Chapter 11

Padme blinked against the sun as it flowed through the windows as she and Leia made their way towards the senate. The daylight was bright on the spring morning but the senator's heart was not. It felt so heavy.

But she would see Luke today, and for that she was incredibly grateful. Her son… She would see her son… Padme's vision blurred with tears.

Leia glanced at her mother and placed a hand on her arm. Padme smiled at her before looking around the hall. So many memories…

She paused suddenly, staring at a column. For a moment, she was transferred back twenty-five years. It was just after Anakin and Obi-Wan had returned from rescuing the then Chancellor Palpatine…

He had returned after six months away… She could still feel him holding her… His strong arms lifted her into the air and spun her around. Padme smiled subconsciously.

She could feel his breath on her neck as he held her close. He pulled back, and his face filled her view. His eyes… His beautiful blue eyes sparkled at her. "Padme.."

Her eyes closed subconsciously at the sound of his voice. His breathe came nearer to her face and she felt his lips press against hers…

"Mom?" Leia whispered.

Padme snapped out of her stance. "Oh, sorry Leia." She smiled at her daughter like she was in a dream.

Leia's eyes softened. And she put her arm around her mother's shoulders and looked off in the direction Padme had been staring. "A lot of memories?"

Padme smiled faintly. "Yes," she whispered.

Her daughter turned to look at her. "Any of them good?"

The smile on Padme's face grew. "Oh, yes," she nodded. "Yes, one of my favorite memories happened here."

Obi-Wan walked down the street towards the Jedi temple. He looked up at the old building and his green-blue eyes twinkled. Oh, yes, it was good to be back.

He ascended the stairs and headed for the council's meeting room. Memories flashed before his eyes as he passed familiar places. They consisted of so many things:

Children, the young padawans, running after their masters, trying to keep up. Jedi knights talking to each other about missions and past crusades they had been on. Yoda walking around with a group of boys that were taller then he was, telling them about the use of a blaster verses a light-saber…

There were just so many.

The force tinkled and Obi-Wan looked up from his musings and smiled at the approaching figure.

Luke's face burst into a smile. "Ben!" He took the steps two at a time and hugged his former teacher.

Obi-Wan hid a laugh with a cough. Luke had certainly never been taught the standoff style of the Jedi. For that, Obi-Wan was grateful. "It's good to see you too, Luke."

Luke stepped back and smiled. Then he walked along Ben's side as they went to the council chambers.

"Master Yoda has been trying to get in contact with Master Windu," he told him. "Unfortunately, he won't answer."

"Of course not," Obi-Wan sighed. "He'll contact us when he can. Refusing to answer is his version of a command of silence."

Luke's eyebrows rose. "Really? Well, I'll try to remember that."

Anakin rubbed his neck and waited for Aric to bring the ship back into control.

"You're trying too hard," Anakin told him calmly. "Relax, you'll get the hang of it."

"But every time I turn…"

"You won't be perfect when you start," Anakin interrupted. "It's not like that in everything for us."

Aric sighed and brought the ship level again. He blinked his eyes at the windshield and glanced over at Anakin.

"Uh sir? What do you mean 'not like that for us'?"

The small smile that appeared on Anakin's face was genuine. "Jedi."

"Oh," Aric nodded he turned back to the window before his eyes grew wide and he spun to face him. The controls went with him. "Wait, us?"

Anakin waited until they were level again before answering. "Yes, you are connected to the force. You would make a fine Jedi."

Aric's eyes glistened. "Me? A Jedi!"

"Oh no," Dooku cried as he entered the room. He plopped down on a chair and pretended to buckle in. "There goes the galaxy."

Aric snickered. "Yeah, and you with it."

The smirk left Dooku's face and Anakin started laughing.

"Hmmm…" Dooku mused. "You know, you're going to have to get rid of that mouth of yours if you wish to be a Jedi. They're super strict."

Anakin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, breathe only when allowed," he told Aric. "And never roll your eyes."

Aric burst out laughing.

"Whoa there!" Dooku called as the ship cocked slightly before Aric got it back under control. "You'll also going to have to learn to fly, kid."

"Master Skywalker will teach me!" Aric announced. "He'll teach me everything—"

"No."

Aric stopped and looked at him. "But… But I thought you said…"

"Yes, you will become a Jedi," Anakin nodded. "But not under my teachings."

"Nor mine," Dooku declared. "Kid's got enough against him as it is."

"But I don't want a different teacher!" Aric cried out. "I don't. I want you to teach me."

Anakin stiffened and stood up. "I'm sorry Aric, but I can't do that."

"but—"

"No!" he snapped. He spun on him and his eyes flashed.

Aric reared away from him, sending the ship into a spin. He quickly grabbed hold of the controls and brought them steady. Then his eyes went back to Anakin, and they were wide.

Anakin's eyes had softened. "Do you see that?"

The boy swallowed. "I.. I lost control."

"No, me. Did you see what I just did?"

Aric nodded slowly.

"That's called evil," Anakin told him. "That's what you need to stay away from."

Then he turned around and left the cockpit.