by Julie the Tall Terror tall_terror@hotmail.com
Summary: Sequel to "If I Don't Catch You" and "I Won't Fail You". You must read those stories to fully understand this one. Anakin is 14 years old and has learned and suffered much during his first year as a Padawan, but now he must face a greater challenge, regaining Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's trust. Rated PG-13 for violence Begun on February 19, 2001 and completed on March 30, 2001 Revised December 2001
Dedicated to my wonderful brother, Jonathan, who suddenly gave me a new monitor and wouldn't let me pay him for it. :)
Alternate site with fanart for this story at: fanfic.theforce.net
Part 2 of 4
In the depths of the Jedi Archives, Master Yaddle sorted through the mountains of books in pure delight. Hopping lightly from one perch to the next and up and down ladders, she hunted for one of the many tomes on her list. She hummed lightly to herself as she went about her task. The tuneless song quietly died on her lips as she felt someone approaching.
After a moment of wondering why she couldn't see the being coming towards her yet, she tapped deeper into the Force for the answer. She wasn't sensing someone nearby but rather, someone whose presence shined so brightly she could casually feel him coming even though he was not only outside of the archives, but down the hall as well.
"Ah," Yaddle murmured to herself with a smile.
It was several more minutes before her sharp ears picked up on the voice of the Padawan entering the maze of bookshelves.
"I don't care if it is pretty, I am not giving you a new paint job every week and that's final!"
A tirade of whistles and electronic snorts echoed in the massive room.
"And if you purposely mess it up, I'll let you stay that way for a month before fixing it."
As he made his way around the archives, Yaddle called out to him, "Greetings, Anakin."
Anakin peered around the shelves looking for the owner of the voice. But Yaddle was nowhere in sight. Oh great, she's going to make me find her. Resigning himself, Anakin drew on the Force to determine her location and unexpectedly ran into a mental wall.
What is it with Jedi Masters? They just have to make every situation a lesson to be taught. Ha! More like, 'let's torment the Padawan every chance we get'.
But Anakin had something very useful that most Padawans lacked - a sidekick.
"Kaely," Anakin whispered quietly, "Master Yaddle wants to play hide and seek."
The tiny droid peeped conspiratorially and zoomed away.
Focusing heavily, Anakin let the Force wash over him and drag him along. He had to be careful not to let it carry him away. Anakin had never intentionally allowed the Force to completely control his actions. The only times that ever occurred was during his glowing bouts and he fought those for all he was worth. Anakin was very wary of what might happen if he ever let the Force do what it liked with him.
Master Yaddle's cloaking skill was good, but not good enough. Within a minute, Anakin was able to know what area of the archives she was in even though he couldn't feel her precise location. The only real problem was how to get there. The pattern of bookshelves was very neatly and efficiently laid out near the doors, but as one went deeper it became a labyrinth of twists and turns. When he was forced to turn around and backtrack after running into the third dead-end, Anakin decided to do it the easy way.
Leaping nimbly to the top of the shelf he looked out across the large room. The space between the top books and the ceiling wasn't much. Anakin had to squeeze carefully through to not knock everything off. It was a slow process, but quicker and more efficient than wandering around on the floor.
As he progressed, Anakin became concerned. Where is Kaely? Is she lost?
Without a sound, Anakin's blond head popped into sight over the top edge of the last shelf he had to climb and he stared at the strangest office he'd ever seen. It was in what could have been the center of the room, or the farthest corner; the exact location was impossible to determine, the exits hidden when sitting in the office due to its vantage point. But it did afford a great view of most of the massive archive.)
"Come in," Master Yaddle said as she waved her small three-fingered hand at him.
Anakin complied and glanced around at the furniture perched on top of a wide platform spanning between two bookshelves. Yaddle had a tiny desk with a holo-terminal and cushions to sit on and many, many books stacked around her. Due to the low ceiling, Anakin had to scoot across on his knees. The drop down to the floor looked much farther than it really was.
Sitting on one of the piles of books was Kaely. She trilled in surprise when she noticed Anakin, but quickly returned to playing with a bright, metallic string in her grasping arm.
"Traitor," Anakin mumbled in disgust. "You were supposed to tell me when you found her."
"Defeat the purpose of the exercise, that would." Yaddle looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
Kaely paid her young master no attention and continued to toss the shiny toy that Yaddle had bribed the droid with to gain her silence. As Anakin followed Yaddle back down to the floor, Kaely amused herself by flinging the piece of cord and then zooming to catch it before it hit the ground.
Yaddle slowly led Anakin through the maze and pointed out to him the books he needed. Anakin complied with a somewhat exasperated look on his face. Of course, just have the Padawan do all the fetching and carrying. How convenient.
As the pile grew higher, Anakin was grateful that it hid his expression from the small Jedi Master. It will take months for me to read all this! They are conspiring against me. I know it!
"Last one." Yaddle stopped at the end of a shelf. "Fifth row."
Anakin reached up for a plain dusky orange book resting at the end, but paused. There beside it was another book with a familiar binding in brown. Realizing that it was another copy of the book Obi-Wan gave him for his thirteenth birthday, Anakin picked it up instead.
"Not that one, the orange."
Anakin looked at her in surprise and then back at the large brown book in his hand. He levitated it in front him and picked up the orange book. Unlike the brown, this book had its title emblazoned across its cover.
"The Origins of the Mechanical Tools," Anakin read it aloud. "Why this one instead of the prophecy book?"
Anakin realized his slip and froze. Too late to stop himself, Anakin's face turned red and his emotions betrayed his anxiety and anger at himself for giving away a secret. There was no way that Yaddle wouldn't sense it.
"Read that one before have you?" Her question came across as more of a statement as she looked up at the unmarked prophecy book.
"Yes, ma'am." Anakin steeled himself for her response. Well I tried. I am allowed to know now, so what does it matter that I read it before? If Obi-Wan gets in trouble for this...
"Tell the others I will not. No need now. However," she advised, "more secrets do not keep from us, Anakin."
Anakin could only nod in his relief. He set the prophecy book back on the shelf, but was still puzzled about the orange book. Why would she want me to read this one? He stopped dead in his tracks as the answer came to him.
"You set me up!"
Master Yaddle glanced up at him with a bored expression.
"You already guessed that I'd read it, and you set a trap to make sure," Anakin accused. She probably figured it out when I was asking the Council questions, maybe even earlier. When I asked for that old dictionary months ago, she never did ask me why I needed it!
"Joy in mechanical things you have," Yaddle answered breezily. "Thought that book would interest you, I did."
And I'm supposed to believe that? Ha!
Qui-Gon nearly had to drag Anakin away from the books Master Yaddle gave the boy. Anakin spent every moment of his spare time pouring over them. The first night that Obi-Wan returned, he caught Anakin staying up late to continue reading. Both of them became concerned they might have to threaten to restrict Anakin from the books if he let his other lessons slide.
Anakin's progress in lightsaber dueling had markedly improved and both his masters were pleased at his new appreciation for it, especially since much of the last month he'd not had the benefit of sparring with either of them. At Anakin's final medical check up he'd been given a clean bill of health and the healers were happy to see that his injuries had caused no long term side affects.
"That's enough for today," Qui-Gon said as he helped Anakin up from where he had fallen.
Grateful for the reprieve from training, Anakin walked over to lean against the wall. Qui-Gon's idea of a good sparring match was one that left him exhausted and every muscle aching. While catching his breath, Anakin was surprised to sense Obi-Wan approaching. He had not expected to see Obi-Wan before the evening meal and it was still mid-morning. The young knight wore a grim expression as he strode into the training room.
Picking up on the mood and his masters' behavior, Anakin realized that they wanted to discuss something together before talking to him. It didn't happen often. Usually they planned out what to do ahead of time and there was no need. Just to be polite, Anakin wandered away from them to the water dispenser. Along the way he grabbed a towel to wipe away the sweat pouring off his brow. Discretely, he watched as Obi-Wan handed Qui-Gon a datapad for him to read.
"Anakin," Qui-Gon said. "Obi-Wan and I are being sent on a mission tomorrow."
Anakin stared at them aghast. "It's only been a few days! I thought you were going to be here longer?!"
"So did we, but circumstances have changed," Obi-Wan said. "These two systems are very skittish about outsiders. Since Qui-Gon and I have been to those worlds before and are currently available, it is only logical that we are the best choice to send to clear up this dispute."
"You aren't going to take me with you this time either," Anakin stated flatly.
"It is for the best Ani," Qui-Gon calmly told him.
"Hasn't it been long enough? Or is this just because I was nosy and found out my midi-chlorian count?!"
"No, Ani," Obi-Wan corrected him. "It's not that."
Qui-Gon's soft voice intruded. "I have felt no peace concerning when you should accompany us on missions again."
Anakin's face fell and he looked at Obi-Wan in hope that he would disagree. But Obi-Wan's expression and resolve never wavered.
"Even if you had not done that, Anakin, I feel that we still could not take you with us now. There is something else, indefinable at this time, that must be addressed," Obi-Wan explained.
"And until we know what that is, we feel that taking you out of the Temple would be dangerous." Qui-Gon tried to reassure Anakin. "It is not an issue of trust, but of safety."
"The Force has not yet supplied us with details as to why going would be a danger, Anakin. Only that you must stay for the time being."
Anakin still wasn't convinced, but had no reason to not believe them either. "Why haven't I sensed that going would be a bad idea?"
Obi-Wan tried not to look amused. Anakin groaned as he realized what he'd just said. "Never mind, don't answer that, please!"
What a stupid question... well at least they didn't reply the obvious, 'because we know a lot more about the Force than you do.' And its not like I have a choice in the matter anyway. I suppose I should be glad that they are telling me this much.
"Ani," Qui-Gon said, interrupting his thoughts. "The Council has decided to resume their lessons with you and they will continue your training while we are gone. Your friend and his master are on a mission, so you will not be able to stay with them this time. Therefore, you will reside with one of Council members instead."
"It will only be a week and a half, at most probably two before we return," Obi-Wan said.
A horrible suspicion filled Anakin. "Oh no, not..."
"It will be good for both of you!" Obi-Wan said with fake cheerfulness, trying and failing to persuade him.
Anakin stared. "What have I done to deserve this? Master Yoda does nothing but torment me!"
"As you do to him," Qui-Gon quietly reminded him.
"But why him?! He does nothing but question me and treat me like a specimen to be dissected!"
"Relax. Master Yoda isn't doing this involuntarily, he actually requested it," Obi-Wan added.
"Even worse. He has some terrible torture planned!" Anakin almost wailed.
"You are over-reacting," Qui-Gon said.
"Why can't I stay with one of the others?"
Obi-Wan raised one eyebrow. "Despite your objections, I have no reason to refuse him."
Anakin's face crumpled in misery. I can't believe they are going to make me live with that troll!
"Be calm, this isn't going to hurt you."
For Anakin, watching Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan depart in a ship was no easier this time than the last. This afternoon's departure was much worse. The fourteen year old was sullen, angry and resentful. Anakin made no effort to control those emotions. It was with the greatest reluctance that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan left Anakin. Only the knowledge that while under Yoda's care, Anakin would be safe, allowed them to go on their mission.
It's only a week and a half. It's only a week and a half... Anakin thought over and over again until it became a mantra.
And maybe it will be less! He tried to encourage himself.
Kaely bobbed in the air behind him with uncharacteristic silence. She wasn't happy about the situation either. As they turned down the hall to Yoda's quarters, Anakin tried to compose himself. Knocking on Yoda's door while still angry would just give him more reasons to scold me.
He didn't need to knock or even press the door's chime. The moment Anakin approached the door slid open quietly. The interior wasn't really dim, but it wasn't brightly lit either. It had a typical apartment layout, very similar to his own quarters with his masters. The furniture was all designed for Yoda and unusual lamps hung from the ceiling. All of the glow-panels were off.
Yoda didn't exactly greet Anakin warmly. "Come." The old master hobbled across the floor and pointed. "That room you shall use."
Well, I won't say hello either, Anakin decided and dumped his bag inside the door of the bedroom. It was identical to the way his own room had looked when he first moved in with his masters - plain and empty, with only the barest of necessities.
This was Qui-Gon's room, Anakin suddenly realized. Everyone knew that Yoda had only taught groups of young Initiates for decades. According to Yoda, Qui-Gon had been the last Padawan he'd personally raised to Knighthood. And yet, Yoda hasn't converted this room into something else. It's ready for another student at any time. Odd.
Kaely landed on the empty desk and emitted a quiet moan. Anakin pulled out her writing pad and stylus from his bag.
"Why don't you practice drawing?" he suggested to the droid. Anything to keep her busy and distract her from her worries was a good idea. Anakin was having a hard enough time with his own, much less having to deal with Kaely's.
"Padawan Skywalker."
Anakin rolled his eyes when he heard Yoda's call. Oh great, it's 'Padawan Skywalker' huh? Why am I not surprised? He left his temporary room and returned to the main living area.
Yoda was in the kitchen end and pointed at the table. "Sit."
Without preamble, Yoda ladled two bowls full of stew and brought them to the low table. Anakin watched him out of the corner of his eye and did his best not to react. Other padawans had warned Anakin about Yoda's cooking. It was well known across the Temple. If he thinks for one minute I'm going to cheerfully eat that...
Anakin rose smoothly from his seat on the floor and walked to the small kitchen along the wall. He had to stoop down to reach into the highest row of cabinets. As he rooted around inside them, he felt Yoda looking at him without actually looking at him. Two can play at this game you old troll. Yoda didn't even turn his head in Anakin's direction.
Let's see how you like this! Anakin returned to the table with a handful of small spice boxes and silently began dusting his bowl of gruel with one and waited for Yoda to respond. It didn't take long.
"Good enough, it is."
Just as I expected. Anakin glanced mildly at him, "I like a bit more spice than some people."
Without taking his eyes off of Yoda, Anakin deliberately coated the whole top of the gruel with a second spice.
The insulted look never left Yoda's face. "If dislike it, then say so you should."
Doing his best to imitate Yoda's infuriating coolness, Anakin replied, "I'm supposed to be learning how to be more diplomatic and find a better way out of things."
"Diplomacy, that is not!" Yoda pointed at the pile of spice boxes.
"And besides, why would I give you the satisfaction of punishing me by insulting your cooking?" Anakin said before he could stop himself.
Yoda's eyes reduced to slits.
Oh, well since I've ruined things anyway, there's no reason to hold back now, Anakin decided.
"Didn't any of your Padawans refuse to eat this?"
"Certainly not!"
"Not even Qui-Gon?"
If it was possible, Yoda looked even more affronted.
"Ha! You're really serious?"
"Good apprentices they all were, grumble they never did."
Not where you could hear them, obviously. Well, I'd suspected this place was full of drones, but to hear proof that it's been this way for centuries...
"Learn to appreciate what you are given, you will," Yoda all but threatened.
Anakin was not so easily intimidated. "Or you'll what, make me go to bed without dinner? That's not a problem, I can eat extra at lunch and grab a snack in the afternoon. And if you went as far as to insist I eat this gruel for breakfast too, I'll just find another way around it as well."
Anakin lazily stirred the spices into his bowl of gruel. Give it up, he wanted to tell Yoda. You try to force me and you'll lose.
Instead Anakin challenged Yoda further. "Arguing over food is petty. I wouldn't make you eat something I knew you wouldn't like." Beside the fact that I couldn't anyway.
"Tried it, you haven't."
"Would you if you could avoid it?"
Yoda's hooded eyes bored into him. Anakin glowered right back. Oh, great now I get to have a staring contest with him.
"Learn tolerance," Yoda began to lecture. "Evading what you dislike is not always possible and so accept that, you should."
"I need to learn how to skillfully evade the things I absolutely can not and will not tolerate."
Anakin had a hard time not adding, Like poisonous food or drink. But he knew that, though a relevant example, it would only get him into serious trouble.
"Only a week and a half." Yoda sounded like he was almost muttering to himself, but then he opened his eyes. "Remember that, you should."
"Absolutely," Anakin responded dryly. "It is foremost on my mind."
Anakin stormed down the hall and tried not to look like he was running away from the older Padawan behind him. Despite his efforts, the other teenager was keeping pace easily and was completely undaunted by Anakin's disgust.
"What part of 'no' do you not understand?" Anakin snapped as he darted around a corner.
"Can you give me a more plausible reason for refusing?" Lavir said.
"Plenty." Anakin was still frowning and tried to think of a way to escape. Maybe if I duck into the turbolift and use the Force to 'gently' prevent Lavir from entering?
Just as Anakin reached the turbolift, Lavir tried again. "No spectators!"
Anakin stopped to look back at him skeptically.
"I'm serious," Lavir claimed, answering his unspoken reservations. "No one watching. I won't even tell anyone."
"Not even the Elite?"
"Not even them. Though There isn't as much of that anymore," Lavir added.
Anakin's eyebrows rose. "Is that so?"
"Yes. As your master said, our group is already fading away."
Lavir said it much more eloquently than Obi-Wan had. Anakin still was annoyed. "I haven't seen a difference."
"Well, this isn't something that I can just halt all at once! Not even if I wanted to," Lavir continued stubbornly. "And before you ask, yes I don't want it to end, but it is inevitable."
"Oh, and that's supposed to impress me?"
Lavir ignored him and continued to list his excuses. "If I had tried to shut the Elite down, the others would just interpret it as if I was backing out of the group. And then they would have simply elected a new leader," he explained dramatically waving his hands. "This is the most efficient way to handle it."
"And the only way you can stay in control until the very end," Anakin stated bluntly, seeing through his excuses.
But Lavir didn't react. He instead just gazed calmly at the younger teenager in silence.
"Why do you really want to spar with me?" Anakin asked suspiciously.
"I need a good partner to test my skills against, and to put it simply, I'm running out of challenges. I've learned my friends' and my master's moves too well and can now defeat them all with ease."
Easily defeat them? I doubt it. Though he knew that Lavir was an excellent fighter, Anakin wasn't impressed by the way Lavir exaggerated his skills..
"Contrary to popular opinion, I am not good at lightsaber dueling."
"So you are a bit weak on the forms," Lavir said to brush off Anakin's rebuttal. "You easily make up for it with your acrobatic Force skills and adaptability."
Anakin just shook his head. If I was good at adapting that Sith wouldn't have skewered me. This 'don't tell anyone about the Sith' rule is driving me nuts!
"Do you have any other objections to sparring with me?"
"Not really."
"Then shall we meet here this afternoon?"
Anakin looked at the older Padawan warily and against his better judgment answered, "Very well."
Lavir smiled in satisfaction and left the turbolift alcove in high spirits. Anakin enter the lift and keyed the floor of Yoda's apartment. His thoughts were all in a jumble. I need to stop worrying. After all, if he is a pest or tries to bully me again, I can always just quit. And maybe dueling with him will improve my skills. Wouldn't Obi-Wan and Master Qui-Gon be so surprised!
"Master Yoda?"
The wizened Jedi Master looked up from his reading. Anakin walked over to him and sat on the floor. There were no chairs big enough for Anakin in the apartment except for the one at the desk in his room.
"Do you know Lavir Ruoy?"
"Yes." Yoda blinked lazily. If Anakin wasn't so nervous he would have sensed that Yoda was concealing his surprise that Anakin's more humble and timid attitude had suddenly returned. It was a far cry from the haughty and stubborn boy of yesterday evening.
"He wants me to spar with him every afternoon."
"My approval, you have," Yoda agreed pleasantly. "Want you to practice with the older Padawans, your masters do."
Anakin's worried demeanor didn't change. "I don't like Lavir."
"Then a double lesson it shall be." Yoda looked at him quizzically. "Improve your skill with a saber while improving your diplomacy."
Well, yeah that's true. I need to work on that. Anakin racked his brain for a way to explain the confusion and uncertainty he felt.
"Distress you greatly this does?"
"Yeah," Anakin reluctantly admitted.
"Spar once," Yoda advised. "If still distressed you are, another partner Padawan Ruoy must find."
I can do that. And Lavir won't be able argue about it either. I'll just tell him that I'm not benefiting from practicing against his style or something like that.
With a hint of a relieved smile beginning to form, Anakin hopped up. "Thank you, Master Yoda."
Yoda did a good impression at nodding absently. "Welcome you are." In an excellently faked bored tone he added, "Re-stocked my pantry is, cook for yourself tonight."
Anakin just smirked as he went to fix his dinner.
Anakin trotted down the hall in relief. So far, Yoda's idea of training meant lots of meditation and honing the more mundane skills. The simple exercises were just boring. I could do them in my sleep they require so little concentration. Meditation was another issue all together. Anakin had dutifully sat quietly while the old master meditated, but as of yet Yoda hadn't directly ordered him to meditate. He probably will though.
It was with great relief that Anakin left to attend the class about prophecies that was held in the late morning. Ah, freedom until dinnertime.
The class was held in a lecture hall and was already filling with students. Anakin meandered his way towards the middle rows and quickly claimed a seat. Doing his best to ignore the chatter around him, he focused on the datapad in his hand.
"Anakin?"
Oh, I knew someone was going to recognize me! Irritably, Anakin looked up at Lavir Ruoy as the nineteen year old sat down in front of him.
Lavir raised one dark eyebrow, "This class is for older Padawans -"
"Yes I know," Anakin interrupted. Leave it to him to try and tell me that I've got the wrong classroom. "I have special permission to be here."
Now isn't this intriguing? Anakin thought lazily as he watched Lavir's reaction.
Lavir did look very curious. "And why were you given that permission?"
"I'm not allowed to say." Anakin bit back a smirk.
Lavir plainly didn't like that answer at all. "So, I hear you are staying with Master Yoda?"
"Yeah, what of it?"
"It must be a great honor."
Anakin shrugged. "And how did you find out?"
"People notice and news gets around. You know how it is."
"Yes, I know how it is."
Anakin didn't get a chance to say more because the instructor arrived. Lavir turned around to face the front of the class and Anakin glared at the back of his head. Yes, I know how it is - you and your little spies.
The voice of the teacher dragged Anakin away from his angry thoughts. She had already begun the lecture.
"To give you an example, we will start with the Lufwa Massacre Prophecy, which was prevented from occurring three centuries ago..."
Later that afternoon, Anakin found himself reluctantly stretching his muscles and limbering up for his lightsaber match with Lavir. Lavir stood at ready with a grin on his face. His lightsaber glowed a deep, forest green. "Which would your prefer to start with? Offense or defense?"
How magnanimous of him to let me choose, Anakin thought sarcastically. In Anakin's only sparring match with Lavir, he had spent almost the entire fight on the defensive until the very end when he had used a burst of the Force to disarm Lavir.
"I'll do the attacking," Anakin decided. Let's see how long you last this time, he thought smugly.
"Excellent," Lavir agreed with an equally arrogant smile on his face. "In tomorrow's match you'll be on the defensive."
There won't be a match tomorrow if I can help it, Anakin thought as he thumbed on his own cyan lightsaber.
Without bothering to answer, Anakin took two quick strides forward and launched himself at Lavir. They traded simple blows at the beginning and Lavir warded off each of Anakin's strikes with ease. Within minutes he had driven Anakin backward with his strong parries.
Anakin retreated nimbly and watched his opponent. Lavir didn't move, but waited for him to attack again. I'm not going to be able to overpower him with strength, Anakin realized. Not only is he stronger physically, he is also taller and his arms reach farther. Add to that he has been using the Force much longer than I have...
For the first time, Anakin began to doubt that he'd win this fight. I'm faster and stronger in the Force - that's all. Anakin began to circle Lavir. That will have to be enough.
Anakin leapt into the air, flipped upside down and swung his lightsaber at Lavir's head from above. However, Lavir was ready for aerial attacks and harshly blocked the strike. It jarred Anakin's whole right arm badly and nearly made him drop his blue lightsaber.
As Anakin landed on the ground behind Lavir, the older teenager spun around to face him. Anakin griped his lightsaber with both of his hands and returned to simpler strikes and attacks.
That hurt! Anakin tried to ignore his throbbing wrist. I hope he doesn't notice that I'm favoring it.
The more they fought the more frustrated Anakin became. Why can't I find a weakness in his defense? The last time we fought I saw several. Has he studied dueling constantly over the last few months?
At last Anakin began to see a pattern. He keeps blocking from below and rarely raises his blade higher than his shoulder. Seeing his chance to end the match, Anakin turned his body sideways and swung his blade in a wide arc at Lavir's collarbone. Quickly, Anakin backed up to stand almost beside his opponent in order to avoid being hit by the upward parry he was expecting.
Instead, in one smooth motion Lavir twisted to dodge the blade and grabbed Anakin's forearm. With a swift leg sweep, Anakin easily dumped Lavir on the ground and pulled out of his grasp. Anakin lowered his blade to rest by Lavir's neck.
"Kill point," Anakin smirked.
"Same here."
Anakin blinked in surprise and looked down to see that Lavir's green saber was directly under his arm. Just the slightest movement and a fully powered lightsaber could cleave him in half and he'd have no way of stopping it.
Wow! I never saw that. Anakin backed up and deactivated his lightsaber while Lavir rose to his feet.
"Delightful match, Anakin."
Anakin had to stop himself from beaming at the older Padawan's praise. Idiot! Don't fall for his tricks.
"Until tomorrow!" Lavir called out as he left the training room.
"Yeah, bye," Anakin replied absently. He slowly walked over to his stuff and thought about how the battle had progressed and what he could have done to prevent Lavir's killing blow.
"Oh, no!" Anakin halted just inside the exit to the hallway. "I just agreed to spar again tomorrow!"
"I need to see Master An-Paj, now."
The young man at the desk didn't look up. "He is not available at this time."
"He told me to come when I needed to, just tell him I'm here," Anakin said with a frown.
"I can not disturb him right now."
Anakin tried not to scowl. "Is he busy performing a surgery or something?"
"No." The young healer didn't seem interested in helping him at all. "He is with a patient. I suggest you leave Master An-Paj a message and go."
"He told me I had to come. Can't I just wait by his office?"
The man walked from behind the desk to block Anakin from going further. "No, he has more important things to do than be pestered by healthy Padawans who want to chat."
Anakin refused to back off. "And how can you be sure I'm not hurt?"
"If you have wounds one of the other healers can tend to you. You don't have to see Master An-Paj."
"Yes, I do."
The young man was unimpressed. "Out," he ordered and pointed at the door.
Anakin glared at him. I've had enough of this. Pushing past him, Anakin stormed quickly down the hall and began scanning the rooms with the Force.
"Kaely, get him!"
At once, a tiny pink fury began buzzing around the healer's head. Kaely squawked and dove at his face forcing the man to defend himself. He batted at her uselessly as she continually bobbed out of the way.
He finally gave up and began following Anakin anyway. "What are you doing! Stop!"
Anakin ignored the order entirely. Toward the end of the hall, he felt the presence of An-Paj faintly. The young man caught up with him just as Anakin was knocking on the door to the examination room.
"Who is your master?" The healer clamped one heavy hand on Anakin's shoulder. "You are coming with me now!"
Anakin was irritated enough to fling the healer away with the Force. Is was prevented when An-Paj stepped out of the nearest doorway. "What is the meaning of this, Healer Mlacton?"
Kaely ducked to hide behind her maker when she saw An-Paj. As Anakin expected his voice was calm and simply inquiring. Very unlike the man still grasping his shoulder,
"This Padawan will not obey me."
An-Paj returned his gaze to Anakin and waited.
"You said to come immediately after the next time it happened."
Anakin's statement meant nothing to Mlacton, but An-Paj understood. "Finish filing Master Dlosi's chart and release him." He thrust a datapad into the young healer's hands. "I'll deal with this. Come Anakin."
Mlacton gave Anakin a look of contempt before releasing him and turning reluctantly away. An-Paj led the boy into another examining room and quickly began flipping on various screens and pulling out medical devices unfamiliar to Anakin. The Padawan hopped up on the table and waited for directions. Kaely darted to land behind Anakin, and rolled on her wheels to peek around him at the healer.
"Tunic off. How long ago was it?" An-Paj asked while he clasped a scanning band around Anakin's upper arm.
"Just minutes, I came straight here from the Etaciled plant garden one level below us."
An-Paj nodded and stuck a device over Anakin's heart and put another on the boy's forehead. "What caused your glowing this time?"
"Master Yoda insisted that I meditate with him. He knows this happens, but since I've learned to meditate a little with my masters he decided I should anyhow."
"And how much time passed before you lost control?"
"I'm not sure." Anakin concentrated. "I've managed to meditate for ten minutes with Obi-Wan before feeling it about to happen. I think it was probably about that long."
An-Paj removed the instrument from Anakin's chest and began typing at the console. "Were you in pain this time?"
"Just for a few seconds."
An-Paj suddenly stopped and looked at Anakin. "Where is Master Yoda? Wasn't he with you?"
Anakin's face turned red. "He's dealing with the aftermath."
The healer raised one white eyebrow in question.
Anakin slumped. "It messed up the garden and that room's door automatically opens when it senses movement. So, when plants and stuff started blowing around," Anakin sighed dismally, "a lot of debris blew out into the hall and people noticed."
An-Paj began to put away each of the medical tools. "I can find no serious side effects from this incident. How often do you practice meditating with your masters now?"
"Every day while they are here at the Temple."
"And do you feel the glow about to start every time?"
"Yes."
"But you haven't come here, so you stopped it those times?"
Anakin nodded.
An-Paj looked at him quizzically. "Then why didn't you stop it this time?"
Anakin twisted his tunic in his hands and looked down at the floor. "It's not the same. Master Yoda doesn't know how to help and -"
"And you were angry that he ordered you to meditate and so you let the glow happen," An-Paj finished for him.
Anakin pulled his tunic back on and didn't answer. Figures he'd know.
"Anakin, this glowing problem once caused you extreme pain and enormous damage to your surroundings. Yet, now you are using it as a tool to irritate Master Yoda. How did this change happen?"
"Well, I... I didn't know how to control it right for a long time, so of course it hurt. And now I can, but... " Anakin stammered trying to find the words that would make sense. "The Force is different for me. Obi-Wan once described it as the Force screaming at me when it whispers to everyone else. Since I started training here it's become easier to tolerate."
An-Paj sat back in the hover chair by the console. "An apt description. With such a high midi-chlorian count it's understandable that you'd feel overwhelmed when exposed to the Force in such huge bouts, as is typical during meditation. But why do you react like this...?"
Anakin could only shrug.
"It's WHAT?"
"Warping matter," Yoda repeated.
"My glowing warps matter?" Anakin stared. Okay, that does make sense, especially the way stuff would melt and twist or just explode the first few times it happened. Much to his relief, Yoda did not discuss Anakin's loss of control or berate him for it. Now, Anakin became excited that Yoda was choosing to teach him more about it.
"So, how do I stop it?"
"Unconsciously you do this, so consciously you must learn."
What? Anakin slouched in exasperation.
Yoda didn't wait for an answer. He pulled out a very small container and dumped a bluish transparent rubbery substance out onto the floor. It stayed in the dome shape of the box it had been in.
"Easy, liquid matter is," Yoda began to lecture. "Freeze water, melt ice, already you know. This," he pointed to the gelatinous ball. "Malleable it is, but not as simple. Difficult it is to warp metal or wood. Ship hulls and stone, most difficult of all. Few Jedi have strength to learn those."
Anakin's eyes were very wide, But I have... He didn't have to say it aloud or remind the Jedi master. Yoda along with the rest of the Council had seen Anakin turn thick, reinforced durasteel walls and stone floors to slag. And I was doing it unconsciously, too.
Yoda cupped his hands gently around the blue mass and closed his eyes. Anakin watched in fascination as the round ball began to morph into a cylinder and become a small cone. Yoda opened his eyes when the outer edges began to harden into a thin smooth crust to maintain the new shape.
Anakin hardly breathed in awe.
"Remain in this shape permanently, it will," Yoda explained. "Does not destroy the matter, merely changes it. On living matter, this cannot be done. Impossible even for the Sith."
If I can do this, I'd be able to do almost anything. Make my bed without making it, clean up messy oil spills on my worktable fast, dump a bowl of Yoda's gruel on Lavir's head and not get caught... A grin began spreading rapidly across Anakin face.
Yoda put his hand back on the cone and instantly it warped back into the soft rubbery blob.
"Now hold it," Yoda instructed. As Anakin did so, Yoda placed his small three-fingered hands on top of Anakin's large ones.
Slower this time, Yoda repeated changing the shape of the ball. Anakin could feel the Force thrum with power through the old Jedi's hands, past his own and into the object. The Force coaxed the matter particles to move apart and condense into a square this time. Once it was finished, Yoda again reduced it back to the blue lump and removed his hands.
"Now, into another shape, mold this," Yoda ordered. "Return later I shall, to see your progress."
"Yes, Master Yoda," Anakin eagerly focused on his new toy.
Yoda hobbled to the training room's exit rather quicker than usual, but Anakin didn't notice.
"Hey! Its not working!" Anakin complained.
"Practice, practice," Yoda said from the doorway.
Just as the door began to shut, a loud splat echoed inside as blue pieces splattered over Anakin.
"Aw, man. What a mess," Anakin moaned.
Only after the door finished closing did Yoda smile.
That afternoon's sparring match with Lavir was not going well.
"You are not paying any attention." Lavir was puzzled. He'd managed to dump Anakin on the floor twice in a row.
Anakin hauled himself off the floor in frustration while he tried to come up with a suitable answer. At least I don't have to worry about Lavir bragging. So, long as he keeps his word about not telling anyone about our sparring matches, that is. Finally, Anakin settled on the truth. It's not like he could use it against me.
"I was just told this afternoon that my masters have been delayed," Anakin grumbled. "I have no idea when they will get back, only that it won't be in a few days, but rather more like a few more weeks. I'm not sure."
Anakin scowled at the lightsaber in his hand. Lavir looked at his opponent warily and asked another question he knew Anakin didn't want to hear.
"Why didn't you go with them?"
Anakin snapped at him, "Because I can't go on missions until the healers say my heart can handle the stress."
Lavir looked at him sharply. "Isn't lightsaber dueling stressful for a recovering injury, especially the heart?"
Anakin realized with a start what he had just said. Yes, it's the standard excuse that the Council and my masters told me to say. But, it's not true anymore and hasn't been for weeks. And Lavir sensed that. Anakin's anger turned to ice. I don't care.
"Yes you're right. I'm just fine now, but they didn't take me with them."
Without another word, Anakin shut off his lightsaber and left the training room.
"I don't know!"
"You ask."
"Come on, it can't be that hard."
"Are you kidding?"
"No way, you do it!"
"I'd pass out before opening my mouth!"
"And you think I wouldn't?"
As Anakin rounded the corner, the frantic whispering ceased. He looked warily at the clump of Padawans doing their best to act like they didn't see him. Shaking off the creepy feeling, Anakin moved past them to get in the lunch line. Several teenagers ahead of him were all buzzing loudly and Anakin listened to the variety of voices jabber.
"How long?"
"No one knows!"
"I'd be terrified if I had to do that."
"I wouldn't want to!"
"Are you really sure?"
"I saw them myself, I just didn't know what it meant until I heard this morning."
"It makes sense to me."
"Oh, come on!"
"I'm serious!"
"If it were anyone else, I'd say no, but -"
"Quiet!"
Anakin blinked in confusion as one of the older girls in front of him in line clapped her hand over the speaking boy's mouth. Everyone involved in and not part of the conversation went silent. The rest of what the boy was saying was completely muffled and then he stopped and stared as if seeing Anakin for the first time.
Anakin sighed. It had been like that all morning. Everywhere he went the Padawans pretended to not stare at him and would whisper amongst themselves only to become quiet when they saw him approach. They are all talking about me, but what?
Anakin felt like his skin was crawling as he collected his lunch and walked to his usual table. Suoicarg and Elbaima were already there. What was odd was that they were the only ones at the table. Anakin had become used to a hoard of Padawans vying for who could squeeze in with them each day. What could make everyone else avoid me?
"Hi." Anakin sat down and was not surprised that his two friends wouldn't meet his eyes. "So what's going on?"
Suoicarg's pale grayish skin flushed purple. "There's nothing you need to worry about, Ani."
Anakin frowned and started to speak, but Elbaima came to her rescue. "Why don't we talk about the next swim meet instead?"
Anakin gave him an aggravated look. "Everyone is talking about me, aren't they," he stated bluntly.
"Well, yes but-" Suoicarg began, but she stopped speaking when Anakin stood up suddenly.
Without wasting a minute to explain, Anakin left his lunch and stalked towards the nearest exit. No one followed him, though he would have been grateful if he'd noticed that. It was obvious that he'd not get any answers from them.
Anakin stopped in the empty corridor and waited in the center of the walkway. Just as he expected, within a minute Lavir rounded the corner. The older Padawan usually arrived at the dining hall at the same time each day and always entered the same door. Today three Elite flanked Lavir. They ground to a halt when they saw Anakin's cold expression.
"Lavir," he announced. "Ditch your bantha pups and follow me. Now."
Lavir stared at him, but Anakin didn't move or flinch under Lavir's stern gaze. Finally, Lavir decided it would be in his best interest to comply. "Go on," he said and nodded to his group. They obeyed reluctantly and threw suspicious looks at Anakin as they walked past him. Anakin didn't even notice, he was too busy glaring at Lavir.
"Shall we?" Lavir said mockingly.
Anakin stormed past and darted into the nearest room he sensed was empty. It turned out to be a large meditation filled with hanging plants and vines strung across several rafters crisscrossing on a many levels of exposed beams.
The moment the door closed, Anakin struck. Lavir dodged the punch to his face but not the hand that threw him against a nearby wall with a little help from the Force.
"You told!" Anakin fumed. I was so stupid to spout off like that! I should have known he'd tell everyone that my masters deliberately left me behind!
"What?" Lavir croaked as he staggered to maintain his footing.
Anakin moved to block the doorway to prevent Lavir from escaping and ignited his lightsaber.
"Did you really think I wouldn't get you back for this," Anakin growled. "I thought you were smart enough not risk blabbing to the whole Temple!"
Lavir glared back. "I don't know what you are talking about!" Quickly, he pulled out his own lightsaber and prepared to defend himself.
"I don't believe you!" Anakin screeched and swung at Lavir's face.
Anakin fought with a viciousness that Lavir had never seen before. Anakin aimed most of his blows at the most vulnerable parts of the human body. For the first time in his life, Lavir got a glimpse of what it would be like to duel with someone who's intention was to kill him.
He had no choice but to give ground as Anakin moved faster and faster. What Lavir had advantage in strength was negated by Anakin's speed and anger. Without warning, Anakin began pulling the dirtiest tricks a fighter can do. Lavir spun to avoid an elbow strike to his face but failed to protect himself as Anakin's blade came down on the back of his legs. Only the fact that all Padawan lightsabers were set for training saved him from losing both limbs. Instead, it left a horrid burn.
It became clear in minutes that Anakin wasn't just planning to give Lavir a good beating, but would actually injure him if he could. As Lavir failed to block a few of Anakin's blows, a pattern in his attacks began to form. Anakin was striking at torture points and deliberately hitting Lavir's kneecaps, elbows and wrists.
Finally realizing how much danger he was really in, Lavir vaulted upward. Anakin was startled, but followed him to balance on the beams above. The footing was treacherous. Not only were the beams spaced far apart, the ropes from the hanging baskets and vines were wrapped around each of them. Anakin flipped over Lavir's head intending to drive him back to the ground.
Lavir was ready for him. In one smooth motion, Lavir caught Anakin under his arm with his blade and knocked him over the side. The strike was very painful and would leave a nasty burn, but the real hazard was the rapidly approaching floor. Lavir stood still and watched him fall. Briefly banishing the pain from his mind, Anakin used the Force to catch himself.
Lavir was shocked. "How did you do that?!"
Anakin looked up at him smugly. "Levitating? Nothing to it."
"Even my master can't do that when falling," Lavir mumbled in shock. Anakin took advantage of the distraction to swiftly rise back up to the beams and attack again. Lavir was still recovering from his surprise and stumbled. Anakin succeeded in leaving a long burn on Lavir's arm.
Anakin gave his opponent a feral grin.
Lavir continued to give ground and tried another tactic. "This is not how Jedi behave."
Anakin laughed coldly. "You're only saying that because you're losing."
"I'm serious, this has gone on long enough," Lavir persisted. "You've accused," he panted, "me of embarrassing you in some way and I've denied it. Let our masters decide who is being truthful."
"Oh, I'm not falling for that trick." Anakin jabbed at his legs, forcing Lavir to jump further back. "My masters are gone. Master Yoda always thinks the worst of me, and your master would never believe anyone over her precious Padawan."
Lavir flinched, but kept his emotions under control. "You are being belligerent and I won't tolerate this anymore." Lavir began leaping to the lower beam trying to reach the floor.
"Do you really think you are a sterling example of a Jedi after the way you mind tricked that girl two years ago?" Anakin sneered. "Hypocrite! You are no better than me."
Lavir landed awkwardly on the ground and ceased his mad dash for the exit. His face had gone white and the sudden fear rolling off him was palatable. Anakin grinned and dropped down from his perch.
"What do you know about that?" Lavir asked hoarsely.
Anakin was happy to explain, "That you tried to seduce a girl while out on one of your missions about two years ago. She was very beautiful and you just couldn't resist." Anakin mocked. "And you were so insulted when she refused you!"
"How do you know about that?" Lavir repeated, louder this time as the color returned to his ashen face.
"You're pathetic," Anakin continued. "You had to resort to mind-tricks!"
"I wasn't going to actually hurt her!"
"Oh, like I'm going to really believe that? She's lucky your master caught you in time!"
Lavir's face went from red to purple. "Only my master and I know about this! Where did you find out?!"
Anakin still ignored the question and laughed at him. "Yes, she didn't want to risk that you might be expelled from the Temple so she covered it up and didn't even report it to the Council! She'd do anything for you."
"Master Tcirts-ton wasn't going to let one incident that was stopped from happening ruin my life! She is a good and fair master!"
"Ha! Keep saying that and maybe you'll believe it."
Lavir bellowed in fury and attacked. Anakin dodged and parried the older teenager's strikes easily. Letting his anger fuel his efforts, Lavir scored a hit to Anakin's already burnt shoulder. Anakin stopped laughing.
"Everyone will stop gossiping about me once I tell them about what you did," Anakin threatened. "Every Padawan will shun you Lavir and the masters will have to punish you."
"I was punished!" Lavir shouted.
"Bah, that was nothing! A little more meditation, a bit of hard labor, and a rather short restriction from your friends after you came home. Oh, and one measly apology to your victim before your master wiped her memory of the whole thing! You got off way too easy!"
"You won't tell them anything!" Lavir declared hotly and flung Anakin backwards. Anakin caught himself enough to not hit the wall and glared. Closing his eyes, Anakin began levitating the potted plants sitting on the floor and flung them at Lavir. Lavir could only crouch on the ground and protect his head with his lightsaber while the rest of his body was pummeled.
"Stop!"
Instantly, both Padawans felt their limbs freeze up and grow very heavy as they were seized by a Jedi Master. All of the plants and their lightsabers simply crashed to the ground and neither had the strength to pick them up again.
"The meaning of this, you will explain!" Yoda commanded.
End Part 2. Go to Part 3