'Final Flash' (Chapter Seventeen)
By Ennon
A/N- I know it's been a VERY long time since I last updated this but between a BIG project and some writer's block, I got delayed. No more. Here it is! I may revise the other chaps today or another time but I want to finish this one now!
Miss Naye (#16)- Glad you liked Threepio being a deity for real, we'll see if Anakin remarries.
Swspacecadet(#16)- I'm glad you like the way it was weaved back together and I hope you have no problems with this last weaving.
Linwe-Amar(#2)i- Welcome aboard! Happy you love the storyline and I'll keep this going as long as needed!
Much time passed since Anakin, Kitster the Wookiee and Kha-tsel Sarin (Darth Maul's son) brought back the Coruscantis from the Quechu-Mong Galaxy and ended the Mongs' occupation- and the task of rebuilding the galaxy would be one that would take quite a few centuries indeed but with Anakin, his progeny and other Force wielders, the task proved not impossible.
In the very distant future after our previous encounter, large star shuttle landed in the space port area of Yavin Four a very short distance from the Massassi Temple Complex before an entourage disembarked.
"Welcome to the Luke Skywalker Memorial New Jedi Academy and Museum. We are honored to have you and your viewers celebrate New Year's Day with us!" a Mon Calimari man exclaimed (in tan silk kimono type vestments and polished knee- boots).
"Whatever, Master Frucort. Can we just get on with this. I'm told you're having Corellian women with. .." Rudork Travish from Bative -a red haired human man of average height in his early 40s wearing a rather ostentatious glowing suit.
"Sir, it's not that kind of celebration," Master Frucort gasped.
"Great! Adjino, why are we here again?" Rudork sniffed to his aide-de-camp.
"Because for countless centuries, the Galaxy has considered the anniversary of the Battle of Yavin to be the start of the calendar- and it would be good for the holovid network's ratings," Adjino Orgnex (a brown haired man in his 30's of average height but in much toned down attire and boots) replied.
"P.R. with the New Jedi buyers can't hurt I guess. We can amscray to a party after this crashing bore," Rudork said with clenched teeth.
"It looks interesting enough from a historic point of view," Adjino pondered as he started walking towards the complex.
"You and your history! Why are you walking"Rudork sniffed.
"The complex is only two kilometers away and it's a very pleasant day. . " Adjino started to say.
"The sooner we get thru this, the better. We're taking the hovercraft shuttle in," Rudork insisted.
Adjino knew better than to argue with his superior yet he couldn't help but be fascinated by the very wide restored interlocking stone causeway that had many intricate patterns via the original builders. Large trees bearing a dozens of varieties of fruit on each side with large garden and crop plots visible through the trees were some of the treats of this jungle causeway on the way to the temples.
Upon reaching the large stone gate in the walls surrounding the temples, they were met by a contigent of a dozen New Jedi Honor Guards (of forty- three species and four genders!) in their finest uniforms unsheathing their lightsabres and stepping back to form an archway for the visitors to walk through.
"This Temple Complex was first used for New Jedi in 5 AY, destroyed by the Quechu Mong in 718AY, Rebuilt between, Rebuilt between 850 and 1000AY by the New Jedi . This is dedicated to the Life and Teachings of our New Order's Founder, New Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. May the Light Side of the Force be with All Residents and Guests!" Adjino exclaimed with awe as he translated and read the stone inscription aloud in Middle Basic he somehow felt drawn to this spot and bowed his head in reverence.
"Blah-blah-blah!Are you through? Or must we wait until we've turned into stone monuments to hear the end of that," Rudork sneered while the rest of his entourage nodded in agreement.
"Sorry, I got carried away a bit," Adjino sighed, though he wasn't entirely sorry.
"It better not happen during the broadcast. .." Rudork started to sniff.
"WHOA! Look at the SIZE of that thing!" Adjino gulped he came into full view in the center of the plaza which was cornered by four 1000 meter tall temple pyramids with gigantic bases .
"Cut the chatter, Adjino and lets get onto the Ceremonial Temple so we can get more spacecraft sales, "Rudork snapped as they disembarked from the hovercraft and started walking.
"It's in the South Temple- right where the Princess first honored her as-yet unknown twin, her future husband, their Wookiee friend and two droids for their valor!" Jedi Master Frucort beamed.
"Fine," Rudork snapped as they followed the lead of New Jedi Master Frucort who didn't want to offend his high ranking guests.
As they made their way inside, Adjino saw hundreds of New Jedi, Padawans and New Jedi Progenies (as it had been decided by Luke that the Old Jedi term Younglings accentuated their vulnerabilities rather than abilities- to the relief of all who helped him establish the New Order).
"Adjino, why's that wrinkly fossil at the back of the room staring at me?" Rudork asked they made their way up to the stone chairs adjacent the center on the Ceremonial Platform in the front of the Temple
"I think he's actually staring at me," Adjino gulped- as he noticed the man Vorgot described doing so as heard a voice inside his head asking him many questions and asking him why he was wasting his time with. .. .
"Well, tell him to stop. He bores me!" Rudork sighed.
But before that happened, Jedi Master Frucort cleared his throat- the sound of which filled the entire interior for it was amplified by a hovering microphone.
"My fellow New Jedi Masters, New Jedi Dames and Temple Residents. Today, we are honored to help us celebrate the New Year the galaxy-famous spacecraft mogul , Rudork Travish. On behalf of our Jedi Order and all it represents on the Light Side of the Force, we welcome you!" Jedi Master Frucort beamed while almost everyone in the Ceremonial Temple clapped.
"Not bad, but I'm sure you can do better," Rudork sniffed while raising his hands in waves to encourage louder cheering.
"That'll do. Let's get on with it," Rudork shrugged.
"We will start out with 'Heroic Affirmation and Victory' found in the New Jedi Holovid Hymnal Chant Number 980," Jedi Master Frucort beamed while Adjino quickly found the chant in question in the holovid and held it in front of the Senator's rolling eyes while the others started following along.
'Born of The Angel Named Padmé/
Who Came Down From The Sky/
And the Grandson of the Goldenhearted Slave Named Shmi/
Using the Guidance of the Slain Obi-Wan/
Our Founder Luke Skywalker/
Crushed the Jaunty Foes/
Via Light Side He Made/
The Fatal Blow on the Evil /
Of The First Death Star/
So The Galaxy Would Be FREE!
"Born of a bagel/ Named Patty Cake!" Rudork suddenly sang out then mockingly laughed while grabbing the floating sound amplifier- all but Adjino in his entourage laughed.
The Jedi Master Frucort looked quite discomfited while all the others stopped their singing except for the bent, ancient man in brown robes and with defiance in his blue eyes.
"Why aren't the rest of you continuing? Has everyone else forgotten that it was the chants alone the kept the echoes of freedom alive after the 2nd Quechu Mong Invasion and enslavement wiped out virtually all the Galaxy's technology and written accounts," the ancient man in brown robes shouted from the back of the room.
"Please, Anakin. We want to make our honored guests welcome," Jedi Master Frucort pleaded.
"Have you forgotten the 5th Verse of the 782nd chapter of the first book of Our Founder's Credo?' Respect must be mutual for it to be of the Light Side'," Anakin insisted as the crowd started to part to give him a straight path to walk through.
Adjino noticed that all gave him respect but were some of this crowd being moved back and hovering precious centimeters above the stone floor and away from the path to make room for this shrunken figure? Impossible!
" What got into your intestine? That crashing bore you call a song could use some humor!" Rudork sneered.
"I find your lack of respect and respect for My Master's Angel Mother and My Master's Accomplishments in this place most disturbing," Anakin boiled as he became visible to all on the stage.
He wore a brown tunic robe covered his head with a thick covering of ash-white hair that went to his bent shoulders. His nose was a bit bulbous and stood out from his craggy face but not as much as those intense blue eyes. He had very gnarled hands and bare feet sticking out of the robe's sleeves and brown pants.
"Puh-leaze! Lighten up, prune!" Rudork smirked
"As you wish!" Anakin replied while clenching his eyes.
Suddenly Rudork was aloft.
"HELP! Adjino, get me down! DO something! This better NOT be on the holovid broadcast!" Rudork screamed in hysterics five meters suspended in mid air above the platform.
"Could you please put my employer down? He gets motion sickness and. .." Adjino gulped- though not entirely upset as Rudork was slowly levitated to be entirely upside-down in mid air.
" He needs to respect My Master in My Master's house! I owe My True Master that at the very least after he freed me from my cage and restored. .." Anakin insisted while stomping his right foot.
"Put him down!" a disembodied voice was heard to exclaim by all New Jedi in the Temple while all non-New Jedi heard nothing..
"But, My True Master, this sot showed you no dignity," Anakin pleaded.
"He'll never learn any in that position. Put him down, NOW!" the same disembodied voice was heard to exclaim- this time heard by the New Jedi AND Adjino.
"You are correct as you've ever been, "Anakin groaned with some resignation while he gently righted the airborne man head over heels then set the holovid reporter down.
"Well, I'm glad you saw the futility in that. Really! Don't you know who I am? "Rudork sneered.
"I could ask the same of him AND I ask you again if you know what YOUR potential is?" the Anakin's voice whispered inside Adjino's head.
"Uhm, I think we'd better continue with the chant," Jedi Master Frucort gulped.
"By all means! We're here to celebrate The Day Long Remembered!" Anakin said with unmistakable pride.
The chants continued without further incident until the conclusion of the New Year Ceremony.
"At last, that's over with. I can hardly wait to blow this Wookiee den for . .." Rudork sneered with a wide yawn at the very end.
"Sorry, Senator, you can't leave here just yet. Ion storms from the gas giant we're orbiting," New Jedi Master Frucort sighed after having had this whispered by another New Jedi.
"What!" Rudork shuddered.
"We're perfectly safe here. They make excellent natural fireworks in our upper atmosphere to help us celebrate the New Year," Master Frucort beamed.
"Who cares," sniffed Rudork
"Not to worry. We have excellent, spacious and luxurious guest quarters for your entire party in the Academy Temple's top level," the New Jedi Master Frucort consoled.
"Guest quarters but I need to get to. .." Rudork sputtered.
"It usually takes a day or two for them to clear up,"Master Frucort explained.
"Great! Just what I always wanted to be stuck in this terrarium over the New Year holiday," Rudork boiled.
"Uhm, Rudork, as long as we have to be here, could I take a tour of the Temple Complex?" Adjino asked.
"Sure, I don't care. Just as long as you finish the Ratings Report by tomorrow night," Rudork insisted.
"Yes, sir," Adjino sighed.
"And see what you can do about this Relic Beyond Compare the addled-brained pilgrims come here to seek. If I'm holovidded with it, it'll send my ratings base through the nebula- and maybe I can buy it," Rudork whispered.
Adjino Orgnex had never seen anything like this but he somehow felt perfectly at ease wandering through as he ventured through the Temple Complex. the Museum Temple on the North Side, New Jedi Academy Temple on the East, Training Temple on the West and, of course, the Ceremonial Temple on the South).
In the Museum Temple he noticed a long corridor with hundreds of lifesized statues of men and women who were New Jedi Masters from Luke Skywalker himself down to the present day. There was an unbroken line apart from the Quechu-Mong Occupation which sent the New Jedi and virtually all remnants of Galactic Civilization into hiding. He noticed, though, by Luke Skywalker's statue, on the side to the left of his, there was a wide,deliberate gap between him and the four Old Jedi Masters revered here(Yoda, Qui-Gonn, Mace Windu and Obi-Wan). Adjino had heard about the Imperial Gap wiping out the Old Jedi but for small remnants that Luke Skywalker had revived but he couldn't help but think there needed to be another statue between Skywalker's Obi-Wan's.
Adjino then walked by himself to other galleries of so many associated with the New Jedi Founder. His breath was taken away by the Princess's Salon in which the New Alderaan Matriarch Leia Organa-Solo, her husband Han Solo and the Organa-Solo Dynasty were celebrated. He noticed a large chain with scorch marks strung up on the wall and became quite puzzled.
"You're wondering why such a crude chain for the New Alderaan Matriarch Princess's Salon," whispered the Anakin- at least Adjino thought but he didn't see the ancient man's lips move.
"Um, yes," Adjino gulped.
"It has been preserved here to celebrate how she single-handedly defeated the Hutt who'd enslaved her. This was rescued from next to the Sarlaac pit in the remains of the Sail Barge that Our Founder destroyed after saving his future brother-in-law, himself and their Wookiee friend from certain death. I'm proud to say that this artifact is original and not a replica," the Anakin beamed.
"She certainly was beautiful," Adjino gulped at the robed figure.
" A shadow of her and Our Founder's Angel Mother, though. Come with me," Anakin eagerly insisted.
"So many jewels and gowns this Queen Padmé of Naboo had," Adjino gulped at seeing dozens of mannequins sealed cryogenically sealed each containing one spectacular outfit after another surrounding the alabaster statue of the beauteous young lady.
"I'm sorry to say that they and the statue itself are replicas but after the Quechu Mong's Occupation and Final Defeat they were reconstructed with every single stitch and jewel to the millimeter as had been the originals but this is my personal favorite one," Anakin sighed then beamed at one of Padmé in a plain jumpsuit.
"Why this one?" Adjino asked.
"It showed her true natural beauty, strength and intelligence to her best advantage. It was in this outfit that she first descended on the desert rock to bring light into a wretched den," Anakin said with happy tears in his ancient blue eyes.
"Will you be alright?" Adjino asked.
"Let me take your hand for just a moment and YES! Just as I thought!" Anakin exclaimed.
"What?" Adjino gulped as the Anakin was on the verge of crushing Adjino's bones with surprising physical strength in his ancient right hand and a glow was felt coming into Adjino's right hand.
"Born of the Angel Padmé and the Chaotic Son of the Goldenhearted Slave Shmi in the Nineteenth Year Before Yavin, Our Founder and New Jedi Master, the elder fraternal twin Luke Skywalker would live another 104 years after Yavin and see five generations. By Luke's wife, the former Imperial Assassin named Mara Jade who Luke freed of the Ghost of Darth Maul their only child named Ben would be born in the 20th Year after Yavin who would live 57 years and by Ben's wife, the Nabootanean named Sabé Bortai, they'd have 5 sons and 3 daughters and by their 6th child and 4th son Han. .. ."Anakin continued to the stunned stillness of Adjino until.. .
"And by the 3rd son Rexoalt Skywalker would be born the 2nd son named Adjino to him and his wife Vorta Ogrnex- a direct descendent of Princess Leia Organa-Solo, twin of Master Luke Skywalker and her husband Han Solo but I sense your parents separated and you were given your maternal name," Anakin finished.
"You mean, I'm descended from the Founder?" Adjino gulped.
"And through his twin you're descended from Their Angel Mother," Anakin insisted.
"How can you know all this? I've never heard any of this," Adjino shuddered.
"As the very first verse first in the first chapter, of the first book of My Master's Tome, 'With the Light Side ALL Things Are Possible!'" Anakin exclaimed as he put both his gnarled hands above his head in triumph.
Adjino was even more puzzled as to what what going on but he somehow knew he'd find what others had sought in vain over the centuries - the Relic Beyond Compare!
"Are you saying I'm this Luke Skywalker's descendant? " Adjino asked.
"And, Princess Leia Organa-Solo's making you doubly descended from Their Angel Mother!" Anakin insisted pulling himself to his full height to give Adjino a salute.
" But Skywalker's not that uncommon a name. Many families took it in Your Founder's honor like my mother's may have- especially since so many lost their names after the Quechu Mong Occupation," Adjino recalled.
"That they did- although I can tell you that over 5 million direct descendants of his, 3 million of the New Alderaan Matriarch and over half a million mutual descendents are living throughout the galaxy.!" Anakin beamed with unmistable pride.
" In spite of the plagues and Quechu Mong Occupation?"Adjino gulped.
"Yes, without those factors the numbers of Skywalker and Organa-Solo descendents would have been virtually incalculable," Anakin groaned.
" I'm sorry," Adjino sighed- even though all this had taken place centuries earlier.
"What a terrible century that was for all in the Galaxy. Worse than even the 23-year Imperial Gap!" the Anakin groaned.
"But all that was centuries ago and they're long gone, what does that have to do with?" Adjino asked.
"The New Jedi rebuilt every stone and exhibit in these temples from the ground up to show the shellshocked Galactic populace they COULD survive and their descendents would be inspired to renew our civilization," Anakin explained.
"I'm sorry but I didn't get your name," Adjino sighed as he extended his hand to the Anakin's tiny, gnarled one.
"Everyone here addresses me by my calling of Archivist- for what I preserve is far more relevant than any name," the Anakin groaned.
"You tell me dozens of generations of ancestors I'd never heard of but you won't tell me your own name? Great! "Adjino sighed.
"To believe it, you would have to believe that through the Light Side ALL is Possible- and I don't think you're ready," Anakin snapped while wagging a gnarled right index finger.
"Okay be that way. Which way to to the X-Wing Replica?" Adjino asked.
"So, you're interested in the Battle of Yavin after all, " Anakin pondered.
"I read about it on a carving the Ruins of the New Senate Chamber in Coruscant," Adjino shrugged as they left the Museum Temple.
"Hmm, I knew you must have done some archeology," Anakin pondered.
" For some reason, I've always been drawn to the period between the two Restorations of the New Republic. That millennium had so much going on!"Adjino explained.
"But you don't have the entire picture," Anakin groaned before made their way to the Training Temple where in a corner sat the replica of Luke Skywalker's X-Wing Rebel Fighter appearing as though it was ready to defend Yavin again at any moment.
"Amazing, this looks so much like in the carving!"Adjino gulped.
"For some years after the New Republic, the X-Wing Fighter became widely reproduced in every form of art imaginable. Yes, this tiny vessel was able to defeat the gigantic weapon against enormous odds even with many losses of good lives," Anakin groaned.
"Our Founder's squadron was fired on by dozens of Imperial Tie-Fighters that wiped out 90 percent of his comrades and his blue astromech droid got fired upon by The Enemy who should have recognized it-among others," Anakin started to explain with a sigh.
"The droid got hit? It looks like it survived to me but you said this was is a replica of that ship," Adjino considered while pointing to the mute and silent R2D2 nestled in the replica of the X-Wing's pod.
"That I did say but you may be relieved to know that it was restored to the mint condition that we have preserved the look of to this day," the Anakin explained while nodding . .. towards this mute droid replica, Adjino wondered.
"How did my ancestor Luke Skywalker get out of this one?" Adjino asked.
" Our Founder's future brother-in-law Han Solo (another of your ancestors) wiped out The Enemy's guard fliers- sending The Enemy tumbling upside-down and backwards through space but using the Light Side of the Force and listening to Master Obi-Wan's ghostly advice, Our Founder was able to thrash the laser torpedo the correct 72 degree angle to cause the Chain Reaction that Exploded the First Death Star literally moments before it was due to destroy this very moon as it had Alderaan (with its rich culture and history) the day before," Anakin groaned.
"Man, I'd forgotten that Alderaan had gotten destroyed just the day before that. And to think she urged the Rebels to keep fighting instead of being overwhelmed by that incalculable grief. How did my ancestress Princess Leia keep from being destroyed?" Adjino asked.
"A good part of it was due to her adoptive parents' kind but resolute upbringing but I like to think she inherited the will and strength of her Angel Mother that she had barely met," Anakin beamed with pride.
"You sure seem fixated on their mother! You've taken all this historic knowledge to heart almost like you knew them," Adjino beamed.
"A historian like yourself should know that if one studies those they admire enough one can virtually make that leap," Anakin explained.
"Yes, even though I've only heard bits and pieces of the Loss of Alderaan, I can't help but be sad about that even when thinking of your Founder and my ancestor's Victory Against the First Death Star," Adjino sighed.
"Yes, I agree and, in addition to the losses of his compatriots and the entire planet of Alderaan, I can't help but feel sad for Our Founder having seen a great friend as the Old Jedi Master Obi-Wan slaughtered before him that very day- and his aunt and uncle incinerated alive the day before," Anakin deeply groaned.
"Even with all the losses happening over the centuries since, those still are sad things to consider even with that Victory over the First Death Star," Adjino sighed.
"That's why tomorrow, we schedule the Homage to the Slain Innocents- for Alderaan and all the innocents who we must lament the loss of through war and greed," Anakin groaned.
"When will we ever learn to stop those curses?" Adjino asked.
"My Master often asked the same question," Anakin groaned.
"It's been quite fascinating learning all this stuff and I'm glad I didn't miss the chance thanks to the luck of that ion storm," Adjino started.
"Who says it was mere luck?" Anakin pondered with not a little pride.
"I guess I'm a bit naïve," Adjino laughed.
"Remember what Our Founder and your ancestor said 'Be as Virtuous as Old Jedi but as Cunning as Sith' !" the Anakin wryly laughed.
"Sure seems a great deal inside your short parcel!" Adjino laughed.
" I wasn't always short but now I finally share My True Master's height for the first time since my early adolescence," Anakin exclaimed as they made their way back to the Ceremonial Temple where Adjino decided to make his way to his guest quarters.
Early the next morning, Adjino happened upon a very elderly Twi' lek Jedi named Zaditmu who was meditating in the Statue Plaza.
She held up her hand.
"I'm Zaditmu Qivok. Forgive me but my physical eyesight is virtually nonexistent but the Light Side tells me you are a human man aged 35 average height with brown hair as late from Bespin,"Zaditmu considered as she waved her ancient hand in front of his face.
"That's right," Adjino gulped.
"And you are Adjino Orgnex and you seek answers about the Archivist," Zaditmu half-laughed.
"Well, yes. He seemed to know so much about me and my family lineage," Adjino started to say.
"That's his job- and he's quite strong in the Light Side. If one uses the Light Side correctly, few secrets or shadows remain save what is necessary,"Zaditmu pondered as Adjino sat crosslegged next to her.
"So no one knows his real name? You've never heard it?" Adjino asked.
"We all know who he is and his dedication to Our Founder's Memory as well as its applications for future generations," Zaditmu beamed.
"How many generations have you been here?" Adjino asked.
"Well, I first arrived as a girl of ten, then married my fellow Padawan and sweetheart Ko'Vrar ten years later and we raised our family then I returned here after Ko'Vrar's death 50 years past and its been 95 years since I first arrived here,"Zaditmu exclaimed.
"Yes, I noticed that you are the eldest listed of all the listed New Jedi Temple residents on the manifest," Adjino pondered.
"It's a very great age for a Twi'lek," Zaditmu exclaimed with pride.
" So was the Archivist taller- perhaps with blond hair when you first arrived?" Adjino asked- though not entirely sure why he considered the Anakin's original hair color.
"No, he was exactly the same height, wrinkled and with the same white hair when I first arrived- and the ancient New Jedi I met when I first arrived told me that's how he was with them," Zaditmu whispered while using her left hand to try to sense if anyone else was around listening..
"I saw on that Old Jedi Master Yoda's inscription that he lived to be 900 years old but. .NAH!" Adjino scoffed.
After hearing the Homage with the New Jedi, Adjino looked for the Archivist until he saw Anakin outside the Temple Complex walls behind the large fruit trees carefully hoeing drainage rows in his produce garden .
"I wish I had the time to learn to garden," Adjino sighed.
"My Master used to disdain his stepuncle's farming in his youth but in his. . later years, he'd learned patience and took great satisfaction in growing things. And I daresay that the rich soil, steady rainfall and warm conditions make it ideal for growing most edible plants," Anakin said with pride as he continued to dig.
"Freshly, naturally grown food is better than imported or processed," Adjino pondered.
"You didn't come out this way just to make pleasantries about gardening. There's something you'd like to ask," Anakin said with a lilt.
"Well, I'm not sure where to start," Adjino sighed.
"I can help you with that,"the ancient Anakin laughed as he managed to seek then bring forth a small question in the back of Adjino's mind to Adjino's mouth.
"Tell me, do you think My Ancestor Luke knew fear?" Adjino suddenly felt compelled to ask.
" What makes you ask that?" Anakin sniffed as he put down the hoe and picked up the watering can while walking up the newly hoed rows expecting Adjino to follow him.
"I'm not sure but he just seemed so heroic at Yavin and. .." Adjino beamed.
"He was nineteen-years-old then. That was before he was hunted by the Enemy Who Represented All He Hated. I know that Bespin has been decommissioned for several centuries but I'm surprised you never heard about their duel," the Anakin groaned.
"Duel?" Adjino gulped.
"The Enemy had given himself to the Dark Side and Palpatine!" the Anakin groaned
"You said the Enemy had given himself to the Dark Side. Why?" Adjino gulped.
"That's a question I've been asking for. .. many years. At the time, the Enemy believed the Dark Side could give him power over others and over events but instead it drained him of virtually all the power the Enemy himself once had! In your Coruscant archeology, ever come across accounts of Death Stick fiends who haunted bars there?" the Anakin asked while putting his gnarled right hand up to his square, but wrinkled chin.
"No, I heard there was a great deal of corruption and addictions among the city-planet's citizens in the last days of the Old Republic that the Empire would use to their advantage,"Adjino sighed.
"Well, in those last days of the New Republic, Death Sticks were the slow poison of choice by those who felt themselves too sophisticated to have to deal with life without supplements. The more Death Sticks they consumed, the more they believed they needed yet. Same with the Dark Side and the power through cruelity and hatred it offers," Anakin explained.
"So, my Ancestor Luke's Enemy was addicted to the Dark Side like that?" Adjino asked.
"Yes. Oh, he was every bit responsible for all the evil he chose to do for it. However; he was addicted nonetheless,"the Anakin sighed.
"What happened in Bespin?" Adjino asked.
"The Enemy caused great pain and suffering to My Master's sister, future brother-in-law and their Wookiee compatriot to lure My Master to use him for his Force Wielding, "Anakin sadly recalled.
"While my ancestor Luke was in Bespin?" Adjino asked.
"No, to lure him TO Bespin. Oh, My Master was consumed with great anger and hatred to this Enemy he believed to be completely inhuman. He wanted the Enemy to suffer like his friends had and to kill him so he disregarded the vision of seeing himself in the Enemy's cage when he ran up full of anger and hatred ready to strike the Enemy down!" the Anakin said with a shudder.
"So did he strike The Enemy down in Bespin like he'd destroyed the First Death Star?" Adjino asked.
"No, going against every natural code, The Enemy battered him then severed My Master's right hand with his red Sith lightsabre clean off!" Anakin said in horror.
"How horrible!" Adjino gasped.
"Especially when one considers that the Enemy did this in spite of the loss the Enemy himself had had of his own more than 20 years before," Anakin gasped while grabbing his own ancient gnarled right hand with his ancient gnarled left one.
"Then the Enemy told My Master something that wounded him even worse than the loss of the hand His Angel Mother had helped create," Anakin shuddered.
"What!" Adjino asked.
"The Enemy had despised My True Master for being everything HE had been before he'd chosen the Dark Side, for befriending his former friend who'd become his sworn enemy Obi-Wan . Added to that, others' suffering was something he and other Siths fed on like maggots to decay," Anakin groaned.
"But what did the Enemy say?" Adjino gulped.
"What I'm about to tell you, you must understand that it's not the pain these news inflicted upon My Master that made his character but how My Master ultimately reacted to it that would save My Master, the Galaxy and. . ." the Anakin started to say.
"There you are! Haven't you finished that report YET!" Adjino's employer Rudork screamed as he ran up to Adjino in Anakin's produce plot and started dragging him away by the left shoulder- oblivious to the young plants he was stepping on on the way out..
"But I was learning. .. " Adjino sputtered.
"You were wasting your time with your stupid old friends. The ion storm should clear up any time and we're taking off. I must have that report when we leave!" Rudork sneered.
"Anakin, are you alright?" the elderly Twi' ilek Jedi Dame Zaditmu whispered as she came out to the produce garden carrying a bunch of flowers from her own patch while holding up her left hand to 'see' him while he shook his head.
"Oh, he needs to know what Our Master overcame and HOW he overcame it! Adjino should see he can write his own destiny instead of remaining that sod's flunky," Anakin groaned.
"History repeating itself, right?" Zaditmu sighed.
"Not exactly. Until I've said what needs to be said to Adjino, that ion storm isn't going to clear up," Anakin said with a laugh.
As Adjino was working on the report, he picked up a rather scratched up holotext tome and put in the reader. What he saw there was quite astounding to him!
"Now, Progenies, think of the water as the Force as it surrounds and protects us- yet pushes us at the same time!" Anakin was heard to say to dozens of small children while all in swim gear were swimming in the Training Temple's underground pool.
"Why does it push us?" a small boy asked.
"To spur us to do our best so we can simultaneously rely on it- yet stay independent!" Anakin exclaimed- as he took a sharp dive to the pool bottom.
"Archivist, are you okay?" asked a small girl as he came up for breath- gasping a bit.
"I'm fine," Anakin chuckled as he splashed everyone in the pool (including himself) with a Force wave.
" Better shape than many your age!" Adjino sniffed as he came into the natatorium with a large burlap knapsack.
"What do you mean? Where did you find that?" Anakin asked .
"I was digging around Coruscant in the Government District and I saw it. ." Adjino exclaimed as Anakin pulled out the holotext via the Force.
"How many layers did you have to dig to find this?"Anakin asked.
"It was almost at the bottom layer and. .."Adjino sighed.
One of the New Jedi Progeny girls put the holotext into the reader and saw it projected.
"It must be Ancient Coruscantic! What does it say, Archivist?" the New Jedi Progeny human girl named Atina (aged eight) asked.
"Very good, Atina! It's 'Tome XC of the Our Founder's Testament'-in his original 'hand'! We've been missing that Tome ever since the Quechu Mong. . .!" Anakin gasped.
"That's not all! Look at this in the opening holopage 'Dedicated to the Chosen One, New Jedi Strong Arm, Galaxy Liberator and Ageless One. My Father Anakin Skywalker- without whom I could have never started or finished this work'- and if I just. .." Adjino started to say as the holotext pic from 76AY of Luke Skywalker looking his contemporary age of 95 standing next to Anakin Skywalker (aged 117 but appearing to be in his early 20's and looking quite athletically powerful who was seen supporting the ancient Luke's bent weight by bracing him to his side by his right arm) became visible.
"Don't do that!" Anakin begged.
"Why not? They should see where you came from!" Adjino exclaimed –as he put in a micro chip and 'aged' Anakin's picture until it appeared exactly the same as Anakin did at this time.
"What are you going to do, worship me? I'd rather you didn't. Children, that's enough for today. It's time for us to take a break from the training for now!" Anakin groaned as he used the Force to levitate himself out of the pool and started walking away with Adjino.
" But you've lived over so many centuries and you did a great deal to re-establish the Galaxy after the Quechu-Mong over the centuries and fulfilled that Prophecy . .." Adjino gasped.
"But everything that's happened, I owe to Luke who fought Palpatine for my very soul while his own life was in mortal jeopardy even though I had hurt him so badly. He had the Light Side restore my dismembered body. Never has there been a braver warrior and a better friend than he- and I treasure that century I got to spend with him! " Anakin sniffed- as he used the Force to make his New Jedi robes fly towards him to rerobe himself.
"You could have been RULED this Galaxy for many centuries after he did that and. .." Adjino exclaimed.
" No, the Galaxy has belonged to all- not just any one person or government. Luke and the Light Side taught me that. I wanted to drag him down by joining me so I wouldn't be alone. Instead, he raised ME by my joining him. My destiny has lain with him all these centuries," Anakin exclaimed with a raised right fist.
"You've never thought of the wealth and power?" Adjino asked.
"I had palaces 2nd only to Palpatine's in size and grandeur on many worlds and riches enough to buy hundreds of star systems and I had power from the entire galaxy fearing me but without anyone to love or any friends, it was all empty and destroying from within. See this?" Anakin asked- as he put his right hand on his lightsabre on his utility belt and his left one on the laminated blackened, Japor Pendant around his neck.
"A tool and a necklace?" Adjino asked.
" Gifts of My Angel Padmé and My True Master Luke!" Anakin exclaimed as he grasped each object that once been given to each of them that they'd given back to him.
"These are the only possessions I have in the Galaxy and the only possessions I NEED!" Anakin exclaimed.
"Not even shoes?" Adjino chuckled.
"Master Yoda wore none because he wanted to feel the Force as much as he could and so do I!" Anakin exclaimed.
"But what about your immortality and your Force Wielding?" Adjino asked.
" I once told Master Qui-Gonn that I'd be the first to see all the worlds in the galaxy- and it took me many centuries to do that and I've seen many wondrous worlds arise that I'd have never imagined before but there are so many things I wish I hadn't had to see," Anakin groaned.
"Like Tatooine becoming entirely inhabited by Sand People and Jawas with only a few human merchants now living there?" Adjino asked.
"It doesn't bother me as much it would have millenia earlier. The planet was a harsh, dry rock and after the Quechu-Mong Fall with so many fewer sentient beings left than before, humans preferred places with water and actual soil to Tatooine so few human farmers bothered to return- and it truly had belonged to Sand People and Jawas all along. They've kept access to Mama's gravesite and My Master's Homestead- and they've kept the basic architecture and name of Banai City intact. Oddly enough, 'banai' has become the Sand Person word for 'city'- but Senator Banai and his family would have been taken aback," Anakin half-laughed.
"What about New Alderaan ?" Adjino asked.
" I wasn't happy when they overthrew Leia's descendants' ceremonial monarchy 4,578 years back but it was out of my hands. At least the planet itself has remained quite viable," Anakin shrugged.
"Unlike Naboo. .." Adjino groaned.
"Being on the trading crossroads, it's become like Coruscant before the Quechu-Mong Invasion with virtually every square kilometer covered by city spread.The lake where Padmé taught me how to swim has long since been drained. I wanted to move Padmé's Mausoleum from there but Luke's Ghost told me that she prefers it where it is- even in its current, grimy state so current Nabootaneans can see it and recall when their world once had great natural beauty to inspire them," Anakin sighed.
"You think Coruscant will have more than archaeological tourists and expeditions to it anytime soon?" Adjino asked.
"It beats the first few centuries after the Restoration when it was inhabited by bandits and thieves- of the NON-governmental variety," Anakin half-laughed,half-snorted.
"I'm surprised they didn't go to Kashyyyk," Adjino sniffed.
"That planet probably was restored closer to its original state more than any other because the Wookiees revere tradition more than virtually every other species! " Anakin exclaimed.
"And considering you've lived longer than any other sentient being- even Sarlaacs and Hutts," Adjino pondered.
"You've heard of Hutts? They've been extinct for thousands of years," Anakin sighed.
"I'd heard about how they died out after they weren't able to command anyone else to do their bidding and they proved to be rather helpless on their own without legs," Adjino considered.
"I was without legs myself for a time so I actually found myself pitying them- as odd as it sounds," Anakin sighed as he banged his now bent legs.
"I found myself pitying your firstborn children after I heard about their mother dying of a broken heart after their. ." Adjino started to gasp for a moment before Anakin let his neck go again.
"Forgive me for that. It's just one of those totally STUPID distortions about her that have emerged over the centuries on some of the more obscure systems. The idea that someone who led armies and fought in arenas could just die for no medical reason when her babies needed her at their birth is so INFURIATING! She was a FIGHTER who never gave up hope like her children proved to be. They had HER character inside them. Even had she died in childbirth, she'd have died fighting to protect them from harm rather than just giving up," Anakin boiled.
A/N- Take THAT, ROTS!
"I was wondering how anyone, especially someone like her could have had that happen," Adjino gasped.
" With our galaxy having been become a loose confederation independent planets rather than a Republic or Empire, it's not surprising that many variations of our lives have evolved over the centuries. I don't care what others think of me as I did horrible atrocities as Vader but I'll be DAMNED if I let them soil her or our children's good names while there's a breath in me!" Anakin boiled while stomping his right foot on the ground.
"What about that story I've heard about Plageous the Wise halting. ..?" Adjino asked.
"WHERE did you dig THAT one up? Who was it who called that thug Plagueous 'the wise'? The SITH, that's who! They didn't want to admit he'd been defeated by Yoda! The Old Jedi's failing was in underestimating the powers of Palpatine while Vader's failing was in OVERestimating those powers but they're essentially a farce! And WHY anyone would want to glorify those scum who were so cruel and deceitful and grant them more power than they actually had instead of celebrating the one who was willing to give his life to triumph over them is beyond me!" Anakin groaned.
A/N- Take THAT, EUs!
"But what about the power of having a good position? I'm on the fast track to. ." Adjino insisted.
" To be someone else's puppet and pawn? There's NO power in that whatsoever. I've seen dozens generations by Padmé's progeny and dozens by those the Mong mated me with- and I can't say I was able to keep ALL of them from throwing away their lives but I'm not about to let you do so without giving you the chance to learn what being the Force wants with you," Anakin exclaimed.
"But I have no Force Wielding powers," Adjino groaned.
"Are you sure? Did you hear anything when I had Rudork upside-down?" Anakin asked.
"I just heard him whine to get down," Adjino sighed.
"Is that . .?"Anakin asked.
"I almost swore I thought I heard someone TELL you to put him down but that's. .." Adjino gulped.
"My True Master Luke! You DID hear him so you MUST have some Force-Wielding power!" Anakin exclaimed as he actually hugged and lifted Adjino from the ground.
"You sure are strong!" Adjino exclaimed.
"Not as strong as in centuries past. I can only physically lift ten times my body weight these days but Force lifting's not too bad," Anakin half-laughed.
"No one will ever live as long as you have and I sure won't have anything close to your Force Wielding capacities," Adjino sighed.
"That's how the Dark Side works. Belittling what one can't do instead of celebrating one's potential like the Light Side would have us do," Anakin declared.
"But the Sith have been extinct for centuries- ever since you converted Kha-tsel Sarin and. ." Adjino gasped as they found a stone bench in the Temple Plaza and sat down together.
"That doesn't mean that the Dark Side itself is entirely extinct but we mustn't live our lives in fear of living as that itself could cause the Dark Side to take hold in our individual lives," Anakin exclaimed.
"It's been so many centuries since her deaths. Why didn't you remarry after Padmé's death? You had all those children by fellow Mong slaves and. ." Adjino asked.
"I intended to with poor Miruba but the Mong didn't let her live to be my bride. Then I could have wed any one of my children's mothers but I decided that that would just sew jealousy and intrigue among those I didn't choose at the expense of whichever bride I did. Besides, with hundreds of Force-Wielding offspring to raise and train to restore the Galaxy, there was PLENTY of family for me in those days," Anakin half-laughed.
"Were you afraid any new wife would have resented you remaining young while they. .?" Adjino asked.
"I used to worry that Padmé would have done so but she came back to me on Kamino believing I was still the broken, limbless man who'd appeared more than a generation her senior. My love for her only grew over the decades we spent. The closest she ever came to despairing about old age was on her deathbed when she was a hundred.She told me that if it was any consolation, she knew that if I DID have old age, I'd be oldfor FAR longer than her entire lifespan. It's proven to be true," Anakin laughed.
"They called you the Ageless One for many centuries but then. ." Adjino started to say.
"Then, after the first 25 centuries, I started aging about one year per century. Guess whose body Palpatine counted on using for his Empire of Ten Thousand Years?" Anakin croaked while pointing to himself.
"You never wished you could rule the galaxy. You had the power for so long and. ." Adjino remarked.
"And I could have had a harem that would have taken Hutts aback but that would have meant my descendents would have overwhelmed all non-Force Wielders in just a few centuries. That's not what the Force intended for me. I was put here to guide others by word and deed to Luke's Path! To carry on what your loved ones believed in is the best way to honor their memories!" Anakin declared.
"Where's my report?" Rudork snorted later that night.
"Who cares? It won't make any difference in the grand scheme of the Force!" Adjino declared.
"What?" Rudork sniffed.
"I'm quitting!" Adjino exclaimed.
"You can't quit! Think of the ratings and your career," Rudork sniffed.
"I'm going to stay here for a time," Adjino declared.
"You're giving it all to bum around as a New Jedi?" Rudork asked.
"I'm not sure what my path will be but I intend to work hard helping them out to find out," Adjino insisted as he left the Guest Quarters of the Academy Temple.
"What do you mean, you can't awaken Anakin? I've come to tell him important news!" Adjino gulped as he ran out to the Temple Plaza as the sun was setting next to the Celebration Temple.
"I've tried to waken him but he's fast asleep," declared the 8-year-old New Jedi Progeny Dame Atina.
"His breathing is deep but not labored," Adjino exclaimed as he tried to shake Anakin's physique.
Suddenly, Anakin's skin and entire body glowed with a white light radiating from within.
"What's happening?" Adjino asked as he covered his eyes from the glare.
"What was prophesized centuries ago with him! " Atina exclaimed as Anakin suddenly stood upright from his prone sleeping position.
Everyone in the Yavin Four compound soon ran towards where the light was coming from that seemed even brighter than a supernova's and saw Anakin's physique actually float upwards hundreds of meters above the Plaza.
Suddenly, the light burst forth from the form of Anakin's physique- and instantly reached all parts of the Coruscant Galaxy. Not a single sentient being missed seeing that light burst forth at that instant- no matter how dark or shut out from any other light they may have otherwise been. Nor did they miss hearing the message from inside their heads.
"The Chosen One has become One With The Light Side and Has Joined the Others in the Force!" the words were heard via the Force via the Coruscant Galaxy's hundreds of languages and communication forms throughout the Galaxy.
Rudork and the others were quite stunned as they saw Anakin's brown and tan New Jedi Robes, Blue Jedi Lightsabre and Japor Pendant drop hundreds of meters from the Yavin Sky onto the Plaza stones at the feet of Adjino into a circle at of one meter in diameter.
"All the possessions he had- and all he ever needed," Adjino declared as he picked them up in the Year 10,508AY .
"Father, you made it! Welcome!" Luke Skywalker's Jedi Ghost (who once again looked 23 years old) declared.
" Luke, Leia and Padmé! You get to see me as an old man, at last!" Anakin's Jedi Ghost (who looked over 100)declared.
"And it only took 10,504 years. Man, did I get it in spades with you staying young for so long after I called you old and ugly!" Han Solo's Ghost shrugged.
"Ani! I won't see you as old since you refused to see me that way!You've served us so well!" Padmé's Ghost declared as she and Anakin's Jedi Ghost (with a brilliant blue light) hugged her.
"But all those innocents I harmed as Vader. ." Anakin's Ghost declared.
"We served the Light Side all this time and we spurred you to train hundreds of generations of New Jedi children to defend themselves so our deaths were by no means in vain!" Zett the Youngling that Vader had slain 10,527 years earlier declared.
"Your time as a Sith gave you what it took to understand then defeat them and their heirs," Qui-Gonn's Jedi Ghost exclaimed.
"Master Qui-Gonn I. ."Anakin's Jedi Ghost exclaimed exclaimed.
"Son, I think you need to start calling him something else," Shmi Skywalker's Ghost exclaimed.
"What do you mean, Mama?" Anakin's Jedi Ghost asked-as he hugged her.
"You know all about Jedi Mind Tricks? Well, the Force pulled the Ultimate Mind Trick on both Master Qui-Gonn and your mother Shmi. They were put in a trance and conceived you without having any memory of it- or even having met.!" Obi-Wan's Jedi Ghost laughed while banging Qui-Gonn's back.
"What! Why didn't you tell me this when I was alive?" Anakin's Jedi Ghost asked.
"Father, the Force wanted you to serve them and NOT simply what my grandfather told you- and they gave his seed an extra punch so you could have unprecedented Force-wielding capacity AND longevity!" Luke's Jedi Ghost declared.
"So that's what you meant by being honored to see what the Force did as its Conduit that time when Palpatine's Ghost was destroyed on Coruscant. You never DID treat me as less than a son- even though you had to witness me doing horrible things as Vader," Anakin's Ghost gulped.
"And, because I knew you, I was able to find the secret of maintaining my identity in the Force AND that's why ALL of our spirits have remained intact these thousands of years! We're all going to be around as long as YOUR spirit is intact,Son" Qui-Gonn's Force Ghost declared.
"Then, what?" Anakin asked.
"We get to join our energies with the rest of the Force but we'll always be together until the end of time!" Luke's Jedi Ghost declared as he put his hand on Anakin's shoulder.
"What of Adjino and the living ?" Anakin's Jedi Ghost asked.
"I'm sure they'll find the path the Force has meant for them. We have plenty of time to help them! Come, we have millions of descendents who'd like to catch up with you!" Padmé's Ghost laughed-as she took Anakin's hand and started to lead him to them in that part of the netherworld.
"Master Yoda! Let me give you a boost as we start the rest of eternity!" Anakin's Force Ghost laughed as he picked up Yoda's Ghost from the netherworld . ..um ground and hoisted Yoda on his shoulders along with a Youngling while the smaller group joined others in the netherworld.
THE END
A/N- I thought about the possibility of Anakin being immortal when it was discovered that he had more midchlorians in him than Yoda when he was just a boy- and Yoda lived to be 900 years old.
I decided to write this story to show that Anakin COULD have been capable of greatness even after having been Vader but one who recognized what had happened and strived to follow Luke's ways and I HATE how ROTS and the EUs mistreated Padmé, Luke, etc!