Part 9: The Aftermath

Obi-Wan stood outside the Autumn Whisper while R2-D2 did a thorough diagnostic of its systems. Having successfully moved it from the jungle to the palace's hangar, he was finally able to see the exact amount of damage his flying had inflicted on it. In fact, it wasn't horrible. There were a few deep scratches on the sides and some shallow dents in the front as a result of his carving through the jungle canopy, but all the damage appeared to be cosmetic in nature. Nonetheless, he'd thought it wise to have the astromech check the ship for any unseen problems before he and Anakin used it to return to Coruscant.

Anakin was crouched on the hangar floor a few meters from where he was, picking leaves and twigs out of his sandals to examine them as if he'd never seen a plant in his life. Understandably, there hadn't been time to look around during all the excitement a few days earlier, but Obi-Wan could only imagine what arriving on the lush Naboo would've been like for someone who spent his entire life on a desert planet.

The Jedi looked over to the ship's ramp when he heard the astromech droid chirping from the top of it.

"Does everything check out?" he asked.

R2-D2 proceeded halfway down the ramp, then swiveled his dome to look at him before replying.

"No, I wasn't expecting any transmissions," he said.

The droid elaborated with a series of beeps. Obi-Wan nodded and looked over at Anakin.

"Anakin," he called.

The boy stood up and jogged over to him.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I don't know yet," Obi-Wan replied, "but it appears we have a holocall from Coruscant."

Anakin's eyebrows arched, but he nodded. Obi-Wan gestured for him to follow before proceeding up the ramp behind the droid. Once aboard, R2-D2 moved aside and they quickly made their way to the comm. room. Obi-Wan stood in front of the holoprojector with Anakin half a meter to his right. Upon the pad stood a life-sized projection of Grandmaster Yoda, who had contacted them from the Jedi Temple. Even upon the raised pad, the Jedi Master was at least a head shorter than Anakin, but the boy seemed to be making an effort to ignore it, even though he was out of view. Obi-Wan appreciated it, noticing it marked a higher level of maturity than he'd expected from him.

"Grandmaster," Obi-Wan greeted him, bowing at the waist. He straightened again and folded his hands together.

"Heard of your accomplishment, I have," Master Yoda stated. He nodded slowly. "And of our loss. Return Master Qui-Gon to the Temple you must and give him a proper funeral we will."

Obi-Wan bowed his head obediently.

"Yes, Grandmaster," he replied.

Master Yoda nodded again.

"And what of young Skywalker?" he asked, "heard many good things about him, have I, despite his disobedience."

Obi-Wan looked to his right and gestured for Anakin to approach the holoprojector. The boy fidgeted reluctantly before complying.

"I'm sorry I didn't listen to Qui-Gon, Master Yoda," he mumbled.

Master Yoda let out a throaty chuckled, to Obi-Wan's surprise.

"Sorry, you are not," he replied, "for proud of your accomplishments are you. Remind me of him, you do, and of Padawan Kenobi."

Obi-Wan hoped that wasn't a bad thing, though the grandmaster's demeanor suggested otherwise. He restrained a small smile, sensing Master Yoda's amusement.

"Displeased Master Windu is," the Jedi continued, "but recognize your abilities, the Council does. The ability to commune with the Force you have. Rare for someone untrained at your age. Eight centuries have I trained Jedi. Never before have I seen such potential."

Anakin beamed. Master Yoda nodded slowly.

"Initiated into the Jedi Order, you will be," he stated, "but exercise caution you must, for expect obedience from you, your master will."

Anakin nodded happily.

"You're right," he said, "I promise I'll do better."

"Good, good." Master Yoda turned his head to look at Obi-Wan. "To you this brings us, Padawan Kenobi."

Obi-Wan bowed his head.

"Face the Jedi trials, you will not," the grandmaster stated.

Obi-Wan's head shot back up.

"What? My master thought—"

He stopped when Master Yoda raised one small hand.

"Face them you will not, for faced a far greater test you already have," the Jedi Master explained, "in defeating this Sith Lord Maul, proven yourself you have. No longer a padawan are you, Obi-Wan Kenobi. To the rank of Jedi Knight I welcome you."

Obi-Wan restrained a giddy smile and bowed calmly.

"Thank you, Grandmaster," he said.

"Earned it, you have, and a proper ceremony have you to look forward to," Master Yoda replied. He glanced at Anakin. "But more have I to say. Too old to train with the younglings Skywalker is. Master Qui-Gon's wish, it was, for you to train him, Obi-Wan. Accept this responsibility do you?"

Obi-Wan looked down at the boy, who looked up at him expectantly. Although he still didn't fully understand why his master wanted him to train Anakin, he trusted his judgment. He looked back at Master Yoda's hologram.

"I do, Grandmaster," he said, "I'm sure he'll learn quickly."

He saw Anakin's large smile out of the corner of his eye.

"Good," the alien replied. He nodded at both of them in turn. "Return to Coruscant soon, you should, for many things have we to do. Train your padawan well, you must, for defeated the Separatists are not, and a new threat the Sith have become."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replied, bowing his head again.

Anakin copied the respectful gesture and the transmission cut out. The boy looked up at him.

"Does this mean I'm a Jedi now?" he asked.

"Not quite," Obi-Wan replied. He put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "But from what I've seen of you, it won't take you long to earn it. We should tell her majesty it's about time for us to leave."

Anakin nodded and followed him out of the ship's comm. room.

"Do you think we'll ever see Padmé again?" he asked, "once we leave Naboo, I mean."

Obi-Wan smiled to himself.

"I doubt she's going to take the Senate's treatment of her planet lightly," he replied, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think Coruscant has seen the last of her yet."

[NEXT]

Anakin stood in a small courtyard just off the side of the Jedi Temple's main hall on Coruscant. He'd been given a set of Jedi robes and his hair had been shaven short, though it hadn't yet grown long enough to be arranged in the customary padawan's hairstyle. Although his initiation had been unorthodox, the Jedi had made him feel welcome and at home in the Temple. It was a peaceful place and he'd begun to sense the Force as a comfortable warmth around him, permeating the Temple. He'd thought the sensation should feel new to him, but it was as if he'd had it with him all along. According to his master, it was normal to feel that way.

Anakin's master, Obi-Wan, had seated himself on the edge of a planter with his arms crossed over his chest and Artoo just to his right. The newly-appointed Jedi Knight had released his hair from the small ponytail he'd worn before and sliced off the braid that marked him as a padawan. There was short stubble on his chin where he'd started to let it grow. At his side hung the hilt of his former master's lightsaber.

In his hand Obi-Wan held a metal orb with several spots evenly placed all over its surface. He'd neglected to tell Anakin what it was for, but the training saber he'd given him seemed like a hint.

Obi-Wan reached his arm out and pressed a button on the orb's side, causing it to rise into the air. Anakin watched it zip left, then right, then directly toward him, stopping suddenly just a few centimeters from his head.

"Woah," he breathed, restraining the urge to step back.

"You'll want to raise your defenses," Obi-Wan stated.

Anakin looked at him.

"What?"

He heard a sputter, just before a stinging pain erupted in his arm. He yelped and slapped his hand over the wound before turning to glare at the orb, which zipped over his head and to his left. Obi-Wan chuckled.

"It's a training remote, Anakin," he said, "you're meant to block its attacks with that saber."

"Why couldn't you just tell me that?" the padawan asked through his teeth.

"Even Jedi Knights need to have their fun," Obi-Wan replied with a cheeky grin. He nodded at the remote. "Be careful, now. It's not going to wait for you to be ready."

Anakin raised the saber in both hands, but shrugged doubtfully.

"You really think I can do this?" he asked, "I mean, I only just started training."

The remote fired at him again and he jumped backward, but tripped over a low fence behind him that separated the walkway from one of the larger planters. He groaned after falling in the soft soil.

Obi-Wan raised his hand and the remote backed away. He stood up and walked over to Anakin to offer his hand. The boy took it and he pulled him to his feet. Artoo tweeted happily.

"It's harder than it looks," Anakin insisted, scowling at the droid.

Obi-Wan smiled.

"You're over thinking it," he said, "defending yourself with a lightsaber is more a matter of instinct and reflex than thought." He bent down to pluck the training saber out of the planter and handed it back to him. "You might not have known it at the time," he continued, "but you've allowed the Force to aid you many times in the past. Rather than trying to control the situation, let it guide your movements and it will protect you."

Anakin sighed and nodded.

"Alright, I'll try," he muttered.

Obi-Wan retreated to take his seat again and gestured at the training remote, which immediately zipped back into action. Anakin whipped the saber up in front of him, keeping a wary eye on the remote as it flew over his head, then to his left. It fired. He saw the blade of the training saber flick left and the small energy bolt disappeared. He could feel a familiar warmth in his chest, one that made him think of Tatooine. He realized, then, that Obi-Wan had been right. Using the Force was nothing new to him. He grinned wide.

"Ha!" he cried, "take that!"

The remote fired again, without moving and without waiting for him to stop celebrating. The bolt struck him in the knee. He yelped and glared at it. Artoo squawked amusedly. He heard Obi-Wan chuckle again and groaned.

"Try not to let your cockiness distract you, Anakin," he said, the smile still across his face.

Anakin narrowed his eyes at him, but nodded and returned his attention to the training remote, which had started to circle him. He raised the saber once again and waited for the next strike.

[NEXT]

Master Yoda sat upon the hovering chair that allowed him to traverse the Jedi Temple at the average humanoid's head height. He and Master Windu had paused on their way to the Council Chamber when they passed a window that faced one of the Temple's smaller courtyards. Through it, he could see their newest initiate, Anakin Skywalker, and his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, hard at work, training.

Yoda smiled to himself. He could sense great potential in the boy, potential for great and good things. And yet, his future was a mystery to the Jedi Grandmaster. It worried him little, however; the boy was stronger in the Force than any child he'd come across in his lifetime. His power spoke of enormous potential to do the galaxy great good, as well as do it harm, had he been found by the Sith instead of the Jedi. It was no wonder that his destiny had yet to be decided or revealed. Of course, if he was who Master Qui-Gon had believed him to be, his destiny was already waiting for him. Either way, they could use someone as powerful as him on their side in the fight against the Sith reemergence.

"Grandmaster, are you certain it was wise to place that boy under Kenobi's care?"

Yoda looked back at Windu, who had his arms crossed over his chest as he watched the scene below them critically.

"If Skywalker is really the Chosen One, he'll need proper training to defeat the Sith," the man continued. He gestured toward them with his chin. "Normally, the newest initiates are trained by you before they get selected by their masters. Kenobi is still very young, despite his rank."

"A talented Jedi, Kenobi is," Yoda countered.

"It's not his talent I'm worried about, Grandmaster," Windu persisted, "it's his experience as a teacher."

Yoda pursed his lips and cocked one brow at the other master.

"A fast learner, the boy is, and too old to train with the younglings," he replied. He glanced back at the courtyard window. "And the first to defeat a Sith in a thousand years, his master is," he continued, "young, he may be, but posses unique experience, he does. If the Chosen One Skywalker is, require that experience he will."

Windu nodded slowly.

"I see," he breathed, "of course, you're right about that."

The two Jedi Masters left the window behind as they continued down the hallway. They stopped when they were met by Master Ki-Adi-Mundi.

"Grandmaster Yoda, Master Windu," he began, bowing his head to both of them in turn. They returned the gesture.

"News, you bring us, Master Ki-Adi-Mundi?" Yoda asked.

The Cerean nodded.

"I've just returned from meeting with Senator—I'm sorry, I mean Chancellor Palpatine," he stated. He shook his conical head. "The Senate is displeased that we acted without first seeking its permission, though their anger is kept in check by the success of the mission to Naboo."

"The Senate shouldn't expect to have so much control over us," Windu commented, "after all, it's our autonomy that allows us to protect the galaxy, regardless of the Senate's political orientation."

"Right you are, Master Windu," Yoda agreed, "and yet cautious we must remain. Complacent the Republic has become in peace, and too comfortable in its power. Take time for them to change, it will, and until then, give them reason to doubt us, we must not."

"I only hope they won't get in the way of the search for Darth Maul," Windu replied, "the Sith won't wait for the Senate to realize how much danger the Republic is in."

"We must try to make them see the threat," Ki-Adi-Mundi agreed, "I'll continue to meet with the Senators and see if I can't get more of them on our side."

Windu sighed impatiently.

"It shouldn't be necessary for the Jedi Order to play political games like this," he stated.

"No, but necessary it is," Yoda replied. He nodded once. "For now."

[NEXT]

Queen Padmé Amidala stood at the top of the steps to Theed's grand palace with her handmaidens, Captain Panaka and his security staff, and what remained of the palace nobles gathered around her. Her people had gathered in the main street, cheering excitedly as a parade inched its way through the city. Metallic confetti floated happily through air, reflecting light as it twisted and turned in the wind.

The queen awaited the parade's arrival, prepared to give her people a victory speech once it reached the palace steps. She was smiling whole-heartedly, though the people had only recently finished burying their fallen comrades. The time for mourning was over and the time had come for the people to embrace their restored future and celebrate their victory over the invaders.

Ever since the end of the invasion, her leadership during their time of crisis had stopped her critics in their tracks. No one had accused her of being too young to be queen. No one had doubted her decisions, or questioned her directives. It was a relief to have the people's full support, though she wished it'd come before the invasion had taken effect, when she might've done something to prevent it.

Amidala's smile grew when she spotted the parade float that'd been dedicated to the Jedi who'd been so valuable to them in the battle for their planet. The crafters had constructed a model of a Jedi starfighter, which occupied the center of the float. Holographic images of each of the eleven Jedi lined either side. She was pleasantly surprised to notice they'd even included Anakin, situated beside Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.

She wished Anakin and Obi-Wan had been able to stay for the celebration, but she knew the matter of the Sith, Darth Maul, demanded their attention. She understood the Jedi's reluctance to explain it fully to the others, in order to prevent panic and fear, so when they'd decided to tell her the reality of the situation, she knew it to be a strong vote of confidence in her. She wouldn't let that vote go to waste.

Her term as queen had only begun a short while ago, but she already knew what she would do once it was over. The Senate's handling of Naboo's crisis had seen to that and the rumors she'd heard of their displeasure with the Jedi High Council had cemented it in her mind. She had her sights set on Coruscant and the Senate Tower, where she knew they needed her positive influence. The Jedi Order had been her ally when she needed one. She was determined to return the favor.