Chapter 6 – Jedi Knight Tales and Messages Revealed
"Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing."
-Optimus Prime
The twin suns shined down on the Lars farmstead just as the sound of a Bantha rang out in the distance. Despite this Cliegg remained sleeping in his quarters, not noticing the note left on his door from Anakin saying he was taking R2 to Anchorhead and that hopefully things wouldn't take long. Or at least that's what Anakin was hoping for…
Anakin's landspeeder cruised through the Jundland Wastes as he and 3PO made their way to where R2 was. Despite being a little astrodroid R2 had gone pretty far even for his size. Nevertheless, Anakin couldn't let the droid just go, even if what the latter said was true.
As the two made their way across the desert they didn't see that several Sand People – or Tusken Raiders as others would call them – had spotted the duo and were trying to find spots to pick them off but with no success yet.
Eventually Anakin found R2's location on his speeder's scanner and caught up to him just in time.
"Hey! What's the deal?" Anakin asked the astrodroid once he and 3PO disembarked.
"Master Anakin is your rightful owner now, we will have no more of this Qui-Gon Jinn nonsense!" 3PO barked.
R2 then looked at the protocol droid and beeped back at him pretty loudly.
"Watch your language you overweight glob of grease!" 3PO snapped. "And be fortunate that Master Anakin isn't deciding to put you out of your misery right now!"
"Look, the important thing is that we found him, so let's just-"
Anakin couldn't finish, for R2 then began beeping frantically.
"R2, what's wrong?" Anakin asked.
"He's picking up several creatures approaching from the southeast." 3PO translated.
Anakin's face turned grim. "Sand People." He realized. Acting quickly the mechanic went back to his speeder and pulled out a slugthrower while unhooking some binoculars from his belt.
"C'mon, let's go have a look. Come on!" Anakin gestured as the two droids grudgingly followed along.
"Okay," Anakin remarked as he glanced from a makeshift point that he hoped the Tuskens couldn't get to. "There's two Banthas down there, but I still don't-wait a second, there's definitely Sand People. Two of them, in fact."
But no sooner did Anakin turn his head did his binoculars get blocked by something up close. Taking them off his eyes Anakin immediately rolled out of the way as he saw a Gaderfii stick strike the ground where he was a second ago, followed by a battle cry from a Tusken who had been trying to sneak up on them.
Quickly getting to his feet Anakin held his slugthrower like a makeshift quarterstaff and blocked an attack by the Tusken which he followed with a fierce kick to the Tusken's side which made the latter stagger back from the blow. Acting quickly Anakin then slammed the butt of the rifle into the Raider's face before taking aim and firing, taking the Raider out but then the young man felt his instincts blaring and turned to see another Tusken leap at him bare-handed with a battle cry of its own, knocking him down and the slugthrower away.
Choking from the Tusken's hands on his neck Anakin threw a right-cross at the Raider, dazing it and getting it off him to which Anakin quickly got up but found that his rifle was in the same spot as the Raider he just punched and now the latter was getting up feeling even more angry. Charging once again at Anakin the Raider screeched out its battle cry as it drew a Gaderfii stick from its back and swiped at Anakin with it. Fortunately the latter managed to grab the club with both of his hands before it could split his head open but the momentum knocked the two down on the rocky ground.
Immediately Anakin used the momentum to throw the Tusken off him but the Raider wasn't finished. Still unleashing its battle cry it charged at Anakin again, swinging wildly and causing Anakin to back up so as to avoid it but the ground wasn't as sturdy and the young man lost his balance, giving the Raider the advantage as it held its Gaderfii stick with both hands and went for a vertical strike but Anakin grabbed the club with his own hands just in time.
Grunting from the exertion the Raider was putting on him Anakin then frantically reached for his blaster on his right side but every time he did the blade of the Raider's club was inching closer to his face.
Finally getting the blaster free Anakin quickly turned off the safety function and fired into the Raider's torso, killing it.
Anakin then got up to see if there were any more, but then the ground partially gave way and Anakin fell, hitting his head and going unconscious.
From his hiding spot in a cluster of rocks R2 kept as quiet as he possibly could. The fact that there wasn't a sound of a scuffle anymore could mean anything. Either Anakin managed to somehow beat the Tusken Raider band back or they managed to subdue and kill him. If the latter happened R2 knew he had to get out of there and get to Qui-Gon Jinn's location quickly. But if there were still Sand people running around he would either get captured or just taken apart, and if what happened to 3PO a moment ago was any indication, the Tuskens would probably go for choice B.
Hearing the sound of footsteps and too petrified to activate his scope, R2 saw a trio of Tuskens carry what could only be Anakin's body and lay it down before making their way to the young man's landspeeder to inspect it for anything valuable.
Unfortunately the group didn't get much of a chance for just as they began rummaging through the vehicle the sound of a Krayt Dragon echoed through the area and the Sand People saw a hooded figure approaching from a short distance away. Not knowing what to make of this but recognizing the sound of Tatooine's native predator the Tuskens dropped what they were doing and hurried off, leaving Anakin and R2 alone.
The astrodroid wanted to head over to Anakin's body to see if he was alive but the sound freaked even him out and he wasn't sure if he wanted to take a chance defending his new owner from this stranger, whoever he was.
The figure moved closely to Anakin's unconscious form and checked for a pulse before placing a hand on the young man's forehead. Within a few moments Anakin started to move slightly and the stranger removed his hand before glancing in R2's direction and pulled back his hood, revealing the face of a much older man with long grayish-brown hair tied back into several ponytails and a full beard.
"Hello there." Spoke the man with a small smile.
R2 still stayed in his hiding spot.
"It's okay, there's no need to be afraid." Assured the man.
R2 then glanced over at Anakin and then back to the stranger.
"Don't worry, he'll be alright." Spoke the man again as Anakin opened his eyes.
"Easy there young one. You've had quite the busy morning already." Said the stranger as he helped Anakin get up.
"What…what happened to the Raiders?" Anakin asked.
"Let's just say the sound of a Krayt Dragon can carry very easily." Replied the older man.
"Thanks. Whoever you are." Anakin said sincerely.
"You're very welcome. Oh, I must apologize, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Jinn." Answered the man as he offered Anakin a hand.
"Anakin Skywalker." Anakin replied as he shook the man's hand. "Wait, Jinn? As in Jinn-Kai?"
Jinn nodded.
"Well, boy am I glad to see you!" Anakin said, relieved.
"Well, it was quite fortuitous that I was nearby." Jinn replied. "But tell me though young Anakin, what brings you out this far? Even I know the Jundland Wastes aren't to be traveled lightly."
"Well, this R2 unit, for one thing." Anakin said as he gestured to R2 who had now come out of his hiding spot to join them. "I think he's lookin' for his former owner, but I've never seen that much devotion in a droid before."
R2 just beeped as if to be nonchalant.
"He says he's looking for someone named Qui-Gon Jinn." Anakin added. "Is he a friend or a relative of yours somehow?"
Suddenly Jinn's face became pensive as a far off look crossed his eyes. "Well, now that's a name I haven't heard in many years. In some ways it almost feels like a lifetime."
"I think my dad knew who he was, but I'm not sure. In fact I got the sense that he thinks Qui-Gon is dead."
"Oh he's not dead, not yet." Jinn replied.
"Then you know him?" Anakin asked.
"Of course I do. He's me." Jinn answered.
Immediately R2 started to jump excitedly, realizing he had finally found the man Padmé sent him to retrieve.
"Although I haven't gone by the name of Qui-Gon Jinn since you were but a youngling." Jinn remarked.
"Well then I guess this droid's yours then." Anakin surmised.
"I don't seem to recall ever owning an astrodroid." Jinn mused. "Very interesting though."
But before the older man can contemplate more, the sound of Tusken Raiders began to echo through the area.
"I believe it's best if we get indoors." Jinn said. "The Sand People can be easily startled, but they do come back, and usually in greater numbers."
Anakin quickly got up and retrieved his blaster and slugthrower, but before he could join R2 and Jinn, he remembered his own droid and went over to where the latter had been. Much to his shock the protocol droid had been taken apart but was still functional.
"Where am I? I must have taken a bad step." 3PO said once Anakin reactivated him.
"Can you stand? We gotta get movin' before the Tuskens come back." Anakin insisted.
"I can't make it. Go on Master Ani, there's no sense in risking yourself on my account. I'm done for." 3PO said in resignation
"Come on, what kind of talk is that?" Anakin asked.
"Let's hurry, they're on the move." Qui-Gon said as he and R2 helped Anakin get 3PO's missing limbs onto the speeder so they could leave…
Qui-Gon's hovel was pretty much the typical one for most non-slave residents on Tatooine: Nothing fancy at all – just a bed, stove, a worn couch, and a workbench; but yet as Anakin entered with R2 and Jinn with 3PO's parts in tow he found that it wasn't as solitary as most would think.
"Finished your morning walk, huh?" Asked a feminine voice as Anakin saw a service droid come up to him from the kitchen.
"Yes Flo." Jinn replied. "And I found some companions along the way. Anakin, this is my assistant Flo, Flo this is Anakin and his droids R2-D2 and C-3PO."
"So you're the famous Anakin Skywalker?" Flo asked. "You're a lot taller than I thought."
"Younglings grow up, as they are want to do." Jinn said.
"Oh, what happened to your protocol droid?" Flo asked as she gestured to the dismantled droid.
"Sand People." Anakin answered.
"Yikes." Flo remarked. "Hold on, I'll get the toolbox for ya."
"Thanks." Anakin said as Jinn helped guide him to the center of the hovel where the couch and a small table were.
"I'm sorry that it isn't much." Jinn apologized.
"Oh no, it's okay. It'll work just fine." Anakin said as he and the others waited for Flo to come back. Eventually she did and Anakin went to work fixing up 3PO with Flo and R2 helping out.
"There! Good as new!" Anakin said once 3PO was repaired.
"Oh, thank the Maker!" 3PO said in relief as he stood up and began moving his limbs. "Thank you Master Anakin!"
"You're welcome 3PO."
"I have to say, you have quite the knack for tinkering." Jinn remarked.
"Yeah, it's somethin' I've been good at since I can remember. Well, that and piloting anyways." Anakin said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"And I believe that's more than just piloting your landspeeder?"
"Yeah." Anakin said.
"The T-16 Skyhoppers?"
"…something like that." Anakin replied with a sad smile.
"I just wanted to see if I could be of assistance!" 3PO insisted from the kitchen.
"And I'm tellin' ya, I have it under control. Now go sit down, your owner and I took quite a bit of time puttin' you back together. Don't make us have to take you apart like the Tuskens did." Flo said.
"Very well." 3PO acquiesced as he went back to the living room and took a seat next to Anakin.
"Seriously 3PO, relax." Anakin said.
"Sorry Master Anakin." 3PO said.
"Here you go." Flo said as she arrived at the living area with some drinks, which turned out to be blue milk for Anakin and tea for Jinn.
"That's not blue milk, is it?" Anakin asked.
"No, it is actually herbal tea." Jinn replied.
"How'd you manage to get anything herbal here on this sand box?"
Jinn then smiled. "Let's just say the Hutts aren't the only ones with deep connections here on Tatooine."
Very true. Anakin thought to himself before continuing with his own drink.
After the two were finished Flo came back to pick up their cups. As she did though the light through one of the windows then reflected off the cups and onto some cubes on a shelf which Anakin couldn't help but take notice of. Curious he then walked over for a better look.
"Curious?" Jinn asked.
"Yeah. I mean, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" Anakin began.
"It's all right." Jinn assured. "You may look."
Anakin walked over to the shelf and in addition to the cubes he also saw some neatly stacked journal-like books next to them, but he seemed more interested in the cubes. Gently grabbing one cube Anakin then studied it from side to side, looking it over.
"Okay, this is definitely not a data cube." Anakin remarked.
"No, it's a little more sophisticated than that." Jinn clarified as he came up to join him. "It's a Holocron."
"A Holo-what?"
"It's a device that is used to record and store messages. However, due to the nature of these devices only Jedi Knights can utilize them properly, whereas others would not be able to unless they had a specific item."
As soon as Jinn said the words "Jedi Knights" Anakin then stopped looking at the device he was holding and looked up at the older man, who for some strange reason looked more than just a hermit now.
"Did you just say 'Jedi Knights'?" Anakin asked as his eyes began to widen.
Jinn nodded.
"You knew them?"
"Yes." Jinn said. "In fact, not only did I know them…I was once one myself a long time ago."
At that moment it took all Anakin had not to drop the Holocron. Since he was a little kid he had heard stories from people in both Mos Espa and Mos Eisley about these "Jedi Knights" – nomadic people who traveled from star system to star system righting wrongs and utilizing strange otherworldly powers that defied explanation. Not only that, but they carried weapons that weren't blasters per se but more ancient in nature.
But then Anakin also heard tales that labelled the Jedi as dogmatic, sanctimonious hypocrites who stuck their noses into other people's business for no real reason and never interacted with the common men and women any more than they had to, and if they did it was always with a sense of detachment.
"Bantha poodoo," Anakin remarked.
Jinn just smiled. "I know it may seem hard to believe, but it is true. Besides, in addition to having these Holocrons, I also have this." He then reached into the side of his belt and drew a cylindrical hilt from it. "It is something I have had since I was a youngling. All Jedi craft these once they are deemed ready, and they are to have them on their person for the rest of their lives."
"What is it?" Anakin asked as he put the Holocron back on the shelf and looked at the hilt Jinn was now holding.
"This is my lightsaber. It is the weapon of a Jedi Knight." Jinn answered as he held the hilt out and pressed a switch on it, causing an emerald green blade to emit from the top of the hilt. Anakin could only stare and wonder.
"It's not as clumsy or random as a blaster." Jinn explained. "But it's an elegant weapon from a more civilized time. And even then, is so much more."
"Wow…" Anakin mused as he kept staring at the weapon.
Keeping the saber activated Jinn then handed it to Anakin who hesitantly yet willingly took it and got a feel for it. Although the young man had wielded blasters and quarterstaffs before (even a Gaderfii stick at one point), holding a lightsaber was a whole different thing. While the hilt itself didn't feel heavy, the blade seemed to add quite a bit of weight to it which made sense to the mechanic. After all, just because something was made of energy didn't mean it was weightless.
With that in mind Anakin cautiously moved the blade around, making sure it wasn't touching anything.
"For more than a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Galactic Republic." Jinn continued as he then walked over to the shelf and took out another Holocron and stared at it introspectively. "Or at least, before the dark times…before the Empire's rise."
Finally getting somewhat of a handle on the lightsaber Anakin deactivated the weapon using the same switch he had seen Jinn use and handed it back to the latter.
"So what really happened to them?" Anakin asked. "I had heard things like right after the Clone Wars they were planning to take over the government or something."
Jinn gave a sad smile as he clipped the lightsaber back onto his belt.
"It wasn't that at all, but rather a culmination of other things." Jinn replied. "But when one considers all those factors…one could say that in a way the Jedi were responsible for the Empire's rise."
"How though?" Anakin asked, curious.
"That is a long story for another time, my friend." Jinn said as he guided Anakin back to the living room where R2 was. "In the meantime, let's see if we can find out more about your astrodroid, and where he came from exactly." He finished as they both sat on the sofa.
"I saw part of a message, but I didn't have much luck in seeing the whole thing." Anakin said, to which R2 then turned on his holoprojector, this time playing the message fully.
"I seem to have found it." Jinn remarked as he saw the image appear.
"Greetings Master Qui-Gon Jinn," spoke the woman. "I am Senator Naberrie of Alderaan. If this message is playing from the beginning then it means that my R2 droid made it safely to you. The reason for this message is that although you had left the Jedi Order before the Clone Wars began, you did serve the Republic valiantly before its twilight years. Now my colleagues – Particularly Viceroy Organa and Senator Mon Mothma – ask that you come and aid the Rebel Alliance in our struggle against the Empire. I know that Jedi were peacekeepers and not soldiers, but we need every possible advantage if we are to restore freedom to the galaxy, and the fact that you were a ranking Master amongst your late brethren would be more than paramount."
"Now I do apologize for not bringing this message to you in person, but as I'm recording this my transport has come under Imperial attack and my mission to bring you back to the Rebel base has failed. However, there is still a gleam of hope. During a risky operation some Rebel operatives managed to infiltrate an Imperial installation on Scarif and obtain information that will be vital in stopping the Empire. This information is now in a data tape stored within R2. Viceroy Organa will know how to retrieve it."
"Above all else it is important that this data be delivered safely to him on Alderaan so the Rebellion has a fighting chance."
"So please help us Qui-Gon Jinn. You're our last hope."
"Goodness." 3PO remarked.
Once the Senator finished R2 shut off his projector and Qui-Gon leaned back on the couch, pondering. He then turned over to Anakin who had also heard everything but was still staring at the spot where the Senator had been. A small smile then crept across Jinn's face for he didn't need his experience to know that the young man was clearly smitten with the woman on the holomessage.
"Well, if you're to come with me to Alderaan you too will need to learn the ways of the Jedi." Jinn remarked.
"Wait, what are you talkin' about?" Anakin asked, confused as he snapped out of his daze.
"For the Empire to be stopped it will take more than what I can do, and in your case it will take more than mechanical and piloting skills."
"Okay, whoa, hold on." Anakin protested. "I don't know where you got that idea but I can't go with you to Alderaan. I gotta get back home, it's late, I'm already gonna be in hot water with my dad as it is."
"Anakin, I need your help. She and the Rebel Alliance could use your help." Jinn insisted. "As much as I hate to admit it, I am getting too old for this sort of thing. Besides, I'd like to think that someone who is a pilot would also have a sense of adventure."
Anakin sighed in both frustration and resignation. The crazy thing was, the older man was right in regards to the latter part. Despite having walked away from professional racing, Anakin still would have that hunger – that desire to venture out beyond Tatooine and see what else lay out there – creep up every now and again. It had been something that was very prominent during his time as a slave and especially when he made it big as a podracer.
Yes, that had been a dream of his once, but that was before life hit him with a cold slap of reality and a large serving of humble pie to remind him of what was really important, where his real responsibilities lied, and that what he wanted for himself couldn't take precedence above family, and while the temptation to do more with his life was there, Anakin had learned to clamp down and stomp out that feeling when it came up…
"Look, I can't get involved." Anakin said. "I've got work to do. Now it's not like I like what the Empire's doing, I don't-but I have responsibilities here. I can't just walk away from that."
Plus…I made a promise to mom that I'd look after dad after she died. If I go back on that, what kind of person does that make me?
Jinn then sighed as he crossed his arms in thought. As Anakin saw this he couldn't help but feel that he had been harsh to his new friend for no reason, to say nothing of the fact that he had turned down an invitation to something more than an idyllic life as a mechanic/moisture farmer. But despite the urgency of the message and the Rebellion's plight – as well as the beautiful, angelic woman in the message – Anakin couldn't and wouldn't allow himself to consider leaving. If circumstances were different then it wouldn't be much question, but…that was neither here nor there.
"Look," Anakin began, hoping to soften the blow and still offer what help he could. "I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a transport to Mos Eisley and go from there."
Jinn stroked his beard as he exhaled in resignation. Although he did feel a bit disappointed, he knew that the boy had to do what he felt was best, even if it meant refusing the call to do something greater.
"Well, you must do what you feel is right, of course." Jinn said as he turned to the boy with a small smile, which the boy couldn't help but return.
AN: Of course, this may be several weeks past the official date, but Happy 40th anniversary Star Wars!