The four Jedi were back on Coruscant. They had brought the Queen with them and now she was submitting her request to take measures against the blockade to the Senate. It had been a narrow escape through the hostile fleet but Anakin's flying skills and an artoo unit's heroic deeds had brought them safely back. The crisis on Naboo, however, was not over yet. They certainly would be sent back there again as soon as the Senate decided what to do about the occupation.

Anakin and Qui-Gon fought their daily morning sparring match, which Anakin - again - won. It had been several months since Qui-Gon had defeated Anakin last.

"That was good," Qui-Gon acknowledged his Padawan and clapped him on the back. The older man was visibly exhausted by the little duel whereas Anakin's breathing had only sped up a little bit. There is not much I can teach him anymore, Qui-Gonthought and, somehow, that thought frightened him.

"Can I ask you something, Master?" Anakin asked him when they sat down to do some meditation.

"Of course, Padawan," Qui-Gon answered and stretched his aching back.

Anakin had noticed the little movement, of course. "Is it your back again?"

"You're getting too fast for me," Qui-Gon said lightly.

"Fastness is not what determines who's the better fighter," Anakin replied. He settled down behind Qui-Gon and pressed his inner hands firmly against Qui-Gon's shoulder blades, sending the Force at the exact spots where the muscles were tense. He was good at that: Using the Force to heal. He could become a great healer. He could also become a great swordsman with his incredible abilities. Or a great teacher. He had a way in getting along with kids. Come to think of it, he was good at everything.

Qui-Gon sighed contentedly when his muscles relaxed. "Thank you very much, Padawan. I wouldn't know what to do without you," he said affectionately. The pressure of Anakin's hands lessened for a second and, for an even shorter time, the Force flow between Anakin's hands and Qui-Gon's shoulders got slightly unfocussed. "What is it you wanted to ask me?" Qui-Gon got back to the issue.

"It's nothing," Anakin said unconvincingly.

"Are you sure?"

"It's nothing important, anyway."

"Well, you may ask me something unimportant once in a while. We can just do a little small talk if you wish."

"It's..." Anakin hesitated. "When you were a Padawan... How old were you when you were knighted?" he finished uncertainly.

The calmness which had settled down on Qui-Gon vanished in an instant as soon as the words were out. Qui-Gon may not be as fast as Anakin with his lightsaber but he perfectly understood the hint. He had hoped Anakin would never ask that question. Here it was again: His talented Padawan was impatient, wanted to prove himself and wanted to be knighted before his time. Xanatos had been knighted too early. It had been the first step towards the dark side. Xanatos had not been ready then. Qui-Gon would not make the same mistake twice. And though Anakin was very different from Xanatos, there were similarities Qui-Gon could not ignore. Amazing abilities, the eagerness to take the trials so early, over-confidence, pride, arrogance and eventually the dark side.

"I was 23," Qui-Gon answered heavily.

"And how good were your lightsaber skills then?"

"Well, they were not what Dooku had wanted for me," Qui-Gon tried to distract from the topic. "He had always wanted to teach me his lightsaber fighting style too but I insisted I keep to the modern form. So lightsaber technique was always a complicated thing between us. Personally, I think everyone should have the right to choose their own technique. They should not be forced into the same scheme as their Master."

"I agree." But Anakin did not give up so easily. "What did the other Masters think of you? Did they think you were a good swordsman?"

Qui-Gon turned around to look Anakin in the face. "Stop beating around the bush, Padawan." He could not completely hide the little angry undertone. "Just say what you want to say."

Anakin blushed a little bit. "I wondered... When, do you think, could I take the trials?"

"I have not given it much thought yet," Qui-Gon said curtly. "You're only eighteen and there's still much time for you until your trials. Your focus must be on the Here and Now, not on the future."

Anakin's blush got a little deeper. "Yes, I know, Master. I... I know eighteen is pretty young to take the trials but... oh, I don't mean to sound arrogant but I know some other Masters think I'm ready. You are my Master and you know me best, my strengths and my weaknesses, and that's why I wanted to ask you what you think of the matter. And if you think I'm not ready yet, could you tell me what there is I must improve?"

Qui-Gon got on his feet and paced agitatedly in the Temple Gardens. "You don't mean to sound arrogant? But you do. And you don't only sound arrogant but you also are arrogant. Eighteen, Anakin, which is just too young to become a Jedi Knight."

"So that's my only fault? My age?" Anakin said incredulously. "You know what Master Yoda says about it: Age is not measured in -"

"I know that very well, you don't have to lecture me, Padawan," Qui-Gon interrupted him harshly.

"Is that it? Is it because I defeat you in our sparring matches? Can't you bear that your own Padawan is better than you? Do you want to keep me under your control so you can prove to me you're still mightier than me? Are you holding me back on purpose, or what?"

"Don't you dare say such things!" Qui-Gon knew he should stay calm but he was getting angrier and angrier - and more desperate - with each passing second. "That's not the Jedi way and you know that very well! I can tell you where your faults lie: It's your impatience, your overconfidence in your own abilities and your presumptions. You think just because of your great abilities you're a great Jedi automatically, but that's not as easy as that."

Anakin's lips quivered a little bit. "I thought you of all people would understand," he said bitterly. "I thought you were maybe the only one who saw more in me than just a bundle of abilities and midi-chlorians. And you always pretended to be understanding when I told you about the other students who were jealous of me. But you were just like them. I'm so sick of it!"

They stared at each other for a long time. Qui-Gon's anger faded quickly when he saw the hurt look in Anakin's eyes. Anakin's face was always so open and frank and Qui-Gon had learned to read him easily. He could not lose him like he had lost Xanatos. He could never endure that again.

Finally, Anakin cast his eyes to the ground. "I'm sorry, I got carried away," he apologised politely. "Now you know what I... Well, in case you feel I'm ready to take the trials, you know that I will be willing to take them. I just want to be a Jedi Knight and do something useful. I could do more than just follow you like a little child. That's what I think, anyway. Of course, it's your decision in the end and I'll accept it either way." He bowed curtly and swiftly walked away.

Qui-Gon watched him walking off, his heart aching for the boy - the young man - he had been training all those years and who had become like a son to him. It's because I love you so much that I don't want you to take the trials so early. I don't want to hold you back, I only want to protect you.

ooooooo

Senator Palpatine was satisfied with recent developments. Young, naive Queen Amidala had listened to him and had called for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum, which, naturally, had been successful. The new candidates had been nominated. A thin smile crossed Palpatine's lips. He knew who of them was going to win.

The time had finally come. The time to act, and to take drastic measures.

The galaxy would finally be his.

Soon.

Very soon.

There were still the Jedi, of course. They were a meddlesome annoyance. And Queen Amidala, too. Palpatine could normally read very well people's motives. This affair on Naboo, however, was getting out of hand. It was time to send his apprentice there to solve the situation. Palpatine just hoped he was not going to kill all the Jedi. Explaining this to Maul was too complicated. Maul was just plain dumb, nothing but a killing machine. Loyal of course, yes, but Palpatine was looking forward to training a new apprentice, someone who was more intelligent. You needed someone who was really intelligent if you wanted to overthrow a galaxywide Republic that had stood for a thousand years. Palpatine hoped the Jedi were going to kill his apprentice. He hoped it was the right one who would do it. Palpatine had watched them for quite some time now. He had watched them very carefully and he still was not sure yet whom of them he wanted as his apprentice. Naturally, his first thought had been Skywalker. The boy was so unusually gifted... He could bring Palpatine powers... But turning him would be difficult. Kenobi, however, was a much easier prey. There was already much anger, much dark side, in him. But there were many young Jedi who were angry and had dark side traits. Palpatine did not want just any apprentice. They were not really worth the effort. Then there was Dooku. Only recently, Palpatine had given him any thought. Turning a Jedi Master had seemed impossible before now. They had been ingrained by the Jedi for too long, they were far too attached to the Jedi Order. But maybe that was their sore spot... It was a challenge, but Palpatine liked challenges. Jinn was the only one who was truly useless. Palpatine had told Maul to kill Jinn first. And then he had it: A Masterless Skywalker, whom he could turn very subtly and very slowly. Yes, Palpatine would wait for him. Skywalker was definitely worth it.

The dark side is generous, patient and it always wins.

Senator soon-to-be Chancellor Palpatine could be very patient.

ooooooo

The atmosphere was tense on the ride back to Naboo. Practically everyone was angry with everyone else. Dooku was still angry with Obi-Wan because he had not overcome his fear in the lake a few days ago. Anakin was angry with Dooku for how he behaved towards Obi-Wan, and Dooku was angry with Anakin for how he had behaved towards the Jedi Master. Dooku and Qui-Gon were angry with each other because of their disagreements on how to resolve the situation. Anakin and Qui-Gon were angry with each other because of the knighting-thing.

Anakin thought the Jedi Council should have sent someone else. Jedi who were not too busy being angry with each other to fulfil their mission. Obi-Wan was being bombarded with a lecture from Dooku again, so Anakin had spent most of the flight talking to Jar Jar Binks. There were the Queen's handmaidens of course, but Anakin felt thoroughly uneasy in their company. They started giggling every time he passed them and sticking their head together and whispered excitedly when they thought he would not notice. Anakin definitely preferred Jar Jar's tales about his people to the handmaidens' giggly chat-up lines.

"Hello."

Anakin jumped at the friendly voice behind him... A handmaiden again. Well, at least it was only one. But then Anakin recognised her: She was the Queen in her handmaiden's disguise. He briefly bowed his head.

She giggled extremely shrilly and fluttered her eyelashes. "Why are you bowing to me?"

"Your disguise can't fool a Jedi," Anakin answered, rolling his eyes at her silly behaviour.

She sat down next to him and leant towards him, suddenly all serious. "My disguise is a security measure, and though it doesn't fool you, it's meant to fool non-Jedi-people. My identity must stay a secret, so please treat me as if I'm a handmaiden."

"Of course. Sorry. I shouldn't have been so loud and showed off with my Jedi abilities. It will stay a secret, Milady, ah..."

"It's Padmé."

They exchanged a brief smile. "Just out of curiosity," Anakin said, "but whom on this ship do you want to fool? I mean, there are your handmaidens, the security forces, the Jedi, Jar Jar, a few astromech droids and the ship's crew."

"I don't really know," she admitted, "but Panaka - he's head of the Royal Naboo Security Forces – says I mustn't let my guard down for a moment. He can be a bit paranoid, I guess. But my parents would never allow me to be the Queen without Panaka at my side."

"How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

"That's really a young age to bear so much responsibility." And I'm eighteen and 'too young' to be a Jedi Knight, Anakin thought bitterly. "I don't mean to offend you, but do your people respect orders from you?"

"You see, I don't rule my people," she said a bit crossly, "I merely represent their interests and try to do what is best for them."

"I never questioned that. You know, there's a very wise Jedi Master who likes to say more than a count of heartbeats, age is. Age is how many mistakes you have made. And you must know that he's 800 somewhat years old."

Padmé laughed. Suddenly, she was not cross anymore at all. "That sounds good. I'm going to tell that to everyone who questions me because of my age. And of course you're right: that happens frequently. So, you think it's good to be a young queen because you haven't made so many mistakes yet?"

"Not necessarily. No person is flawless. It's just important to learn from your mistakes, to grow through it. Then mistakes can teach you very much."

She nodded and looked thoughtfully at him for a long moment. Afterwards, she did not pay much attention to him anymore. She talked to Jar Jar about the Gungan's army. Anakin wondered whether she thought him presumptuous and arrogant because he kept quoting such wisdoms and spoke of such abstract things. She certainly would not be the first one who thought of him like that. But maybe he was just being reading too much into her behaviour. After all, there was going to be a battle on the planet she 'ruled' and she seemed a responsible leader who would not lead her people into a war unprepared.

ooooooo

Obi-Wan was glad when they finally landed on Naboo. He certainly did not look forward to a battle but his head was buzzing from the many lectures he had heard on their way here. The Gungans agreed to help them in battle after one of the handmaidens had revealed herself to be the true Queen and begged them to help her.

Obi-Wan was nervous. He had never fought in such a big battle before. Master Dooku was going to lead the Gungan army into the battlefield as he was the best tactician. Obi-Wan knew his Master did not want him there because if he had to look after his Padawan as well, he would not be able to fully focus on the battle.

"Padawan, you go with Master Jinn and Padawan Skywalker," Dooku told him. "You and the Queen's security troops are going to arrest Viceroy Gunray."

Obi-Wan nodded dutifully. He just hoped Master Jinn would not tell him to stay inside the ship so he would not hinder anyone.

"Master," Anakin addressed Master Jinn, "can I go with the other pilots?"

Master Jinn frowned and looked somewhat suspiciously at Anakin. "Why?"

"You have more than enough people to arrest the Viceroy. I would be more useful in a starfighter. Honestly, Master," Anakin said quietly so no one but the other Jedi could hear him, "they may be good pilots but they aren't Jedi. It's most important to blow up that droid control ship. If they don't succeed, the whole battle is pointless and all the Gungans are going to die. You can't let that happen just because..." Anakin shook his head in frustration. "You know I'm a good pilot... I can do it."

Master Jinn did not look happy with it but in the end, he agreed. They wished each other a grumpy 'May the Force be with you' and went on their separate ways.

Obi-Wan had never been with another Master before. He liked Master Jinn a lot - the Jedi Knight had always been friendly to him - and he really hoped he was not a burden to him. The battle droids were nothing to worry about. They looked impressive but, in actual fact, they were pretty useless. Finishing them off and finding their way into Theed Palace was easy work.

Then, however, something happened no one had expected. A door opened and behind it stood a creature that looked as if it had just come out of a horrible children's nightmare. It was clad completely in black, its face red and tattooed with creepy patterns, pointy horns on its bald head. Worst of all were its eyes. They flared a maniac yellow. The creature bared its equally yellow teeth and extended a lightsaber. A red lightsaber with two blades. Obi-Wan shuddered. Never before had he seen someone else but a Jedi use a lightsaber. This creature was definitely not a Jedi. The devilish figure radiated pure darkness, making Obi-Wan dizzy with it.

Master Jinn threw him a scrutinising glance as if asking him, Can you do it? Will you come with me? Obi-Wan nodded determinedly. He would not let Master Jinn down.

"We will handle this", Master Jinn calmly told the Queen and her troop. "You go on."

The dark creature swirled its lightsaber expectantly, pugnaciousness evident in its horrible features. The two Jedi laid down their cloaks and ignited their lightsabers too. Then they attacked.