AN: Sorry about the wait guys, you know how it is around Christmas. But here is Chapter nine! With an extra special surprise at the end.
Palpatine sat alone in his office with his eyes closed. He was searching, searching for young Skywalker. How he wanted him for an apprentice. Now the Jedi have interfered and Skywalker was now less vulnerable to Palpatine's nudging. Palpatine was still sending the dream, even though its effectiveness was now in doubt it was a small investment with a potential huge reward. While Palpatine was doing this, a vision came over him, one that made him very angry. Grievous needed to learn his place, preferably before he needed to be destroyed. How DARE he try to execute young Skywalker?
Anakin reached the outskirts of Mos Eisley and headed to one of the cities many cantinas. Many people offered him many vices on his way; none of them tempted Anakin though. He soon found himself in the dark environs of a cantina, behind the bar a Wookie with a graying pelt wiped at the bar. It was crowded in the watering hole, smells of dozens of species assaulted Anakin's nose, mostly the unwashed versions of the odors. Anakin took a seat at the bar and the Wookie came up and asked him what he wanted in his growling language.
"I'll have a water," Anakin said.
" Water, that's an unusual order for me ," the Wookiee said.
"Yes, I suppose it would be. I'm also interested in news," Anakin said.
" Ah, that is a request I've heard a lot over the last few days ," the Wookiee said with a chuckle.
"I bet, so what have you heard?" Anakin asked.
" The Separatists have made a bold move, nearly all of the outer rim has been over run by them, only Naboo has been liberated thus far, also reports are that General Grievous captured the Negotiator. At least that is the Seps propaganda," the Wookie said.
"Wow, that would be some feat," Anakin said.
" Yes, and with the Hero with No Fear missing everyone is worried that the war is about over with the Republic on the losing side ," the Wookie said.
"I don't think he'll be gone long," Anakin said.
" And what would you know about it ?" the Wookiee said.
"Just trust me," Anakin said. Then several droids entered the cantina and started rounding up customers. Anakin sprung into action taking down several droids in quick slashes. The patrons were shocked then burst into applause that nearly drowned out the hum of the lightsaber.
"I better go," Anakin said.
" Good luck, Jedi ," the Wookie said.
Outside the bright suns shown down as battle droids started to swarm the neighborhood of the cantina. Anakin hopped into the speeder and sped away only to pick up two battle droids on staphs.
"Stop your vehicle, all persons in this area are to be detained," the droid, said, Anakin noticing that the voice had been altered. He thought a minute and decided to obey cause he was not going to out run the staphs in Owen's speeder. He slowed and stopped. The droids dismounted from the staphs and approached the speeder.
"Disembark your vehicle," the first droid said.
"And hand over any and all weapons," the second droid said.
"Alright, just remember you asked for it," Anakin said as his lightsaber came out again and dismembered the first droid in three quick strokes. The second droid opened fire before the first droid hit the sand and Anakin deftly blocked the blaster fire even as he was finishing off the first droid. Anakin then took apart the second droid leaving not much more than scrap in the sand.
"So sorry you didn't like my lightsaber, boys," Anakin said to himself as he got back into the speeder and headed home.
When Anakin arrived back to the farm Padmé was outside with Owen and Beru. He could tell she had been crying.
"What's wrong, angel?" Anakin asked as he got out of the speeder and ran over to her.
"The droid army wants you to surrender Ani, if you don't…."Padmé said her voice cut off by sobs and fresh tears. Anakin took her into his arms.
"They'll destroy Mos Eisley if you don't give yourself up, Anakin," Owen finished.
"This is unprecedented for the Separatists, they've never openly threatened civilians before, even Grievous isn't that stupid, if word got out about this half the systems that support the Confederacy would abandon it,"
"Yes, but who's going to get word out about this?" Owen asked.
"Good point, I'm sorry Owen I never expected this when I came here," Anakin said.
"Don't worry about it, Anakin. The droids would've come anyway," Owen said.
"How long did they give me?" Anakin asked.
"Two standard weeks, I don't think they want to destroy the city, but they will if you don't give yourself up," Owen said.
"What if it's a bluff?" Beru asked.
"If they don't carry through on this threat the whole planet will be unmanageable, they have to follow through or they'll have more problems than one lone Jedi," Anakin said.
"Then why make the threat at all? The risk seems pretty great versus the reward," Padmé said, calmed down enough to speak again.
"That, my love, is a very good question," Anakin said.
"Maybe they want you in case you've got an Army on planet," Owen said.
"They know I do not, first there's their sensors, second is the fact that I haven't used it," Anakin said.
"I can see that," Owen said.
"Well, basically we've decided we don't know what they are up to, and we can speculate about their motives until both of the suns burn out, but we still need to decide what we are going to do," Padmé said.
"Don't you mean I have to decide?" Anakin asked.
"Nope, this is a family decision," Padmé said.
"No, its not, my love, it's a decision only the Force can make," Anakin said.
"What do you mean, Anakin?" Beru asked.
"I'm going to meditate, it led me here, surely I can see what I need to do now. I'm in the trials, this is part of it," Anakin said.
"I'm seeing now why this is your trial of courage Anakin," Owen said.
"No you don't, brother. But thanks for trying," Anakin said with a chuckle.
"What do you mean?" Owen asked.
"What I mean is rushing off to face danger is something I do everyday. A legion of battle droids doesn't frighten me. I have no real fear of physical injury or death. What I do fear is loss. I fear to lose Padmé, I fear to lose the babies, I fear to lose Obi-Wan. That is the fear I need to face and defeat, no matter the outcome. That is my trial, Owen," Anakin said.
"Ok…that makes sense. I really didn't expect such a straight answer though," Owen said.
"Why not?" Anakin said.
"Cause, Jedi tend to be tight lipped about such matters. Makes a lot of us think you're hiding something," Owen said.
"People think we're hiding something?" Anakin asked, genuinely stunned.
"Yes, most people think all the talk of the Force is nothing but a smokescreen, and they suspect your motives, you help people yes. Yet you do it your way, which I guess you think is for the best, but its not always what people want," Owen said.
"If that is the case, the Jedi are in some serious trouble, if a Sith lord is truly in control of the Senate," Anakin said.
"What's a Sith lord?" Beru asked.
"A Force user, but they rely on their passion, emotion to drive their power. Obi-Wan's killed one, and I've killed one," Anakin said.
"You have?" Owen said.
"Yes, Count Dooku was one. In the fight that I lost my arm in he used the Force to throw raw power at me, it dazed me for a while and I couldn't help Obi-Wan. It looked like lightning came from his hands, and felt worse," Anakin said.
"Anakin, you never told me about that," Padmé said.
"I was ashamed, I should've listened to Obi-Wan, but I didn't and paid the price for it," Anakin said. "Anyway, that is in the past, if you'll excuse me, I'll go meditate now."
Anakin went to the garage to meditate, that way the rest could have the house and eat without disturbing him. Padmé tried to get him to eat first, but he declined, telling her that the meditation would refresh him. He knelt in the center of the room, closed his eyes, and willed his mind to quite. His breathing slowed along with his heartbeat, soon he was seeing things, but not with his eyes, flashes of images. Several of which were from his dream, still brightly lit up as if something was trying to draw his attention to those images specifically. He had the feeling now that a person was doing this. He allowed himself to float among the images, keeping himself open for clues on what his next course of action should be. Then he heard the voice.
"You've come along way since last you were here, young Padawan," the voice said.
"It can't be…you're dead," Anakin said.
"Very observant of you, Anakin," Qui-Gon Jinn's voice said, then his image appeared.
"How…why…?" Anakin said, confused nearly beyond words.
"I've learn a few tricks since I was cut down, Anakin. I will teach them to you soon enough, but you aren't ready yet," Qui-Gon said.
"What am I supposed to do, Master? I've made a mess of things," Anakin said.
"Really? You saved many people today Anakin, you followed the vision you had in your trial of wisdom and are on the trial of courage. What more could you ask of yourself?" Qui-Gon asked.
"But they are threatening Mos Eisley, Master, and that is my fault," Anakin said.
"So? You can prevent that destruction. If it helps you make your decision I can tell you that no matter which path you choose you will see the climax of your final trial," Qui-Gon said.
"That makes things easier, though Padmé is still going to be upset with me," Anakin said.
"Yes, she will, but I doubt it takes a Jedi to foresee that. I'm just pleased that my message got to you in time," Qui-Gon said.
"You sent the lost one to me," Anakin said.
"Yes, I did, though I practically had to pull him out of bed to do it. He is the laziest Jedi I have ever met. One of the reasons he left the order I suppose," Qui-Gon said, with a smirk.
"Can you tell me, Master, will she live?" Anakin asked suddenly.
"I think you know better than to ask that, Anakin," Qui-Gon said.
"I had to try, Master," Anakin said with a mischievous smirk.
"I've felt sorry for Obi-Wan, I knew you would be a handful," Qui-Gon said.
"He managed alright, but no, I didn't make it easy on him," Anakin said.
"You better go now, we'll talk again in the future," Qui-Gon said.
"May the Force be with you, Master," Anakin said.
"And with you, Anakin," Qui-Gon said.
When Anakin's eyes opened, he found that he had an audience.
"Is meditating that fascinating to you people?" Anakin asked with a smirk and a chuckle.
"This isn't a laughing matter Anakin, you've been like that for twelve hours," Padmé said.
"That's the reason I'm so thirsty," Anakin said.
"We figured you would be," Beru said, handing him a cup of water.
"Owen, I need you to take me to a mile of Mos Eisley, I'll walk in from there and the droids shouldn't be out that far,"
"So you are going to turn yourself in?" Padmé said.
"I think you knew it was going to come to that, Angel. Don't worry I have it on good authority that I'll be here for the birth of our children," Anakin said.
"Really? Whose?" Padmé asked.
"You would not believe me if I told you," Anakin said.
"Tell me," Padmé insisted.
"Qui-Gon Jinn," Anakin said.
"You've gone insane, Anakin, Qui-Gon has been dead since the Trade Federation's blockade of Naboo!" Padmé said.
"I know. He knows too, now my love, I have a city to save," Anakin said.