These are George Lucas' characters, universe, etc etc! I had nothing to do with them, other than throwing them into a different setting! Big thanks also go out to Bill Slavicsek, Andy Collins, & JD Wiker! These three are where a great deal of Qui-Gon & Anakin's discussion on what a Jedi should be comes from. Thank guys!

They sat across from each other at the warm hearth. The elder sat cross-legged, the younger the same way. Night had fallen on Alderaan, and master & apprentice were meditating the ways of the living Force. The sounds on the savannah were peaceful. A wild nerf herd grazing in the distance could be heard to bleat indignantly when one would bump into another, prompting a bite or kick to the transgressor. A plains bat was flying high overhead squeaking out high-pitched noises in a search for food. Insects were all around: in the air, on the ground, burrowing within the earth. The Force was all around the pair. Binding them yet not making theminto slaves, permeating them but not generating dependence. It was a near perfect symbiosis. Both with eyes closed, they spoke simultaneously.

"Jedi are the Guardians of Peace in the Galaxy.

Jedi use their Powers to Defend and Protect, Never to Attack Others.

Jedi Respect All Life, in Any Form.

Jedi Serve Others Rather than Ruling Over Them, for the Good of the Galaxy.

Jedi Seek to Improve Themselves through Knowledge & Training."

As the last of the words left their lips, the elder spoke again, with the younger replying.

"There is No Emotion."

"There is Peace."

"There is No Ignorance."

"There is Knowledge."

"There is No Passion."

"There is Serenity."

"There is No Death."

"There is the Force."

Qui-Gon Jinn opened his eyes to regard his Padawan. He nodded in approval, and said, "Very good, Anakin, but, tell me, what does it mean?"

Anakin Skywalker looked at his teacher. "I'm sorry Master, but which part?"

The Jedi Master smiled. "No, I suppose I did not specify. The latter part: tell me what the latter part means."

Anakin nodded slowly, and wet his lips before speaking. "The contrast between emotion & peace is to garner a separation of the confusion of emotions from the clear thought gained through meditation. This is a necessary quality of a Jedi."

Qui-Gon spoke, "Very good. But what if this peace has no roots other than a Jedi being unaware of some outside factor that could generate an emotional response?"

Young Skywalker, feeling the question out, responded after a moments thought. "Master, this would then lead to the second statement in the code. If a Jedi was unaware of that outside factor, then it is not true peace: it would be ignorance."

Qui-Gon smiled. "Excellent. The second statement is a balance for the first. Please, continue."

Thinking again for a moment the young man replied to his Master's directive. "The second statement of there being no ignorance, but knowledge, is designed to instruct Jedi to understand as many situations as possible to avoid judgment errors, especially during the time when acting upon that knowledge is needed."

"Again, very good," the elder Jedi intoned. "Tell me why it is necessary to understand these hypothetical situations as much as possible."

"If a Jedi knows only one thing well, it can lead him to become absorbed in it, and that in itself can lead to obfuscations of the mind, which isa blindness that a Jedi cannot afford when he is needed to act in a dire situation."

Qui-Gon nodded thoughtfully. "Your insight serves you well Anakin. Now, how doesit apply to the third statement?"

"That overt focus generates a desire to latch on to what one knows; to have it fill the void of the unknown & that is to know longer be objective to it. So the third statement is the course through that. Without passion, serenity exists. When that is embraced objectivity follows. Then a Jedi will be able to see things as the Force does."

A thin smile danced over Qui-Gon's face. "Couldn't it be said that true objectivity is to not exist at all, since even simple observation is to affect something in some way?"

"Hence the fourth rule Master. The only absolute inexistence is death. 'There is No Death; There is the Force.' Anakin explained. "With the Force, all things are possible."

Qui-Gon, about to commend his pupil for such insight, stopped when he heard the last statement. "Be mindful Anakin, your feelings betray you."

"How so Master?"

Qui-Gon stifled a small sigh. "When one states 'With the Force, all things are possible' one is intoning a claim that everything is possible when the Force is with them. This simply is not true, & to think otherwise is to allow arrogance into one's mind. That is most assuredly a swift path down to the Dark Side. If you had said 'For the Force, nothing is impossible', then you would be quite correct."

Anakin looked down into the dirt where he sat. "I'm sorry Master. I misspoke."

"Anakin," came the reply, prompting the Padawan to look at his teacher, "you have nothing to apologize for. And you need not explain yourself to me. I understand that you are doing your best. Should you act in a manner that causes pain or suffering to others, then you should explain your reasoning behind such an act, not just to me though, but to yourself as well. If you discover a rationalization behind what was done, then you can be certain that you were acting out of impulsiveness, which is not only against the Code, but antithetical to the Living Force."

"But, Master, I thought the Living Force encouraged existing in the moment."

Realizing this to be more of a statement than a question, Qui-Gon gave the Padawan a thought-provoking puzzle. "Do you really believe that acting on the Living Force by existing in the moment & impulsiveness are the same?"

"Well, yes, Master. I do," came the response after a brief deliberation. "What else could it be?"

"Ah, Anakin, you must, again, be mindful of your thoughts. To ask 'What else could it be?' means that it cannot be anything else. This too is against the tenets of the Code, which you yourself just finished explaining to me."

His eyes widened as an epiphany set in. "I see master: by limiting my view on that one aspect, I am limiting myself. So, to truly be able to be an effective Jedi, and a disciple of the Living Force, I must keep my mind open to the thought that there is more to the galaxy than just black & white. There are several shades of gray in-between."

"Go on," bade the young man's master.

Thinking again for a moment before continuing, Anakin took a breath. "To say that there is nothing else is to speak out of ignorance. Since ignorance is present, then serenity will be absent as a result because passion flourishes when there is no other recourse known. Because of this there is no hope for peace; within one's self or for the others around him, for when there is a lack of knowledge & serenity then emotions will overpower even the staunchest of Jedi, and a fall to the Dark Side is imminent."

"Outstanding, Anakin," Qui-Gon praised, causing the young man to beam. "I have trained you for the better part of decade now. When you started training under me, you were far older than the Council would have preferred. A mind, such as yours, is usually much more difficult to mold into the ways of the Jedi. But you have performed admirably: learning to harness your impatience, be at peace with yourself, and, most importantly for you I feel, the lesson of letting go."

"Thank you Master," the strong young man replied. "It has been an honor of mine to have a teacher so wise and compassionate as you. Without your guidance, I could not begin to imagine the path my life would've taken."

Qui-Gon smiled, "I'm sure the Living Force would have guided you as it saw fit Anakin, of that you must never doubt."

The Padawan smiled at his venerable teacher. He knew how much Qui-Gon cared for him, &, in fact, Anakin looked at Qui-Gon as the father that never was. For, as Anakin was all too well aware, he had none. Reputably born from the Force itself, he was widely believed to be the Chosen One: a Jedi of prophecy. A foretelling that spoke of a balance being brought to the Force with this One directly behind it, although what that meant was a widely debated subject. Anakin theorized that all of the commotion concerning him was the reasoning behind Qui-Gon staying away from Coruscant for the past nine standard years. He could still remember the day Qui-Gon had been summoned before the Council. They had been back from Naboo for less than six months. Anakin had the feeling now when he thought back on it that the session before the Jedi Masters concerned him.

Then he'd been quite oblivious. All he knew was that the older man had taken him on as his apprentice. When Qui-Gon had come back to his quarters in the Jedi Temple, he simply told him it was time to go. They departed soon after, never staying on one world for too long before going on to the next. It seemed to Anakin that Qui-Gon had spent all of that time paying more attention to Anakin's tutelage, than actual Jedi work. True, they received missions all the time from the Temple, but even on those Qui-Gon was still keeping a close eye on his ward. That's not to say he was stifling: no, Anakin never felt that in the slightest, nor did he feel over-protected. With this thought in mind, he looked at the man. Watched him quietly as he stared into the fire dancing hypnotically, as though moving to an unseen song. He decided to ask.

"Master?"

"Yes, Anakin?" came the acknowledgment without the eyes leaving the fiery ballet.

"May I ask you a question?"

Now looking up at his student, he let concern creep into his voice as he sensed the younger man's apprehension. "Anakin you have always been able to ask whatever question came to mind whenever you would choose to ask it."

Nodding he formed the question in his mind. "Master, I was wondering about why we spent so much time away from Coruscant. I mean, why is it that the other Masters and their Padawans spend most of their time at the Jedi Temple, when we seem to live the existence of exiles?"

Qui-Gon mulled over his pupil's words for a moment, weighing how to respond to them. He answered, "Anakin, you're not being entirely honest here. You wanted to ask me a question. Ask the one you mean, not one where you might glean some information and make assumptions from there. If you truly wish to know something definitive, then ask so there is no room for second guesses on your part after the fact."

"Yes Master. What I meant was, do we stay away from Coruscant, and the Temple, due to a falling out you had with the Council over the issue my training to be a Jedi, do we stay away because you feel that my training is better conducted without influences that might interfere with it," he asked, with a slight shudder at the last possibility as he gave it voice, "or is it because the Council fears me because of the…of the…the prophecy?"

Now with undivided attention given, Qui-Gon was taken aback for a moment. Dangerous ground this was to tread on. Master Yoda had foreseen this moment during that last session that Qui-Gon had attended.

"Know you this, Qui-Gon," the diminutive Master had said, "that one day the boy will ask why a part of the immediate Jedi community he is not. Answer how, will you? Hm? Deceive him, perhaps? Speak the truth will you? And what then? Either way, grave danger I sense at this one's reaction. Grave danger, indeed, down every path this boy has before him."

Qui-Gon came back from his brief reverie as Anakin was still awaiting an answer. He decided on the truth. The truth would have to be what was told to him. How could he tell him otherwise?

"Anakin," he began, "even from the moment when we first met on Tattooine, I could tell that there was no fooling you. You are, and always have been, an extremely astute individual. To answer your first question: yes, from a certain point of view mind you, there were concerns over your training to be a Jedi at such a late age, with a midi-chlorian count so high. To your second: yes, I did indeed feel that your training was better conducted away from the hustle & bustle of Coruscant. You were a young boy fresh off of an Outer Rim world. Distraction after distraction was present for you at Coruscant, so I felt a different approach would be needed. True, nearly every world we've been to could easily be represented by Coruscant alone, but Coruscant held something else that caused concern for me too: politics.

"I felt that if you stayed on Coruscant, politics would do nothing for you in regards to your training, other than ensnare you within them. A disturbance in the Living Force I felt when meditating about the Senate gave me sufficient cause to leave, & bring you with me. There were also several questions & inquiries that had been made on behalf of the then newly-elected Supreme Chancellor around the temple through intermediaries. Whatever Palpatine had wanted information concerning you for, I could not begin to fathom, but it left a disquiet feeling within me: a feeling strong enough to be added to my list of reasons to bring you away from Coruscant to be trained in the ways of the Force.

"And, to answer your last question, I did not sense fear from the council. More like a strong concern. I did not believe you to be in any danger either, but I did feel that a close eye would be kept upon you, & I felt that was an unnecessary pressure to be under in addition to your training. Should you indeed prove to be the Chosen One, then all the more reason to train you as effectively as is possible. The lure of the Dark Side is ever present, but its threat is ever more present for you."

A sudden look of incredulity passed over Anakin's face. "How is that possible Master? If I'm as strong as you believe me to be, then shouldn't I be that much more resistant to temptation?"

Qui-Gon shook his head solemnly. "If anything, Anakin, it would make you that much more susceptible. Take the ancient Jedi proverb: 'The bigger they are, the harder they fall.' You would be wise to remember that Anakin, because that is the very reason the Council is wary of you. Instead of resenting them for it, proving to them that you are above it is everything you should strive for. Rise above, but be wary yourself."

"Master?" asked Anakin, not fully comprehending.

"Be wary of yourself, young man, be wary of your own arrogance. True, you, as I believe, are the Chosen One, but you can end up becoming your own worst enemy should you decide to ignore the tenets of the code. This is why it's so important for you to know them. When you know them to the degree that a Jedi should, & should you truly desire to be a Jedi as you once told me so long ago, then it only follows that living the Code is the next step in that journey. But, all of that can come crashing down should your arrogance get the better of you. Do you understand, Anakin?"

A nod from a head with receptive blue eyes was the Padawan's reply. "Yes Master. I believe I do."

"Good," Qui-Gon said. "Now, as coincidence would have it, we've been summoned by the Council."

Anakin's eyes widen ever so slightly in surprise, but then quickly narrowed to what Qui-Gon felt was a small degree of distrust. "May I ask why, Master?"

"Anakin, you need not distrust the council. Pay heed to what we just spoke of."

"I'm sorry Master. I will do better."

Qui-Gon looked at his student as he stood up from the ground. "I'm not certain, but I know it involves the very politics I'm leery of, & I believe that you should be as well."

Anakin stood too & stretched, his Padawan braid reacting to the gentle breeze that had picked up again. The two Jedi looked out at the herd of Nerfs still grazing, still bleating at each other occasionally. Anakin folded his arms over his chest, only to realize his Master was holding the same pose while looking on at the same herd. The animals stank, but they were not what caused Anakin to wrinkle his nose. "I will be on my guard Master. If there is something amiss, I will do my best to sense it."

"I believe you will Anakin, but do not overextend yourself. This arena we're about to enter is a step above anything you have ever done before. We both must tread carefully. Trust your instincts while we're there, but be aware of what is around you. There is a reason for the phrase 'silver-tongued politician.' Be mindful, & follow my lead. I do not wish to spend any more time on Coruscant than necessary."

"Master?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think that it might involve my trial?"

Qui-Gon nodded. "It's a possibility. You have had half the time training as other Padawans, but you have grown that much more quickly than any other Jedi before you. Obi-Wan wasn't even Knighted until after the whole Naboo affair, and he was already past his 25th standard year." He then turned toward Anakin. "Do not, however, get your hopes up. Should you do so, & what you expected doesn't occur, how do you think you would react?"

He thought for a moment before saying, "Upset, Master. I would be upset. I see where this is going though, & you're right. It's an emotion that I can't afford. I will subdue my eagerness master."

"Very good Anakin. Now get some rest. A shuttle is scheduled to pick us up from Aldera tomorrow morning."

"Yes Master." And he turned to go to his bedroll.

"Anakin?"

"Yes, Master?"

"Remember all that we spoke of, but clear your head of distressing thoughts. Meditate on the Living Force as you go to sleep, & perspective will be gained when you wake."

"Yes Master. Goodnight," and with that he got into his bedroll & fell asleep instantly.

Qui-Gon Jinn watched his student & envied his ability to fall asleep anywhere, something he had admired in the past.

"Goodnight Anakin," he murmured. He then turned to look back at the grassy savannah, & watched as the nerf herd moved on.

Woo. This was tricky to write! With Anakin being trained by a completely different (not to mention more experienced) person, his personality would be completely different as well! Anyhoo, I hope I captured it just about right. For those of you faithful few, there will be some familiar faces showing up (sooner or later), but some action scenes will be fast approaching too. For those of you that didn't really care for the heavy dialogue: don't worry! Lightsabers are coming your way! For those of you that do like heavy dialogue, cool to you! I personally like Star Wars with some deep thinking to it, so there will be a lot of that too! Thanks again for reading! And, reviews if you liked it, reviews if you didn't! I'd really like to know either way! Thank you!