CHAPTER TWO
Knowing only of how their small portion of the larger battle raging on Naboo turned out, the two battle worn Jedi moved cautiously through the corridors of Theed Palace. They knew not how the Gungans were faring against the battle droids on the planet's surface or who had the upper hand, the Naboo pilots or the Trade Federation's droid star fighters in orbit. With these unknowns, caution over haste determining the pace of their advancement.
The lack of laser fire in the palace heartened them as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan moved a little faster but still with caution. When they rounded their first corner they discovered sign of how the battle had gone. They found a lifeless battle droid, still standing which appeared to have been on sentry duty when it for some reason or another became deactivated.
As they worked their way through the vast, beautifully decorated halls which were now scarred by war they came across many other lifeless battle droids, standing as they were when their internal processors shut down.
"Well, this is indeed promising." Qui-Gon, now standing on his own two feet, said.
They continued forward, running into no droid opposition all the way to the hanger deck, from which the Naboo pilots had launched, where they found the queen surrounded by handmaidens, and guards.
"Master Jedi! You and Obi-Wan are ok! I was worried when the droid control ship was taken out but we didn't hear anything of you." Queen Amidala said.
"Yeah, well our guest over stayed his welcome. He has learned his lesson though." Obi-Wan replied.
Understanding what he meant, no one commented further on the fate of the mysterious red and black tattoo faced individual that the Jedi were last seen dueling with.
"From the way things look, I assume we won the day?" Qui-Gon inquired.
"Yes. The Gungans lost on the ground there were just too many battle droids for them to handle. However, we did take out the droid control ship, which shut down the entire enemy instantly. Right where they stood." One of the Queen's security officers answered.
"Great. Does anyone know where Anakin got to?" Qui-Gon asked.
Queen Amidala answered with a laugh, "We have a lot to be thankful for regarding that little guy. Our pilots weren't doing so well up there until he destroyed the droid control ship."
Both Jedi developed a stunned look with speed so far that it was amazing they didn't have to summon the force to make it happen. It was Obi-Wan that asked what they both were thinking, "What did you say?"
The Queen began laughing harder now, "Apparently he accidentally launched one of our fighters, but he did exactly as you instructed him and stayed right where he was."
Qui-Gon couldn't help laughing now, "And he is the one who destroyed the droid control ship? How?"
One of the uniformed pilots that survived the day's action answered the question, "We are not sure. We didn't even know he was there until the control ship began blowing up from the inside. And we didn't know that it was him until he landed and this little boy climbed out. It was actually really cute to see."
"And where is Anakin now?" Qui-Gon asked, his former sternness now back in place.
"He is in our ready room with the other pilots. We consider him one of us now." The pilot said with a smile on his face.
"Could you please go and get him for me. We really need to get back to Coruscant. I have some distressing news to report to the Jedi Council and the Supreme Chancellor."
"We can take my ship. I have to speak to the Chancellor also and would much prefer to do it in person instead of through holo." The queen said.
Onboard the Naboo Royal Starship, Ric Olie, the queen's personal pilot and head of Naboo's Space Fighter Corps sat in the cockpit by himself. Obi-Wan and Anakin sat in the ship's recreation area learning how to play sabacc from some of the queen's security staff and handmaidens. Qui-Gon and Queen Amidala met in private in her opulent personal quarters.
Qui-Gon took another sip of her simcaf, which is a powerful hot drink often used to revive the alertness of someone who is tired but due to it's pleasant taste is often drunk also as a social beverage, and said, "If the Sith have returned, dark times are ahead for the Jedi."
"What are the sith? I've never heard of them." The Queen inquired.
"Well, I won't go into a long history but basically they are dark Jedi that have left the Jedi Order in pursuit of power, personal glory, or any of the other things which attaining are not part of the life of a Jedi. They may also be people trained in the Jedi arts by a dark Jedi, but who were never part of the order to begin with. At one time, there were many of them, but the greed for power forced them into internal fights in which the majority of them were killed off. This led to there only being two sith at any given time, one master and one apprentice."
"I don't understand, if there are only two, why is it such a concern for the Jedi. Seems like your thousands could handle two."
Qui-Gon gave her a smile that one would give to a child that just asked an innocently stupid question and said, "If it were only that simple. The Sith won't make themselves known until the very last moment. They prefer to work from the shadows. They crave power but are too cowardly to just come out and take it, they use deception and use the unknowing to create their power for them."
"Ah, I see." Was all the Queen said in way of a response.
"It's not a good thing that the sith have reappeared. We've long thought they were extinct."
"What will the Jedi do?" Amidala asked.
Qui-Gon sullenly shook his head and said, "I don't know. I simply don't know. Well, I need to speak with Anakin and Obi-Wan, and then I really need some rest. So I wish you a fair night and restful sleep Queen Amidala." He said standing and bowing.
"And to you Master Jedi." The Queen answered with an affectionate smile that one would give a friend.
Qui-Gon walked to the door which slid open for him, he walked through and down the small corridor to the ship's recreation area. He spied Obi-Wan and Anakin still sitting at the table where they had been playing sabacc. The Jedi Master strode over and sat down with them.
"Master." Obi-Wan said in greeting nodding his head.
"Master." Anakin said nodding his head in an imitation of Obi-Wan.
Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan and said, "Well. With the sith reemerging we are going to need all of the knights we can get Padawan."
"Master, the council as already said that they don't feel I'm ready to take the trials." Obi-Wan said with a look of confusion on his face.
"Did they?" His master asked.
"Well, not in so many words. But it was the impression that I got." Obi- Wan answered.
"Well, like I said, with the sith coming around again they really won't have a choice. Dark times are ahead and we will need all of the knights we can get."
"But master. The council has already declined granting me the trials. They never change their minds once they made a decision. What makes you think that they will now?"
"Obi-Wan. Let's put it this way. I promise you that you will become a knight."
"Master Qui-Gon? What does everything mean for me?" Young Anakin Skywalker said looking at Qui-Gon.
"Well Ani. The council has already said that you are not to be trained. However, once I talk to them again, they will see things my way and change their minds. As they will with you Padawan." Qui-Gon said glancing at Obi- Wan.
"Why do you say that?" Anakin asked.
"Well. Your midicloran count is off the chart. I know you don't know what that means right now but one day you will. Basically it means that you have the potential to become the greatest living Jedi, even greater then Master Yoda. Quite possibly even the greatest Jedi in the history of the order. Just as I promised Obi-Wan that he will become a Jedi Knight. I promise you that you will become a Padawan and learn the ways of the force."
Knowing only of how their small portion of the larger battle raging on Naboo turned out, the two battle worn Jedi moved cautiously through the corridors of Theed Palace. They knew not how the Gungans were faring against the battle droids on the planet's surface or who had the upper hand, the Naboo pilots or the Trade Federation's droid star fighters in orbit. With these unknowns, caution over haste determining the pace of their advancement.
The lack of laser fire in the palace heartened them as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan moved a little faster but still with caution. When they rounded their first corner they discovered sign of how the battle had gone. They found a lifeless battle droid, still standing which appeared to have been on sentry duty when it for some reason or another became deactivated.
As they worked their way through the vast, beautifully decorated halls which were now scarred by war they came across many other lifeless battle droids, standing as they were when their internal processors shut down.
"Well, this is indeed promising." Qui-Gon, now standing on his own two feet, said.
They continued forward, running into no droid opposition all the way to the hanger deck, from which the Naboo pilots had launched, where they found the queen surrounded by handmaidens, and guards.
"Master Jedi! You and Obi-Wan are ok! I was worried when the droid control ship was taken out but we didn't hear anything of you." Queen Amidala said.
"Yeah, well our guest over stayed his welcome. He has learned his lesson though." Obi-Wan replied.
Understanding what he meant, no one commented further on the fate of the mysterious red and black tattoo faced individual that the Jedi were last seen dueling with.
"From the way things look, I assume we won the day?" Qui-Gon inquired.
"Yes. The Gungans lost on the ground there were just too many battle droids for them to handle. However, we did take out the droid control ship, which shut down the entire enemy instantly. Right where they stood." One of the Queen's security officers answered.
"Great. Does anyone know where Anakin got to?" Qui-Gon asked.
Queen Amidala answered with a laugh, "We have a lot to be thankful for regarding that little guy. Our pilots weren't doing so well up there until he destroyed the droid control ship."
Both Jedi developed a stunned look with speed so far that it was amazing they didn't have to summon the force to make it happen. It was Obi-Wan that asked what they both were thinking, "What did you say?"
The Queen began laughing harder now, "Apparently he accidentally launched one of our fighters, but he did exactly as you instructed him and stayed right where he was."
Qui-Gon couldn't help laughing now, "And he is the one who destroyed the droid control ship? How?"
One of the uniformed pilots that survived the day's action answered the question, "We are not sure. We didn't even know he was there until the control ship began blowing up from the inside. And we didn't know that it was him until he landed and this little boy climbed out. It was actually really cute to see."
"And where is Anakin now?" Qui-Gon asked, his former sternness now back in place.
"He is in our ready room with the other pilots. We consider him one of us now." The pilot said with a smile on his face.
"Could you please go and get him for me. We really need to get back to Coruscant. I have some distressing news to report to the Jedi Council and the Supreme Chancellor."
"We can take my ship. I have to speak to the Chancellor also and would much prefer to do it in person instead of through holo." The queen said.
Onboard the Naboo Royal Starship, Ric Olie, the queen's personal pilot and head of Naboo's Space Fighter Corps sat in the cockpit by himself. Obi-Wan and Anakin sat in the ship's recreation area learning how to play sabacc from some of the queen's security staff and handmaidens. Qui-Gon and Queen Amidala met in private in her opulent personal quarters.
Qui-Gon took another sip of her simcaf, which is a powerful hot drink often used to revive the alertness of someone who is tired but due to it's pleasant taste is often drunk also as a social beverage, and said, "If the Sith have returned, dark times are ahead for the Jedi."
"What are the sith? I've never heard of them." The Queen inquired.
"Well, I won't go into a long history but basically they are dark Jedi that have left the Jedi Order in pursuit of power, personal glory, or any of the other things which attaining are not part of the life of a Jedi. They may also be people trained in the Jedi arts by a dark Jedi, but who were never part of the order to begin with. At one time, there were many of them, but the greed for power forced them into internal fights in which the majority of them were killed off. This led to there only being two sith at any given time, one master and one apprentice."
"I don't understand, if there are only two, why is it such a concern for the Jedi. Seems like your thousands could handle two."
Qui-Gon gave her a smile that one would give to a child that just asked an innocently stupid question and said, "If it were only that simple. The Sith won't make themselves known until the very last moment. They prefer to work from the shadows. They crave power but are too cowardly to just come out and take it, they use deception and use the unknowing to create their power for them."
"Ah, I see." Was all the Queen said in way of a response.
"It's not a good thing that the sith have reappeared. We've long thought they were extinct."
"What will the Jedi do?" Amidala asked.
Qui-Gon sullenly shook his head and said, "I don't know. I simply don't know. Well, I need to speak with Anakin and Obi-Wan, and then I really need some rest. So I wish you a fair night and restful sleep Queen Amidala." He said standing and bowing.
"And to you Master Jedi." The Queen answered with an affectionate smile that one would give a friend.
Qui-Gon walked to the door which slid open for him, he walked through and down the small corridor to the ship's recreation area. He spied Obi-Wan and Anakin still sitting at the table where they had been playing sabacc. The Jedi Master strode over and sat down with them.
"Master." Obi-Wan said in greeting nodding his head.
"Master." Anakin said nodding his head in an imitation of Obi-Wan.
Qui-Gon looked at Obi-Wan and said, "Well. With the sith reemerging we are going to need all of the knights we can get Padawan."
"Master, the council as already said that they don't feel I'm ready to take the trials." Obi-Wan said with a look of confusion on his face.
"Did they?" His master asked.
"Well, not in so many words. But it was the impression that I got." Obi- Wan answered.
"Well, like I said, with the sith coming around again they really won't have a choice. Dark times are ahead and we will need all of the knights we can get."
"But master. The council has already declined granting me the trials. They never change their minds once they made a decision. What makes you think that they will now?"
"Obi-Wan. Let's put it this way. I promise you that you will become a knight."
"Master Qui-Gon? What does everything mean for me?" Young Anakin Skywalker said looking at Qui-Gon.
"Well Ani. The council has already said that you are not to be trained. However, once I talk to them again, they will see things my way and change their minds. As they will with you Padawan." Qui-Gon said glancing at Obi- Wan.
"Why do you say that?" Anakin asked.
"Well. Your midicloran count is off the chart. I know you don't know what that means right now but one day you will. Basically it means that you have the potential to become the greatest living Jedi, even greater then Master Yoda. Quite possibly even the greatest Jedi in the history of the order. Just as I promised Obi-Wan that he will become a Jedi Knight. I promise you that you will become a Padawan and learn the ways of the force."