I don't own anything, more the pity
Chapter 1
Anakin followed Yoda down a long corridor, It was the corridor most Padawans never got to go to, but it would be his home for the next several years. It was the home of all the council members, and his master was Yoda, the main voice on the council. In front of a door, Yoda opened it. Inside was a main room, to one side was a kitchen and dining room. Around the room were various plants in pots, but other than that it was very orderly and neat. On the other side of the room were two doors and another at the far end. The doors lead to Anakin's room and Yoda room accordingly and the bathroom at the end. Opening one door, Anakin could see a sparse room. A bed was on one side and a desk on the other. The was a chest at the end of the bed and a shelf. It was all sparse and bare, but that was expected for the life of a Jedi, and nothing more than Anakin knew when he had lived the life of a slave.
"On the bed your new clothes are," Yoda said, pointing at the bundle of beige and brown on the bed. "Change now, the we eat," Yoda continued walking out of the room.
Anakin took a second to stroke the robes, they were the most luxurious things he had ever seen. Quickly putting them on, Anakin could only admire the feel of the fabric. As he walked out, Yoda only nodded and then told him to sit. In front of Anakin was a bowl of food. It was like porridge, but having never had extravagant food, it was fine for him. Noting Anakin not questioning the food, or looking at it as if it was odd, Yoda nodded at him in approval. After they had eaten and cleaned and put away the bowls, Yoda started to explain the way things worked. "If dirtied you clothes, you have, you must to the laundry room take them. List of schedule and subjects and teachers here is," Yoda said handing him a data pad, "Map of building included. Know we do, your expertise in all the subjects, much older your class mates will be. Several classes to take, you do not, already know that what you need."
Anakin had had to know several things for when he worked as a slave for Watto, such as mathematics, sciences, economics and various common languages. Obi Wan had filled in with all the other subjects. Thankfully Obi Wan had been such a swot, that he had known nearly everything to a very high standard, which meant there was little for Anakin to learn from books.
"Make not a big thing about who teaches you," Yoda said, "If asked, due to your late training it is, and my teaching schedule."
Anakin nodded at Yoda in agreement. He had grown up being the odd one out of all his friends. His lack of obvious emotion, his skills, his knowledge and his gifts. He knew that it would be the same here, but at least everyone here was odd.
"Now meditate for an hour before bed go," Yoda instructed, "Long day tomorrow you have."
Anakin left the table and bowed to his master before leaving to meditate in his room. After meditation, Anakin looked at the data pad. He had lessons with every member of the council! Even though he was new here, he knew that that was irregular. On top of that he had lessons with the head healer, and normal lessons with the older pupils. His day was packed. There was a map showing him where each of his lessons were. There was a little time free in the afternoons for private study, this consisted of doing assignments set in classes and outside projects on things that interested any given Padawan as long as it had been approved of by their Master, and any punishments given were to be done during that time. Yoda had added at the bottom that the mechanics were always happy to have Padawan and Jedi help for a couple of hours each day. It was obvious that Yoda new some things about him already. When he wasn't eating, studying or sleeping it was obvious that he was to meditate. There were no hours free that weren't meant to be filled with some sort of learning task. Anakin could already see his days filled with learning. This was going to be hard, but Anakin was going to enjoy every minute.
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In the morning, Anakin woke early, a practice he got into at s young age and mediated for an hour. When he entered the main room he could not see Yoda, but the porridge was heating on a stove. Going over to stir it, Anakin breathed in the spicy smells. He walked over to the bathroom and cleaned up before getting ready for the day. Once out, he noticed Yoda dishing up the bowls. Sitting down, Anakin started to eat. "At lunch, to the canteen you go," Yoda was saying, "This evening for lessons will I see you."
"I'll see you later, master," Anakin said as he jumped down from the table and left for his lessons.
Anakin walked into his first class. It was politics of various planets. In the class, most of the pupils were older than him. It was a fun lesson, the teacher was a red Twi'lek called Tethan. The pupils gave him a curious glance when he entered, but said nothing. The teacher gave him a data pad before starting the lesson. As he left, several of the pupils came up to him, asking his name and where he was from and who his master was and such. Anakin replied politely and smiled in apology as he went on to his next lesson with people his age. It was acrobatics. Anakin was an average student, as most of the people in the class had been doing acrobatics for years, but Anakin was determined to do well in all his lessons. After falling off a beam a Chagrian boy helped him up. "It took me six times to get that far," the boy admitted with envy.
Anakin smiled and as he heard the bell go for the end of the lesson he stuck his hand out, "Anakin Skywalker."
The boy took his hand and shook it, "Padu Massma," the boys smiled at each other as they walked out, "What have you got next?"
"Umm," Anakin said as he checked the data pad, "Force suggestions with Master Poof."
"Really?" Padu said, "Most padawan our age never get taught by the members of the council. In fact the only way a padawan would get taught by a council member would be by having them as our Master! How did you get so lucky?" Anakin looked at Padu at that comment. He seemed so much like Kitster, and Anakin could see a good friend.
"I think it's because I have started training so late, and my Master, Master Yoda, has such a large teaching schedule," Anakin replied as they walked to their next classes.
"Wow, you Master is Master Yoda? You are so lucky, he hasn't taken a Padawan in centuries," Padu's eyes were as big as saucers.
Anakin smiled at him, "I'll see you at lunch," he said as he raced off to see Master poof.
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"Ahh, Anakin," Master Poof said as Anakin entered the training room. "Sit, sit," he said pointing to one of the chairs. "Now the first thing we'll be talking about is force suggestion…." Anakin listened to every word said with great attention. It took the whole lesson to go behind the theory, and what not to do and what to do. Using force suggestion only when necessary. Anakin understood, and was not entirely keen to use it because the thought of going into someone's mind made him feel slightly dirty, but he understood the reasons. Master poof was a very cunning master with a shrewd look on his pale face. Anakin was looking forward to more lessons with him.
His next lesson was with Master Oppo Rancisis. He was from Thisspias and lots of white hair all over. He taught Anakin military tactics. Using an R2 unit he showed how various wars over history were fought, their battles plans and why they worked or failed. The tiny figures moved with each stage of the battle. Anakin loved this lesson. It wasn't anything to do with the force, but it was still fascinating how to get the best strategic positions. You had to move in answer to the other side but still keep ahead. Master Rancisis gave him a data pad with various strategies, Anakin was to learn them and be able to use them for the next lesson when he would be doing a simulated battle against Master Rancisis. Master Rancisis felt that learning by doing was the best policy for tactics, as well as learning basic strategies.
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Anakin walked into the canteen and once he had his food, he looked for a place to sit. He couldn't see Padu anywhere, but he did see Obi Wan look at him and smile invitingly. Anakin went to opposite the man who raised him since his mothers death.
"How's it going?" Obi Wan asked as he sat down.
"Good," Anakin replied honestly, "I know I'm going to enjoy the lessons with Master Rancisis. They're really fun."
"Tactics?" Obi Wan asked. When Anakin nodded he continued, "They were always fun, unless you had one of the Jedi who believed in learning from a book."
"I have computer skills next," Anakin said.
"Well that should be easy for you," Obi Wan said with a smile.
"What lessons do you have?"
"None," Obi Wan replied, "When you get to a certain level of skill you have private study, looking at things that will make you a better Jedi, that is when you're not on missions. You do have a few lessons like once a week depending on the area you're going to. For me, I spend my time with tacticians, negotiators and fighters. It's something I've known I was good at since I was you age."
"How long till I get to your level then?" Anakin asked.
"Couple more year's I'd say. We both seem to be developing quickly, you more so than I."
Anakin looked up then to see Padu enter with a female human with dark skin and blonde hair, waving them over Obi Wan made space for them. "Hey Anakin," he said, "This is Gaina, she's Master Windu's Padawan."
"Pleased to meet you, this is Obi Wan, he's Master Qui gon Padawan."
"I'd heard you'd been found," Gaina said addressing Obi Wan, "Glad to see you aren't the worse for wear considering your ordeal."
"Well I had Anakin here to help me through," Obi Wan said giving him a smile, "Sorry to eat and run, but I have to go pack," he said picking up his eaten lunch, "We'll come by later Anakin before we leave."
"Wow, you know Obi Wan Kenobi?" Padu said with awe.
"Yeah, he brought me up on Tatooine," Anakin said with a laugh.
"Isn't that that little backwater place on the outer rim?" Gaina asked, "The place with all though rogues and villains and slaves?"
"Yeah," Anakin said with a smile, "Obi Wan and I were one of those slaves."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, Anakin" she said sincerely.
"Call me Ani, and there's no offence." Anakin aid to both.
"Well it's really nice to meet you, Ani," she said.
"Same here," he replied.
"So when do you have free time next Ani?" Padu asked.
"Umm, never," Anakin said.
"That can't be true, no one is worked that hard," Padu said, disbelievingly, "Even if you do have a few cool teachers, you would still get some time to do extra stuff."
Anakin handed over the data pad with his timetable on over to Padu, "See for yourself."
Padu looked at it, his eyes growing further as he read, Gaina glanced over at and quickly looked back in amazement. "Wow," Padu said, "You really don't have any spare time, and look at your teachers. Most of them are members of the council! And why do you have Yoda most of the time?"
"Yoda is his Master," Gaina replied, "Wow, looks like your booked for every day apart from seventh of the week." The schedule was a three day rotation with one day free a week. The free day of the week was for private study with your master, but because Yoda would be busy with the council members that day of the week, Anakin had to whole day to improve his studies. "Well, you have that day free at least, want to do something with us?" she asked.
"Sure, I was planning to go to the mechanics deck though, and look at the ships, give the mechanics a hand with fixing things."
"We do that, but not for the whole day, we can go study together if you like? And maybe spar a little," Padu said.
"Great!" Anakin said as the bell went off, "We have computer skills next right?"
"Yeah," Padu said as they got up and went to their next lesson. Anakin sat next to Padu in front of a holoscreen. The teacher asked them to reroute a simple system, which Anakin did easily, he then helped Padu, who also caught on quick. It wasn't things he had learnt before, but it was simple stuff that he could do without thought. At the end of the lesson, Anakin left eager for whatever he had next, which happened to be disciplining with Master Eeth Koth.
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Anakin entered a plain room with various objects. Master Koth stood in the middle. Walking in Anakin was asked to do a handstand and hold it. Master Koth taught him how to discipline his body to do what he wanted. To empty his mind, to order it and organise it, how to control bodily functions, and maintain stillness. Anakin thought it a strange lessons as he left, but couldn't help but think he has developing something, even if he didn't know what.
His last lesson before dinner was with Master Yaddle. She piled him up with books and data pads telling him to read them, and that during the lessons she would discuss them with him. Reading them he saw that they were about the Sith, the wars before they were destroyed, the formation of the Republic and Jedi heroes. It as fascinating reading and Anakin managed to bury himself in the books for the rest of the lesson, Master Yaddle beaming at him approvingly.
At dinner, he arrived at the table Padu and Gaina were with a pile of books. Gaina and Padu looked at them with smirk. "I hope your not becoming a bookworm." Padu said.
"No chance of that," Anakin said looking up from one of the books, "These are just for my lesson with Master Yaddle."
Gaina picked up one of the books. It was titled 'The beginning and end of the Sith.' She raised an eyebrow at the title. "We are only meant to read these once we are in private study."
"You're only meant to read them when the teachers think you're ready," Anakin said, "They obviously think I'm ready."
"Or they feel you have to know," Gaina said. Anakin only looked at her. "Have you ever read the Jedi prophecies by any chance?" Gaina said, trying to act as if the question was random, when Anakin knew it wasn't.
"No I haven't, but I know the content," Anakin replied. Obi Wan had told him of the prophecies as bed time stories when he was little. Anakin knew that the council thought he was the Chosen One, but they did not know he knew, and Anakin decided to keep it that way.
"Interesting things prophecies," Padu said, catching on to Gaina's line of thought.
"Be careful you don't get trapped in one of your own making," Anakin said as he got up and left for his next lesson. Padu and Gaina looked at each other.
"Do you….?" she asked.
"It would explain a lot," he replied. "But in any case, he is still Anakin, and our friend, let's not push it."
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After dinner, Padawan's spent time with their Masters. Tonight, Anakin was having light sabre practice. As he entered the training room, Yoda had some droids set up for the practice. "Ahh, my young Padawan, there you are," Yoda said, "Today's lessons, how was it?"
"I liked most of my lessons," Anakin said, "I will need more practice to get better at aerobics I think, and I while I understand the necessity of learning it and Master Poof is a fantastic teacher, I'm not sure I really want to use force suggestion's too much. It seems too much like I'm invading someone mind."
"Glad to here that, my Padawan," Yoda said, "Force suggestion only to be used as last resort, and the technique, too close to the dark side it is. Now, use your practice sabre for practice until you make one of you own, you will. That is to be done during own time." Yoda pointed to the helmet, "Put this on and we will begin."
Anakin did well in this lesson, having a good feel for the force, he hit a lot more than he missed.
That night, after practice, Anakin started studying, Yoda was watering his precious plants. Qui gon and Obi Wan had come round earlier to say goodbye before their mission, Obi Wan leaving with the promise that when he came back he would teach Anakin to swim. Reading about Jedi heroes, Anakin looked at the last true hero from around 500 years ago. "Master Yoda?"
"Yes Anakin?" he said, not pausing in his care for the plants.
"Do you remember Master Pyen Vin?" Anakin asked.
"Yes," Yoda said, finishing his work, "Good Jedi, very wise. Part of you work is he?"
"Yes," Anakin said, "I was wondering, could you tell me about him? These books only tell about what they've done, but not the kind of person they were."
Yoda sat down and started his tale, "When I first met him…"
Yoda continued until late, Anakin sat fascinated at the tale. It gave him a good feel for the man, and Yoda somehow knew that by telling the boy about it, Anakin grew to understand that the hero didn't make the man, but the man made the hero and Yoda could see the potential for a great hero in Anakin.
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The next day Anakin had another full day. First he had biology with Padu and Gaina, with whom he was becoming fast friends. It was a boring lesson, and quite disgusting as they had to dissect various creatures. It was not going to be his favourite lesson. Then he had combat training with Padu and Gaina. They were given situations and had to try to get out of them, or solve them, often in teams. Anakin liked this lesson because it was a lot like his tactic's lesson, but only on a much smaller scale, where you only had one on one in combat training instead of commanding armies.
His third lesson of the day was with Master Windu. He spent that lesson mainly meditating and getting in touch with the force and causing him to concentrate better, but Master Windu kept him on his guard the whole time by suddenly throwing something to see if Anakin caught it. Which Anakin did every time.
His last lesson before lunch was with Master To Pi. He was the Head Healer. He was traditionally not on the council, but sometimes healers would be on the council, but it was rare. Anakin learnt how to distinguish between various diseases and was given a book on virus and their symptoms along with another on bacteria and where they are found. It was a book all Jedi looked at before going on missions to check what inoculations they needed to take.
At lunch Anakin sat with Padu and Gaina, though others joined the table, and Anakin started to get to know the others, he knew that his best friends would be Padu and Gaina.
After lunch was geography, also another subject which would not be his favourite. Padu though, loved it, which was bizarre enough since his training was leading him down healing, while Gaina wasn't all that interested, and she was heading towards negotiations. But then nothing is ever as straight forward as first thought.
His next lesson was with Master Saesee Tiin. The Iktotchi Jedi took him down to the ship level. That lesson was the best so far, Anakin and his teacher formed a close bond over planes and fast flying. All the while Master Saesee Tiin only talked to him via telepathy, and insisted that Anakin only spoke the same way, developing his skill in that area. The purpose of the lesson was to understand what people said, without having to learn the language. It was a skill that Qui gon was very good at. This was a lesson Anakin was looking forward to having again.
His last lesson before dinner was with Master Even Piell. The scared alien told him of the dark side. The evils of it. It was basically a lecture, and Master Piell was not his favourite teacher.
His last lesson after dinner with Master Yoda was about looking at the future. Master Yoda told him to search for what was going to happen in a few days time.
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Two babies looked up at him. The one on the right giggled as she stuck he toe in her foot. They were absolutely gorgeous in their white clothes. To the side he could see an older Obi Wan. Sadness etched in his face as he looked at Anakin.
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Anakin saw a flash of a red light sabre, and a flash of blue. Then he felt his hand go hot and pain shooting up his arm. Looking down he could see his tub of a hand. Everything went black.
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He was fighting a duel with someone in a black cowl, suddenly he turned into Padme and he lopped the head off.
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Anakin opened his eyes with a rush and looked at Master Yoda. Yoda was still in his trance, "Master, please, I saw something," Anakin said, his voice desperate. Yoda opened his eyes and looked closely at Anakin.
Later when they sat at the table, Anakin relayed his visions. "…the thing about the children were, that I somehow knew them, they were a part of me, my children."
"Hmm," Yoda said, he closed his eyes and looked to the future. "Two children I see, twins. I cannot tell the mother, but you are the father."
"But how can that be possible?" Anakin said, "It's against the rules."
"Unknown what happen will between then and now." Yoda said, "Most disturbing though is the second vision. Hmm, much pain to come," Yoda said, he looked Anakin straight in the eye, "Ready for it are you?"
"I can but try," Anakin replied, still disturbed by the visions.
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The next morning, Anakin put the visions out of his mind, he did not want to be ruled by the fear of what was inevitable, but also, some things aren't what they seem. No use worrying about something you can't avoid and don't understand.
His first lesson was basic light sabre training. Standing in rows they went over basic positions, it was arduous work, but Anakin was determined to know as much as possible to be ready for what was about to come for him.
After that was basic equipment that a Jedi had. They studied it, learnt what each was, what it did and so forth. It was an interesting lesson, but the teacher tended to drone on for a while.
His first private lesson of the day was with Master Ki Adi Mundi. They walked through the streets of Coruscant, Master Mundi pointing out the low life's and their leaders. What made them good leaders, and how to develop those skills. Also how to make the most of anyone under your command, how to instantly know what tasks each person would be suited to carry out. It was an interesting lesson and Master Mundi thought him a natural.
His last lesson before lunch was with Master Pepa Billdba. She also took Anakin on a walk, but through the palace pointing out various species, and told him to scan the mind, looking for things that were unique to the species, but gently so as not to let them notice. She mentioned to strengths and weaknesses of each, it was not particularly interesting, but useful nether the less.
After lunch was hand fighting, something Anakin knew from his time as a slave. If you wanted to live long on those harsh streets you needed to know how to fight.
After that was a lesson with Master Adi Gallia. She took him to the Senate building. She explained about politics and how to use it to your advantage. It was a lesson that brought him in closer contact with the Chancellor, something he was not keen to do, but it was a good opportunity to observe him, to see if there was anything underhanded. Anakin used that lesson to his full advantage. Later she was going to teach him about intelligence networking and gathering contacts.
His last lesson before dinner was with Master Plo Koon. It was about enhances senses with the force and eventually being able to use the force instead of those senses when required. It was a lesson designed to make sure a Jedi wasn't vulnerable.
After dinner, he meditated with Yoda before looking at light sabre schematics and the various designs. Before bed, he caught up with he work and fell asleep thinking that if life as a Jedi would be arduous but worth it.
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review please! long chap, shorter next.