Star Wars 2.0

Episode 4

Chapter 10

A gathering of the Jedi and some of the top senators gathered around the funeral pyre where Qui-jin's body was to be put to rest through cremation. The ceremony was solemn, reverential, and austere. Few words were spoken by the acolytes who performed the actions, but each motion was carefully choreographed. Qui-jin's lightsaber was carried to Yoda and passed to him with two hands and a bow. Yoda bowed back to the acolyte, who returned to the others, and they continued on to light their torches.

Soon, the pyre was lit, and the bearded face of Qui-jin disappeared beneath the flames. A row of padawans chanted a haunting harmony that was almost musical. Tosho Shiro, standing next to Yoda, called out for Anakin to step forward.

Framed by the orange and yellow firelight, Anakin approached, and bowed. "Taught you well, your master has?" Yoda asked.

"Very," he said. "I must confess, though, I did not understand some of his lessons until he had passed."

"Until we have lived without the tether of our ancestors, we sometimes do not understand their wisdom," Tosho Shiro answered.

Anakin didn't answer. Yoda studied the young man. He seemed to be contemplating something. Then he said, "Still do I sense conflict in you. More do you have to learn. Master Obi-wan Kenobi, step forward."

Obi-wan stepped into the light of the central stage. He was stiff, as though at attention, and he bowed. "Yes, Master Yoda."

"Oversee the remainder of Padawan Skywalker's training, you will," Yoda said.

Anakin tensed his lips and looked away, frustrated that his peer and friend would be overseeing him like a babysitter. Obi-wan was reticent as well, taking a moment before answering. "Yes, Master." He then bowed, and returned hesitantly to the crowd.

Anakin's frustration did not pass Yoda, but he did not confront it directly. Instead Yoda said, "A great Jedi will you be, as long as you learn patience. Large boots shall you now fill, those of your master Qui-jin. Mind what you have learned from him. And carry on his legacy."

Still torn, Anakin nevertheless bowed deep to Yoda, then stepped away and into the crowd.

What followed was silence accompanied by the bass rumbling of the bonfire consuming the body of the late Jedi.

Obi-wan had stepped back into the crowd and found himself next to Sheev Palpatine, who spoke quietly to the Jedi. "I have not had a chance to thank you for saving the queen and her entourage of my planet."

"It was nothing but my duty," Obi-wan said.

"I would say you did your duty splendidly, and I owe you my eternal gratitude." Senator Palpatine paused a moment before continuing, "I was surprised to learn you were still there. I thought you had left after finding the clone factory I had built."

"We thought it wise to keep an eye out with all the recent troubles, Senator."

Palpatine nodded. "You Jedi are a very clever bunch."

Obi-wan tried not to look at the senator. Though he was grateful for the compliments, he didn't trust the man. And he was still suspicious of the senator's intentions with the clone factory, as well as its moral implications. And there was the matter of the man in the heavy armor, whom Obi-wan did not mention.

Anakin emerged out the back of the gathered throng to see his brother Owen walking away. He hurried to catch up with him. "You can't be leaving already," he said. "I owe you a drink for saving my life."

"I'm… not a good one for ceremony," Owen said. "I'm sorry you didn't get your promotion, though."

Anakin tensed a little, looking around. After a beat he said, "I still believe in the cause. And the Jedi are going to need good people who are strong in the force…"

"You and I both know that's not a wise move, Anakin. You saw why."

"With training you can learn to suppress the anger."

"Have you?" Owen asked.

"Yes!" Anakin answered definitively.

Owen looked him dead in the eyes and said, "Have you?"

Anakin paused a moment before changing the subject. "This war is going to affect everyone. You can't just fly away from it."

"It's a big galaxy, brother. You should see it from some point of view other than this dome."

"I'm right where I belong," Anakin insisted.

"Are you?" Owen asked. "Or are you at the one place you shouldn't be?"

Anakin stared at his brother disappointedly. Then at last said, "Be careful out there, Owen."

Owen stared back resignedly and said, "You, too, brother."

They shook hands, then pulled in for a hug.

Prince Organa watched the two figures in the dim glow of the night as they pulled away from one another, then unclasped their hands. The smuggler stepped back and wandered back to his ship, the Jedi turned back toward the light and returned to the ceremony.

Both had power beyond anything Organa had expected. Both, he was certain, would play important roles in the war to come.

The End of Episode 4