The Menace of Darth Maul
It's been some time; okay a lot of time, since I update this. I just never gotten around to updating the rest of the story. This will probably be the only Star Wars story I write. This story was suppose to be part of a bigger story line I was working on. But I long since got ride of the idea. So this is the only thing that will come out of the story line.
And since I can't stand the prequels, thanks to Lucas, I never went back to this story until recently. So please excuse any mistakes that might be in here.
So for anyone who has been following this, here is the ending. Hope you enjoy it. And don't forget to review!
I don't own Star Wars. But Anya, Microft, Selin, Mallory, He'fy, Sparky, and the Relic are mine creations
Part Three
Recover and the Dark Side
Chapter 13
The Republic cruiser landed softly on the ground. Queen Amidala and government officials stood with Nute Gunray and Rune Hacko. Several security officers surround them. Off to the right, Anakin stood alone. After Obi-Wan contacted the council, he has asked Anakin if he could great the council. The boy agreed. As Anakin waited, he wondered what the council will think when they saw who was greeting them.
"You can kiss your trade franchise good-bye." Panaka said.
Panaka and the security guards escorted the two Neimiodians to the cruiser. Anakin followed. Palpatine emerged from the cruiser followed by several royal guards. The boy bowed when Palpatine greeted him.
"We are indebted to you, Anakin Skywalker." Palatine said and moved on.
The Jedi council, five of them, followed behind. Among them was Qui-Gon and Luke. Anakin gave them a low bow.
"Where is Obi-Wan?" Mace Windu asked.
"In the med center. He doesn't want to leave Anaya. He asked me to greet you when you arrived." Anakin answered.
Anakin stepped aside so the council could join the queen. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Luke smiling down at him.
"Thank you for coming. My people are indebted to Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anya Skywalker, and Anakin Skywalker. Jedi Kenobi couldn't meet you. He haven't left the med center since after the battle." Amidala explained.
"How are they doing?" asked Windu.
"Anya was seriously wounded. The doctors said she'll recover. But she hasn't awoken yet." Amidala answered. A hint of worry in her voice.
"What of Obi-Wan?" Yoda spoke.
"He won't sleep or eat. He's exhausted." Anakin spoke before the queen could answer.
Standing beside him, Qui-Gon felt Luke stiffen. Anakin must have felt it also, because the boy looked up puzzled.
"Luke, you alright?" Qui-Gon whispered.
"I'll tell you later." Luke whispered back. He didn't want Anakin to over hear.
"You're highness, I would like to introduce to you Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Master Luke Skywalker." Mace Windu said waving towards Qui-Gon and Luke. The two masters stepped forward and bowed. "Master Jinn is Obi-Wan's master and Master Skywalker is Anya's father."
"It is an honor to meet the both of you. You must be proud of them." Amidala said bowing her own greeting.
"Yes, we are." Qui-Gon answered.
"We are indebted to them. They and Anakin are now heroes of Naboo."
The two masters bowed slightly again. "With your permission, your highness, we would like to see them." Luke said, trying to keep his voice and face calm.
"Of course." Queen Amidala replied. "One of my mine handmaidens will take you there."
The med center was located in the east wing of the palace. The center was still busy with wounded. When Luke and Qui-Gon entered, the young handmaiden told a young nurse they were there to see the Jedi. The young nurse showed them to the room where Anya was. The room was down a long narrow hallway. When they walked into the room, the sight before them nearly broke Luke's heart.
In the middle of the room, lying on a bed was Anya. Tubs and IVs connected her to the machines that were monitoring her health. Sitting in a chair, both hands holding one of Anya's, Obi-Wan rested his chain on the soft bed. His back was towards them. Sensing their presence, he turned to look at them. Qui-Gon's breath stuck in his throat. His padawan looked exhausted. Dark circles were under his eyes. It looked like Obi-Wan haven't eaten nor slept in days.
Luke rushed over to Anya's side. He took her hand and whispered something to her.
"She can't hear you." Obi-Wan said.
"Don't worry. She can hear." Luke reassured the young man. "We've been through this before."
"How are you, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked staring at him with concern eyes.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
Qui-Gon heard the tiredness in that voice. The young man was exhausted and knew it too. Obi-Wan could never lie and get away with it. He knew him too well.
"Why don't you go and get something to eat and some sleep." the master said.
"I'm fine. I'm not leaving her side. I got separated from her and she nearly died. I promised myself to stick close to her. But I failed. Just like I failed you. We go separated and you died." exclaimed Obi-Wan.
Luke looked pasted Qui-Gon's shoulder and saw Anakin standing just inside the doorway. The boy was confused and a little nervous. "Qui-Gon." he softly said in a warning.
The master and padawan turned to look at Anakin. The boy stepped back afraid to come in. They didn't know how long the boy was standing there and how much he had heard.
"Come here, Anakin." Qui-Gon said.
Anakin hesitated before walking over to them. Once he was there, the master picked him up and sat him down on the edge of the bed.
"How much did you hear?"
"What did Obi-Wan mean by when you died?" the boy asked.
"It's a long, compucated story." Qui-Gon tried not to answer.
"Tell me."
"You're still too long. Maybe when you're older."
"Anakin, was there something you wanted to tell us?" Luke suggested, hoping to change the subject.
"Pad-Amidala and the council are heading down the hallway."
Just as he said that, Amidala, Panaka and the five council members walked in. Two handmaidens, stood by the door.
"Any change?" Amidala asked.
"No." Luke answered.
"Keep me informed. If you need something, just ask." the young queen said.
"Of course. Thank you." Qui-Gon answered.
Amidala and Panaka left, followed by the two handmaidens. Once they were gone, Yoda stepped up to Obi-Wan.
"How feel you, Obi-Wan?" the green master asked.
"Fine, master." Obi-Wan answered softly.
"Lying, you are. See through you, I can. Rest you need."
"I'm not leaving. Not until she wakes up. I'm not making that mistake again." Obi-Wan stated.
The other council members, Plo Kloon, Depa Billaba, and Ki-Adi-Mundi glanced at each other.
"Qui-Gon; Luke, we would like to speak to Obi-Wan and Anakin alone." said Plo Kloon.
"Of course." The two masters left the room.
Out in the hall, they waited. Luke started to pause back and forth, like an expecting father. Qui-Gon went to ask him what was bothering him when Palpatine appeared around a corner.
"Master Jinn, welcome." Palpatine said bowing.
"Congratulation on the election, Chancellor Palpatine." Qui-Gon replied bowing in return.
"Thank you. How is she doing?"
"She's going to be fine." Luke answered.
Palpatine looked over at Luke for the first time. "I'm glade to hear that."
"Chancellor, this is Master Luke Skywalker, Anya's father."
"You must to be proud of her." Palpatine said shaking Luke's hand.
"Yes, I am. She's special to me."
"Indeed she is special. She has a great gift. She's going to be a powerful Jedi and one of the best, I think."
With that, Palpatine walks into the room. Qui-Gon and Luke glances at each other.
"Do you think he remembers?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Don't know. I got a feeling he knows something."
"How would Palpatine know if Anya was strong in the Force? The only way to know if he was Force sensitive also."
"He's a Sith lord. And Darth Maul was his apprentice." Luke answered. "And he created Darth Vader."
"After all this time. He was a Sith. Right under our noises." Qui-Gon said, a little sickened.
"That's way I don't want him anywhere near Anya." Luke said in a protected voice. "He is right, though."
"How so?"
"She is special."
Master, you and Luke can come back in now.Obi-Wan said through the training bond.
As they were walking back in, Palpatine was leaving. Luke went back to his daughter's side.
"I wish we knew when she'll wake up." Obi-Wan said to no one unparticular.
"Anya will wake up when she's ready." Luke stated. "I've been through this before. Yes, you worry, but Anya also seems to come out of it better and stronger then before."
"What do you mean, Luke?" asked Depa Ballaba.
"A year after the war started, Anya was captured by the Borlong. They tortured her almost to death. When we were able to rescue her, the doctors and healers were surprised that she was still alive. Any other person would have died. One of our healers believe that the since she was a Jedi, that would explain why she was still alive." answered Luke.
"Being a Jedi doesn't explain how Anya was able to survive." stated Plo Kloon "There was a Knight who was captured and tortured. He died from his injuries."
"Mara and I didn't agree with her theory."
"Could have been the will of the Force." Qui-Gon said.
"That's what we thought. What ever the reason was, we were glade Anya was home and alive." the father said.
"What happened?" Anakin asked. Eight pairs of eyes turned to the boy. Anakin looked confused. "What did I say?"
"I don't think you should hear this." Luke said.
"I had hear worse things before." the boy said. "And you can give the edited version."
Everyone in the room knew the story. It was one of the reasons Anya advanced to the level of Jedi Knight, before even her friends. Anakin wasn't happy when Luke refused to tell him the story. But he understood.
"I think we might have a problem, though."
"What do you mean?" Windu asked.
"Palpatine."
"Suspect something he does." Yoda said.
"You said something about Anya being special." Qui-Gon pointed out.
"She is." Luke wondered if he should tell them. But they must know. Just incase Palpatine knew. Before he could utter a word, it was Anakin who said it first.
"Child of Light, Child of Dark."
"Child of Light, Child of Dark?" Yoda murmured.
"That's only a myth, a prophecy. It's only been written about. Are you saying Anya is one of the prophecies?" Windu exclaimed.
"Yes." Ankain said. "She may be the most powerful being this galaxy will ever see. If her powers grow to its full extent." He looked at each one in turn. "How do I know this?"
"We'll explain later." Qui-Gon said.
"I believe Palpatine knows this." said Luke. "He said out in the hall that Anya was indeed special and has special powers."
"Know not, we do. Watch Anya, we must. Strong in the Force she is. Test her later we will." Yoda stated. He glanced at Obi-Wan. "Watch Obi-Wan we must also. "
"Me?" the young man asked surprised.
"Why Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Sith apprentice he killed. Come after him, Palpatine might. Needs a new apprentice, he would. After them both, he might. Take no chances we will."
Qui-Gon had the feeling Yoda wasn't telling everything. There was something his formal master wasn't telling them. And he didn't like the feeling. If it has something to do with Obi-Wan, then he wanted to know.
"Rest young Obi-Wan needs. Exhausted he is."
"I'm fine." Obi-Wan stated.
"How did you know who Anya might be?" Depa asked Luke.
"It's a long story." Luke glanced as Anakin.
"Does she know?" Windu asked.
"Yes, she does. And she doesn't care either. To her, it's just another title. Not a lot of people know of it. Just close family, friends and the council. None of us know what it means." the father said.
"What is The Child of Light, Child of Dark?" asked the padawan.
"Not much about The Child we know. And what has been written about, is sketchy." Ki-Adi-Mundi said.
"What if Palpatine does know? Will he come after her here?" Obi-Wan asked.
"No. He'll wait until the right opportunity. Then he will strike." Luke answered.
The room was quite for several long seconds. Qui-Gon felt along the old training bond with Yoda. Something was troubling his old master. The same feeling he got when this whole thing started. Ever since they started to remember events that haven't happened yet, Yoda had started acting strange. Especially with Obi-Wan. Could it have something to do with the fact it will be Obi-Wan who will train Anakin and the boy's fall to the Dark Side? Or was there something more the little green master wasn't saying. Qui-Gon had a strange feeling ever since he meet Obi-Wan that day in the locker room, when the young man fight Bruck Chun to become his padawan.
Yoda had strongly suggested that he take Obi-Wan as his padawan. Yes, it would be good for Obi-Wan if he was trained by the legendry master. Now, thirteen years later, he was glade he made the decided to accept the young man as his student. And through the years, they had become legendry within the galaxy and in the temple, the best master/padawan team there is, friends, and most importantly, they became like father and son. But there were times where Qui-Gon thought there was more Yoda was hiding. A different reason why Qui-Gon had to train Obi-Wan. Yes, the young man was unusually strong in the Force. But what was Yoda hiding?
"Talk we must." Yoda's words cut into Qui-Gon's thoughts. "Stay with Obi-Wan, young Anakin. Tell the council we must." The five council members started towards the doors when Yoda stopped and glanced over his shoulder. "Padawans, join us."
"Yes, master." Luke and Qui-Gon replied in unison.
The two masters followed the others as they left the room. Before leaving, Luke kissed Anya on the forehead and told Obi-Wan to contact him the instant something happens. Both Obi-Wan and Anakin agreed. After they were gone, the two sat there, neither one saying anything. A few minutes ticked by before the silence was broken.
"Obi-Wan, sir?" the boy asked hesitated.
"Yes, Anakin?"
"What will happen to me now?"
"I don't know, Anakin." Obi-Wan replied. Symphony rolled over him as he watched the boy's face. He knew Anakin was worried what will happen to him. And if they will be sending him back to Tatooine. "Anakin, you're free. You won't be going back to Tatooine. You can do what ever you want."
"Except be a Jedi." Anakin said looking down at the floor.
"Not everyone is meant to be a Jedi. I almost didn't."
The boy looked up at him puzzled. "Why? What did you do?"
"I had trouble controlling my temper and anger. When you become thirteen and if you're not chosen as a padawan, you're sent to help with the Agricultural Corps. It was just weeks before my thirteenth birthday and no one had yet to pick me. I had a ravel by the name of Bruck Chun. He, too, had trouble with his temper. We got into a saber fight. With practice sabers. Bruck went to the healers and told them I did it. The council decided to send me to Bandomeer to work in the Agricultural Corps. It was Master Yoda who let me fight before Master Qui-Gon. I tried my best to win him over. You see, he was my last chance to become a padawan. But he didn't except me. After the fight, I was sent to Bandomeer."
"How did you become his padawan then?"
"It's a long story. It took me to sacrifice myself so he can warn the miners on Bandomeer about the bomb." Obi-Wan said.
"A bomb?" exclaimed Anakin.
"Yes, a bomb."
"Please tell me the story. I want to hear it. Please." the boy begged.
Obi-Wan couldn't help keep the smile off his face. He decided to tell the boy how he became Qui-Gon's padawan. Anakin listen intently as the padawan told the tale.
