Futures Past

Chapter 30- Altercation

Mystik87-Welcome back! Im glad you've caught back up, I hope the four chaps didn't take too long to read, I know what that's like. I love writing Padmé's dreams and visions and Obi Wans (there will be one this chap in fact...that doesn't count as a spoiler does it? Darn!) yeah I love Vanessa Carlton too, and I thought that the lyrics really fit how Padmé would be feeling, being separated from the guy she loves. I'm glad I have your blessing no matter what, but as this is already totally AU and I've already got yelled at for changing everything and 'making Padmé a slut' (shakes head and sighs) then I might as well make it totally AU, as unless we have an Obidala miracle we probably wont see any of this as Episode 3, and it is fanfiction after all. So I'll probably play around with the timeline, and maybe other things we'll have to see. Thanks for the compliments and you should know that if they're not flames I love long reviews, they give me lotsa details about what you like and all, so its always helpful. I don't really like reviews that just go, cool, or you're great. No feedback you see, I love feedback! Ahem, thanks for the review anyway.

VTEEN- what was meant by the pregnancy thing was that I was asking whether I should mess around with the Star Wars timeline to get to Padmé's pregnancy more quickly, as in the Star Warsverse the babies were born at the end of the wars and the beginning of the fall of the republic, so we'd have a long way to go if I did it that way, that's basically all I asked. Thanks for reviewing, glad you liked the ending!

Heather Wan- Heya hun, thanks for reviewing, sorry about the evil cliffhangers but I just cant resist my evil little self, its so fun! I love the letter writing, its just trying to find songs that fit with the story, I may have to start using some of my own poetry soon (embarrassing!). Anyway, the way you get italics (as I presume you know how to get it in Word just not on Fanfiction, lol) is that when you save your story you save it as HTML (or a web page, which is what it says on my comp if you have Windows XP) and then upload it to fanfiction normally, if you are saving as a .doc or .txt then italics bolds and underlines wont work, as its HTML coding that causes em, hope that helps! Thanks for reviewing, I hope you like the rest.

History- I agree about the Obi Wan comment. But I will say no more. *angel face*

As this is chapter 30, maybe it will be a little longer to celebrate! Not much Padmé, but both of the boys should get a fair bit, probably more Anakin with the Wookiees. Remember its Fanfiction, not fact, limited to my creativity and scary mind! Oh and as the Wookiees speak in grunts and all, and that may be hard to write and understand, I'll write what the Wookiees say in italics, so that you know that its in Shyriiwook (the Wookiees primary language) it's a lot easier than having to translate as the Jedi should understand Wookiee language. If you're confused, you'll get what I mean soon.

Enjoy!

*

Anakin woke with a start to find Mace Windu looking down on him with a hand on his shoulder.

"It's time." He said simply. Anakin nodded and pushed himself up, trying to remember the dream he had just been having. He had felt powerful, and strong, almost invincible. He was trying to remember more but realised he had not been paying attention and was already following Mace off the transport and onto the wooden landing port where a number of Wookiee dignitaries awaited them.

"Greetings." Mace bowed to the three Wookiees who were standing in front of them. "I am Jedi Master Mace Windu, and this is Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. We are at your service." Mace bowed and he caught Anakin's eye, so that the younger Knight knew to do the same and let the Master do the talking.

"Thank you for your aid Master Windu, we would not have requested your presence if it wasn't of the greatest importance." Senator Yarua grunted in the very unique Shyriiwook tongue.

"It is our pleasure to be of help." Mace nodded, solemnly.

Anakin was not really paying attention to this, his grasp of the Shyriiwook language was nowhere near as advanced as Master Windu's and he was absolutely fascinated with Kashyyyk, far too much to be interested in diplomatic foreign speech.

The trees stretched out almost infinitely above them, and they really were colossal, large trunks almost as wide as the Jedi One, if not wider, with lush vibrant green leaves stretching like sunshades up into the sky.

Glancing around he found the first glimpses of Wookiee homes, magnificently carved wooden houses -circular in shape, sitting in the very branches of the mighty trees. A whole city linked by bridges, branches and large plateaus.

"Amazing." Anakin breathed out in awe.

"It is isn't it? Your first visit to Kashyyyk?" the second Wookiee, with light golden coloured hair all over his body, asked Anakin.

"Yes, it's spectacular. I've never seen anything like it." Anakin nodded, his eyes darting everywhere, trying to take in every last detail of the city as they climbed into the heart of the trees where the houses were situated.

Mace nodded approvingly to Anakin, he was treating the Wookiees with respect and quite obvious admiration, which was always a good start. The Jedi Master had had slight trepidation about bringing the eager young Knight, thinking he would say something foolish to get them both into trouble by accident, but so far, so good.

"You will be staying with myself and my wife Orraltobuck, our home is very close, behind this next cluster of homes." Yarua informed the two Jedi who nodded, Anakin trying to contain his interest.

The Wookiee Senator lived in a humble abode, maybe slightly larger than some in the village surrounding, if only to house guests such as this. It was a round construction, circling around the trunk of a medium sized tree and it went up two stories high. It was lit with many Fire Crystals which sent a warm glow over the wooden interior. Orraltobuck was a tall and stately looking female, with warm brown eyes and a light brown coat. She embraced the two guests as if they were old friends she hadn't seen for a long time and she seemed as exuberant at the sight of the guests as Anakin was at the sight of everything.

"Welcome! I am Orraltobuck, it's a pleasure to have you in our home." She greeted them happily. Anakin looked up at the female with equal happiness, but then he frowned.

"If you don't mind me asking, is there a…shorter alternative?" Mace winced, he was very sure the Wookiees would take offence to this. To his surprise Orraltobuck and Yarua let out grunting laughs and the Senator clapped Anakin heartily on the back with a large paw, causing the younger man to stagger slightly.

"We understand if you are not used to such long names in your culture, many humans feel the same as you, do not worry. What would you prefer to call me?" Orraltobuck asked kindly, putting a paw on Anakins shoulder.

"Erm…Orral?" Anakin looked questioningly at Mace and the two Wookiees for support.

Orraltobuck nodded and made what passed as a smile for a Wookiee. "Orral will do nicely, a good substitute." Yarua nodded his approval and Mace visibly relaxed from his tense position, that had been rather too close for comfort.

Anakin sighed in relief. "So… what do Wookiees eat?"

*

It was late afternoon on Dantooine, and Obi Wan had made sure to eat at a table on his own at lunch, to observe the variety of the recruits and their habits. Being left alone was no great task, he certainly didn't see any cadets lining up to sit with him. He certainly got some curious glances but definitely not offers to join anyone. This suited Obi Wan fine, he was undoubtedly not in a very sociable mood given his recent sleeping patterns and all he wanted to do now was curl up in bed on a planet far away from here and away from the war or its responsibilities. As he was about to finish his colourless slop that was a substitute for food in this hellhole, a droid whirred its way over to where the solitary Jedi Knight sat, and in a metallic voice enquired,

"Obi Wan Kenobi?"

"Yes, I am Obi Wan Kenobi." Obi Wan frowned at the droid, not really expecting interruption unless it was a call for yet another boring meeting about training plans.

"Mail from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant."

"Alright." Obi Wan took the bundle of mail in confusion. He had barely been gone a day, but he did suppose that mail for Jedi was rushed through hyperspace in case it was news or directives from the Senate.

This was not so far from the truth, he realised as he turned over a dainty envelope that fell into his lap from the bunch. Padmé's delicate writing adorned the front and he tore it open eagerly smiling as he read Padmé's sweet attempt at poetry and the letter that came with it. This one item had brightened up his day considerably.

Obi Wan prepared to leave, but before he stood he noticed a small white letter, with the logo of the Jedi Temple in the corner. It was from Master Yoda, and said simply:

I hope you know what you are doing.

Obi Wan was puzzled by this, but then realised as he had requested all his mail be sent through Master Yoda and as Padmé's letter would have come from Naboo, it would have not taken much for the wise Jedi Master to put two and two together if he already hadn't.

Planning on holomessaging Yoda when he had a spare moment, Obi Wan departed from the cafeteria, heading back to his quarters in Block B of the facility.

From down the corridor he heard the sound of raised voices and as he rounded the corner he saw his 'old friends' Amarant Zaag and Sark Luso. They were towering menacingly over a younger Twi'lek male recruit, who looked as if he desperately wanted to disappear into the grey panelled wall behind.

"Zaag, Luso, what's going on here?" Obi Wan asked in a commanding tone. He hated bullies, especially if they and those they were terrorising were under his command.

The two seemed very startled by the Jedi's abrupt appearance, and spun to face Obi Wan with looks of all the innocence they could muster. Unfortunately, having encountered that look many times from Anakin, and probably having used it himself in earlier days, Obi Wan was not fooled and glanced suspiciously from the two obviously guilty parties, to the cowering Twi'lek. He strode towards the trio with measured steps, exuding all the power a Jedi could muster, which was considerable.

"Have you suddenly had a spell of deafness, or have you nothing to say?" Obi Wan glowered at the two.

"Nothing was going on Master Kenobi." Amarant said, sounding very full of importance for someone who was being reprimanded by a superior.

One encounter on Obi Wan's bad side was one thing, incurring his wrath twice in twenty four hours was quite another, and he knew if he did nothing now he would never get the required respect from these two.

"It seemed to me you were bullying Miriaq here, and in this army we do not take kindly to bullying other recruits. Report to my quarters in ten minutes for punishment detail." He told them, his eyes fiery.

"What if we don't want to?" Amarant asked, cockily, throwing a grin in Sark's direction.

"Then perhaps you would prefer to report to Viceroy Organa for not following orders from a commanding officer."

"Who do you think you are, just cos you're a Jedi, we have to do what you say? You don't look so mighty 'Master' Kenobi." Amarant shot back.

"No Zaag, it is because I am a higher ranking official who was dragged here against my will, forced to take a transport with a gaggle of highly irritating new recruits, haven't had a full nights sleep for many months now, am about a million parsecs from where I wish I could be and about a billion parsecs past taking any more rubbish from over confident recruits who probably couldn't tell an enemy droid from their own elbow while there is a war on the very near horizon that no-one else seems to be taking seriously, that is why." Obi Wan thundered, his considerable patience past breaking point.

The two cadets seemed stunned to silence by this.

"My office, ten minutes, or I'll have you running around the training area one hundred times and cleaning the recruits bathrooms before bed." Obi Wan growled, before turning on his heel and stalking away, his good mood severely bruised.

He heard mumbles of resentment from behind him but could not care less what they thought of him any more, as long as they followed his orders.

That was Obi Wan's first incident of many at the training base.

*

Anakin, after being loaded with Gralinyn juice- which was by Wookie standards mild enough for humans to be able to drink, unlike most of their native beverages- and some Gorrnar dessert Anakin had been dispatched to explore, while Mace had to talk to Senator Yarua privately about something Anakin assumed he knew little about.

The young Jedi Knight had made his way to what Orral had called Rwookrrorro one of the busiest metropolitan villages on the planet. It was suggested by Orral because Anakin had mentioned his affinity for spaceships, and Rwookrrorro apparently had a very large hangar for vessels, frequented by smugglers often. Anakin thought this would be fascinating so made his way through the busy village at a leisurely pace, enjoying his surroundings immensely.

He came to the large hollowed out branch of the Wroshyr tree that was the hangar, and made his way up into the cavernous entrance.

Dozens of starships were lined up inside the bays, being repaired, refuelled or just waiting for their owners to return from the Wookiee bars surrounding. There certainly seemed to be many smugglers and thieves about, and Anakin made sure to conceal his lightsabre in a deeper pocket, so he looked rather unremarkable now. With his Padawan braid or other clothes he may have attracted some attention, but here concealment was the key, he had learnt that much from the days as a slave on Tatooine, observing all manner of colourful characters from the behind the junk stacks in Watto's shop.

He saw many Wookiees working on numerous ships, if he was not here on Jedi business Anakin would have loved to inspect their handiwork and perhaps help out himself, it was a well known fact that he loved to fix mechanical things. Looking down at his robotic arm Anakin decided that sometimes he thought he was more machine than man, given his affinity for the technical.

Passing a large, rather beaten but still flyable ship with the name Trader's Luck inscribed in black upon the side, Anakin found himself being knocked into by a boy who looked no more than five or six.

Instinctively he darted his hand forward, the Force warning him that the boy was making a grab for where he would usually keep republic credits in his pouch, but at the moment they were tucked inside a concealed pocket in his cloak with his lightsabre, given his location.

Anakin held firmly to the boys wrist, warning in his eyes. It was obvious this child was a street urchin or thief of some measure, but having been on that side of the streets when he was younger, no innocent seeming tricks any thief could pull would work on him, let alone the fact he was a Jedi now, Anakin reminded himself with pride.

"I don't think you want to do that." Anakin said, his voice full of warning and persuasion, using a subtle Jedi mind trick to get the boy away from him without further incident. Some urchins were known to carry weapons to get their way and he didn't want altercations with a child who was barely more than a toddler.

The child looked fearful and scurried away, back towards the Trader's Luck and into the shadows beneath.

Anakin started to walk again when he heard a voice behind him.

"Hey." Anakin turned and saw another boy of about eight with light brown hair and dark intelligent eyes standing behind him and looking at him with extreme interest. He wore a slightly grubby shirt and black trousers, both of which seemed rather too big for him.

"Hello." Anakin nodded and stepped a little closer to the boy, though maintaining a safe distance and keeping a hand within his cloak for easy Lightsabre access.

"Saw what ya did back there. You're a Jedi, right?" The boy asked, scrutinising Anakin closely.

"What makes you say that?" Anakin said evasively- was he that easy to identify?

"Well, for a starter, you gotcha credits in a concealed pocket of your cloak so you obviously know about the games that we're tryna pull, two, you did one of those hokey mind tricks on my bud Roj there, and you're wearing typical Jedi clothes, though trying not to show it. Plus I betcha got your hand in your cloak to pull out your Jedi weapon in case I try attacking ya."

"You're very confident for a guesser."

"Am I right?" The boy asked, sticking his hands in his pockets and leaning back on his heels slightly in casual expectation.

"Maybe." Anakin said lightly.

"I don't believe in Jedi, or that Force stuff." The boy said airily, tilting his head to give Anakin another once over.

"If you don't believe in the Force then how can you think I'm a Jedi?" Anakin questioned, thinking he had got the better of the boy.

"Cause if I did believe in 'em you'd look and act like one, and I've heard of Jedi-who hasn't? - and you fit the description."

Anakin laughed and allowed a good natured smile. "What's your name kid?"

"Han Solo, what's yours?" The boy almost demanded.

"Anakin Skywalker. Pleased to meet you." Anakin inclined his head slightly.

"Likewise. So, can you show me your laser sword?"

"Why, want to try and steal it?" Anakin questioned, but not in a scornful way, the boy had caught his interest.

"If you're a Jedi like you say you are, I wouldn't be able to would I?" Han asked with a smirk.

"Ah, but I never said that I was." Anakin reminded him.

"Yeah but it's obvious. You wouldn't have asked if I was gonna steal it, and you wouldn't have one of these." Han raised his right hand which had been resting behind his back and waved Anakins lightsabre, before tossing it back to the stunned Jedi and turning away.

"Nice to meet ya." Han said raising his hand back by way of farewell without glancing back.

"Likewise…" Anakin nodded staring at his lightsabre, dumbstruck.

*

So what did y'all think of chapter 30? I hope I wrote Hans character all right, what did you think? I hope you didn't get bored as it was slightly longer, but there was a lot I wanted to fit in and I didn't feel like ending it sooner than I did in case it interrupted the flow. Sorry there was no Padmé, she'll be in next chapter.

In Chapter 31 there'll be another letter, Obi Wan will be put to the test, Padmé will feel a little strange, and Anakin has an encounter with Chewbacca. All in next weeks thrilling instalment of Futures Past *queue the theme music!* XD (sorry, it's quite late so I'm feeling wacky lol)

Please review!!

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