Ok I'm off today due fact of a snow day! So I decided to post this today, because I want to get it out the way. I was having a bit trouble with the sequel, good news I got over it and now I can be evil in the story.(hehehe) Anakin's Girl, do you still want to beta this chapter or skip it?. Let me know. Also I did set up a forum here for this story. I did manly for the sequel, I'm sure people are going get confuse with that one.
Enjoy!
Chapter 41
At last, the day had come, the day that Anakin returns to the Jedi Council. Even though he was still on Naboo, a current of hope ran through the Temple. It was hope with his return. Some of the uneasiness would vanish. Too many whispers were filling the hallways and rooms.
For some Councils' members, it was joyful day. A few, it was a day of uncertainty, as they felt the changing currents in the Force. As for the rest, it was a day where corners were turned and there was no going back now.
Then there was one, who do to his action, could only sit in his retreat room and wait another day to face Anakin Skywalker.
"Obi-Wan, will you relax! Everything is going be fine."Anakin said as he stood before him in his bedroom.
"Easy for you to say"he replied, while straighten up Anakin's tunic. "There that's better. Even though you are a holo-image in the Council's chambers. Still, have to look your best and strong too. I'm surprised there was no objection of the imager being set up here, in Palpatine's house."
"My house, He gave it to me, with the expectation of filling it with his grandchildren."Anakin as he smiled at that notion."That's another thing I got to tell the Council. Palpatine is adopting me this week. So, who's going to freak out over that?"
"The usual suspect, Yoda and Mace, when he finds out later. Then you'll give Ki-Adi something to chuckled over."Obi-Wan, gathering up the datapads.
"Is he ready to go?"Qui-Gon asked
"Yes Qui-Gon, Anakin is ready to go."Obi-Wan replied. "I'm still nervous about the whole thing. Something is not right!"
"I know Obi-Wan but we have no choice but to go ahead" Qui-Gon answered.
"Well, if it's a trap. They will be regretting it, real soon."Anakin replied sharply as he headed for the door.
"Padme! I'm leaving now." he yelled as he walked through the living room.
"Ani."she said, giving him a kiss goodbye. "Be careful, don't overtire yourself. Hopefully all goes well. If not, they will be dealing with me again."
"Padme, the order does not have the money to replace the Council's chamber roof."Obi-Wan joked
"Then that's their problem." she cheerfully answered back. "Good luck Anakin."
Yoda sat in his chamber, searching the Force. Too much was changing and that edge of blackness was moving ever so slightly closer.
"Shaak-Ti, now remember what Anakin has said, no moves against Yoda. He was right about Mace"Allie reminded her.
"Yes I'll remember. Leave it to Anakin to see that angle."
"Ladies, are you ready?"Ki-Adi asked
"Oh course!" they both answered
Khanarth Kaliy got up from his meditation and walked to the Council's chambers. He has been the Council ever since Master Windu was forced out. For the last ten years, Khanarth has been a keeper fo O'satabi retreat area. Coming back to the Temple, he noticed a change to the Order and agreed with Master Windu. This wasn't a good change.
"Yes Master Windu, something isn't right here. And Yes, Skywalker should be removed from the Council before it's too late."
"All ready for your big day"Palpatine asked as Anakin walked into the house.
"Yes and thought my big day was later on this week. Dad." he replied greeting his Father.
"You're funny. Now go in there and shake up the Council, please." he said "Did you get Chancellor Mothma report."
"Yes I did and still can't believe she got the chancellor's job" Anakin as he walked into the office.
"Well Senator Organa couldn't take the job, due to the fact to his good fortune. His newly adopted daughter Liana."
"Yes and she keeping him up too"Anakin answered back as he took his seat. "Ah the meeting is about to start soon. Don't worry I'll keep my cool."
"I'll be in the garden if you need me, Anakin."Palpatine said as he left the room.
"Ok" Anakin said and turning to Obi-Wan. "Any finally instruction Master?"
"No I'll be listening in the den." he answered "Qui-Gon where are you?"
"Here." as he appeared before them.
"You better hope Master Yoda doesn't sense you."Anakin remarked as handed Obi-Wan his crutches. "Just put them there"
"At this point, I don't care. Ok the meeting about to start, places everybody." he ordered
Anakin turned on the holo imager and look at the Council's chamber. "Still a boring room. I'm going repaint it."
"Shh you!" Qui-Gon whispered
Then the door opened and the council's members walked in.
They all greeted Anakin, some warmly than other. Which Qui-gon noted who.
Then Khanarth Kaliy walked in and Anakin began to study him "Well I know Mace is pulling your strings. So you want to mess with me. Go ahead." he thought.
Finally Yoda entered the chamber and everybody got serious.
Walking towards Anakin with careful steps, stopping before him and said. " I welcome back, Master Jedi Anakin Skywalker to the Council."
Anakin was speechless, he though it would be another year before this happened.
"Thank You. Thank you all. I'm speechless by this announcement." he quietly said as the member's began to congratulate him.
"You richly deserve it, Master Skywalker. It does have a nice ring to it."Plo commented on. "Between fighting the Clones wars and fighting to regain your life. Yes, it's fitting. We give you this well deserved honor."
Khanarth also congratulated Anakin but more for being polite. Which didn't escaped Yoda noting it.
"Business, Business, must be attended to that."Yoda, tapping his gimmer stick."Now discuss the Sith Holocron. Destroy, it must"
Several members agreed to that, citing the danger
"No I objected."Anakin quickly said."It's wrong to do that. Just because there's evil attached, doesn't we can't learn from it. Our lightsaber can be use for evil, are we going destroy them too. Maybe we could have beaten the Sith earlier, if we had used the Holocron. To fight an enemy, you need to know about them. Isn't that what Jedi Knights are taught? Beside what right do we have. I'm against destroying any knowledge"
"Yes and you do have a good point."Fisto agreeing with him. "What right do we have?"
"As Jedi, we do have that right."Khanarth answered. "To protect the Republic from another Sith attack. I'm not convinced they are destroyed."
"Neither am I, you'll always have people who are interested in the forbidden things." Anakin argued. "I know. I'm one of them." Which cause Obi-Wan to stifle a laugh.
"Master Skywalker, are you saying that you want to study the holocron? Knowing the danger of it" Khanarth carefully asked.
"All knowledge has the potential of being use for evil Master Kaliey. Hyperspace drive has been use to cause destruction on other worlds. Are you in favor of banning them? Knowing now, we have no way of getting medicines to planets that need them?"
"Good point Master Skywalker. Hmm yes."Yoda stepping in. "Not lightly, this decision should be taken. Seems lost, much could be. Vote to hold the destruction of Sith holocron. Yea? No? Yea wins."
"Khanarth just scowled at that. "Ok Skywalker. You won that vote. Want to study the Sith holocron. Good, show the true side of yourself then" he thought, not noticing that Ki-Adi was watching him. Then he remembered what Master Windu had asked him to do.
"Are we going to talk about Master Kenobi transgression against the Jedi oath?" he asked, looking at Anakin.
Anakin realized what Khanarth had done and just smiled. "Don't look at me to explain what he has done. I was in a coma at the time."Causing a few council members to chuckle a bit.
"Ah Master Skywalker was in a coma but his Master did misbehave."Yoda said. "What to do with him? He too walking another path like his Padawan. Love, the former Chancellor Palatine said, was the strongest force out there and it was pale against the Force. Was here right?"
"Yes he was right." Anakin jumping in. "In a couple days, he will, official becomes my Father. I survived the Clones Wars due to the fact I had to go home to Padme. For the coma, I sensed my twins and they were my beacon for coming home. Sometime I think the Jedi order lost something when we let go of attachments"
"This such rubbish that shouldn't be discussed in the Jedi Council's chamber."Khanarth angrily shouted out. Then he felt all eyes on him, except for Anakin, who was looking the window.
"Master Kaliey that was uncalled for" Allie pointed out. "Master Skywalker went through an ordeal. You better hope you never go through." Then she thought. "Then again it might change your attitude."
"Master Skywalker, when is exactly the date of Master Kenobi marriage?"Undali asked.
"It will be two weeks from today at 200 hours"Anakin answered."You're welcome to come, plenty of food there."
"Yes, must be there."Yoda quietly said, shocking the Council. "Master Kenobi, no telling, you heard."
Anakin was stunned to hear that. "Oh yes, I won't tell him." and thought "Oh well he knows now."
"Master Yoda! I find this to be-" Khanarth started to say but stopped when he realized he crossed the line.
"Master Kaliey, you really should think before talking." Tiin scolding him.
"Back to Master Kenobi. He did try to behave himself that he did admit. "Agen noted. Personally I feel Master Kenobi should be here personally to defend himself."
"Agreed, back to regular business if you don't mind."Unduli pleaded,
Yoda quickly got the meeting to regular Temple business. Already his heart has grown a little more heavier. Finally the meeting ended.
"Master Skywalker, please stay." he asked gently.
"Yes Master Yoda." Anakin replied, wondering what he wanted.
"This heart, now younger for you have return. Much missed."Yoda said, sitting down by Anakin. "Chosen One, walks a different path now. Who's right, who's wrong, much discusses now. Head spins Force changing too fast."
"Yes I have noticed too, and things are changing. To the point that Master Windu has threaten me, claiming that I must stop at anyway."Anakin looking at Yoda. Realizing now, how tired he looked.
"Bad and yes, Master Windu crossed the line. Never been done, sad day. Master Kenobi, he too, a puzzle. What to do."Yoda, letting out a sigh.
"The way is to get this Order back on track. Whatever that's points to. The Order right now is lost, we lost something and need to get it back."Anakin answered "Master Yoda, have you been ill lately? You look very tired."
"Caring, always you. Old just old. Years not good lately. Where to go? Much not in balance. Chosen One, what can you do. Not much sadly. Everything shifting. Stop checking your future, too much changes."Yoda chuckling." All things do past, at one point."
"Master Yoda. You need to rest more."Anakin scolding him as he reached into the Force to sense him. "Mediation is not sleep. Should I, tattle on you?"
Yoda felt Anakin reaching out to him and let him. "No, I'll behave. Tattle not Skywalker. Master Skywalker must do what he must do. As I must do what I need to do. Stalking now, this edge of blackness surrounding the Temple." Yoda closing his eyes.
"What do you mean Master Yoda? Tell me. Is a threat? "Anakin begged as he got concerned, along with Qui-Gon.
"Patience is your help, my request. Skywalker must do what he must do. "Yoda repeated, looking at him. Evil is not you but coming. Not your fault. First get well, that's your job. Go to your twins. I'll take nap now."Yoda said s he headed for the door.
Anakin shut off the imager. "This not good Qui-Gon. He knows something."
"Master Yoda must saw something that must alarm him. Interesting, he asked you for your patience, Not one your strongest traits either. Yet he did ask you for it. Best you honor his request," Qui-Gon replied. "What is he up too?"
"Agreed." Obi-Wan said as he walked into the room.
"Did he see me gain control of the Order?" Anakin asked as got up.
"No, I don't think so. He would have put to stop to it already. No he saw something else and you were involved. In a way he was giving you permission on to do what you think was necessary in a way. Oh I don't know. I wish Master Yoda stop being so vague at times.""Qui-gon, shaking his head. "Who picked Khanarth to replaced Mace? There was a reason he was sent to O'satabi."
"What I gathered, it was Mace doing."Obi-Wan said "and probably Mace is calling the shots too."
"Whatever. Just be careful with dealing with him. Let the other council's members handle him. Well good meeting and Anakin, your father is waiting for you "Qui-Gon said as he faded back into the Force.
"How did the meeting go?" Mace asked Khanarth
"Not good. They won't destroy the Sith Holocron. Master Skywalker was against that and the Council took his lead. Then Master Yoda announced he was attending Master Kenobi's wedding."
Mace scowled at that. "Clearly Master Yoda is showing his age. Well at least you tried. In time, the Order will return to its proper balance. Good Day Master Kaliey."
A few days later
Palpatine sat in his garden with tears in his eyes, as he watched his grandchildren play. Today he had something he always wanted from life, a son. That morning, Anakin Skywalker became his. There was a slight name change. Anakin finally got a middle name, his full name now, Master Jedi Anakin Taranis Skywalker.