Title: Analogy of Conviction
Author: Anaika Skywalker
Author's Email: lindsay30@austarnet.com.au
Rating: PG for now, later chapters will reach R NC-17.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to George Lucas, I just like to play in his universe once and a while. However Anaika is my creation.
Chapter Seven: When The World Is Dark
Jedi Temple - Coruscant 6hours later. (Corellia to Coruscant - 4hours)
Yani Van De, Jedi Healer was a tall woman. She'd been assigned to Anaika Skywalker as soon as the young Padawan had been brought in. Now she stood eye to eye with Qui-Gon Jinn. "The damage to her optical nerves wasn't as serious as we first thought. However the nerves will need time to heal," she reported.
"How long?" he asked bluntly.
"It could be weeks, even months," she answered. "I'm sorry Master Jinn, I don't have better news. Now it's up to Anaika. I'll release her into your care." she handed him a small bottle. "She'll need these."
Anaika looked up as the door opened, she sensed her Master entering the room even though she couldn't see him, and her world was dark. They had explained it to her, how her optical nerves needed time to heal. Still her world was dark.
"I'm releasing you into your Master's care, Padawan Skywalker," Yani Van De informed her. "Remember to stay out of bright sunlight and apply the drops morning and night. Your Master has them. I'll see you in a week."
"Yes Ma'am." she slid off the exam bunk and reached out with the Force finding her Master, walking directly to him. Stumbling when her foot hit his.
Qui-Gon caught her. "It'll take time, Padawan."
"Yes, Master," she said disheartened, she took his arm and let him guide her out. "Have you gone before the Council?"
"Yes, they'd like to talk to you about what you felt through the Living Force and the incident."
"That's where we're headed isn't It." she asked.
He allowed himself a smile. "Yes it is."
They walked a little in silence.
"How is Anakin?" Anaika asked him. "The last thing I remember is pushing you all out of the way."
"He's fine. We weren't affected, you took the full blunt of the flash," Qui-Gon revealed. "Perhaps you could reassure him your all right."
"Am I all right, Master?" she asked bluntly.
"Yes Padawan you are, your sight will return."
Anaika nodded. Then reached out for her brother. *Anakin?*
*Ani, are you all right?*
*I'm fine, I promise. We'll talk more after I've been before the Council.*
*Take it easy on them.*
*I will.* she mused, smiling. She stopped when her Master did. "We're at the lift."
"Very good, Padawan." he praised. Then guided her inside, steadying her as the lift moved. "We're going to have to work on your balance."
"Yes Master." she moved her feet slightly apart, being ready for the slight bounce as the lift stopped. A sighted person took it for granted. She didn't, not now. Leaving the lift with her Master.
When it was time to enter the council chambers, Anaika released her Master's arm.
"Padawan?"
"I may be blind Master, but I refuse to be lead into the Council Chambers." she said sternly.
"Very well, Padawan."
She walked carefully at his side, using the Force to heighten her sensors. Stopping when he did.
"Healing are you, Padawan Skywalker?" Yoda asked.
"Yes Master."
"What is the Healer's report, Master Qui-Gon?" Mace Windu asked.
"Healer Yani Van De reports Anaika's optical nerves weren't as seriously damaged as first expected. They will heal, it will take time though until then she will remain blind." Qui-Gon answered.
Anaika sensed their reaction, though she expected not one of the twelve members of the council expressed it openly.
"Remain at the Temple you will," Yoda insisted. "Decide we will, when a mission you'll go on."
"We'd like your account on what you sensed through the Living Force." Ki-Adi-Mindi put fourth.
She nodded. "I felt like I was being slowly suffocated by evil. Pure evil," she shivered remembering the darkness she'd felt. "It was a person I sensed. A powerful being totally emerged in evil, one who can direct that evil back like it was a Force storm."
"What is your opinion, Master Qui-Gon, of what your Padawan sensed?" Adi Gallia inquired.
"I believe it was a Sith Lord, Master," he answered without hesitation.
Reaching out with the Living Force, Anaika sensed the same dreaded evil. She pulled back, pushing the dread from her soul. "He's here on Coruscant," she said whispered.
"Who is here, Padawan?" Mace Windu asked, having heard her.
"The Sith Lord." she answered.
"Sense him you do, yet we don't." Yoda noted.
"He is here," insisted Anaika. "Clouded your perception is but not mine."
Qui-Gon frowned. "Anaika!"
"Right, she is," the little Jedi Master stated. "Rude she should not be."
"I apologized, Master Yoda." Anaika said calmly. Breathing out her frustration.
"Meditate on this we will." he insisted, then dismissed them.
Both bowed and this time Anaika took her Master's arm, following his guidance out. Remaining quiet all the way to their apartment. Inside a small bundle of white fur ran for her mistress, wrapping around her legs. Tripping Anaika to the floor, the kitten jumping into her arms.
"Are you all right, Ani?" Qui-Gon asked her. He knelt beside her.
"Yes Master," she reassured. "I'm sorry about my behavior earlier."
He sat and drew her into his arms. "We will get through this Ani, together."
She nodded and patted the kitten in her arms. "At lease Snowflake remembers me."
"Of course she does," he insisted. Both heard the knock on the door, neither moved though. "Come in."
Obi-Wan and Anakin did. "Is this a private party?" the latter asked cheerfully.
"No," giggled Anaika. "Come on in."
Anakin was a little disturbed by the fact she didn't look at them. His Master gave him a nudge and they went in shutting the door, sitting on the floor with them.
"How's Snowflake?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Apart from being over protective of her mistress, she's fine." Qui-Gon mused.
The little kitten was purring in Anaika's arms. "She's the reason why I'm down here. I fell over her," she admitted.
"Don't worry, Padawan. With training you'll be able to have a normal life until your sight returns." her Master promised.
"A normal life," she smirked. "I don't think I've ever had a normal life Master."
"Normal for a Jedi then." he remarked lightly, sensing she was using humor to cover her deeper emotions.
Anaika looked where she sensed Obi-Wan was. "How is Vesa?"
"She's settled well into the crèche`." he answered.
Qui-Gon knew that meant a lot to his apprentice. "We should start your training."
"Now?"
"Now Padawan," he got up and helped her to her feet. Waiting until both Obi-Wan and Anakin were standing before continuing. "Do you remember what the apartment looked like before we left?"
"Yes."
"Nothing has changed. So I want you to picture the sitting room in your mind, then walk to your favorite chair." he instructed.
Recalling the memory she held one hand a little in front of her and walked slowly to where she remembered the chair being, finding it she put Snowflake in it.
Qui-Gon gestured to Anakin and Obi-Wan with his hands, telling him that way what he wanted them to do. Waiting until they had done it. "Alright Ani, find your room now."
She hesitated, and then once more recalled a memory. Walking slowly in the direction she remembered. Her foot hit something hard and she stumbled a little but regained her balance. Feeling with her hands the small foot stall her Master kept usually near his chair. "This isn't supposed to be here."
"No it's not, but you're going to have to get use to objects being in the way." he reminded.
She arched an eyebrow then continued stepping around the stall. Making it to her room. Turing she lent against the door, reaching out with her sensors. Feeling through the Force what they were doing. She grinned. "What next, Master?"
Over the next hour Anaika was walked around the entire apartment. Familiarizing herself with every room and everything she would use in her everyday life.
Qui-Gon made a point to keep moving furniture so she had objects in her way. After a more bumps and plenty of bruises, she moved around the apartment with ease. Even with Snowflake being chased around by Anakin and Obi-Wan to keep her sensors alert.
"I purpose a walk around the Temple tomorrow," her Master told her when they'd finally settled down.
"As long as I avoid Master Yoda and Master Windu."
"What did you do this time?" Anakin asked cheerfully.
"Lets just say neither want to see me for a few days."
Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon, who shook his head. It wasn't the time to discus it. "Come on Anakin, Ami will be wanting to be feed."
"She always wants to be feed, Master," he mocked, slowly accepting his sister's condition.
"True," Obi-Wan agreed. "Good night Anaika, Master Qui-Gon."
"Good night." both bided.
After they'd left, Anaika lent back comfortably in her chair. "My shins feel black and blue."
"Go have a shower then, I'll feed Snowflake and start dinner." Qui-Gon suggested.
"Yes Master." she stood and made her way to the fresher, without tripping over anything.
"Remember, hot on the left and cold on the right," her Master reminded.
"I will," she called back, adding. "Dad."
Qui-Gon laughed, going on with making their evening meal.
To be continued in Chapter Eight: When the World Is Dark Two.
Author: Anaika Skywalker
Author's Email: lindsay30@austarnet.com.au
Rating: PG for now, later chapters will reach R NC-17.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to George Lucas, I just like to play in his universe once and a while. However Anaika is my creation.
Chapter Seven: When The World Is Dark
Jedi Temple - Coruscant 6hours later. (Corellia to Coruscant - 4hours)
Yani Van De, Jedi Healer was a tall woman. She'd been assigned to Anaika Skywalker as soon as the young Padawan had been brought in. Now she stood eye to eye with Qui-Gon Jinn. "The damage to her optical nerves wasn't as serious as we first thought. However the nerves will need time to heal," she reported.
"How long?" he asked bluntly.
"It could be weeks, even months," she answered. "I'm sorry Master Jinn, I don't have better news. Now it's up to Anaika. I'll release her into your care." she handed him a small bottle. "She'll need these."
Anaika looked up as the door opened, she sensed her Master entering the room even though she couldn't see him, and her world was dark. They had explained it to her, how her optical nerves needed time to heal. Still her world was dark.
"I'm releasing you into your Master's care, Padawan Skywalker," Yani Van De informed her. "Remember to stay out of bright sunlight and apply the drops morning and night. Your Master has them. I'll see you in a week."
"Yes Ma'am." she slid off the exam bunk and reached out with the Force finding her Master, walking directly to him. Stumbling when her foot hit his.
Qui-Gon caught her. "It'll take time, Padawan."
"Yes, Master," she said disheartened, she took his arm and let him guide her out. "Have you gone before the Council?"
"Yes, they'd like to talk to you about what you felt through the Living Force and the incident."
"That's where we're headed isn't It." she asked.
He allowed himself a smile. "Yes it is."
They walked a little in silence.
"How is Anakin?" Anaika asked him. "The last thing I remember is pushing you all out of the way."
"He's fine. We weren't affected, you took the full blunt of the flash," Qui-Gon revealed. "Perhaps you could reassure him your all right."
"Am I all right, Master?" she asked bluntly.
"Yes Padawan you are, your sight will return."
Anaika nodded. Then reached out for her brother. *Anakin?*
*Ani, are you all right?*
*I'm fine, I promise. We'll talk more after I've been before the Council.*
*Take it easy on them.*
*I will.* she mused, smiling. She stopped when her Master did. "We're at the lift."
"Very good, Padawan." he praised. Then guided her inside, steadying her as the lift moved. "We're going to have to work on your balance."
"Yes Master." she moved her feet slightly apart, being ready for the slight bounce as the lift stopped. A sighted person took it for granted. She didn't, not now. Leaving the lift with her Master.
When it was time to enter the council chambers, Anaika released her Master's arm.
"Padawan?"
"I may be blind Master, but I refuse to be lead into the Council Chambers." she said sternly.
"Very well, Padawan."
She walked carefully at his side, using the Force to heighten her sensors. Stopping when he did.
"Healing are you, Padawan Skywalker?" Yoda asked.
"Yes Master."
"What is the Healer's report, Master Qui-Gon?" Mace Windu asked.
"Healer Yani Van De reports Anaika's optical nerves weren't as seriously damaged as first expected. They will heal, it will take time though until then she will remain blind." Qui-Gon answered.
Anaika sensed their reaction, though she expected not one of the twelve members of the council expressed it openly.
"Remain at the Temple you will," Yoda insisted. "Decide we will, when a mission you'll go on."
"We'd like your account on what you sensed through the Living Force." Ki-Adi-Mindi put fourth.
She nodded. "I felt like I was being slowly suffocated by evil. Pure evil," she shivered remembering the darkness she'd felt. "It was a person I sensed. A powerful being totally emerged in evil, one who can direct that evil back like it was a Force storm."
"What is your opinion, Master Qui-Gon, of what your Padawan sensed?" Adi Gallia inquired.
"I believe it was a Sith Lord, Master," he answered without hesitation.
Reaching out with the Living Force, Anaika sensed the same dreaded evil. She pulled back, pushing the dread from her soul. "He's here on Coruscant," she said whispered.
"Who is here, Padawan?" Mace Windu asked, having heard her.
"The Sith Lord." she answered.
"Sense him you do, yet we don't." Yoda noted.
"He is here," insisted Anaika. "Clouded your perception is but not mine."
Qui-Gon frowned. "Anaika!"
"Right, she is," the little Jedi Master stated. "Rude she should not be."
"I apologized, Master Yoda." Anaika said calmly. Breathing out her frustration.
"Meditate on this we will." he insisted, then dismissed them.
Both bowed and this time Anaika took her Master's arm, following his guidance out. Remaining quiet all the way to their apartment. Inside a small bundle of white fur ran for her mistress, wrapping around her legs. Tripping Anaika to the floor, the kitten jumping into her arms.
"Are you all right, Ani?" Qui-Gon asked her. He knelt beside her.
"Yes Master," she reassured. "I'm sorry about my behavior earlier."
He sat and drew her into his arms. "We will get through this Ani, together."
She nodded and patted the kitten in her arms. "At lease Snowflake remembers me."
"Of course she does," he insisted. Both heard the knock on the door, neither moved though. "Come in."
Obi-Wan and Anakin did. "Is this a private party?" the latter asked cheerfully.
"No," giggled Anaika. "Come on in."
Anakin was a little disturbed by the fact she didn't look at them. His Master gave him a nudge and they went in shutting the door, sitting on the floor with them.
"How's Snowflake?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Apart from being over protective of her mistress, she's fine." Qui-Gon mused.
The little kitten was purring in Anaika's arms. "She's the reason why I'm down here. I fell over her," she admitted.
"Don't worry, Padawan. With training you'll be able to have a normal life until your sight returns." her Master promised.
"A normal life," she smirked. "I don't think I've ever had a normal life Master."
"Normal for a Jedi then." he remarked lightly, sensing she was using humor to cover her deeper emotions.
Anaika looked where she sensed Obi-Wan was. "How is Vesa?"
"She's settled well into the crèche`." he answered.
Qui-Gon knew that meant a lot to his apprentice. "We should start your training."
"Now?"
"Now Padawan," he got up and helped her to her feet. Waiting until both Obi-Wan and Anakin were standing before continuing. "Do you remember what the apartment looked like before we left?"
"Yes."
"Nothing has changed. So I want you to picture the sitting room in your mind, then walk to your favorite chair." he instructed.
Recalling the memory she held one hand a little in front of her and walked slowly to where she remembered the chair being, finding it she put Snowflake in it.
Qui-Gon gestured to Anakin and Obi-Wan with his hands, telling him that way what he wanted them to do. Waiting until they had done it. "Alright Ani, find your room now."
She hesitated, and then once more recalled a memory. Walking slowly in the direction she remembered. Her foot hit something hard and she stumbled a little but regained her balance. Feeling with her hands the small foot stall her Master kept usually near his chair. "This isn't supposed to be here."
"No it's not, but you're going to have to get use to objects being in the way." he reminded.
She arched an eyebrow then continued stepping around the stall. Making it to her room. Turing she lent against the door, reaching out with her sensors. Feeling through the Force what they were doing. She grinned. "What next, Master?"
Over the next hour Anaika was walked around the entire apartment. Familiarizing herself with every room and everything she would use in her everyday life.
Qui-Gon made a point to keep moving furniture so she had objects in her way. After a more bumps and plenty of bruises, she moved around the apartment with ease. Even with Snowflake being chased around by Anakin and Obi-Wan to keep her sensors alert.
"I purpose a walk around the Temple tomorrow," her Master told her when they'd finally settled down.
"As long as I avoid Master Yoda and Master Windu."
"What did you do this time?" Anakin asked cheerfully.
"Lets just say neither want to see me for a few days."
Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon, who shook his head. It wasn't the time to discus it. "Come on Anakin, Ami will be wanting to be feed."
"She always wants to be feed, Master," he mocked, slowly accepting his sister's condition.
"True," Obi-Wan agreed. "Good night Anaika, Master Qui-Gon."
"Good night." both bided.
After they'd left, Anaika lent back comfortably in her chair. "My shins feel black and blue."
"Go have a shower then, I'll feed Snowflake and start dinner." Qui-Gon suggested.
"Yes Master." she stood and made her way to the fresher, without tripping over anything.
"Remember, hot on the left and cold on the right," her Master reminded.
"I will," she called back, adding. "Dad."
Qui-Gon laughed, going on with making their evening meal.
To be continued in Chapter Eight: When the World Is Dark Two.
