Chapter 2
The Jedi Starfighter hovered silently above the landing platform at the Jedi Temple, it's lone human occupant focused entirely on the process. Never seeing the single tenant of the runway, sitting on some crates, absentmindedly twirling an unengaged lightsaber in her hand. As the landing gear took hold of the ship, the hatch opened to reveal a sandy haired Padawan dressed in black Jedi garb. As the young Padawan lifted himself from the cab, he finally sensed the other presence.
"Chloe Amidala. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Anakin Skywalker asked as he exited the vehicle, the setting sun glimmering off his newly acquired gold mechanical hand, which lay where his right once had.
"What? I can't wait for my oldest and dearest friend?" Chloe asked as she stood to greet her friend. As they embraced she felt the cold metal of his new hand on her neck, but kept silent. Looking past him, she watched as two droids were deposited from the ship. A golden protocol droid, one that Chloe had never seen before, and a blue astromech droid, which could only be, "Artoo!" Chloe laughed as she watched the small droid fly past the other, never stopping, as the two appeared to be in a heated argument. "Well Anakin, I'm glad to see you brought one of your oldest friends back with you. I'm surprised to see my sister let him go."
Slightly blushing Anakin ducked his head. "Your sister is a kind and loving woman. She lent me her trusted droid for a safe flight home. But unfortunately they will not be staying long. They will be leaving Coruscant soon to go back to Naboo and Padme."
"And will you be joining them?" Chloe said knowingly as the couple made their way from the landing dock.
"We will see." Anakin said. "Why are you so curious?"
"No reason. I mean it's not like you're in love with her or anything." Chloe said as she walked ahead of him, down one of the long corridors in the temple.
"Wait!" Anakin said running up to catch her and grabbed her arm, pushing her against the wall. "What do you know?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"Anakin calm down." Chloe whispered as Anakin put more pressure on her wrist, the harsh metal wrapping around it. "I saw the way you two were on Geonosis. Be- -Master Kenobi told me of your…well…feelings."
"He had no right to!" He hissed.
"What, to tell me of my oldest friend and of my sister? Anakin calm down. I don't think he suspects what I do. It's evident all around you. I can see it. You are in love, and I am more than certain my sister feels the same. I won't tell anyone Anakin. I would never do that, I could never do that. Now let me go you're overreacting, and you're hurting me as well." Chloe whispered back as she pushed him off of her, rubbing her wrist once he had let it go. "Jeez Anakin! What has gotten into you?" She asked still rubbing her wrist.
Reaching up, Anakin raked a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. I overreacted. It's just, you know as well as I the oaths we take as Jedi."
"Yes." Chloe said quietly ducking her head, willing her mind not to think of Obi-Wan, as the two once again began their walk through the temple. "I won't dare say a word."
"Thank you." Anakin said thoughtfully, finally calming. "But my master had no right to talk to you about my life!" He said, feeling his anger building once again.
"He came to me in confidence Anakin. As a trusted friend. As yours as well as his. We all need someone to talk to. Obi-Wan trusts me, we have a wonderful relationship and he knows that I would never betray that." Chloe's determined voice whispered.
"I understand. But honestly I don't understand why you get along better with my Master then I do?" Anakin said.
"Perhaps because I am not a spoiled brat!" Chloe said, smacking Anakin lightly.
"Really? Well perhaps you should take a look at yourself before you speak!" Anakin joked. "But since you and my Master carry on so well, then maybe we should make him yours."
"Maybe we will." Chloe said slyly.
"Wait, what is that supposed to mean? You already have a master…"
"He died." She said shortly. "At the battle on Geonosis."
"I am sorry Chloe. I hadn't known."
"It's alright, you were obviously busy with other things." She paused to look at his new hand. "Other people." She said smiling as she nudged him.
"So, are they considering you for…"
"The trials? No. Apparently I'm too caught up with my feelings. And if that's true maybe they should look at you!"
"Hey, not talking about me right now." Anakin said. "So, they're assigning you a new master than. And by your tone you are hoping it to be mine. So, that would mean that the council is considering me for the trials finally?" Anakin goaded.
"Perhaps. But don't get your hopes up. Your master is in a meeting with them as we speak. And as we all know, you can never tell what the council might decide. I'm proof of that right there." Chloe said.
"I can't believe they won't let you take the trials. You're on par with me, and you're four years younger!" Anakin exclaimed.
"And you are very arrogant!" Chloe joked.
"But it's true. The two of us, we've surpassed most, almost all. Sometimes I don't get the council. Don't see the reasoning for their decisions."
"Yes, but that is why they are on the council. To make the decisions for us, to keep order in this wonderful Republic of ours. It really isn't our place to question. Although you and I always do." Chloe said laughing. "We're too much alike Ani!"
"Yeah, but maybe that's because we were raised too close together. Because we know I would never want to be like you!" Anakin chided as he received a swift push from Chloe.
"Oh really Ani? You know without me you would have gone crazy long before now."
"No, the reason I am crazy now is because of you!" Anakin teased
"Are you sure it's not because of my sister?
"Shut up!" He hissed. "You drive me up the wall!" Anakin groaned. "You're like this annoying little swamp rat, that no matter how many times I try to blast it, it won't stay down!"
"Oooh! He's gone into his Tatooine vocabulary. Anakin you really hurt me." Chloe said bringing her hand to her heart. "But just remember, last time we dueled, who one!" She smiled at him smugly.
"I was having a bad day. Master was on my back once again…"
"Excuses Ani, will not save you from the truth."
"And what is that Padawan Amidala?"
"Well Padawan Skywalker, that I am better than you!" She smirked at him.
"Never! The only person who would even begin to think that, beside your deluded self, is my Master." Anakin joked, but then paused as she saw a light blush creep across her cheeks. "And I see that that does not displease you! Someone has a…"
"Shut up!" Chloe said pushing him.
"I see the tables have turned. Now I have something to hold over you. Hmmm…what to do…what to do? Chloe, you do realize that a "Jedi is forbidden to love." He said in a stern voice.
"Anakin." She said through gritted teeth. "As a Padawan, I have separated myself from my feelings. You should learn well to do the same. I will except my new master, prepare for the trials, and then thoroughly proceed to kick your butt!"
"We'll see Chloe. We will see." Anakin said smiling. Looking past her down the hallway, he saw a Jedi Master walking toward them. "And it looks like we will see now, because here comes my Master Kenobi!" He said watching Chloe's face flush once more, as she ducked it to recover. "Master." He said walking up to welcome him.
"Anakin, it is good to have you back. And I see we are faring well with our new…editions." Obi-Wan paused to look at his Padawan's mechanical hand.
"As best as possible Master." Anakin said, he could feel his self- esteem dropping as he often did in the presence of his master, feeling as though he was being treated as a child.
"And Chloe Amidala." Obi-Wan said smiling as his blue eyes searched her own. "Just the person I wanted to see." He said as a bright smile spread across her face. "The council is looking for you. It appears your new master is awaiting you." He said as both of their smiles faltered.
"Thank you Master Kenobi. I shall leave you both, for I am more than certain you both have much to discuss." She said bowing once before running off into the direction of council chambers.
Looking at his Master, Anakin could see the feelings apparent on his face as he watched after Chloe. "She's an incredible woman, isn't she?" Anakin asked.
"Indeed she is." Obi-Wan said before turning his attention back to his Padawan. "And she is also correct. Come along my young Padawan. We all indeed have much to discuss.
The Jedi Starfighter hovered silently above the landing platform at the Jedi Temple, it's lone human occupant focused entirely on the process. Never seeing the single tenant of the runway, sitting on some crates, absentmindedly twirling an unengaged lightsaber in her hand. As the landing gear took hold of the ship, the hatch opened to reveal a sandy haired Padawan dressed in black Jedi garb. As the young Padawan lifted himself from the cab, he finally sensed the other presence.
"Chloe Amidala. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Anakin Skywalker asked as he exited the vehicle, the setting sun glimmering off his newly acquired gold mechanical hand, which lay where his right once had.
"What? I can't wait for my oldest and dearest friend?" Chloe asked as she stood to greet her friend. As they embraced she felt the cold metal of his new hand on her neck, but kept silent. Looking past him, she watched as two droids were deposited from the ship. A golden protocol droid, one that Chloe had never seen before, and a blue astromech droid, which could only be, "Artoo!" Chloe laughed as she watched the small droid fly past the other, never stopping, as the two appeared to be in a heated argument. "Well Anakin, I'm glad to see you brought one of your oldest friends back with you. I'm surprised to see my sister let him go."
Slightly blushing Anakin ducked his head. "Your sister is a kind and loving woman. She lent me her trusted droid for a safe flight home. But unfortunately they will not be staying long. They will be leaving Coruscant soon to go back to Naboo and Padme."
"And will you be joining them?" Chloe said knowingly as the couple made their way from the landing dock.
"We will see." Anakin said. "Why are you so curious?"
"No reason. I mean it's not like you're in love with her or anything." Chloe said as she walked ahead of him, down one of the long corridors in the temple.
"Wait!" Anakin said running up to catch her and grabbed her arm, pushing her against the wall. "What do you know?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"Anakin calm down." Chloe whispered as Anakin put more pressure on her wrist, the harsh metal wrapping around it. "I saw the way you two were on Geonosis. Be- -Master Kenobi told me of your…well…feelings."
"He had no right to!" He hissed.
"What, to tell me of my oldest friend and of my sister? Anakin calm down. I don't think he suspects what I do. It's evident all around you. I can see it. You are in love, and I am more than certain my sister feels the same. I won't tell anyone Anakin. I would never do that, I could never do that. Now let me go you're overreacting, and you're hurting me as well." Chloe whispered back as she pushed him off of her, rubbing her wrist once he had let it go. "Jeez Anakin! What has gotten into you?" She asked still rubbing her wrist.
Reaching up, Anakin raked a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. I overreacted. It's just, you know as well as I the oaths we take as Jedi."
"Yes." Chloe said quietly ducking her head, willing her mind not to think of Obi-Wan, as the two once again began their walk through the temple. "I won't dare say a word."
"Thank you." Anakin said thoughtfully, finally calming. "But my master had no right to talk to you about my life!" He said, feeling his anger building once again.
"He came to me in confidence Anakin. As a trusted friend. As yours as well as his. We all need someone to talk to. Obi-Wan trusts me, we have a wonderful relationship and he knows that I would never betray that." Chloe's determined voice whispered.
"I understand. But honestly I don't understand why you get along better with my Master then I do?" Anakin said.
"Perhaps because I am not a spoiled brat!" Chloe said, smacking Anakin lightly.
"Really? Well perhaps you should take a look at yourself before you speak!" Anakin joked. "But since you and my Master carry on so well, then maybe we should make him yours."
"Maybe we will." Chloe said slyly.
"Wait, what is that supposed to mean? You already have a master…"
"He died." She said shortly. "At the battle on Geonosis."
"I am sorry Chloe. I hadn't known."
"It's alright, you were obviously busy with other things." She paused to look at his new hand. "Other people." She said smiling as she nudged him.
"So, are they considering you for…"
"The trials? No. Apparently I'm too caught up with my feelings. And if that's true maybe they should look at you!"
"Hey, not talking about me right now." Anakin said. "So, they're assigning you a new master than. And by your tone you are hoping it to be mine. So, that would mean that the council is considering me for the trials finally?" Anakin goaded.
"Perhaps. But don't get your hopes up. Your master is in a meeting with them as we speak. And as we all know, you can never tell what the council might decide. I'm proof of that right there." Chloe said.
"I can't believe they won't let you take the trials. You're on par with me, and you're four years younger!" Anakin exclaimed.
"And you are very arrogant!" Chloe joked.
"But it's true. The two of us, we've surpassed most, almost all. Sometimes I don't get the council. Don't see the reasoning for their decisions."
"Yes, but that is why they are on the council. To make the decisions for us, to keep order in this wonderful Republic of ours. It really isn't our place to question. Although you and I always do." Chloe said laughing. "We're too much alike Ani!"
"Yeah, but maybe that's because we were raised too close together. Because we know I would never want to be like you!" Anakin chided as he received a swift push from Chloe.
"Oh really Ani? You know without me you would have gone crazy long before now."
"No, the reason I am crazy now is because of you!" Anakin teased
"Are you sure it's not because of my sister?
"Shut up!" He hissed. "You drive me up the wall!" Anakin groaned. "You're like this annoying little swamp rat, that no matter how many times I try to blast it, it won't stay down!"
"Oooh! He's gone into his Tatooine vocabulary. Anakin you really hurt me." Chloe said bringing her hand to her heart. "But just remember, last time we dueled, who one!" She smiled at him smugly.
"I was having a bad day. Master was on my back once again…"
"Excuses Ani, will not save you from the truth."
"And what is that Padawan Amidala?"
"Well Padawan Skywalker, that I am better than you!" She smirked at him.
"Never! The only person who would even begin to think that, beside your deluded self, is my Master." Anakin joked, but then paused as she saw a light blush creep across her cheeks. "And I see that that does not displease you! Someone has a…"
"Shut up!" Chloe said pushing him.
"I see the tables have turned. Now I have something to hold over you. Hmmm…what to do…what to do? Chloe, you do realize that a "Jedi is forbidden to love." He said in a stern voice.
"Anakin." She said through gritted teeth. "As a Padawan, I have separated myself from my feelings. You should learn well to do the same. I will except my new master, prepare for the trials, and then thoroughly proceed to kick your butt!"
"We'll see Chloe. We will see." Anakin said smiling. Looking past her down the hallway, he saw a Jedi Master walking toward them. "And it looks like we will see now, because here comes my Master Kenobi!" He said watching Chloe's face flush once more, as she ducked it to recover. "Master." He said walking up to welcome him.
"Anakin, it is good to have you back. And I see we are faring well with our new…editions." Obi-Wan paused to look at his Padawan's mechanical hand.
"As best as possible Master." Anakin said, he could feel his self- esteem dropping as he often did in the presence of his master, feeling as though he was being treated as a child.
"And Chloe Amidala." Obi-Wan said smiling as his blue eyes searched her own. "Just the person I wanted to see." He said as a bright smile spread across her face. "The council is looking for you. It appears your new master is awaiting you." He said as both of their smiles faltered.
"Thank you Master Kenobi. I shall leave you both, for I am more than certain you both have much to discuss." She said bowing once before running off into the direction of council chambers.
Looking at his Master, Anakin could see the feelings apparent on his face as he watched after Chloe. "She's an incredible woman, isn't she?" Anakin asked.
"Indeed she is." Obi-Wan said before turning his attention back to his Padawan. "And she is also correct. Come along my young Padawan. We all indeed have much to discuss.