obi-Wan."
Anakin struggled to contain anger. Yoda said as much nearly every time, though usually didn't hone in on Obi-Wan as much.
"I advance fast because I learn fast. It is the logical course of action." Anakin told him, and regretted it as the attention was turned back to him.
Yoda stared at him calmly for a few moments, his wise, intense eyes seemingly taking in everything. "Much darkness in your future, I see." Yoda said at last.
"Well, I do sleep a lot." Anakin murmured softly, but Yoda still heard, and shook his head sadly.
"Impatient are you. Angry are you. Strength you have, but with no guiding wisdom. Too young for such wisdom, are you. Too young for such strength. Too impatient to gain wisdom. Too old to control strength." Yoda sighed, and turned in his chair to look out through the window at the sprawled city lying before him. "Slower must you go, young Obi-Wan. Slower."
Anakin walked out discouraged. "Usually he isn't so damn bleak." He muttered. Obi-Wan seemed upset by the meeting as well, if for different reasons. Anakin knew the only reason his master was training him was because of his promise to Qui-Gon, that his master didn't enjoy disobeying the council despite the fact Obi-Wan seemed to like him.
"Anakin!" He lit up at hearing his name spoken so happily by her voice, that thoughts of Yoda immediately vanished. He hugged Amidala, smiling down on her. She was dressed as Padme; as she always was when she talked with them. It was nicer that way; she acted informal and was much more fun as Padme. When she was the Queen, it meant others were present, and she had to show her regal side.
"It is nice to see you again, Obi-Wan." She greeted the jedi warmly after Anakin released her. "And I didn't call you down just to see your apprentice." She winked at Anakin, who chuckled. "I could use your advice on a few matters of the senate. I would ask Yoda, but you mentioned awhile ago that it would be useful for Anakin to sit in on such meetings, and I have finally found occasion for one."
"Happy am I, that not talk to Yoda are you." Anakin said in a mocking voice, and though Obi-Wan frowned, the strain around his eyes made it obvious that he was suppressing his amusement.
"What matters do you wish to discuss?" Obi-Wan asked her as they began walking through the halls.
"Supreme Chancellor Palpatine continues to expand the republic. He has not been my ally for a long time, and I've doubted his motives since we ended the blockade of Naboo ten years ago, but now he seems to have much more purpose. The republic is no longer acting for the people."
"I don't know how much you can do to counter him." Obi-Wan said thoughtfully, rubbing his beard. "But that doesn't mean you can't ready yourself for another confrontation with the republic. Since Jar-Jar has become an official ambassador, relations with the Gungans have provided a source of security, but not nearly enough compared to their growing power." He continued to frown, and continued to rub his beard.
"Palpatine has also begun showing signs that he wishes for open support of the republic from Naboo. I am afraid that someday I may wind up protecting my people from him."
"I don't suppose we could be sent as emissaries." Anakin said hopefully.
"The council wishes to keep you where you are safe, Anakin." Obi-Wan reminded him. "As I have learned, emissaries are not safe."
Amidala sighed. "Sadly, you may not be safe here either. If there is another invasion, you will certainly be in danger."
Obi-Wan's eyes stared at nothing as he spoke, his voice sounding older than before. "If there is another invasion, without cause this time, then the Republic has decided to become an empire, and we are all in danger."
~*~
Anakin looked out over the city, enjoying the site of people again. He still longed for home sometimes, for the hot, ever present suns, the warmth they provided and the warmth his mother provided.
"I'm sure she misses you as well." A deep voice said from nearby.
Anakin almost jumped; he was not used to being startled. "What?"
"I sense deep longing in you. For a mother, if I recall your past accurately. Was it not your mother you left behind?"
Anakin looked at the man carefully. After their discussion of Palpatine, being in front of him and examined by him felt strange. "I will always miss her."
"You are training to be Jedi, though, are you not? Surely you must have the power to attack her masters and end her slavery?"
"Jedi do not attack, only defend. And they don't crave power."
"Then how do you plan on freeing her?"
"How do you know I plan on freeing her?"
The Chancellor smiled toothily; not a warming sight, rather it sent shivers through him. "Your thoughts and past and present betray much of your future young Skywalker. A deep longing for a mother, words of rescue given to her from what I've heard, and now a powerful young man. Of course you plan on rescuing her."
Manipulative bastard. Anakin thought wryly. I will find a way to free her without using the Dark Side. "I have training to do. Please excuse me, Chancellor."
"Of course, of course. Ani,-" Anakin shuddered, he hated that nickname! "-to free slaves it takes power. It takes an attack. You don't seem like a man to abandon your mother to her fate because of what jedi do. After all, you're not jedi yet."
As he walked away, Anakin mulled over the Chancellor's last words. He had a point. I'm not a jedi yet, after all. If I were to attack, to use my power . . . would it be wrong?
~*~
Anakin was mulling over something when Amidala found him, and she smiled at the serious look on his face. She moved behind him, and began to massage his back, and was rewarded by his pleasured moans.
"You have an amazing amount of knots Anakin. You're under entirely too much stress."
Anakin chucked at that, though it didn't sound amused. He was silent for a few moments, as if considering. Then suddenly he stopped her hands and turned to look into her eyes. "I'm leaving to save my mother tomorrow morning. To save them all."
It took a few moments for his meaning to reach her and Amidala shook her head. "Anakin, you can't just leave. It's too dangerous, for many reasons. Wait until you're done training, when you are wiser and stronger and have the acceptance of the council."
"I wasn't asking for advice; it's just something I have to do, and now."
"Well, I wish you would ask for advice. Maybe if-"
"Ami, I need your advice."
Amidala frowned. She stared back into his eyes for a moment. They were so deep and beautiful, she wanted to loose herself in them. "Only ask, and you shall receive." She told him finally, wondering what he was up to.
"I'm going to do something that needs to be done, and I may be occupied by it for some time. However, there's this girl. And before I leave, I want to let her know what she means to me. If it were you, how would you want that to be done?"
Amidala hesitated, unsure. Either he was being very blunt, or she had someone to be very, very jealous of. "I would want to be told why he was leaving me, that he would come back to me, and that I was loved. Then I'd want a long, satisfying kiss, before he strode away heroically."
Anakin took her hands in his, still looking solemnly into her eyes . "Amidala, I have to free my mother and the other slaves. It will be dangerous, but I promise I will come back to you. I love you." Then he bent forward, and kissed her deeply for one long, wonderful moment. He broke off gently, and walked away purposefully; heroically.
Amidala sighed as she watched him go. "Couldn't have asked for a better goodbye." She smiled. "Or else I would have." She sighed again though, wondering if she should tell Obi-Wan. "He said he loved you, and the first thing you're going to do is rat on him?" Amidala shook her head at herself, then closed her eyes, remembering that perfect kiss.
~*~
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine looked out over the hangar, watching in the dim light as a man's form slipped between ships to the small interplanetary cruiser that belonged to Obi-Wan.
Palpatine couldn't help but smile. Anakin was leaving already. The force was strong in him, so strong at times he thought he could feel it from any point on Naboo. Perhaps an exaggeration, but then he'd known as soon as Anakin had entered the palace, had known exactly where to find the young apprentice.
Obi-Wan's apprentice, and training to become a jedi knight. Well, things changed over time. And if Anakin continued to follow the path he laid out for him, they would change in his favor, and quickly. He could see to that well enough. With Anakin gone, Obi-Wan would follow. And Amidala's Force empowered protectors would be gone. A good path just for that, but it had other uses.
He had seen to it that what Anakin would find in his home would not be pleasant. He could not be a Jedi if he hated himself. He could not be a Jedi if he hated everyone else. Palpatine laughed to himself; making both those things happen was very much within his control. It was just a matter of time.