Jedi Temple
Council Chamber
Anakin stood before the twelve Jedi. Mace Windu held a small hand-held viewing screen. In rapid succession, images flashed across the screen.
"A ship...a cup...a ship…a speeder."
Mace Windu turned the viewing screen off and nodded towards Yoda.
"Hmm. Good, good, young one. How feel you?" The old Jedi Master asked.
"Cold, sir." Anakin replied, having felt cold ever since he left Tatooine.
"Afraid, are you?" Yoda asked.
"No, sir."
"Afraid to give up your life?" Windu stirred.
"I don't think so." Anakin hesitates for a moment.
Something about that answer didn't feel right…
"See through you, we can." Yoda said.
"Be mindful of your feelings." Windu spoke next.
"Your thoughts dwell on your mother." Ki-Adi-Mundi said, almost gleefully.
"I miss her." Anakin admitted.
Yoda spoke again with a knowing smile. "Hmm. Afraid to lose her, I think, hmm?"
"What has that got to do with anything?!"
"Everything!" Yoda said empathically. "Fear is the path to the dark side... fear leads to anger... anger leads to hate… hate leads to suffering."
"I am not afraid!" Anakin protested angrily.
"A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. I sense much fear in you." Yoda thrust his head forward, studying Anakin deeply.
Anakin visibly struggled to control himself. He sensed his chance slipping away.
He finally managed a stoic expression, and stared squarely at Yoda. "I am not afraid."
Yoda paused, before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath before speaking again. "Then continue, we will."
Xxx
The sun set over Coruscant. One by one, the lights of the city came on, illuminating the surface. Queen Amidala stared out the window at the city. Jar-Jar joined her silently. The lights of the city shimmered before them.
Jar-Jar turned to face the Queen and sees her sadness. "Mesa wonder sometimes why da guds invent pain."
"To motivate us, I imagine." The Queen quietly said.
"Yousa tinken yousa people gonna die?" The Gungan asked.
"I don't know." She answered honestly.
"Gungans get pasted too, eh?" Jar-Jar wondered.
"I hope not." She said but didn't sound convincing.
"Gungans do die'n without a fight... wesa warriors. Wesa gotta grand army."
Amidala looked up, surprised. "An army…?"
"A grand army! Lotsa Gungans. Dey comes from all over de planet. Dat why de swamp beings no give us no trouble. Too many Gungans. Deysa got da big shields, nuttin get through! Gotta boomas dat splat electric goo, bombad stuff! Gungans no giving up, to maccaneks, or anyone!" Jar-Jar paused, shrugging uncomfortably. "Dat's why you no liken us, mesa tinks."
Before Amidala could speak, Palpatine and Captain Panaka rushed into the room and bow before the Queen. "Your Highness, Senator Palpatine has been nominated to succeed Valorum as Supreme Chancellor!"
Palpatine chose his words carefully, but the smug satisfaction in his voice was impossible to hide. Panaka was visibly disgusted. "A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. I promise, Your Majesty, if I am elected, I will bring democracy back to the Republic. I promise to put an end to corruption. The Trade Federation will lose its influence over the bureaucrats, and our people will be freed. "
"Who else has been nominated?" Amidala asked.
"Bail Antilles of Alderaan and Ainlee Teem of Malastare." Panaka answered.
"I feel confident our situation will create a strong sympathy vote for us... I will be Chancellor, I promise you." Palpatine said with great confidence.
"I fear by the time you have control of the bureaucrats, Senator, there will be nothing left of our cities, our people, our way of life... " Amidala stated.
"I understand your concern, Your Majesty; unfortunately, the Federation has possession of our planet. The law is in their favor." Palpatine said gravely.
"With the Senate in transition, there is nothing more I can do here. Senator, this is your arena. I feel I must return to mine. I have decided to go back to Naboo. My place is with my people." Amidala tuned away.
"Go back?! But, Your Majesty, be realistic! You would be in danger. They'll force you to sign the treaty." Palpatine protested.
"I will sign no treaty, Senator. My fate will be no different from that of our people. Captain!" Amidala glanced to Panaka.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Ready my ship!"
"Please, Your Majesty, stay here...where it's safe." Palpatine pleaded one last time.
"No place is safe, if the Senate doesn't condemn this invasion." Amidala said somberly. "It is clear to me now that the Republic no longer functions as a democracy. If you win the election, Senator, I know you will do everything possible to stop the Federation. I pray you will bring sanity and compassion back to the Senate."
Amidala and her retinue exited the room. Palpatine had a self-satisfied smile on his face once they were gone.
Xxx
Anakin, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon stood before the twelve members of the Jedi Council.
"We are finished with our examination of the boy. Correct you were, Qui-Gon." Yoda raised his chin and said.
"His cells contain a very high concentration of midichlorians." Mace Windu agreed.
"The Force is strong with him." Ki-Adi nodded.
"He is to be trained, then?" Qui-Gon asked.
The Council members looked to one another.
Mace shrugged. "No. He will not be trained."
Anakin was crestfallen; tears beginning to form in his eyes.
"No?!" Qui-Gon exclaimed.
Obi-Wan smiled, an 'I told you so' smirk while Anakin stared coldly and angrily at Mace and Yoda.
"He is too old. There is already too much anger in him." Windu continued.
"He is the Chosen One! You must see it!" Qui-Gon insisted.
Yoda closed his eyes. "Hmm. Clouded, this boy's future is. Masked by his youth."
A long moment passed then Qui-Gon put his hands on Anakin's shoulders. "I will train him, then. I take Anakin Skywalker as my Padawan Learner. "
Obi-Wan reacted with surprise as Anakin watched with interest.
Yoda frowned. "An apprentice you have, Qui-Gon. Impossible to take on a second."
"The code forbids it." Windu said flatly.
"Obi-Wan is ready…" Qui-Gon turned to look at Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan was angry but decided to go along with it anyway. "I am ready to face the trials!"
"Ready so early, are you? What know you of ready? Our own council we will keep on who is ready." Yoda said.
Anakin watched as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged angry looks.
"He is headstrong... and he has much to learn about the living Force, but he is capable. There is little more he can learn from me." Qui-Gon said.
"Now is not the time for this...the Senate is voting for a new Supreme Chancellor and Queen Amidala is returning home, which will put pressure on the Federation, and could widen the confrontation." Mace Windu broke up the silent argument.
"And draw out the Queen's attacker. Events are moving too fast for distractions such as this." Ki-Adi agreed.
"Go with the Queen to Naboo and discover the identity of the dark warrior. This is the clue we need to unravel the mystery of the Sith." Windu instructed.
Yoda nodded. "Young Skywalker's fate will be decided later."
"I brought Anakin here; he must stay in my charge. He has nowhere else to go." Qui-Gon insisted.
"He is your ward, Qui-Gon. We will not dispute that." Mace answered.
"But train him not. Take him with you, but train him not!" Yoda said emphatically.
"Protect the Queen, but do not intercede if it comes to war until we have the Senate's approval." Mace continued.
"May the Force be with you." Yoda finished.
With that Obi-Wan and Anakin left but Qui-Gon opted to remain behind. "There is one more matter."
"Which is?" Windu asked.
"What is to be done about the starship Enterprise?" Qui-Gon asked. "We cannot ignore its existence."
The Council was silent on that.
They had all been skeptical of Qui-Gon's story about traveling to another galaxy, meeting the Enterprise, the machine life form known V'Ger and the journey back to this galaxy.
However they knew Qui-Gon was not a liar and wouldn't try to deceive them in open session.
"If truly exist this ship and new galaxy does, meet with them we will." Yoda answered.
Xxx
Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Anakin stood on the landing platform outside the ship.
"Finally, glad to be leaving here."Artoo whistled a happy tune as he leaned over the edge of the platform, watching the traffic. Suddenly, he leaned over too far and fell overboard. After a moment, he reappeared, using his on-board jets to propel himself back onto the landing platform. "Good thing I got these before my upgrade."
The wind whipped at Anakin as he listened to the Jedi.
"It's not disrespect, Master! It's the truth!" Obi-Wan told his master.
"From your point of view..." Qui-Gon replied.
"The boy is dangerous. They all sense it. Why can't you?" Obi-Wan questioned.
"His fate is uncertain, but he's not dangerous." Qui-Gon said with irritation. "The Council will decide Anakin's future...that should be enough for you. Now get on board."
Obi-Wan reluctantly boarded the Naboo spacecraft followed by Artoo as Qui-Gon went over to Anakin.
The boy heard every word Obi-Wan said, and was visibly hurt. "Qui-Gon, sir, I don't want to be a problem."
"You won't be, Ani... I'm not allowed to train you, so I want you to watch me and be mindful of what you see...always remember, your focus determines your reality. Stay close to me and you'll be safe." Qui-Gon said.
"Master, sir...I heard Yoda talking about midichlorians. I've been wondering...what are midichlorians?" Anakin asked.
"Midichlorians are a microscopic lifeform that reside within all living cells." Qui-Gon answered readily.
"They live inside of me?"
"Inside your cells, yes." Qui-Gon smiled. "And we are symbionts with the midichlorians."
"Symbionts?" Anakin frowned in confusion.
"Life forms living together for mutual advantage. Without the midichlorians, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force. They continually speak to us, telling us the will of the Force." Qui-Gon explained.
"They do?"
"When you learn to quiet your mind, you'll hear them speaking to you." Qui-Gon told him.
Anakin shook his head. "I don't understand."
"With time and training, Ani...you will. You will."
Two taxis pull up, and Captain Panaka, Senator Palpatine, twenty or so troops, guards and officers walked briskly toward the ship, followed by Queen Amidala, Padme, Eirtae, and finally, Jar-Jar. Amidala and her handmaidens stopped before the Jedi.
"Your Majesty, it is our pleasure to continue to serve and protect you." Qui-Gon greeted.
"I welcome your help. Senator Palpatine fears that the Federation means to destroy me." The Queen said.
"I assure you, I will not allow that to happen." Qui-Gon reassured.
Amidala entered the ship, followed by her handmaidens.
Jar-Jar hugged Qui-Gon and Anakin. "WESA GOIN HOME!"
"Come on, Artoo!" Anakin called.
"Coming!"
They all moved onto the ship and a moment later the ship took off. As Qui-Gon boarded the ship, he reached out with his feelings, touching the bond he had made with Spock through the mind meld they shared inside of V'Ger.
'Spock, are you there?'
The answer was instant. 'Yes.'
Xxx
In the Naboo palace Nute Gunray and Rune Haako stood before a hologram of Darth Sidious.
"The Queen is on her way to you. I regret she is of no further use to us. When she gets there, destroy her."
"Yes, my Lord." Nute said, feeling the nervous glance Haako
"Viceroy, is the planet secure?"
"We have taken over the last pockets of primitive life forms. We are in complete control of the planet now." Nute answered.
"Good. I will see to it that in the Senate, things stay as they are. I am sending my apprentice, Darth Maul, to join you. He will deal with the Jedi."
"Yes, my Lord."
Darth Sidious faded off, allowing Rune Haako to finally panic. "A Sith lord here with us?!"
"The Queen is coming back. And the Jedi. Do you want to face them yourself?" Nute pointed out.
"Of course not! But-"
"The Sith Lord will take care of the Jedi. All we need to do is capture the Queen…and destroy her." Nute said.
Xxx
Anakin stood next to the pilot, Ric Olie, pointing to various buttons and gauges which he had been doing for most of the trip. "...and that one?"
"Those are the forward stabilizers." Ric Olie answered.
"And those two control the pitch?" Anakin questioned.
Ric smiled. "You catch on pretty quick."
At the back cockpit door, Obi-Wan watched the two. His expression is doubtful, uncertain...
Xxx
Sabe and Eirtae stood behind Queen Amidala as she talked with Qui-Gon and Captain Panaka while Obi-Wan and Jar-Jar watched. Jar-Jar looked uncertainly at Obi-Wan.
"I still don't understand why you insisted on making this trip." Captain Panaka said.
"When we land on Naboo, I intend to end this invasion. My people have suffered enough." Amidala answered.
"As soon as we land the Federation will arrest you, and force you to sign the treaty." Panaka complained.
"I agree...I'm not sure what you would wish to accomplish by this." Qui-Gon said.
"I will take back what's ours." Amidala said after taking a deep breath.
"There are only twelve of us, Your Highness." Panaka said gently. "We have no army!"
"And I can only protect you, Your Highness. I can't fight a war for you." Qui-Gon smiled and gently shook his head.
"What about the Enterprise?" Amidala asked.
"We have contacted them and they've agreed to speak on our behalf to try and reach a compromise with the Trade Federation. They will only resort to violence if necessary but you must remember, Your Highness that they forbidden by their laws to intervene in the affairs of planets outside of their government." Qui-Gon answered. "And I'm afraid we are well outside their government. The best course of action would be for them to condemn the invasion and aim for negotiation. They would only resort to violence in self-defense."
It was perhaps not the answer Amidala was looking for but not one she could condemn. It was one thing to ask for the Senate to intervene it was another to ask for people from another galaxy to fight their battles for them.
"I see." Amidala said before looking over Qui-Gon's shoulder. "Jar-Jar Binks!"
Jar-Jar looked around, puzzled. "Mesa, Your Highness?"
"Yes. I need your help."
Xxx
The Naboo Cruiser headed toward the lush green planet. There was only one Trade Federation battle cruiser orbiting the planet as the ship neared. Obi-Wan and Captain Panaka spot it on the view screen.
"The blockade's gone." Panaka said in surprise.
"The war's over...No need for a blockade when you control the port." Obi-Wan said.
"I have one battleship on my scope." Ric Olie said.
Obi-Wan glanced over and nodded. "It's a droid control ship."
"They've probably spotted us." Panaka said, growing worried.
"We haven't much time." Obi-Wan agreed.
"Wait, there's another ship coming up behind us." Ric reported, surprised before a grin appeared. "It's the Enterprise."
From behind the Naboo ship, the starship Enterprise easily caught up with them. The Federation(not Trade Federation) came beside them, seemingly acting as escort.
"Inform the Queen." Obi-Wan said to Panaka who nodded and rushed to the Queen's chamber. "Open a channel."
Ric Olie nodded. "They're responding."
"This is Enterprise to Naboo Cruiser. We heard you might need some assistance again." The voice of Captain Kirk was heard over the speakers.
Xxx
Enterprise
Bridge
"Detecting one ship in high orbit of the planet." Spock reported; bring the ship up on screen. "It matches that of a Trade Federation Lucrehulk Class Droid Control ship."
Kirk raised an eyebrow at the design of the ship. "A different design from what we are used, Mr. Spock."
"Indeed, Captain. These ships were designed as massive cargo carriers initially but sensors detect an array of plasma-based laser weaponry along the outer hull along and is custom filled with large transmitters, receivers, monitor sensors, and numerous additional reactors and power substations, most likely to control and run their droids. Despite their armory they have very little coverage and large areas are undefended." Spock continued. "The ship is emitting an ongoing carrier signal to the planet below. Likely broadcasting control signals to the droids on the planet's surface."
"Hm…" Kirk considered what he heard. "Mr. Spock, hypothetically speaking if we are to engage in battle would it be possible to disrupt that carrier signal?"
Spock raised an eyebrow. "Hypothetically, Captain?"
"Well, we agreed to speak on the Queen's behalf but it would be logical to consider the chance that negotiations might break down and we could be captured." Kirk explained with a small smile.
"Yes, it would be logical, Captain." Spock nodded. "If so it would be possible to emit a jamming field matching the exact sequence of the control ship if need be. Our scanners easily detect the carrier signal and given time we can decode it and use an exact copy to order the droids to shut down. Assuming the Trade Federation has not accounted for this and decrypted their signal."
"Sir," Uhura spoke up from her station. "Queen Amidala wishes to speak with you at once. She is asking if it is possible for you meet her down on the planet."
Kirk considered what he heard and possible options. "Mr. Sulu, you have the conn. Uhura, tell Dr. McCoy to meet us in the transporter room."
Xxx
Naboo Cruiser
The Queen, Captain Panaka, troops and handmaidens were getting ready to disembark as the ship was getting ready to land. The elevator door slid open, and Anakin emerged into the hold area.
He saw Padme and ran up to her. "Hi! Where have you been?"
"Ani!" Padme said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm with Qui-Gon...but," Anakin looked down. "...they're not going to let me be a Jedi."
"Why?"
"They say I'm too old."
"They can change their minds. Don't give up hope." Padme looked around. "This is going to be dangerous, Ani."
"Is it?" Anakin asked. "I can help... Where are we going?"
"To war, I'm afraid. The Queen has had to make the most difficult decision of her life. She doesn't believe in fighting, Ani. We are a peaceful people..." She whispered, as much to herself as to Anakin. "…but sometimes, you have to fight. Either you adapt…or you die."
"Will there be a battle?"
"I'm afraid so." Padme answered.
"Will you be involved?"
Padme had a sad smile. "Ani, I don't have a choice."
"I want to help...I'm glad you're back." Anakin smiled.
Padme smiled back.