Author's Note: Well here is the next chapter. I hope that those who have been reading so far will like it. Special thanks to my new beta, Li Young, for being amazingly awesome and taking time out of her life to point out all of my flaws to me. :D
Disclaimer:Entire Star Wars Galaxy property of George Lucas and Lucasfilms. Star Wars music property of John Williams. All original characters property of Jamie L. Vaughan.
Recommend Music:
Jar Jar's Run in with Sebulba - Phantom Menace Ultimate Soundtrack
Padme Meets Anakin - Phantom Menace Ultimate Soundtrack
Anakin's Home and the Introduction to Threepio - Phantom Menace Ultimate Soundtrack
Part 1 - Attack Of The Clones
Chapter 2
The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy.
- Alfred North Whitehead
The Temple's Hangar remained relatively inactive throughout the course of the evening. The Jedi starfighters that filled the large, beige room were only permitted to be used on Jedi missions and not for routine travel. Many of the ships were reserved exclusively for members of the Jedi council. A few were for those Jedi, like Obi-Wan and Anakin, who were frequently dispatched on missions across the galaxy. The ships remaining were for use by any other Jedi of the Order.
The council had numerous Astro droids for repairs and general maintenance of the Order's ships. However, Anakin took it upon himself to repair and upgrade his own starfighter. It provided him with an outlet for his frustration and allowed him to keep alive some small thread of his life before becoming a Jedi.
Inside the cockpit, Anakin sat tinkering with the wires and computer chips that made up the control panel. He was attempting to upgrade the visual scanner in order to receive more accurate readings when travelling through hyperspace. Célia sat outside on the wing of the ship, assisting Anakin with any tools that were out of his immediate reach. Though he had taught her some things about the nature of mechanics, Célia felt that she would rather watch Anakin work than trying to figure it out herself.
"I still can't believe he did that!" Anakin laughed, connecting together two wires.
"Neither can I! Of all the times to watch the Holonet." Célia began to giggle as she re-lived the incident in her head. "You should have seen Jocasta's face, it was priceless."
"I can imagine, but it's his own fault for taking it to class. I don't feel any remorse for the punishment she gave him, I know I would have done the same thing," Anakin said, connecting the exposed wires of the panel screen to a microchip.
"I know you would have. It's either Anakin's way or no way."
Anakin looked up from his work, a serious expression on his face. After a brief silence, he smiled, washing the stern expression off his face. He replied playfully, "Yeah, right, and you better remember that."
Célia cocked an eyebrow and threw a small screw she found laying next to her towards her cocky friend. Anakin moved out of the way long before it hit him.
"You know, that's not very Jedi!" he said in an authoritative tone. Célia just smiled, remembering when she had said those very same words to him once before; on the day they had first met.
It had only been a few weeks after the infamous Battle of Naboo. In the few weeks (or days, whatever you want) following the battle, the Jedi Temple buzzed with the story of the slave boy from Tatooine. There wasn't a Jedi, young or old, that didn't know about Anakin Skywalker. Not only had this amazing youth assisted in the defeat of the Federation on Naboo, he was also rumored to be the Chosen One. When questioned about the validity of the gossip, the Council and Masters of the Order had neither confirmed nor denied the rumors. In the end their neutrality only fueled the boy's blossoming legend.Anakin had come to the Temple many years after the traditional cut-off age, so the camaraderie that usually sprung from the training of Younglings in clans was something that he had missed out on. This, along with his natural talents in the Force, had ostracized him from Padawans his own age. Many Younglings had felt that Anakin was too important to associate with were all intimidated by his reputation. Many others simply gossiped their way around the truth and came to believe that Anakin had even declared himself the Chosen One in order to train at the Temple.
Like all Younglings, Célia had been taught by Master Yoda that Jedi prophecy had predicted the coming of a Chosen One; a Force-user who would bring balance to the Force and peace to the Galaxy. Célia had always been intrigued by the prophecy. When speculation had begun that there may be Sith present in the Galaxy, the idea of the coming of the Chosen One was on the mind of many Jedi.
With the arrival of Anakin and the tales of his heroism on Naboo, it was hard for Célia to deny the possibility that Anakin might actually be the Chosen One. She had hoped to talk with him and ask him things, especially about her home world of Naboo. But the uncertainty of Anakin's attitude towards his increasing fame, as well as the fact that she might not be even worthy enough to speak to the 'Chosen One', had kept Célia from achieving her goal. One day, when she accidentally stumbled across his room, she finally built up the courage to speak with him.
"Hi," she said, timidly knocking in the doorway. Anakin had been playing with a small object when she softly interrupted him Standing awkwardly in his doorway, she silently hoped that he wouldn't be bothered by her small disturbance.
Anakin looked up from the machine in his hand to the door with a look of slight annoyance. Seeing his immediate reaction, Célia slowly began to back away, a blush coming across her cheeks. She didn't even noticed that Anakin was coming towards her, until he was almost directly in front of her. Noticing he hadn't rebuked her for disturbing him, she looked up and found him smiling at her.
"I'm not going to bite you," Anakin said, seeing her nervousness. He then extended his hand out to her in a friendly gesture. A small sense of relief and comfort suddenly swept over her and she slowly shaken his hand.
"I hope not," Célia said laughing, as Anakin joined in with her.
"I'm Anakin Skywalker, what's your name?"
"Célia Nasari."
"Célia, that's very pretty," he said, pushing up the sleeves of his tan tunic.
"Thanks, I like your name too!" Célia smiled and looked passed Anakin and into his room, her past apprehension completely gone. "Your room is bigger than mine...I think."
She stepped into the room a little more. All Jedi were given his or her own sleeping quarters in the Temple. Each room contained the basic amenities;: bed, closet, and refresher. When the Padwan got older they were moved to a slightly bigger room which also contained a counter for food and other storage.
Célia's eyes wandered around the enclosed space. Pieces of scrap metal, wires, tools, screws and other items lay on the counter space, as well as on the floor. She then noticed the small object that he had been playing with before she came in.
"What's that?" she asked, running over to it and picking it up.
"It's a recorder droid," he said, following her into the room. "It's not done yet."
"Oh...Who made it?"
"I did."
"Really?" she exclaimed, her mouth open in shock.
"Yup." He smiled at her bewilderment and his own achievement.
"What are you going to do with?" Célia asked, looking at it in all different directions. She was trying to figure out how it worked, let alone how Anakin had made it.
"Well," Anakin began, shifting the droid in Célia's hands to its proper position, "When it's done, I'm going to use it to record my training sessions. So that if I do anything wrong, I can see what I did and do it right the next time."
"Well that's what your Master is there for," Célia said, not really seeing the purpose for such technology.
"Yeah..." Anakin took the droid from her hands and put it on his bed, "But I like making things, it gives me something to do. It makes me feel useful."
"Well...you did a gonzo job! Do you have anything else that you made?"
"No, all of the rest of my things I had to leave at my home."
The talk of his old life on Tatooine caused a slight change in Anakin's attitude. Seeing this, Célia quickly changed the subject in an effort to take his mind off of the past.
"Do you think you can teach me how to make droids?"
"Really? You want to learn?" Anakin asked, unsure as to whether she was serious or not. The other Jedi that he had met didn't really have as much of an interest in technology as he did.
"Yeah, I can help you too! I'm a quick learner. I'm one of the top students in my clan." Célia spoke a mile a minute and quickly picked up the droid on Anakin's bed and handed it to him. It was the first time since Anakin had arrived at the Temple that he felt a connection with anyone his own age.
"Okay!" He exclaimed, and sat down on the floor. Célia quickly joined him.
"Where did you get all this stuff?" she asked, picking up a small piece of scrap metal Anakin had lying on his floor.
"From the trash," he answered nonchalantly. Realizing that she was holding something that was from the trash, Célia quickly dropped the piece of metal on the floor; frantically wiping her hands on her pants.
"Your Master let you go in the trash to look for scraps!"
"No, he doesn't know."
"Well doesn't he wonder where all this stuff came from?" Célia looked at him, unable to believe how Anakin was able to hide such a thing from his Master.
"I just tell him that Master Saesee Tiin gave them to me." He gave her a sly grin. Célia just sat there in disbelief; the Chosen One lied to his master!
"Anakin, lying to your Master. That's not very Jedi."
Anakin sat there debating whether to take her seriously. Then Célia began laughing helplessly, and not long after, Anakin's laughter joined with hers.
That had been the moment their friendship had been sealed.
Not much had changed between them in the ten years since that day. As much as they had grown in their powers, responsibilities and appearance, they still regarded eachother in the same way that they did when they were children. Célia just hoped that with Anakin's increasing potential and ultimate destiny as the Chosen One, if things would still remain the same.
"Do you think it will be finished soon?" Célia asked, handing Anakin a small gas torch.
"I don't know...Why, where are you going?"
"No where, I was just curious. You know, I do have classes tomorrow," Célia said hopping down from her seat to stretch. "I just don't want to be down here all night."
"Oh!" Anakin said, sitting up. "So you made a date with someone else besides me?"
Célia looked up and began to laugh.
"That's right, Skywalker. I have to help someone else with their starfighter!" Anakin laughed and continued with his work. After a few moments, Célia sat back on the wing. There was an awkward silence between them before Anakin spoke again.
"You know, it's a good thing that we're getting this finished tonight," he said, his words more serious.
"Why?" Célia asked, scooting over to the cockpit.
"Master Obi-Wan and I were assigned on a mission to Ansion."
"Oh," Célia said sitting back on her side. The news was like a blow to her. Anakin had just returned from a mission to Albecus less than two weeks ago. As he got older, Anakin was being dispatched on more and more missions. This caused her time with him to become less frequent by the year.
"We'll be leaving in the morning." Célia stayed quiet for a few moments. Finally, she let out a small sigh and jumped off of the wing, picking up a wrench she saw on the floor.
"What is it?" Anakin asked, putting his tools down and looking down at her.
"Nothing, I'm...just thinking."
"About what?" He asked, climbing out of the cockpit and taking the place on the wing where she had sat.
"It's just...I wish Nha-Dek would allow me to go on more missions." Célia could feel his eyes on the back of her neck, but she couldn't force herself to turn around.
"Believe me, you're not missing much. Most of them are just diplomatic missions. Actually, they can be quite boring."
"That's not the point. I know that he has requested not to be dispatched on missions that are outside of Coruscant. I don't think he believes I'm capable enough. It's like he doubts my abilities." Celia was becoming increasingly frustrated with her master lately. She felt that her training had come to a standstill in recent months.
"Why do you think that?" Anakin asked, walking up to her and putting an arm on her shoulder.
"Just sometimes what he says or how he acts." Célia could feel the twinge of sadness burning at the back of her throat. She closed her eyes and calmed herself, willing the feeling away. When she felt composed she turned to face her friend.
"But it could just be me I guess." She tried putting on a fake smile for his benefit, even though she knew it wouldn't last. When Célia was with Anakin, she felt as if she couldn't fool him. He could see right through her, whether he wanted her to or not.
Every being and thing had its own imprint in the Force that served much like a fingerprint or an identity. To a Force sensitive, each being's imprint had a corresponding feel and color. When in close contact with anything, the feel of their presence could be felt through the force. When in meditation, a Force sensitive could also see a color associated with the being; one that was unique to his or her own imprint in the Force.
Anakin's presence within the Force, however, was unique and unlike any other Célia had ever felt. It was unusually strong and always seemed to reflect Anakin's own feelings at any given time. Instead of one sound or color, Anakin's presence seemed to be composed of many. It was a symphony of feelings that permeated through her own being whenever she was around him. But when she was with him then, only the eyes came to her mind.
"I've just been feeling...not myself lately." Célia said looking into his eyes. Anakin didn't say anything in words, but urged her to continue. Célia wanted to tell him. She trusted him more than almost anyone in the Temple, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him. Not until she had figured it out for herself.
"We should probably finish this upgrade. If you're leaving tomorrow, you won't be able to fly with a disassembled control panel!" Célia handed him the wrench that was in her hand and went back over to the ship. She had closed the subject and Anakin wasn't going to press her further. However, she had piqued his interest and both of them knew that the conversation wasn't completely over.
"Okay, I think that about does it," Anakin proudly stated from within the cockpit. He twisted the last screw into place.
"Does it work?" Célia asked, walking over to the cockpit and leaning against it to look in.
"Only one way to find out." Anakin excitedly started up the ship and watched intently at the small circular screens in front of him. He smiled brightly when he saw the images and data flashing onto the screen.
"It works!" he exclaimed, turning the engine off and hopping out of the cockpit. Célia shared in Anakin's joy at his achievement, giving him a friendly hug.
"Well," Anakin said stretching. "I guess we should get some sleep. You have your classes tomorrow." Anakin said, winking at her.
"Yes and you have to get up early yourself."
"Yeah. You go on, I'll clean up here," Anakin said, wiping his hands on his pants. Célia nodded and smiled, walking over to give him another hug.
"Goodnight, Anakin."
"Goodnight, I'll see you again when I come back. You can help me fix the ship again!" Anakin returned her embrace. Célia just smiled and nodded before leaving the Hanger for what she hoped would be a night of calm sleep.
Some discrepancies I had to make in this chapter for sake of the plot: Anakin did not have his own Jedi starfighter until the Clone Wars. However, he did spend time modifying his own starfighter once he got one. Also Anakin never went on the mission to Albecus, Obi-Wan went alone and made Anakin stay behind on Coruscant. Also the time period between Obi-Wan's mission to Albecus and their joint mission to Ansion is much longer than two weeks.
The next chapter will be up quicker than this one, since I will be settled into school soon, and will also be rooming with my beta. :)
