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Author's Notes: I am back with another chapter! Hope you enjoy :)
Chapter XIII
Qui-Gon exits the throne room after advising the young Queen on any pointers she had asked that he could provide.
It was surprising and nice to see her presence of mind when she showed him the proof that she had collected. Not only had she decided to show the proof of the transmission received by her governor to the Senate but also the video recorded on the R2 unit that had saved their ship while exiting the blockade.
It very clearly showed the blockade and the fact that their ship was attacked.
He could not help but praise her intellect internally. She may be a young queen but was much more determined to help out her planet than most of the rulers or politicians he had the pleasure- or displeasure- to meet.
One question of hers did make Qui-Gon wonder, "Do you think the Chancellor did everything he could?" In hindsight perhaps it was to be expected. She was troubled by what was happening in her home planet and it was common to ask for assurance that everything possible was being done.
He had replied with, "The Chancellor may hold great power, your Highness but even he has to follow the rules of the Senate. I believe he was being bogged down by formalities and procedures. Having said that, I think the Chancellor did what he could do to aid you by not wasting much time in deliberation and contacting the Jedi to negotiate the then "supposed" blockade."
He walks to the common area hoping that the Senate will help the peaceful Naboo. The reason behind the blockade was still weak. What would the Trade Federation benefit from blocking Naboo and not richer planets? This doubt coupled with the emergence of the Sith is certainly making things intriguing. The fact that the Zabrak is a Sith is still a difficult pill to swallow but he has found no other explanation and the Force is strangely silent on the matter. It is disconcerting to say the least.
And then there is the matter of Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One. The very fact that he discovered the Sith and their supposed killer in the same mission is perhaps the Force's way of telling him that dark times are ahead. The Jedi need to be prepared. He has a feeling that says the Order will have to face many trials ahead.
Speaking of trials, Qui-Gon lets on a smile. His own Padawan is fast approaching his own Trials. He will be ready—no, Qui-Gon corrects himself— he is already ready to take them on. In fact, few of the Councilors have even suggested the past year to let Obi-Wan take them. He refused saying that he needs to be taught a bit more but, in his heart, he knows that he just isn't ready to let go of the boy who wormed his way into his betrayed and tattered heart after the turning of his previous apprentice Xanatos.
On reaching the common room, he lets out a silent amused chuckle on seeing the sight in front of him. Making himself as inconspicuous as a tall man like himself can beside the door in the shadows he listens onto what is being said.
There in the middle of the room sitting on the floor in meditative postures are both his young charges. But they are not meditating, in fact, it seems like Obi-Wan is teaching Anakin about something.
"…and so the Jedi get their abilities from the Force. The Force is an energy that is all around us. It surrounds us, binds us and penetrates our very being. We are creatures of the Force and conversely the Force is an energy field created by all living things. It binds the galaxy together."
"And our bond is made by this Force?"
"Yes. Force bonds require a lot of efforts from both the persons it is made between- usually it is between a master and an apprentice—"
"Like between you and Qui-Gon?"
"Yeah, just like that. Ours is called a training bond because it is mainly established to aid in my training to become a Jedi. But there are other types—"
"I wish I could become a Jedi."
"…"
"Do you think I can become a Jedi?"
"Uh um, of course you can. You have the force potential to be one—"
"Doesn't everyone?"
"Yes, everyone has the Force in them. But some of us, like the Jedi, have a higher potential to use it."
"Right. Weren't you telling me about the bond between you and me?"
The older of the two let out an exasperated sigh much to his master's amusement.
"Yes, Anakin I was until a certain nine-year-old interrupted and went off on his own tangent."
"Sorry." Qui-Gon notices that Anakin didn't seem to really mean it at all. Obi-Wan seems to notice too.
"Right." Obi-Wan continues in a skeptical tone, "So, there can be many types of Force bonds, it can be between two friends, a teacher and his apprentice, basically, with anyone you feel a connection with."
"So, does our bond mean that we have a connection?"
"I guess. You must understand that often the Force works in mysterious ways. You may not understand it, you may feel frustrated by it and confused, but you must remember to always keep your faith in it. And to follow its will. As to our bond, I do not know why it was forged, since neither of us have met each other before this, but maybe in the future the purpose will be revealed. Till then, you do not really need to worry about it."
"Will you keep on reading my thoughts then?"
What? Qui-Gon wonders.
Obi-Wan gives a sheepish look, "No. I am quite sorry for last night. Both of us were tired so my shields may have loosened. I assure you it won't happen again."
"…shields?"
"Oh, yeah, you see no person wants to hear another person's thoughts all day long, so we raise up a 'barrier', so to speak, to keep them out."
"That's so wizard."
"I guess it is." Obi-Wan agrees with a chuckle.
Well, time to make my presence known. "Obi-Wan. Anakin. Good morning." Qui-Gon greets moving out of his hiding place.
"Master." "Morning!"
Both say at the same time and Qui-Gon gives a warm smile. He absently notes that neither seem surprised to see him there.
"We are about to reach Coruscant. Anakin, would you like to come with us to the cockpit?"
"Yes!"
Both of his young charges get up and follow him.
-x—x—
After the near miss with Anakin last night, Obi-Wan had tightened his shields much further to not let any stray thought enter the boy's mind.
The fault was not the bond's of course. Old habits die hard, after all. I should have been more careful. This cannot go on.
He had made his call when he didn't stop Qui-Gon's meeting with Anakin and allowed him to accompany them to Coruscant. The responsibility of maintaining Anakin's continuing devotion to the Light is his' now and he cannot let his carelessness jeopardize it.
Despite the physical training last night and the warm blue milk, sleep had not come easily to the young Jedi.
That is why here he was, up quite early and moving towards the common area.
"Hey Obi-Wan!"
He decidedly did not jump no matter what the smirk on Anakin's face said.
"Anakin. Why are you up so early? Did the blue milk not help?"
"No no, the milk worked. I had a nice sleep. I am just used to waking up early."
At first, Obi-Wan ignored the implications of that statement but then remembering that nothing good ever came from ignoring their problems, he suggested softly, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"About waking up early?" Anakin asks with a bemused expression.
"About why you are used to waking up early. And well, yesterday was a big day so if you want to talk about anything related to that, feel free to."
"Meh. I had much rather talk about you reading my thoughts."
Oh, yeah. That.
Well, didn't he wish to teach Anakin about the Force?
Aren't you feeling very generous nowadays? He sarcastically asks the Force. He receives nothing but unreserved mirth back.
"Sure, let's talk about that." He sits on the floor and beckons Anakin.
And that is how Obi-Wan ends up explaining about the Force and the Force bond to the young boy. Towards the end, he feels his master's presence near the door but chooses to continue on with the lesson.
That is, if Anakin will stop interrupting him. Not all things change apparently.
-x—x—
Anakin had lied to Obi-Wan. Did the blue milk help him sleep? No. Did he get a nice sleep? Honestly, he cannot remember the last time he did.
Did the blue milk help calm his nerves allowing him to draw up plans and strategies for when they reach Coruscant? Definitely.
First, on his list, was to start behaving his age. He did not remember much about his behaviour from when he was a kid save for the part that he was an energetic, curious and adventurous boy.
So that is what he would do. He would ask questions like a nine-year old leaving Tatoonie for the first time and never having seen a skyscraper in his life.
Secondly, he would start hiding the memories (and guilt) of the future behind a durasteel shield and let go of the excess ones so as to not invite any further scrutiny from the Jedi than strictly necessary.
Thirdly, he will lie low for now and get a feel of his surroundings so that he knows the opportune moment to complete his ultimate aim: kill Sidious.
As to the question of whether or not he will join the Jedi Order, he hasn't decided. On one hand, he knows that the life of a Jedi isn't for him, at least not the lifestyle they currently follow. Attachments have been and still are his greatest weakness and his greatest strength.
On the other hand, he would be more or less letting go of all his chances to have a friendship with Obi-Wan. He knows it should not make that much of a difference but it does. And honestly, he wants to see whether they can be friends without the obligation of the promise to a dead man and the Jedi Order binding him. They belong together, of that he has no doubt.
Take today's lesson for example. It had brought back good memories of the carefree nature of the beginning days of his apprenticeship (after they had overcome the grief from Qui-Gon's death, of course).
Today, during the lesson, Obi-Wan had told him that the indication of the bond between them perhaps meant that they would have a connection in the future.
He would love to have that connection with his Master—master Obi-Wan; not that vile creature he was having the misfortune to meet again.
Because as Anakin Skywalker peered out the window of the cockpit, seeing the planet of Coruscant come into view, he could sense the malevolent presence of a certain person in the back of his mind and he did not like it at all.
Darth Sidious, or rather, Senator Palpatine was waiting for them on the Senate Landing Platform.
Let's see how good my acting skills are then.
-x—x—
Somehow, it had all seemed like a dream to him— the fact that he could change the past and save his apprentice.
Maybe it is one and sooner or later I will wake up to find that I am still dead, Anakin has been recently killed, and the Rebellion has had a decisive victory against the Empire.
Obi-Wan didn't know what would be better. But if this entire fiasco was actually the truth and he could change history, a lot more responsibility than he ever had, had just been heaped on his shoulders. Now, he did not just have to save Anakin but also the hopes of the Rebellion.
Leia had put it pretty well.
Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you are my only hope.
If Anakin is doomed to fall, then perhaps Obi-Wan could better plan out the seeds of the Rebellion this time around.
But he was being unreasonable. He shouldn't give up on Anakin. Luke didn't and look how Anakin ended up.
Well, he ended up dead, but redeemed. He had turned back to the Light, something that was considered nigh impossible.
Obi-Wan releases a long-suffering sigh. All of his thoughts were taking on a morbid turn but could anyone honestly blame him?
Standing in front of him is Darth kriffing Sidious- the person who orchestrated the fall of the Republic and his brother.
He had come to a standstill when after exiting the spaceship he saw standing on the platform were Supreme Chancellor Valorum and Senator Palpatine. It had honestly taken all he had to not whip out his lightsaber and kill the man right then.
If Obi-Wan was worried that his thoughts were more of the Dark than the Light, he didn't show it. Neither did he show the surge of anger on his face.
He may be an ex-Jedi but he still had the skills of a Jedi Master; he had got the moniker of 'The Negotiator' for his strategies to win a battle; so that is what he would do here: strategize against Palpatine and plan his downfall much like Palpatine had done to them.
Let's see whether he likes the taste of his own medicine.
His remarkable control on his feelings aside, on the outside atleast, Obi-Wan was still worried about Anakin catching Palpatine's eye so as soon as they had disembarked, he had subtly pushed him behind him along with Shmi.
-x—x—
Anakin congratulates himself on being devoid of emotion when he came face-to-face with his former Sith Master, a.k.a., the man who destroyed his life.
His shields were working and none of his future memories came forth.
"It is a great gift to see you alive your Majesty. May I present to you Supreme Chancellor Valorum."
Well, all except one. He couldn't really help it.
Was he the only one who instead of seeing this mask- smooth, young face with a grandfatherly voice- of Palpatine was able to see his true self- the gnarly wrinkled face with a cunning voice?
It appeared so. Ironies abound apparently.
He didn't miss the way Obi-Wan's eyes flashed. Nor the way he stood a bit in front of Anakin and his mom such that Palpatine couldn't get a clear view of them.
That's strange. Why would he do that?
Could he sense the darkness before as well? If yes, did he forget about it over the course of the wars? Anakin remembers Obi-Wan didn't like him visiting the Chancellor even before the Clone Wars started. He had then chalked it up to jealousy but what if it had been one of his infamous 'bad feelings'?
Well, no use of crying over spilt blue milk.
The lack of response or emotions that Anakin experiences surprises him the most. He had expected that he would lose control and lash out with the force towards Palpatine but that didn't seem to be the case.
In fact, Anakin was watching it all with a sort of detachment that he had never been quite able to attain in his previous life. Perhaps, he had assumed it all to be a dream and been more than happy to play along that he had saved his mom and the childish notion that he could save the galaxy as well.
Now, standing in front of Palpatine; it was a sort of validation that this in fact, was not a dream but the reality.
It was a sobering thought.
And a jinx apparently.
His breathing intensified and he could feel something unleash in his chest- A dragon that had been unconscious since his time-travel.
No, no, no, no!
His mother squeezes his hand and he looks up at her, getting himself under control. He could do this. No need to kriff it all up!
In the background the conversation had continued and reached its end apparently as Palpatine, oblivious to the effect he had on the little boy, began to lead the Queen and her retinue off the landing platform.
Anakin was once again struck with indecisiveness—should he go along with Padme or stay with the Jedi? On one hand, he didn't want that slimy creature anywhere near his angel poisoning her head with his lies. On the other, he was not sure whether his shields would hold strong under prolonged exposure to Palpatine's darkness or his own darkness would soon start to respond.
His mother starts to follow them and he finds himself instinctively following as well.
He did not even take five steps when suddenly a hand grips his shoulder halting him and his mom. He looks up to see that it is Obi-Wan's hand gripping his shoulder while the owner of the said hand is shaking his head looking at his mom.
Anakin sees his mom frown at Obi-Wan but eventually gets the hint and stays behind with the Jedi and the Supreme Chancellor leaving Queen Amidala and her retinue that had now got the addition of Jar-Jar Binks with Palpatine.
He notices Padme, still in her disguise, sparing a glance in their direction but otherwise remains silent.
Anakin wonders what made Obi-Wan stop them. Last time he did not. Maybe it was because his mom was there as well and they did not want to leave both of them under the care of Queen Amidala, especially when she had a lot on her plate otherwise as well.
If Anakin noticed that Obi-Wan's hand had yet not left his shoulder, he didn't say anything about it.
"I must speak with the Jedi Council immediately, Your Honor. The situation has become more complicated." Qui-Gon tells Valorum and with a bow takes his leave.
Obi-Wan lets go of his shoulder then and with a bow of his own to the Chancellor, leads them towards the air taxi Qui-Gon has hailed.
"We are going to the Jedi Temple now Ms. Skywalker. I will broach the subject of your safe stay here in Coruscant until you are able to provide for your needs yourself with the Jedi Council. Rest assured, the Jedi will not turn you away." Qui-Gon informs his mother as they seat themselves in the taxi.
"Jedi Temple, please." Obi-Wan informs the driver and sits next to him while the three of them seat themselves in the back.
"You have our many thanks, Qui-Gon Jinn."
"It is my pleasure, milady. As it stands, however, there is something important I need to discuss with both you and Anakin. About your future plans here."
"Oh. What about it? Because I must confess, after the whirlwind of events yesterday, I was only able to spare a moment's thought on it."
Qui-Gon gives her a kind smile. "That's understandable Shmi. Don't worry, these are just options that I have thought of. I would like you to consider for Anakin—"
Obi-Wan makes a surprised noise from the front of the taxi.
"Padawan?"
"Um, don't you think it is advisable that we discuss all of this at the Temple, Master rather than here?"
Qui-Gon seemed to ponder over the fact and agreed, "Very well, Padawan."
And that was that. The taxi sped towards their destination leaving Anakin very confused and with a sense of dread. How had the meeting gone? Did Palpatine feel the darkness inside him? He felt guilt. It had not been even a few minutes when his inner darkness had started reacting to Palpatine's as if searching for an old forgotten ally. How would he uphold his promise to Luke of staying in the Light when the darkness inside him was still so strong?
However, all this anxiousness vanished to the back of his mind as another fresh bout overcame him for there is standing in the distance against the midday sun was the Jedi Temple of Coruscant— the place where Darth Vader had committed his first massacre.
Well, doesn't this day just keeps becoming better and better?
Tbc…
Hey everyone! So, the story has progressed quite a bit- the entourage finally reached Coruscant. And they met Palpatine! So how did you feel about their reactions? Please do tell.
IthilwenofIthilien: Thank you! I am glad I improved. Your advice is always appreciated. Oh they will know in the end. When, however is quite undecided. Till I figure that out, let's have fun with both of them covering it up. I am having loads of fun writing these scenarios. XD. Thanks!
Star Wars and Skillet: Thanks a lot :) Did you like what happened next in this chapter?
RyuuShadow: Yes they were so close XD! I am hoping to write many more scenes like that because really isn't that most of the fun. Yep, Anakin has both the Dark and Light side powers with him. Hope you liked this chapter as well? Thank you so much!
Grammarosprey: I am glad I did better. Thank you for your advice. :) That is such a nice compliment, thanks! Wow, I didn't realise it was being repetitive until you pointed it out. Thanks for that. I will make sure it doesn't happen again :) Hope you liked this chapter?
Rilme Caatl: Thank you, I am happy you found them interesting. I can't wait for it either! Here's more, hope you liked it.
Nightshade's sydneylover150: Well, I have got the scene planned out and I hope it meets your expectations :) Till then, mystery abounds! :D
yiggdrasill: Thank you :D! I feel the same. Obi-Wan did the best he could and in the process brought out the personality of Anakin. Sure, he couldn't control his emotions that well but I believe under Qui-Gon's tutelage he would have been more reckless or more repressed under any other strict Master's guidance. Anyways, hope you liked the meeting between Palpatine and these two!
NinjaGirl1117: That would have been nice, right? The secret was out because Obi-Wan couldn't stop his muscle memory! Your welcome. Thanks a lot for reviewing! :D. That's so sweet of you, thank you!
Banjo Player: 'M glad you like the chapter. Hope you liked this one as well. Did the talks turn out as you imagined it to be? Thank you, I am trying to not falter from this tentative schedule I have somehow found in updation but college is more hectic than I had thought :(. Loved the huttese btw :D Thank you, that's so sweet of you :)
scottusa1: Thank you! Hope you liked this chapter as well.
Alaskan Appaloosa: Wow, to say your review made my day would be an understatement because it definitely made my entire week if not more. Thank you so much for these compliments! :D I had like you to know that I love your story The Pool of Time and it is an awesome read. I am really glad you enjoyed my story (like even now when I am typing the response, I cannot stop smiling) The college is great, thanks :)
MMM73181: You know, I still haven't figured out how you guess so accurately about what will happen in the future of this story even when I myself am not decided about it. You sure you are not a Force user? Well, both of them felt revulsion on seeing Palpatine but they controlled it better than I had initially thought they would. Hope you liked this chapter? :D
Guest: Thank you! Here's the update. Hope you liked it.
Alright, that's it for now guys. And stars, I am enjoying my college but I never knew it would be this hectic! Anyways, I hope all of you liked how the talks and the meeting went between the trio. Next chapter, Anakin enters the place of his alter ego's first massacre.
As always, please read and review!