Thanks for all your reviews, as to who will be Anakin's Master, I'm afraid I kinda gave it away with this chapter. Oh well. But you will have to wait for my OC's Masters. Pay close attention to them, they will be very important and I have spent a lot of time crafting them. Have fun reading, and in answer to all those other questions you wonderful people asked, you just have to wait and see.
Chapter 2
Anakin had arrived in the Hazel crèche with his friend Cha Ka. They had just learnt to walk and were therefore moved up. There were two crèche groups and both had dozens of children in. Hazel was the crèche group which concentrated on those with more physical abilities, the other group was Oak and they had more mental stimulation. Their days would be spent playing with the toys and meditating and learning the basics of the Force. The room was filled with brightly coloured objects and climbing frames. They would be staying there for a couple of years. They ate, slept and played in that room. In the far corner was a room filled with beds.
They were watched over, mainly by nanny droids, but they would occasionally have Padawan's looking after them, it was a punishment. They also had Jedi come and help them meditate and learn about the Force.
Cha Ka, Anakin's best friend, had been with Anakin for the past several months since Nursery. Anakin hadn't developed loads of friends yet, but he had bonded closely with the red skinned Lethan Twi'Lek. He was very quiet, but Anakin had been one of the few to see his hidden humour. Cha had no problems with Anakin's early developing skills. Most of the people of his age had already seen them and Anakin couldn't remember a time he didn't know how to do the things he did. When they first arrived, Cha and Anakin had been amazed by the brightly coloured room and all the objects. They split up and moved around the room testing out each of the objects and meeting all the new children. Anakin was a sunny friendly boy and quickly got on with most of the people in the room. Cha was a bit more reserved.
Several months later, Cha and Anakin had developed a routine. They played together most of the day, usually on the climbing frames and with the technical equipment. One of they're friends came up to Anakin with a broken toy. Quicker than anything Anakin had fixed it. Since then, if a toy had become broken a child went to Anakin with it who seemed to have a natural ability with machines and fixing things. The people who came in, while amazed by his skill, were pleased that he was developing those skills.
One day a Jedi walked in holding a little human girl. She was pale, thin and fragile with a head of curly black hair. She incredibly pale blue eyes that shifted with her mood from blue to green to grey. She walked unsteadily into the room, very unsure of herself. She had a big ugly bruise on her cheek and her arm was in a splint. Anakin walked over to her, the other kids slightly wary of this new person brought into their fold.
Are you alright? Anakin asked in her mind.
I am now that I am here, She replied mentally. She acted as if talking in someone's head was completely natural. She had obviously done it before and had skill with it.
Anakin walked over to her and gently touched the bruise. Does that hurt?
A bit, she replied, My name is Luminara.
Anakin, he said holding out his hand which she shook. Cha Ka came over and held his hand out too.
Cha Ka. Luminara smiled. They drew her away from the door and the watching Jedi. They sat her down and they were soon playing with a ball between the three of them, talking about life there.
Listen, Anakin sent mentally, we can't call you Luminara all the time, how about Lumi?
I'd like that, she said sending him a small smile.
Over the next month the three of them were inseparable. They did everything together and became fast friends. Anakin had the sunny disposition that encouraged others to become friends with the three children who were so advanced, but Lumi's wariness and Cha Ka's quiet temper meant that most never became close to the three of them. Anakin had amazing abilities with equipment as well as the Force and he taught Lumi and Cha all he picked up and they picked that up quickly as well. Cha was an amazing climber and incredibly flexible. He could climb anything. Lumi could do any of the more difficult puzzles laid out for them in seconds. Mental riddles and puzzles were easy for her. They made a formidable group and managed to succeed at what ever they put their minds to.
During one of the meditation lessons, when they were all sitting down, Anakin started floating. Master Yoda, the person teaching them watched interested in the floating Anakin, perfectly still and still meditating.
Cool, Lumi sent to Ani and Cha.
What? Anakin asked, still floating.
You're floating, Cha replied.
"What!" Anakin said as he fell hard on the floor. Everyone in the class giggled as Anakin rubbed his bottom.
"Younglings, Younglings," Yoda said, rapping his stick o the floor. "Continue meditating we must." Everyone went silent again, but Anakin, Lumi and Cha noticed the speculative Yoda gave them.
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Qui gon and Obi Wan were walking through one of the hallways, discussing their next mission when they saw a little 3 year old boy standing in the middle of the hall, a little boy who should not be there.
Anakin got up and ran to the two approaching Jedi. Anakin knew Obi Wan and Qui gon well as they regularly visited him, as did several other members of the Council. Watching the running boy, Obi Wan scooped him up and placed him on his hip.
"Anakin," Qui gon said, "What are you doing out here? You should be in the crèche."
Anakin put on his most innocent expression, apparently completely lacking in guile. The two Jedi didn't believe it for a minute. "I just wanted to see the Temple," Anakin said in a sweet little voice.
"How did you get past the droids and the security system?" Obi Wan asked. Anakin looked slightly abashed.
"I kinda shut one of the droids down and Lumi got past the door controls. She said the pass word was really easy to figure out," Anakin said earnestly nodding his head.
Obi Wan frowned slightly. "And what was Cha doing during all this?" They had heard of the three's antics in the crèche. If two were in on it, then so was the other. According to Qui gon it did give the Council something amusing to talk about. Yoda found the three's methods particularly interesting. Obi Wan knew that Qui gon and Yoda had been watching the three children with particular interest.
"Cha was distracting the other droids, he climbed to the top of the frame and started crying. It was funny." Anakin said, giggling, "They were rushing around, not knowing what to do."
Obi Wan gave a heavy sigh and dropped the boy and they started back to the crèche. The two Jedi looked at each other with glints of amusement in their eyes. According to Yoda, one night they switched the droid's head round so that they were turned back on extremely confused. The droids had not been happy. When they arrived at the crèche, Master Yoda was inside waiting for them. Anakin immediately let go of Obi Wan's hands and ran to Cha and Lumi to recount his tale of what was beyond the door.
Yoda looked amused and ruefully shook his head. "Challenging that one will be, pity you I do," Yoda said as he approached the two Jedi. Obi Wan looked at Qui gon puzzled.
"I've been short listed to train Anakin," Qui gon explained. The Council had decided that Anakin was indeed the Chosen One. His actions had shown that. That meant that Obi Wan was the Guide. This meant that, according to the prophecy, Qui gon would train Anakin. Simple really. "I take it Master, you know what he and his friends did?"
Yoda nodded, "Yes, yes," Yoda looked back at the three silently talking together. "Not surprised I am. Have someone in here permanently we will. To young to be punished and to advanced to be with droids they are." The three of them started to walk out the door when Anakin walked over to them. He waved his little hand in goodbye and then ran back to his friends.
"Envy you, I do, to have such a bright young student," Yoda said in parting as he walked away.
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Anakin, Lumi and Cha were very nervous. Tomorrow they were being chosen for Youngling groups. They would be taking full time lessons and preparing to become Padawans. They were all excited, but also nervous that they would be separated. None of them could sleep. Do you remember you parents? Cha asked into the void of conversation.
I only remember Obi Wan and Master Jinn. I don't remember anyone else. Anakin said, as they lay curled up in beds.
I remember all to well, Lumi said, They weren't very nice people. Cha and Anakin sent reassuring and comforting waves over to Lumi. They both remembered what she looked like when she had arrived. They had later found out that it had been her father that had done it. They both felt anger at the man that had hurt they're friend, but Lumi said that they weren't worth it and so they let they're anger go, but both of them knew that in later life they would never be able to allow a child to be abused in such a way. What about you? Lumi asked, breaking the pause in the conversation.
Nothing, Cha said, I wish I had someone, anyone, even a Jedi like Ani remembers. But I don't have anything.
Maybe it's for the best, Ani said, As Jedi we will have to let go our attachments, it must be easier if you don't have any to begin with.
Hmmm, Cha said mentally.
Anyway, Lumi said, We should get some sleep. We wouldn't want to be yawning all through tomorrow. All three of them quietened after that and quickly fell asleep.
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Various people stood in the crèche room, reading out the names of various children moving on. They were moving on to the next level. As they left the room, they felt a kind of nostalgia for the place they had had so much fun. But just think of all the things they would be going of to do. Force help the group that got them!
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Review please! I'm having a sort of mental block for younglings group, it shouldn't take too long to unblock, but it will delay the next chapter, sorry!