Author: Empress Vader
------------------------------
He could tell she was reluctant to go back to Naboo,
to duty. Despite the disaster that had happened with Siri, Couresant was
a serious vacation from the madness of being a Queen. Obi-Wan had let them
be the whole trip, the situation with Siri had led him to do some serious
soul searching himself.
Anakin had actually enjoyed fulfilling his heart's desire
with Padme, Amidala. He still called her Padme in his head sometimes, it
was the name he'd first known her by and she had allowed him to call her
by either name. But he knew, even though both of them were on it, Naboo
was going to be a place where they were forced to be distant.
Amidala took Anakin's hand as they ship landed. "Kiss
me good-bye," she said.
Anakin smiled and kissed her, something that came so naturally
to him now. Just seven years ago, the request would have never came. The
only two people there to greet them were Captain Panaka and Jar-Jar Binks.
Amidala exited the transport first.
"How are things?" Amidala asked them.
"Same," Panaka replied. "We still haven't been able to
track the transmission back to Gunner and Lexar."
"Who are Gunner and Lexar?" Obi-Wan inquired as he exited
the transport with his Padawan in tow.
"Whoa, tha sun Ani," Jar Jar said, completely off topic.
"Ani bombad Jedi now." Jar Jar's eyes were bugging.
Anakin smiled despite himself. "Hello my friend."
"I'll brief you in my office," Panaka said leading the
group out of the hanger and down the stairway that lead to one of the conference
rooms. Sabe and the rest of the handmaidens were there waiting.
"Welcome back my Queen," they all said in turn.
"Hello, I hear things went well. You all remember Anakin
Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi," Amidala said nodding toward them.
They all smiled and said hello. Each girl's glance fell
on the almost man they had seen running at the foot of the Queen's gown
just a few years before.
"Panaka, you may brief them while I go prepare," she motioned
to her handmaidens and they all left the room.
----------------------------------------
Anakin found himself bored as Panaka spent an hour explaining
a data they had right in front of them on Gunner and Lexar. They had the
data, what did they need the speech for? Gunner and Lexar, it seemed, were
a Gungan-Human team who hired fighters for their game. The fighters wore
mask and remained anonymous. People paid to for the broadcast and watched
it in their home. But it was illegal and very underground. No one had been
able to trace the signal directly to the island where it was centered.
They had a volunteer member of the guard go undercover as a fighter and
that's how they'd found them. But in the end, the guard said had had a
change of heart about the sport and disappeared in it.
Anakin really didn't get what the problem was, fisting
wasn't the first battle sport in the galaxy and it looked harmless. The
fighters were padded, there were rules. Podracing was ten times more dangerous
than this and it didn't even exist in the same realm as pit-racing. He
had almost died in each sport and he had to have his senses tuned to it's
zenith just to participate. But this he could do on a bad day, never employing
the force at all. What in the hell was Amidala so worried about? Obi-Wan
was asking Panaka plenty of questions about the sport, but not the right
one.
"Master, may I speak," Anakin finally asked.
"What is it you wish to ask Padawan?"
"Panaka, How many people have actually died in this sport?"
"None, why?"
"Well, when the Queen said it was a blood bath, I expected
something at least resembling the dangers of podracing."
"This is dangerous. Children in the 12 to 17 age range,
your age range, have become obsessed with watching it."
"So, they watch a what, weekly broadcast and it turns
them into monsters. I saw a lot of horrible things---"
"Anakin!!!" Obi-Wan cut in. "That's enough."
"I'm sorry Master," the Padawan replied. It had been a
loooooooong time since he'd let his mind slip like that. He should never
have spoke that way. He should have listened to the situation, evaluated
it on his own terms and then--- "Kiss me good-bye Anakin"
He heard her voice as if she were sitting next to him.
Was that his problem, his distraction?
"Padawan perhaps it would be best if you waited outside
We'll talk later."
Anakin bowed to his master and left the room.
----------------------
Two hours later, Yane came and lead him and Obi-Wan to
their room. They would stay there for the night and then sail to Talok
town. Obi-Wan filled him in on what little more Panaka had said about the
"sport" and it's proprietors. They were given awhile to get settled and
then the Queen came with Sabe and Eriate to request Anakin Skywalker's
company for dinner. Obi-Wan wanted to say no, Anakin could sense it. Amidala
could just read it in the older man's eyes.
"Your invited too, of course," she said.
"It's fine, he can go," Obi-Wan finally replied.
But they didn't go directly to dinner. She took him outside
the palace. Anakin followed Queen Amidala out to the streets. They didn't
hold hands or speak much, he just followed at a distance. The People of
Theed stopped and waved at the Queen as she walked through the marketplace.
She retained her air of authority even while she spoke back to him. He
began to wonder if she ever blinked when she was "the Queen".
"Anakin, I heard how you responded to Captain Panaka,"
Amidala said as her company stopped short of a local school. The bell rang
and children began running out. A little girl and a Gungan child were chatting.
A group of boys, Gungan and human alike, ran to a nearby field throwing
a ball from one to the other. Two sets of teachers, Gungan and human, came
out of the building talking about there children's personality.
"We use to be very divided and we still haven't gotten
everyone together, but we're close, we're on the verge of making Naboo
whole. It's two primary species are beginning to think of each other as
neighbors. Fisting puts that very fragile bond in danger."
"But the two men who run it are a Naboo and a Gungan,
isn't that what you want."
"I want us living together in peace, not violence."
"Sometimes, just sometimes, isn't it okay to just let
your frustrations out."
"Like you and Siri?"
"Siri and I fought a thousand times without ever hurting
each other. It was no different than a lightsaber training course."
Amidala blinked, he could sense she was remembering there
little session, how they had moved together with his lightsaber, how there
minds had touched. They had never made love, but somehow she knew her mind
touching his through the force was so much more powerful. She swallowed
before she continued.
"They're not training for anything Anakin," Amidala replied.
"They're just hurting each other for sport."
"How do you know?"
"What?"
"You don't really know why they're doing it."
"Well that's why your here," Amidala replied trying best
she could to hold in her anger.
Why did she make his tongue lash out the way it did? On
Couresant, at the temple, they had been so tender with each other. Now
they were at odds, bumping heads on this issue like two bulls in a pen.
"I am sorry for speaking the way I have been your highness,
I just don't agree."
"And Obi-Wan? Does he share your opinion?" Amidala asked.
"Obi-Wan keeps an open mind," Anakin replied. In fact,
he had felt that Obi-Wan wasn't entirely sure the situation was what the
Queen was making it out to be either.
"I understand your worry my Queen," Anakin said with a
special emphasis on "my".
Anakin and Amidala turned and headed back to the palace
her handmaidens in tow.
----------------------
That evening, Obi-Wan and Panaka also dinned with the
Queen. After dinner with the Queen and Panaka, Anakin headed to the courtyard
to meditate. He needed to practice his calming exercises now. After spending
so much time close to his Queen, it was hard experiencing this distance
and conflict. He wanted to feel her close to him again, he wanted to wipe
that white make-up from her face. He wanted to tackle her in a kiss and
never let her go.
Then he felt her enter his space, her space actually,
it was her courtyard but his meditation. He slowly allowed himself to slip
back into her world. She said nothing, just walked up to him and touched
his face.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Me too," he said pulling her into his arms and planting
a firm kiss on her lips, so hard he surprised himself.
" Can we do it again?" she asked.
"What?"
"What we did before," she smiled deeply.
He finally understood. "Of course," he said with a smile.
He pulled his lightsaber from his belt, and she nestled
in front of him, gripping the lightsaber over his hands and activating
it. She closed her eyes and inhaled, opened her mind to him the best she
knew how. In a way, opening her mind to him almost seemed natural, too
natural. She couldn't fight her heart with all the common sense she had
been taught and that was a horrible and wonderful thought all at once.
He would always know her heart, but he could also know everything else.
"Feel me, my mind, my soul, my heartbeat," Anakin whispered
into her ear. "and I'll feel yours."
All she could hear was the hum of the lightsaber as they
moved together slowly, slashing at nothing, but becoming one with the weapon.
The music was back, the seductive dance. She could feel the life around
her, the flowers, the people, and most of all Anakin. They were one body
all of a sudden. They were making love, but in a deeper place than the
physical body could ever go. How could they split up tomorrow? Perhaps
they hoped if they disagreed enough , they could stay around each other
longer.
Their dance stopped when he felt Obi-Wan enter the courtyard.
Anakin powered down his lightsaber and Amidala was released from her connection
to the force.
"That lightsaber isn't a toy," Obi-Wan said.
"I know Master. I wasn't playing with it," Anakin replied.
"Just with her."
"I would never play with her."
"On the contrary young Padawan, your playing with each
other. You are on the verge of womanhood my Queen and you are suddenly
realizing that being Queen, as important as it was and still is to you,
has taken away some of your life. And your trying to reclaim it through
Anakin. And Anakin, she's much easier to deal with than your responsibilities."
Anakin finally had had enough. What did Obi-Wan know of
love? He hadn't even seen into Siri's heart, seen that the whole incident
with Anakin was to get to him.
"I love her with every bone in my body Obi-Wan, I would
kill for her."
Amidala didn't seemed to pleased with this violent declaration,
no matter how powerful.
"I don't doubt you love her, you are not the first person
to fall in love Anakin. But at this point in your training."
"He even left the Jedi once...." he suddenly remembered
Siri saying it. "There was a girl....I don't know what their relationship
was."
"Melida/ Daan?" Anakin Questioned. Obi-Wan didn't need
to answer, he could feel the ripples in the force that came with the question.
Obi-Wan sighed and Amidala quietly left knowing that Anakin and Obi-Wan
needed this time alone.
"It wasn't a girl Anakin, it was a whole cause. Melida/Daan,
it made me earn my life as a Jedi. I made a judgment call that even the
council didn't completely disagree with, but what they did completely disagreed
with was breaking the bond Qui-Gon and myself began to develop. That relationship,
that love between a Padawan and his master, it's just as important as anything,
perhaps more."
"And the girl, how does she factor in."
"She was a part of the young. The young had risen against
the elders. They were in a civil war, life was death and death was the
only thing they honored. Qui-gon and I were unwanted guest in a civil war
and it was Cerasi who led us to the young. She had this beautiful copper
hair and these amazing crystal green eyes. Her friend was Neild."
"Just a friend?"
"We were all just friends Anakin, there was never anymore.
We were fighting a war, we didn't have time to go out and have dinner."
"Would you have?"
"At the time, my heart was in conflict about the whole
ordeal. Trust my feelings or Qui-gon's, what do you do when you and the
person you love disagree on a issue so serious. All I knew is the young
seemed right. And they were right in their intentions, we just weren't
ready for the responsibility. Kids, young people, they're just not ready
for certain emotional responsibilities. We won and the adults united, united
against us. I began being called an outsider, after I'd renounced Qui-Gon
and my Jedi training to join them. Only Cerasi was on my side. And the
group of young began breaking up, conflicting on issues. It became less
about what was right for the group and more about what one person wanted.
It was only when both sides and myself lost someone we loved that we realized
what had happened to us. See, Cerasi's father was one of the adult leaders
and he lost his daughter. Neild he was the leader of the Young, he lost
his best friend. And I lost her too. At first, everyone just wanted to
blame the other person and kill each other. I had to call Qui-Gon in to
save us all, make them see what truly had caused Cerasi's death. The temple
shields you from it, the pain so you won't grow up with it. But when your
thirteen and you feel and see death for the first time in someone close,
it still kills a part of you."
"I'm sorry you lost her."
"Maybe it wasn't romantic love, maybe it was. But I never
wanted to feel that strong kind of love again."
"And you haven't"
"Of course I have. I lost Qui-Gon, but it was different.
Qui-Gon, he was like a father, but he gave me something before I left,
you."
"Me," Anakin questioned. "You didn't even like me then."
"No, I didn't like that Qui-Gon liked you. It was like
an only child having to take a back seat the new little baby brother."
Obi-Wan smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "And then, you became like
my son. I wanted to train you not because Qui-Gon wanted me to, but because
you were important to me."
Anakin could do nothing but smile. "And what about Amidala?"
"I know when your young, it's magical and everything is
about the moment. But we are force sensitive. Our feelings can turn on
us very quickly when we allow ourselves to walk blindly into intense emotion.
The dark side of the force can wait for just that moment, the moment your
heart is filled with passion to turn it to something evil. If you don't
control your emotions and aren't able to achieve that inner peace."
"Passions rage out of control," Anakin finished.
"I know you love her Anakin, who doesn't know? But your
time will come and that time is not now. With patience you can one day
have a wonderful life with her. No one will stop you from pursuing her,
but I don't agree with it, not at this moment in your training."
Obi-Wan patted him on the shoulder and left him alone.
Anakin wanted to trust his masters feelings on the issue, but he might
not become a full fledged Knight for another ten years. Anything could
happen by then. Death should have taught Obi-Wan waiting is never good.
Anakin got up and headed back for his room.
When Anakin opened his door, he couldn't speak. She stood
before him, face devoid of make-up, and grabbed him into the room.
"Amidala?" he questioned. "Padme?" he asked when he got
a breath.
"Ever since we were together, in the mind, I could do
nothing but think of you. "
Could touching her through the force involuntarily opened
some part of her controlled part of her brain? HE had to stop this.
"Padme," he said grabbing her hands and holding her at
arms length before she tried to kiss him again. "This isn't you, it's some
weird effect of what we did." He had opened her mind to something more
pure, her desire.
Inhale he said and pulled her close. "Now feel me, then
feel yourself, all of yourself. Not only the part that wants----" He didn't
want to finish, it sounded conceited. "The part that wants me. Just like
I have to control the part that wants---."
He didn't finish, he looked down at her lips and kissed
them softly. They walked over to the bed kissing and fell on it doing so.
Neither of them understood in any verbal rational part of their brain what
was going on, but they finally got the strength to stop.
"This is wrong right now, isn't it," Anakin said looking
at the ceiling.
"Yes, but its feels right," she crawled into his arms
and he kissed her head.
They curled up together and went to sleep. When Anakin
awoke in the morning, she was gone.
It was Jar Jar Binks who saw them off. It was no great
celebration. They got up in the morning, had a quick breakfast and went
to meet their boat. Anakin wondered why Amidala hadn't come to meet them,
he would have loved to talk to her with a clear head. But there was a mission
to finish.
Anakin's long journey to the island that housed Talok
town was uneventful. Anakin and his master spent most of the journey in
meditation and study, it was the first calm time they'd had in days. However,
both were confident the peace they got on the boat, would not last once
they arrived in town.
As they approached the seaport, Anakin saw the town that
made up the island was basically a heap of old buildings. except for the
shiny arena that rose high at it's center. The marketplace surrounding
the arena seemed pretty new also. A few of the buildings looked to be under
renovation. Having spent most of his time on Naboo in Theed the first time
he was here, he was more than a little shocked to see a town in such disrepair.
Nester was the governor of Talok town. Like the rest of
Naboo's officials, he was elected to his position. The governor was waiting
at the seaport with two of his assistants and a bodyguard. When they docked,
the governor greeted them with the usual pleasantries.
"My sources tell me the Jedi do not agree with the Queens
assessment of our game," the governor said.
Anakin was a little thrown off by this comment, what sources?
The calm of the trip and long meditation had given Anakin a clearer head.
He felt no need to make the same outburst he had in front of Panaka.
"We have not decided," Obi-Wan said. "We do not serve
the Queen. We serve the best interest of the people. The Jedi are merely
peacemakers."
"May I speak openly," asked the Governor.
"Please do?"
":I only ask because I have heard the Jedi can sense deception
and I want to remain as honest as possible. Our sport is harmless and the
proceeds are being used to rebuild the town. Even before the arrival of
the trade federation this place was hard to manage. The Queen sitting in
her high castle in Theed has no idea what it's like for my citizens. And
I may also mention, Naboo's more glorious cities have had little to no
luck uniting Naboo's humans and Gungans. They had to fight both groups
to get them in school together. Because Talok is basically an island, we
are very close to our Gungan population. You can walk through our small
marketplace any day and see them working side by side. The game, Fisting,
isn't for the soul profit of it's creators, everyone has benefited. And
our dome." The governor pointed to the arena. "Is a product of combined
technologies. "
"You can't deny the sport promotes violence," Obi-Wan
entered.
"These aren't grudge matches. We don't purposely put people
together to kill each other. Many of the fighters have trained together,
have kids who play together, they go out for drinks after their matches."
"But it's illegal," Obi-Wan said.
"Not everything put into law is right. When you go back
to Theed, ask the Queen about little Toric and his cousin. They were twelve
and made their own little business. A newsletter for kids. For one article
on Fisting, they were locked up overnight. Two brilliant entrepreneurial
children."
"Were the arrested in Theed?" Anakin asked. It was the
first time he'd entered anything into the conversation. It was obvious
to Anakin this guy didn't like the Queen, but now he was going to far.
Implying she would lock up children. To hear him talk, you'd see Amidala
as a cruel tyrant and that she wasn't.
"No, a city north of Theed," the governor replied. "The
Queen actually released them and apologized to their families. But she
used the incident as a platform on the evils of fisting. I sometimes think
she only let the kids go so she could use the incident."
"Pad--the Queen would never use a child's misfortunes
like that. If she spoke upon it, it was because she honestly considers
fisting a social issue."
The governor smiled. "So young Jedi, the Queen has charmed
you."
Anakin definatly did not like this governor.
"Boy, the only reason the Queen hasn't gotten rid of me
is because she knows how Talok citizens would react. I was just like her
at first, tried to end fisting early on," The governor continued. "Then
I saw Lexar and Gunner were only trying to help. I saw the things they
did for the community with their profits. So I accepted it for the good
of Talok. I invite you, unofficially of course to see tonight's fight.
And, unofficially, tour the gym and meat some of our fighter."
"We accept," Obi-Wan said to him.
"Audi will show you to your rooms," the governor said
pointing to his assistant.
The Jedi left with Audi.
A few hours later, Audi escorted the Jedi to the gym. The gym, unlike
the arena, was one of the older building. The fisting fighters had been
using it since the beginning. Anakin was impressed most by the Gungan fighters.
The only Gungan Anakin had ever known personally was Jar Jar Binks and
he could barely make two steps without tripping over them. But the well
trained Gungan fighters made good use of their rubbery flexible bodies.
To Anakin's surprise, a well trained Gungan had excellent maneuverability.
And the punches these guys could throw could leave one knocked out for
months. Jar Jar probably would have given his left arm to have some of
their skills when he got attacked by Sebulba. The humans weren't to shabby
themselves. With a few more aliens added into the mix, this game could
get quite interesting.
Obi-Wan didn't looked as impressed. His expression remained completely
neutral.
"New fighters," a large, muscled man questioned as he approached the
Jedi and Audi.
"No, they're the Jedi the Queen requested," Audi replied.
"Well then I guess the best thing for you to do is meet Gunner and Lexar,"
the fighter said. "My names Hersham by the way."
"Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker," Obi-Wan replied introducing them
both.
Hersham led them through the gym to an office in the back. Gunner and
Lexar were wearing a set of gloves, no pads, punching at each other. Lexar
(the Gungan) had just landed a hard blow to Gunner's chin when they turned
and noticed they had company. Gunner laughed and put an arm around his
friend's shoulder.
"You still throw a mean left," Gunner said to his friend.
"Thee sun guys musen be the Jedi," Lexar added. "Messa Lexar and thisun
mesa buddy Gunner."
"You guys were just fighting," Anakin replied.
"Wesun fightin' all the time, don't be meanin' nothin' to us."
Anakin smiled, impressed by this. Obi-Wan didn't look so thrilled.
"Well," said Gunner. "You've seen our gym. Now you need to come see
the "dome"."
"The dome?" Anakin questioned.
"Our arena where the fights are held," Gunner replied.
"Mesun goin' gettin' yousa speeder," Lexar said.
"Meet you out front," Gunner replied.
Lexar left the room toweling himself off.
"Lexar and I use to come to this building all the time and just hang
out," Gunner replied. "Now all our fighters practice here."
"How long have you known Lexar," Obi-Wan questioned.
"We met when we were kids. Being an island instead of a big city on
the mainland, Gungan's are often seen and communicated with, but they weren't
known for becoming friends with humans. So people weren't to keen on it,
even when we were kids. One day Lexar got so mad about being teased for
having a human friend he wanted to beat in a wall. I was experiencing the
same thing, so we decided to fight one day, just let it all out. I had
a broken jaw and Lexar had a swollen eye, but we both felt good. We laughed
when it was over. We never went home with those kind of injures again,
but it was easier to deal with the world after a fight. We found this building.
Wasn't even being used, and started fighting. A couple friends found out
what we were doing and started peaking in on us. One day I told them the
next time they came, they had to fight. Parents were horrified, they boarded
up the building hoping to stop us. But it was fun, half the time we didn't
even hurt each other. But every once in a while someone went home with
a black eye or something."
Gunner began leading them out the building to the waiting speeder. He
continued his story as they got in and drove off. "Police did everything
to stop us, but we always found a place. There were only about eight of
us then. Two Gungans besides Lexar and four humans besides me. We were
considered the bad group. And a bad influence. Kids started betting on
our fights. It was a problem, I won't deny that. Finally, my father said
'If you want to fight, fine, but I'm going to put you in a controlled environment.
So he bought the building, built a ring and talked our parents into letting
us hang out there after school. Time restrictions were put on things, you
could be banned for fighting elsewhere and he added the pads, which made
the parents happy. We were teenagers by then, about that boys age." Gunner
pointed to Anakin. "More kids started showing up, both to fight and watch.
We had competitions and as the crowds got bigger, I decided to start charging
for it. My father thought it would turn people away, it didn't. The governor
was against it. So Lexar and I donated the proceeds from the fight to the
School. Then half the money from the next fight to rebuilding one of the
older buildings. Pretty soon the governor saw the benefits of the sport,
but decided to make certain legal safety precautions. We had a few pockets
here and there that paid for the broadcast. Then the Trade Federation came
in. After the Queen won the planet back, people seemed to want fisting
more. It was those funds that allowed us to build the dome. But then the
Queen got wind of the sport and ---"
"She think it nutsen', Wan it goin' away," Lexar added. "Wesen tryin'
to comply."
"Then a building collapsed," Gunner said. "And we had to raise money
to rebuild it. We don't live in the most lavish city in the world, but
we have a tight community and heavy regulations for fisting, even if they
are now unofficial."
"It's a nice story," Obi-Wan said. "But have you ever thought about
what might happen if children decide to imitate fisting without the safety
precautions."
"It never hurt us," Gunner said. "In my opinion, kids need a black eye
here and there. I know the Jedi will never agree with that."
"Fightun' not about anger. Sometime fightun' easier than talkin' and
get yousen to da same place," Lexar said.
"Sort of like me and Siri," Anakin added happily. "We fought all the
time just to get things off our chest."
"Yes, and look how quickly that turned on you," Obi-Wan added.
"That was different," Anakin said.
"Was it? Because you saw fighting as the answer to your problems, violence
was the first thing you turned to when you had a problem with each other."
"What's the difference between my sessions with Siri and lightsaber
practice," the Padawan argued.
"The difference is we're training you to use this weapon." He held up
his own saber. "As a last resort. You and Siri spoke with violence, so
it was the only way you know how to speak."
"Good intentions are fine. But good intentions don't always lead to
positive results. Good intentions have caused some of the greatest tragedies
of the galaxy."
"So your against Fisting," Gunner asked.
"Fisting seems harmless in the here and now, causing more benefits than
harm. But I can't see it causing any good in the future, in fact in may
cause much trouble," Obi-Wan began. "Let's say this sport gets big enough
on Naboo to attract other species. Someone takes it off Naboo and ups the
violence for profit. In other words, Anakin, it could become just as dangerous
as podracing."
"You can't hold them accountable for----"
"If one lights a match and hands it to a person with explosives, who's
more responsible for the explosion?"
Anakin sighed and was silent.
They entered the "Dome" and Gunner and Lexar alternately explained the
rules to them. Before and After each fight, fighters shook hands. Fisting
fighters wore head guards and padded gloves. the chest guards were too
restricting and they were removed. They had two types of matches, the second
added recently. They started with the new event, endurance. An event mostly
for the new fighters. There were five fighters and hundreds of floating
blubber balls. Points were gained by capturing as many blubber balls as
possible in five minutes, but you had to dodge them so often, it was difficult
to do. And if you got hit by one in motion, it could knock you out. If
it hit you hard enough, you could be left knocked out for hours---which
mean you couldn't collect the balls. So dodging and deflecting them was
just about as important as capturing them. And if you were crafty enough
to deflect one at a competitor, you showed real skill. Once that game was
over, the real match began, the fight. A one on one match against opponents.
In the original rules you were only allowed to hit you opponent with you
fist, but they had come to allow kicking. Any hits below the waist or head
butts got you disqualified. They had at least three rounds that lasted
for four minutes. If someone was knocked out, the match was over.
.
The entire arena was known as the "Fisting Dome". But there was an
actual dome. The match was fought on a platform that generated a dome during
the fight. The dome was similar to the one the Gungans used for the shields
in their army. It had been tinkered with somewhat to make it tougher. The
dome came up at the beginning of the fight and didn't come down until either
someone was seriously hurt or time was up. After hundreds of fights, the
only seriously listed injuries were two guys with broken legs, a broken
arm, and one guy with some cracked ribs. There was a Doctor on staff and
a treatment room inside the arena.
Anakin wanted to compete, even if it was just in an endurance match.
The scale of it amazed him. Sometimes when he was in the Jedi temple, he
felt choked by his role. He wanted to use his gift in the force to better
the world, but some days the pressures of his training got to be to much
and he just wanted to run. This is when fighting with Siri came in handy,
and he didn't even have that to go back to now. Why did he have to kiss
her and ruin their friendship? The blubber balls probably weren't much
harder to capture than the seeker droids were to destroy. But there were
so many of them, it would still be a challenge.
Obi-Wan followed Lexar to the treatment room as one of the technician
came out to check the dome. He had a droid with him. Gunnar stepped up
beside Anakin.
"Anakin right?" Gunner asked.
"Yes," Anakin replied. "How fast do the blubber balls move?"
"You want to see?" Gunner asked.
Anakin smiled a mischievous smile. "Can I try it?"
"A boy after my own heart," Gunner said signaling the technician over
to him.
"Hey, I'm going to let this kid in the dome for the demonstration,"
Gunner told him.
"I've never seen him before," the Tech said.
"He's not a fighter," Gunner replied.
"But I thought we only allowed guys with 20 hours gym time inside."
"He's a Jedi," Gunner said patting the boy across the back. "He's had
plenty of training."
"What about Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked.
"He's busy seeing the rest of our facilities, I'm sure that's more than
enough time for us to have a little fun. Go on up"
Anakin unhitched his lightsaber and gave it to Gunner. "Unfair advantage,
he said running up to the platform.
Anakin heard the hum of the dome generating. Then small
holes opened up on the floor below him and small balls that could fit in
the palm of his hand rose out of them. The holes closed and in a flash
the balls began to bounce off the walls. Anakin just ducked a ball coming
at his chest and rolled across the floor. He reached up for a ball and
another ball hit him in the back of his head. Caught unprepared, he fell
to the floor of the platform. For a few seconds, everything went black.
"Kid, you alright," he heard someone yell.
"Fine," he said so low no one could hear him. He inhaled,
exhaled and rose to his feet with renewed energy. He became fire and lightning.
Being hit with the ball had somehow brought him back to life. He anticipated
a ball bouncing toward him, spun around and deflected it into another ball
that swung right into his hands. He grabbed the ball, spun around to deflect
another one and grabbed a second ball. He dropped those two, they were
harmless now. He ducked a ball flying towards his head and deflected another
with a punch.
Gunner was amazed at his speed. Anakin had suddenly become
a three times quicker than any fighter he knew. The kid was ducking, dodging,
deflecting, and capturing balls like a pro. He was really shocked when
the kid swung through the air and landed on the other side of the platform.
The Tech was shocked too. The bell rung when the time was up. Anakin had
stopped all but a few balls. The dome cam down and Anakin rose the balls
in his hand in victory.
"How'd I do?" he asked.
"Better than anyone I've seen kid," Gunner replied slapping
him on the back and handing him the lightsaber. It was then he noticed
the smile drop from the teenagers face. Gunner turned and saw Obi-Wan standing
there with Lexar and Gunner.
"Let's go Anakin," Obi-Wan said.
"But Master---"
"Anakin!" Obi-Wan said more sharply than he intended.
Anakin jumped from the platform and followed his master
out of the arena.
Gunner joined Lexar. Lexar looked at him curiously.
"Yousa gotten dat look. What yousa tinkin' 'bout," Lexar
asked.
"That kid, he would make an awesome fighter."
"But hessa Jedi"
"He wants it, he needs it Lexar, I saw it in his eyes."
"Sumptin' tellin' me, gettin' dat Jedi involved be bombad."
"Plus," Audi added, "He seems pretty protective of the
queen. We Governor Nester and I met them at the dock, kid didn't react
till the governor talked bad about the Queen."
"Don't you see, this is perfect. He has a soft spot for
the Queen, but he's in favor of fisting."
"And he's a Naboo hero."
"What?" Gunner replied shocked.
"After Anakin got defensive, I wondered how the Queen
knew these Jedi. It was obvious this wasn't a random request for their
help by the boys reaction," Audi explained. "Remember that kid who saved
us from the Trade federation by blowing up the droid control ship?"
"Yeah" Gunner and Lexar replied together.
"Kid," Audi said pointing. "Seven years later."
"Yousa kiddin" Lexar said shocked.
"No true story. And the way the story goes he was pretty
good pals with the queen. He pulled out a small holloprojector and up came
an image of a boy with the older Jedi who had just left them---a few years
younger. "That's him."
Their rooms were in the Governor's house. They had two
connected guest rooms. Anakin sat downstairs on a couch alone. Obi-Wan
had left him there, determined not to come at him in anger. Anakin didn't
know what to do with himself. Should he stay put until Obi-Wan spoke to
him or get up and read or something? Should he meditate on what had happened?
But all he'd done is play with some balls. He hadn't fought anyone, he
hadn't hurt anyone, he hadn't broken anything, there was no great tragedy-------he
had played with some balls----and he hadn't even been competing-----it
was just him.
He wished Amidala was there. If he closed his eyes and
concentrated, he swore he could feel her energy, her life force flowing
through him and almost felt as if he could send this same feeling to her.
Sharing that connection, feeling her mind through the force, allowing her
to feel his, had really been an exhilarating, unbelievable high. To touch
her, to know her, to feel her, made him whole. And once he left Naboo,
he didn't know if he would feel her as strongly. He felt Obi-Wan enter.
His attention turned to him right away.
"Anakin"
"Yes master," the Padawan replied.
"Do you understand what you did wrong?"
"No, I didn't fight anyone."
"As Jedi, we step into a situation neutrally and evaluate
it. You broke that." Obi-Wan sighed and sat beside him. "We aren't here
to take sides. Make decisions, but not take sides. And, in addition, we
should look like we are on the same side."
"So we can't disagree."
"We are different people Anakin, very different. There
will always come a time when we disagree, but we should keep those disagreements
between us. When I saw you today, I saw myself on Melinda/Daan. I don't
want you to make my mistake, leaving the Jedi was nearly the mistake that
destroyed my life."
Ah, that was it. Now Anakin understood. Though he didn't
see how his playing with some balls was related to being a leader in a
planet's revolution, he kind of understood how Obi-Wan might see it that
way. But he had given up to much to be a Jedi to suddenly leave it all
behind.
"We're not going to the match tonight."
"I understand," Anakin replied
Obi-Wan gave the boy a fatherly hug and there was peace
between them again. Then they heard the door open and went to see who was
entering. Anakin's eyes nearly dropped from their sockets in surprise.
Coming in the door was the Governor, Audi, and the Queen with a small party.
Amidala looked straight at him, he saw her blush under her make-up. He
hoped he wasn't blushing himself---he was.
Neither one of them paid much attention to Audi, who was
studying them both.
"Queen Amidala, quite surprising to see you here," Obi-Wan
replied.
Amidala turned to the governor. "May I speak to the Jedi
alone?"
"Of course my queen," the governor said stepping back
and opening the door to his study.
The Jedi and the Queen slipped inside the room. She looked
straight at Anakin "I heard you, your distress."
"You heard him?" Obi-Wan questioned.
"Yes, I think it has something to do with that thing we
did." Amidala said as innocently as a little girl.
"I've never heard of this happening before."
"Doesn't matter, what was the problem."
"Nothing serious, I was in the dome and got into a little
trouble with Obi-Wan."
"The Dome!!," The Queen exclaimed. "You are out here to
stop that blood bath."
"It's not a blood bath, it's a sport. There are millions
of sports out in the galaxy. and some of them could rightfully be called
bloodbaths, this one cannot. It's nothing like podracing, their are rules."
Obi-Wan slipped out of the room, this was quickly turning
into a lover's quarrel and anything he added would be quickly dismissed.
He'd let his Padawan work through it. And he was now pondering something,
Anakin had done something no one had ever done before, or at least something
he'd never heard of before. Touched someone's mind so deeply through the
force that they could sense him. It was quite unusual and he needed to
contact Yoda.
"I don't care if it's less harsh than podracing. People
have been hurt, Anakin Skywalker. And is it sport for which people to pay
to see others hurt."
His whole name, did that mean she was really angry with
him? He didn't want to upset her, but he believed he was right. "How often
do people actually get seriously injured while fisting. Have you seen their
injury list? This isn't about people or Gungans getting hurt. It's about
your people doing something you don't like. If you didn't like cheese,
would you outlaw it? If you didn't like me, would you outlaw me."
Amidala smiled slightly and laughed to herself. The thought
of outlawing Anakin, the boy who had saved her planet, we ridiculous. "I
guess the Queen has again been taught a lesson by young Anakin. Perhaps,
I have been a little misguided in my campaign against the sport."
"Why didn't you say good-bye to me?"
"A little embarrassed I suppose. I feel naked around you
now."
His eyebrow rose with the word naked.
"Not literally of course," Amidala added. "It's disturbing
and wonderful and scary and---"
"I know it's scary. I feel it too, but--"
"Anakin, I'm a Queen, I'm an example for a people. I can't
act like some foolish lovesick teenager. I did that once and it nearly
cost me my position."
"Huh?"
"There was a boy. A year after you left for the temple."
Anakin was in shock.
"He was eighteen, he has this lovely brown skin, beautiful
eyes----I'm sorry," she said feeling a sudden jolt run through her. "You
don't want to hear this."
"I'm okay," he said through a cracked voice.
"Your a liar, I can feel it," Amidala replied.
"I want to here it," he replied.
"Oh, little Ani," Amidala replied touching his face. "I
never expected. How could I have ever thought I loved him? If I had known"
He reached up and grazed her cheek with his hand and leaned
toward her. She met his move with her own and their lips touched softly,
testing. Their was no doubt in any of their minds how strong the bond had
become between them, for they could feel it from one another. And with
this knowledge, Anakin deepened the kiss.
Little did they know Audi sat in an adjoining room. He had slipped in
the room just as the kiss began and heard none of the conversation before
it. The Queen and Anakin had never noticed the recording device hidden
in the room. The governor and Gunner had come in with Audi.
"Well well well," said the governor. Seems our Queen has a Jedi lover.
"Even if he is a hero, this will turn more than a few heads in the press."
"How old is this kid?" Gunner asked.
"Sixteen standard years I think," replied Audi. "Questionable age?"
"Possibly, enough of an age difference for their to be an added interest."
"But we don't wish to anger the Queen," the governor replied.
"No, but now we have leverage," Gunner replied. "After what happened
when she was 15, she won't want this spilled to the public. You think the
other Jedi knows?"
"Why do you think he gave them a moment alone?" the governor replied.
"As stiff as that Queen seems sometimes, I never would have guessed it."
"You think the disagreement was just for our benefit?" Audi questioned.
"That the kid is really here to get inside the game. Find the evidence
the Queen needs."
"I don't know," Gunner replied. "But she's not taking fisting away from
us. And this is what's going to stop her. "
Anakin had to stop himself, he was breathless .from the
kiss, his mind racing. So was she. They sat down beside each other and
she laid against him. Amidala found herself able to speak more easily after
that kiss, after showing him how deep her feelings ran for him, so much
different than that guy, the one that--
"I think your ready to hear about him now," Amidala began.
"He was a bright young man. A prodigy of sorts. I didn't even know he was
interested in politics, he had been studying marine biology at the university
for three years. The first unification project between the Gungans and
the humans was a student exchange. He was one of those students."
"Does he have a name?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, but I'd rather not say it, hurts to much to say
it. I was foolish, I let him romance me, I believed his lies. I trusted
my feelings and they were wrong. He wanted to be king Anakin. He purposely
leaked a compromising moment to the press. I almost made a serious mistake
Anakin, I nearly gave myself to him."
He could feel her shame, and much like when he fought
Siri -- he wanted to destroy the person who made her feel this way. But
the feelings subsided. he could sense She needed his warmth and understanding.
Not anger, not aggression.
"Is this guy still on Naboo?"
"No," Amidala replied. "He lied about how I seduced him.
How I used my position to take advantage of him. And then."
"Then what?"
"Tried to take my throne. If it wasn't for my handmaidens,
especially Sabe, I might be back on my parents farm right now."
Anakin pulled her closer and kissed her forehead.
"I want to see this fisting match. I may not like it,
but if it's as harmless as you claim I will make sure to see that we make
it legal. Of course, I'll want to have to set up some strict regulations."
Anakin smiled. Amidala pulled out a comlink and called
in her handmaidens. She looked a little rough and ruffled after her encounter
with Anakin. She was certainly in no condition to speak to the mayor.
"I'll see you later," Anakin asked as he prepared to depart.
"You and your master will be escorting me to the fight
tonight?"
"Of course we will," Anakin replied with a bow, leaving
as the handmaidens entered.
Sometime later, soon after the Queen had been led to her
room, there was a knock at her door. The governor requested her presence
downstairs. She came with two of her handmaidens. She was surprised to
find the governor with the elusive Gunner and Lexar and that strange assistant
of his, Audi.
"My Queen," the governor said bowing. He seemed to have
this smirk as he said it and his manner seemed as slimy as a Nemodian.
"I think you've met Gunner, this is his Gungan partner, Lexar."
"Hello Queenie Ma'm, Wesa hopin' maybe yousa giben us
a break on dis fistin'."
"We've acquired information that may sway your opinion."
Gunner turned on the recording they had made, Lexar looked
a little bit puzzled as he did it. displayed in front of them was a small
holo image of the kiss she shared with Anakin. The queen felt her world
crashing in again. Everything was swirling through her head at once and
then she heard the door open. Anakin came in and looked puzzled, then he
saw what they had all been viewing.
"The suitor to the queen ," the Governor announced. "You
know, it's kind of romantic. The queen falling in love with the sweet little
boy that saved her planet. But at the same time, you have to wonder if
your people will see it that way. Especially after your "previous encounters".
They might just wonder about the 'real' reason you called for the Jedi's
help, the 'real' reason the Jedi are here. Why, they'd question Jedi morals
themselves. All hail the queen, seductress of young Jedi in training. A
boy barely sixteen years old."
"Who did this!" Anakin yelled.
"Isen liken' be knowin' too." the Gungan interupted. "Mesa
sorry. Yousa should know, no matter how much we'sa wanna keep the game,
Lexar no doin' dis."
"Lex, it's the only way," Gunner yelled at him. "Look
what we've done for Talok, rebuild schools, apartments, provided for our
town. Now she wants to take it all away."
While he was talking to Lexar, Anakin swung the holoprojector
across the room and it smashed into a wall. Shattering the recording inside.
"That was only a copy boy," the Governor chuckled.
"What do I have to do to get the original?"
"There's nothing you can do, it was the only way to get
her to back off. It was the only way to save my city."
"You don't know anything!" Anakin yelled. "She was going
to back off! She was going to give the game a chance, but you wouldn't
give her a chance."
"Your lying, trying to protect your precious Queen again."
"Your Queen!" Anakin yelled. "Or have you forgotten?"
"Anakin stop," Amidala yelled. "He's lost his position
as far as I'm concerned. The people trust me, they will support me in removing
this scum from office."
"I'll fight." Anakin said.
"You can't," Amidala said.
"Do you really think you have the skill to take on one
of our fighters," the governor asked.
"Don't slight the kid," Gunner interceded. "He's got skills.
You forget he's a Jedi."
"Jedi in training," the governor corrected.
Anakin rose his hand and the governor felt an invisible
grip on his throat. It took Amidala only a second to recognize what was
happening.
"Anakin, let him go," Amidala yelled. "It's not worth
it. You're not going to fight."
Anakin released the governor.
"What I'm not going to do is let them hurt you all over
again?"
'I'd kill for her.' Amidala heard the words in
her head as clearly as if he'd said them just now. "Anakin, you know what?
I don't care who knows. This isn't like him, like Cain Markell."
The governor saw himself losing his leverage, he couldn't
let this turn into a sap fest.
"Okay, you fight, your get the original and all the copies.
We all keep our mouths shut about your little affair."
"It's not an affair!" Anakin yelled.
"He's not fighting," Amidala insisted.
"I have too"
The Queen couldn't fight him anymore. At least the game
was a controlled arena. Unlike what happened with Siri. He and the mayor
shook on it. And the deal was done.
Obi-Wan had been quite disappointed in his Padawan when
he found out about the deal the boy had made. He told him he wasn't going
to fight in the fisting match, but his words hit a brick wall. So Obi-Wan
had simply said, "Tonight, you make a decision. I'm leaving for the temple,
I've already arranged transport back to the main land. I've told you this
before Padawan and I'll say it again. You invite chaos and it's what scares
me the most about you."
For more than a minute, he'd thought about leaving with
Obi-wan, but in the end he stayed to fight. Anakin entered the Dome arena
with Lexar, who had apologized numerous times for his partners behavior.
Anakin had told him it was okay and Lexar had volunteered to get him ready.
The governor had wasted no time in letting word get around
about the Jedi being in the match. It said nothing about his opponent,
only that he was undefeated. Anakin wasn't really worried. He was in good
shape, he didn't even have to use the force.
As the endurance match went on, Lexar prepped him for
the match, re explaining the rules. He would be fighting a Gungan. He was
experienced and strong. Lexar pointed him out, Anakin had never seen a
Gungan with Muscles and he had rarely seen anyone with so many. If it wasn't
for the Queen sitting in the audience, supporting him, he might have backed
out. But his closest thoughts fell on another, Siri. This is where the
intensely competitive fighting they'd done in the past would serve him.
The endurance match was over. The music began. Bo was
the name of the Gungan champ. People cheered as he entered the ring. Anakin
had to block the Queen's fear from his own mind as he viewed this muscle
bound fighter. Anakin ascended onto the dome platform with confidence.
Size didn't matter. Yoda was the most well respected Jedi master of them
all and he was the smallest. He would defeat Bo because he had to. Anakin
heard the buzz of the dome as it generated. This was it, the moment of
truth.
Bo circled him. He was huge and strong, that much was
obvious, but he was slow. He threw the first punch and Anakin ducked it.
He threw another and Anakin again dodged it. He smiled to himself, this
was going to be simpler than he thought. But his cockiness came to soon.
He mistepped and Bo's fist slammed into his face. It didn't knock him out
or knock him down, but he was so dazed from the punch that he never saw
the second one coming or the third or the fourth. And the fifth knocked
him to the floor of the platform. He hit the ground hard.
In the Audience, Queen Amidala sat with her heart in her
throat, watch blood spill from Anakin's mouth with that last push. Her
heart dropped as the crowd cheered. She wanted to turn away, to run into
a corner and cry for him, or demand that the fight end and pull him to
safety, but somehow she held on to the Amidala facade and dealt with the
scene before her.
As the count began, Anakin lifted from the ground. Renewed
by the same force he had been renewed by when he missed the ball that had
knocked him to the very same floor. He saw his blood on the floor beneath
him. It only made him more determined. And he felt her pain. He was here
for her.
He raised to his feet and faced Bo, a frightening grin
on his face as the count stopped. Bo came toward him, fist swinging. Anakin
blocked it, flipped out the way, moved so quickly Bo didn't know if he
was going or coming half of the time. On his first opening, Anakin hit
his left side then his right, Bo became so dazed, Anakin got off hit after
hit. His opponent didn't back down and landed quite a few hits on Anakin,
but only one or two that actually made their mark. When the round ended,
Bo came back with renewed strength, but Anakin came back stronger then
he had in the first round. Part of the crowd was booing him, the other
half cheering him on. But none of it mattered, Anakin couldn't hear it,
all he heard was Amidala's need for it to end. So he ended it. With strength
pulled from some unknown place, he knocked out Bo. When the count was over
and he was declared winner, his world went black.
Anakin awoke on what he figured out was a boat. He was
on his way back to Theed. Amidala was sitting over him dabbing his face
with a cloth.
"I didn't know queens handled this type of job," Anakin
said attempting a smile, but his face hurt. In fact, his whole body was
on fire. He tried to filter it out through the force, but he couldn't concentrate.
"What happened?" he struggled to ask.
"I don't know. It seemed like you were knocked out, but
then you got up. It was like you were on fire, I could hardly stand to
watch. You threw yourself into the fight, throwing hit after hit. He hit
you quite a few times too, but it never seemed to phase you until Bo was
knocked out. Then you fell.
Amidala handed Anakin a mirror. He sat up and looked at
his face. His cheek was swollen and so was his eye. He looked like he had
been beat in the face. It was nothing detrimental. Then he remembered why
he had fought.
"The recording?" he asked.
"I have it. And I've reached an agreement with the governor,
though after what happened to you I didn't want too. He's agreed to the
abiding by my regulations and we will make sure the proceeds continue to
go to urban renewal. I wasn't really in the mood to deal with him, but
I wanted it to be over. I'm sorry I involved you Anakin."
"I'm not," Anakin said hoarsely.
"Anakin," Amidala said softly holding his hand. "You once
said you would kill for me. I'm glad to know you love me that much, but
you must make me a promise."
"What?"
"That you never will kill for me."
"I promise."
"You said that to quickly," Amidala replied, gripping
his hand harder. "As afraid as I was when I saw you might be hurt, I was
even more afraid of the rage with which you fought. I don't admire it Anakin,
even if it was for my honor. Promise me."
"If it's what you want, that promise is yours. I love
you Padme."
"I love you Ani."
--------------------------------------
When they arrived in Theed, Anakin was given immediate
medical attention. While he sat in the recovery room, he thought about
Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan had left him, much like Qui-Gon had left Obi-Wan on Melida/Daan.
He, like Obi-Wan, had sacrificed the relationship with his Master. Yoda
actually liked Obi-Wan, even after he messed up. But Yoda had never liked
him, Yoda was looking for an excuse to make sure the Padawan didn't succeed
as a Jedi.
"I guess I'm not as brave as Qui-Gon," a familiar voice
said.
"Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked.
"Yes Padawan," Obi-Wan replied. "You understand you will
have to be punished."
"Yeah," he said with a smile, relief washing over him.
"And you will have to let Amidala be for sometime."
This time, there was little relief in this reply, "I understand.
I'm glad you didn't give up on me."
"How can I, your the chosen one," Obi-wan replied, placing
a gentle hand on his Padawan's back.
Later that night, Amidala came to see him. They shared
a final good-bye, and a final kiss. In the morning there was a more formal
good-bye and before he knew it he was back at the temple, a little more
lonely. That night he dreamed of Amidala, of removing all her make-up instead
of half and taking her into his arms.