Chapter 18
Location: Imperial Center, Imperial Academy
Month 2 Day 1 Year 28 BBY
Anakin ducks beneath the fist of an oncoming opponent. He whirls to his right and lands an upper-cut to the man's stomach. The older cadet groans out of breath from the hit. He attempts to swing wildly at Anakin, but misses several times. Anakin leaps to his feet and kicks the man in the rear which makes several of the young men laugh. Anakin chuckles and states, " Is that all you've got, Cadet Madison?"
The blond man on his knees refuses to stand and whimpers out, " I'm finished."
Vice Admiral Jinn walks through onto the training mats and watches his best pupil arrogantly prance around the other cadets. Anakin had overcome many obstacles and training came easy to him. He is a first year cadet and at times could be arrogant about his talents. But not much can be asked of a young man of almost 20 years.
Qui-gon has been waiting to speak to Anakin about his future- about his choices and his training to come. He hasn't had much time with the boy on his own, but Ben has been reporting on his fits of anger, and his focus on his work the last month. Qui-gon knows allowing a cadet who knows nothing of their world is dangerous, but if the young man isn't trained in the light-side he'll fall to the darkness and straight into the path of Maul and Sidious. If Sidious pulls the boy over to the darkness all would be over- and the rebellion might as well surrender. Although Qui-gion is sure by now Sidious knows of the boy's existence.
Any force user within the academy can feel the raw sheer power flowing off the boy. His raw power is untapped and neither light nor dark. He's the balance that the Jedi have propherized many thousands of years ago- he's sure of it.
" Class is dismissed for today. Ensign Skywalker and Ensign Kenobi I need to see both of you in my office." Qui-gon's voice hollers over the crowd.
Several of the first year cadets snicker at his words. Anakin eyes his friend out of the corner of his eye. Obi-wan shrugs and follows Anakin back to Vice Admiral Jinn's office. He only went into the General's office when he got into trouble- when is often. He didn't enjoy the yelling of his childhood idol, but he also disobeyed the laws and rules of the Academy on a monthly basis. But since his return from Naboo he had tried to stay out of trouble- mainly beating the shit out of the training droids or Ben. He focused on his studies as in a few months time he'll have to choose a specialty branch to train under. He knows which he desires to follow, but he also tries to stay out of the way of Inquisitor Maul.
Maul had come to many training sessions and today his presence had been lacking. Anakin has felt his probing more and more each time he arrives and watches the cadets, scouting out prospects for the Inquisitors branch.
They reach the small office off of the training floor. Vice Admiral Jinn's green eyes pierce through Anakin's as he perches himself on his desk. Anakin watches the older man in interest. He looks up to General Jinn. Qui-gon Jinn was known throughout the empire as a hero. His childhood hero.
He stands at attention next to his friend. He waits for the Vice Admiral to speak.
Vice Admiral Jinn removes his brimmed hat. He rubs his graying hair back into place. Jinn keeps his hair short and neat like everyone else in the Imperial Navy. He dislikes his hair this short, it isn't anything like the hair he kept back in his padawan day. He misses wearing his hair longer, though it's been in this way for over thirty years.
" Obi-wan tells me that you are considering a full time engineering position for your speciality." General Jinn's voice begins as he leans against his desk.
Anakin nods at his commanding officer and suggests, " Yes sir, I have a knack for engineering so I think my talents would be useful to the Empire as a mechanic."
Vice Admiral Jinn nods in acceptance and eyes his apprentice. It's time Ben. He needs to be trained before we lose our chance.
Are you sure? We don't want to expose ourselves unless it is absolutely necessary.
Vice Admiral Jinn's nods in agreement and states, " You have a fine talent for engineering. However I think you could go farther in your career and be more useful than a mechanic."
Anakin's eyes widened in dismay. He never expected to receive such a compliment of his talents, though he knew he is better than most of the cadets here. He bows his head with gratitude and states, " Thank you sir, I take pride in your thoughts as my commanding officer."
Jinn shakes his head and replies, " Anakin, you excel in all of your classes well. Have you ever wondered why?"
Anakin tilts his head to the side and shrugs, " No sir, I am no different than others in their first year at Academy."
Anakin's heart pounds in his chest. Did his commander sense his force abilities? Would he try to persuade him to join the Inquisitors? Anakin didn't want to torture others. He hates dealing with people. He'd rather fix machines than kill others for joy.
But you enjoy the darkness. You almost killed that young boy over your jealousy. That dragon's voice whispers into his head. Anakin eyes the pair of men watching- waiting to see where this conversation is leading.
Ben steps forward and pats his friend's shoulder and utters, " But you are."
Anakin eyes his gray eyed friend and asks, " What do you mean?"
I think you know the answer to that Anakin. A voice crawls inside his mind and he turns his gaze back onto Qui-gon. His mouth is dry and he cannot form the words so he speaks through the force.
Is it that obvious? I try to keep a low-profile and not rely on the force during combat.
" No- your force aura screams in the force most of the time." Ben admits as if he had heard their private conversation through the force.
Anakin steps away from his friend and questions, " You too? I didn't realize there are so many of us out there."
Obi-wan eyes his master as Vice Admiral Jinn speaks up, " Most people are not aware of their abilities because the empire gives them vaccines to cover up their powers. It makes their abilities hidden from view. Most force sensitives go their whole lives without knowing of their abilities. They never questioned as to why they lived with these vaccines. Some of us discover our abilities and either stop taking the boosters or have been trained by others."
Anakin's eyes land on his commanding officer, " Sir if this is about joining the Inquisitors- I decline. I don't want to join their ranks even if I'm special. I'd rather stay hidden."
Qui-gion believes the boy. This boy wants a life away from the battles of the Sith and Jedi. He wants a normal life- one he can't have. He is not a normal force sensitive. His power is too great, even surpassing his former Master Count Dooku.
Qui-gion crosses his arms and replies, " Anakin it's possible the Emperor already knows of your existence. You are a threat to the Emperor's power and Maul will probably recruit you, but it's your choice on what to do with your power."
Anakin can hear the seriousness within the older man's voice. He is a threat to the Emperor? Why? His eyes are cold as he says flatly, " I'm no one. I'm a former slave- no one. I can't be a threat to the Emperor."
Ben eyes his Master. Master, perhaps telling him the truth of his birth will help him understand.
I agree with Ben, but he's on the edge. If he learns the truth then it may tip the darkside in the Sith's favor.
" Can I please be part of the conversation?" Anakin snaps angrily.
Qui-gon nods and states, " You are a threat to the Emperor because of your bloodline. Your mother escaped with help from the laboratories Count Dooku and the Emperor had been experimenting with."
Anakin's stomach churns. He's a clone? And why is his bloodline so important? Anakin's breathing is heavy as he waits for the answer of his bloodline to come. To wait for the answers about his mother.
" How did my mother escape?" He demands, his voice shining in his emotions tearing through him. His whole life unraveling before him.
Qui-gon eyes the youth and murmurs, " I helped your mother escape after I discovered the experiment had worked. I knew they'd kill your mother and raise use as a Sith warrior. I couldn't let that happen."
Anakin notices the tone of raw emotion floating in his childhood hero's voice. He had known his mother well- perhaps a friend during her time on Coruscant. But who is his father? There can't be a father if he's a clone.
" You are not a clone. The genetic DNA of the Emperor was used in creating you. You were an experiment to see if the emperor could create another powerful being for his transference at the end of his life."
His eyes widen-. He's actually the son of the Emperor. Oh Force sithin hell! He rubs his hands through his messy hair. The Emperor had him created…. To do what?
" What did you mean transference?" Anakin asks cautiously.
Qui-gon's tone is flat as he answers, " In short when the Emperor is on his deathbed, he had you created to transfer his force essence to. He desires power and immortality. We don't know if the transference would work or not. That is why you're a threat to him. That is why you stand between the light and darkness. That is why I helped your mother escape- so the lab could be destroyed and the Emperor's plans failed."
Anakin hears the bitterness in the older man's voice. The sounds of betrayal by his former master. The betrayal of all he knew so long ago. But did that mean they are part of the Rebellion, infiltrating the Empire to try and stop the Empire?
" And why do you tell me now? Why is now the best time for me to know the truth of my origins?" Anakin asks.
Qui-gon answers his tone dire, " You're at a crossroads, Anakin. It's your choice. If you are trained in the arts of the Jedi you have a fighting chance to be a hero to the galaxy. If you choose to remain hidden and untrained you'll become the destroyer of the galaxy. The choice is yours though."
Anakin takes all this information in. He feels overwhelmed but can sense the crossroads. He has felt it for a while. The force had been warning him along- and he had a choice to make. He sighs and states, " If I chose to be trained in the Jedi ways I'd be considered a traitor and anyone in association with me can be in danger."
Ben nods and replies, " Yes the life of a Jedi is one of solitude. But the life of a Sith is also one of solitude. It is your choice to make. Qui-gon and I both have made our choices- now it is your turn to do the same."
Anakin sighs. He doesn't want to become a vessel for the old man on the throne. He wants to be able to help others in the service of serving the people- not murdering countless worlds and people.
Anakin's blue eyes turn to his childhood hero. He murmurs, " Teach me to become a Jedi. I wish to help the galaxy, not plunge it into darkness."
He holds out his hand to shake in agreement. Qui-gon nods and takes the young man's hand in acceptance. The force sings with their acknowledgement. The choice has been made and the force has a chance of becoming balanced once more.
To Be Continued.