AN: Normally I leave the author notes at the end of the chapters, but I would like to preface this update with a few words.

When I began Penumbra, it was meant as a creative writing exercise. To use a well-established setting, with familiar and defined characters, to sharpen my skills as a writer with a much more manageable amount of pressure. The only impetus I had for this entire concept was that it was an idea I thought would be interesting to flesh out and cool to see play out. I had only expected about a dozen or so people to read it.

Now, only five chapters in, Penumbra has 100 reviews and 100 favorites and 150 follows and over 4000 views.

I am shocked. The reception to this story has been overwhelmingly positive beyond my wildest expectations. When I read reviews of people saying that this work has changed their opinion on fanfiction, or that this could be genuinely considered true EU/Legends material, or that they can feel nostalgic about Star Wars and hear the voices of the characters as I write them, or how excited they are about the various twists and turns I have put to paper... it warms my heart. I am truly humbled and every bit of praise fills me with pride for what I have created. I will strive to continue to create the best Star Wars story I possibly can and I hope you all come along with me for the ride.

To all the Mando'a in the Heart of The Force - you know who you are - thank you for your help in making this story possible.

To all the readers, thank you all for the kind words and support.

Enjoy.

Anakin Skywalker knew the galaxy was vast. Tatooine, despite how impoverished it was, saw a great number of people from all over use it as refuge for one reason or another. He figured it had something to do with it being close to hyperspace lanes and the Hutts not keeping a close eye on things, but he never bothered to stop and ask; most of the visitors weren't friendly after all. That meant, however, that one could find people from a hundred different species with a thousand different stories to tell every day as they walked the streets of Mos Espa or loitered in the cantinas of Mos Eisley — not that Anakin would ever admit to doing so to his mum. If one kept their ears to the ground, or knew the right places, one could learn a lot about the galaxy very quickly. In his years living on that dusty rock he heard tales of how there were planets made of nothing but frozen water as far as the eye could see; of a planet where all the best warriors in the galaxy came from; of another planet where warrior women led their people and kidnapped outsiders; of how someone could build a second Taris if you repurposed all the scrap in Ord Mantell's junkyards; or how some claimed Kashyyyk had trees as tall as the skyscrapers on Coruscant. It was amazing how freely people talked when they thought there was no one nosing into their business.

It helped that being socially invisible was an inherent perk to slaves.

Of course, Anakin also knew that most of what everyone talked about over a glass of Ardees was bantha piss and embellished to hell and back but it was enough to let the mind wander. He spent many cold nights under the clear, starry skies of Tatooine yearning for adventure as he gazed up and imagined what it must be like to travel the stars and experience such fantastical things. Years of wishful thinking finally culminated into being on that fateful day when Master Qui-Gon told him he was going to be trained as a Jedi then took him on a spaceship — a real, working spaceship! — beyond the atmosphere of Tatooine. For Anakin, it was still surreal to think back on that moment: the whirring of the engines and the sudden spike in acceleration as the hyperdrive kicked in and took them faster-than-light. The sensations and the warping of light around the ship brought a smile to his face. He would never tire of that feeling and it was the reason why he currently sported a grin from ear to ear while aboard the Jedi diplomatic ship as it made its way back to Coruscant.

The thought of returning to the Temple to train as a Jedi led Anakin down a path of brief contemplation: while the first impression he got from Master Dooku was a rather off-putting one, he couldn't say that his time spent stranded on Naboo had been awful. The planet was beautiful and the amount of greenery there astounded him, to the point he wondered if Tatooine could have one day been half as wondrous — he sincerely doubted it. The other Jedi that he briefly met while on Naboo were much friendlier by comparison, even if they did look on edge, like they were prepared for something to leap at them from the shadows. He also found it weird how the Jedi were so eager to leave and why Padmé hadn't seen him off. He went over and asked the funny old green Jedi why either of those things were true and his reply was some cryptic reassurance that, in hindsight, didn't provide much of an explanation at all. Still, he accepted the words provided with no complaint as he tried to hide both his confusion and dissatisfaction, even if he did have a furrowed brow when he walked away.

"What troubles you, Skywalker?"

The gruff voice — laced with a commanding but not altogether cold tone — of his newest Master, Mace Windu, startled Anakin to the point he jumped out of his skin and swivelled to face him. He was one of the biggest humans that Anakin had ever met and, for a brief moment, he wondered how he could make so little noise. Admittedly, he was a bit distracted, but still! He wisely chose not to comment on how his Master had managed to do that since, frankly, he found Mace Windu to have an imposing presence. While that, on its own, might have been enough to intimidate most of the seedier people he'd seen on Mos Espa, it wasn't the feature that unnerved him about the man. That dubious honour went to his eyes: they were a brown so deep that they appeared black and held an edge to them he had failed to see on anyone else he'd met besides that creepy evil Jedi that fought Master Qui-Gon. Whenever Anakin looked into those eyes it was like they could see right through him; that Windu could somehow peer into whatever made Anakin Skywalker and read him openly without effort. It made Anakin feel like he couldn't hide anything, even if he wanted or needed to.

He didn't like that one bit.

"I was just—" Anakin instinctively began to deflect but reconsidered it as he figured it'd be pointless, "I asked uh… Yoda? A question and he didn't really answer me. I mean, he did, but it wasn't what I asked him I don't think."

Anakin saw Windu cock his eyebrow and project a strong sense of 'well, go on then' over what he had said. The man seemed to encourage those around him to seek answers when possible without much prodding, or at the very least show some measure of initiative. Nevertheless, Anakin couldn't help but feel a bit slow having to ask so many questions that, to the Master, would surely seem really obvious and he sighed at the thought. He pursed his lips as if he had bitten something particularly sour and relented.

"I was wondering why Padmé hadn't said goodbye to us before leaving Naboo, and why the Jedi looked like they wanted to leave as fast as they could too."

"Why do you think that is?"

Anakin went quiet in slight shock as he had never heard a Master ask his opinion on something that didn't directly relate to his skills as a mechanic.

"I don't know." Anakin said truthfully as he couldn't understand what Master Windu expected him to say.

"You are attempting to seek answers with the mind even though it is easily tricked and swayed by the woes of the heart." Windu said and Anakin blinked in confusion over it while the Master levelled him a long look in return. As the silence prolonged, Windu finally exhaled sharply through his nose then continued, "Close your eyes and open yourself to the Force; trust in it and it will guide you for only the Force can reveal the naked truth you so seek."

Anakin furrowed his brow as he still did not know what his Master expected of him but he knew an order when he heard one, so he did as told. The boy breathed deeply and the image of Padmé and Naboo flooded his mind. He couldn't help but focus on it and go over the events that happened in rapid succession as his mind worked through his experiences. He thought about how he and the other pilots touched down on Naboo after the battle and how he was quickly ushered into shelter then bundled together with the other children. Once there, hardly any adult spoke to him until Master Dooku and Master Drallig showed up and even then they barely paid him any mind. He did hear rumblings and rumours of what was happening: how the Gungans beat the droids, and something about a treaty that ended the war. That was a good thing and yet everyone always looked so tense and unsure. That wasn't supposed to be how people felt after winning something; he certainly didn't feel like that after winning the Boonta Eve Classic. Perhaps Padmé was just really busy, but that didn't feel completely right, he was sure that she would have taken the time to at least wish him well.

"I… think something kept Padmé from talking to me…"

"You think?"

The tone was stern and Anakin shrank into himself as his arms rose to shield himself from the scowling man in front of him. His eyes darted around but none were there to listen to this conversation or defend him; he had to do so himself. He lowered his arms and clenched his hands into fists then kept his eyes on his Master as best he could.

"I… yeah? I mean, that's what I could come up with but I really don't know what that could be. Everyone said that we won — the pilots all congratulated me, and even the Gungans won — but people acted like we lost. That doesn't make any sense, I don't…" Anakin said and bit his lower lip to stop rambling, most disliked when he did that. He also felt Windu's gaze upon him, as if the man could bore holes into his skin if he focused hard enough; it made him uncomfortable.

"I see." Windu said in a slow, measured tone, "what about the Jedi?"

"Well that's because Master Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were killed isn't it? And that evil man who did it got away, so the Jedi wanted revenge and you wanted to leave quickly to go after him." Anakin said promptly and without much thought. Mace Windu went quiet and narrowed his eyes at the boy as he waited for him to elaborate further. Anakin fidgeted under the scrutiny and remained silent as he chastised himself and immediately regretted saying something dumb.

"No. We seek justice and never revenge. As Jedi, we are above having our actions be dictated by our emotions or our attachments. To move in accordance to our whims, desires, and impulsiveness are traits of that evil man — a Sith — and is the path to the Dark Side. We must never allow them to be the reason behind our actions or be the principles that guide us. Should you find yourself tempted to act on such instincts, you must have the presence of mind and the fortitude to let those thoughts flow through you and return into the Force without the Dark Side's taint taking hold."

Anakin blinked and stared wide-eyed at his Master over the course of his explanation. He had expected to be put in his place for assuming things beyond what he knew, but, instead, Windu calmly — at least for whatever passed as such to this durasteel of a man — explained his mistake to him like he was more than a slave and a child. Besides his mum, only Master Qui-Gon and Padmé had been so forthcoming and patient with him but they always radiated kindness and warmth while Windu was seemingly all frost, angular lines, and sharp edges. So far, his overall demeanour and his actions have done nothing but clash against one another to build the image of a man full of contrasts in Anakin's mind. The boy ran through what Windu said for a second and third time to try and really grasp what he told him which ended up with him frowning.

"Okay, so the Jedi do want to go after the Sith but it's to bring him to justice and not for revenge but that doesn't explain anything about Padmé or why everyone was so anxious and looking like the Jedi were abandoning them."

"Whom do the Jedi answer to?"

"The Senate." Anakin said as he knew that the Jedi were the protectors of the Republic and the Senate was its leader.

"Are both the Trade Federation and Naboo a part of the Republic?" Windu said, and Anakin nodded.

"The Federation and Naboo signed a treaty that was then presented to the Senate. Afterwards, the Jedi were dispatched in a diplomatic mission and, as you saw, we stayed very briefly on the planet. In light of that, why would the people of Naboo feel that they lost?"

Anakin fell silent again as he took that information into account. He remembered how Padmé told him that the Trade Federation were in the wrong and sent droids to her planet and what happened on Naboo was obviously a big deal to the Senate or else they wouldn't have bothered to send the Jedi. Thing is, the treaty was signed before the Jedi could get there and once there, they didn't really do much except… Anakin's mouth fell agape.

"The Jedi didn't help Naboo because… because they couldn't? You were only able to go after the Sith and left all those people behind without helping them because the Senate said so!?"

The reasoning behind the events on Naboo incensed Anakin to the point he felt his blood boil. He hardly registered the fact his voice increased in both pitch and volume as he made his displeasure known, heedless of the fact he was criticising the Order that his own Master was the leader of. The notion that such injustice could be carried out, let alone go unpunished, was unfathomable. If only they had acted, maybe Master Qui-Gon or Obi-Wan wouldn't have died, or Padmé could have been with him right now. Pathetic… Useless. A wave of resentment and disgust rose from the pit of his stomach as he felt the desire to enact vengeance upon those that dared throw the lives of —

"Skywalker."

That single word brought Anakin's mind to a screeching halt. It was imbued with a sense of calm and reassurance that, no matter the storm, there would always be a safe harbour beyond it. He had never heard someone say his name with such heft before. Anakin was suddenly aware that his nails were digging into his palms and his fists trembled with… something. An unknown energy. It felt like molten metal coursed in his veins and imbued him with might and power; that he held within him the strength to bend the universe to his whim and that he would be a fool not to act accordingly. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and a weight was lifted from his shoulders. The metal in his veins cooled. Anakin looked up to meet Windu's gaze and the two blackened orbs again bore into him, but now he felt they reflected something he hadn't seen from the Master until now: understanding.

"Now you see how the woes of the heart play their part. How easily they can warp and pull you into its dark depths and why I had told you to trust in the Force, and only the Force." Windu said calmly. Anakin could swear he heard a tinge of disapproval that simmered just underneath but that might stem from the embarrassment he currently felt.

"I… Was that…?"

"That is why the Jedi caution younglings to be mindful of their feelings. The Force is more than a tool, or a parlour trick, or a mere source of power. It is the fundamental fabric of the universe and those of us who are sensitive to it are intimately attuned to its flow. Yet it is due to that same attunement that we must always remain vigilant, for strong emotions are reflective of intent and they tarnish the Will of the Force. Anger, fear, hatred… these are some of the most dangerous for Jedi to fall prey to for they are the quickest path to the Dark Side, and that is a path you should strive never to become lost in."

Anakin was quiet and demure throughout Windu's speech; a far cry from his earlier outburst. The Master studied the boy for a few moments before he finally decided to speak again.

"There are a great many things you do not yet fully comprehend and I understand how most of them could be a cause for indignation, as you've so demonstrated. In this case, your personal connections clouded your judgement and your overthinking blinded you to the Force and the answers it could provide. Despite that, you were still capable of deducing what transpired entirely through your own merit and thus I must praise your sharp intellect as it let you reach a correct conclusion with both remarkable accuracy and astuteness." Anakin was flushed through most of what Windu said until the end when his eyes widened and he subconsciously preened over the compliment.

"You nonetheless failed at your task of opening yourself to the Force." Anakin baulked — mortified — and fumbled over his words to try and apologise when he was stopped by Windu with a raised hand. "There is no need to worry; you will learn to do so in time and shall no longer have to rely solely upon your wit."

"Really? Do you think so? How… how will I learn to do it, Master?"

"When you are able to relinquish the woes of the heart and the trappings of the mind you will find equilibrium, then the Force will flow, and you will bask in its clarity."

"Now you are being as vague as Yoda was." Anakin said with a groan and a pout.

"Perhaps, but not all sources of wisdom are either candid or blatant. The path to becoming a Jedi is a long and winding one; there is no need to rush headlong at every moment for patience and diligence can bear fruits as ripe as talent and genius. Now come along, we will be approaching Coruscant shortly."

'Shortly' translated to a few hours worth of further waiting, but the Consular-class cruiser did eventually lurch out of hyperspace and the ecumenopolis of Coruscant became visible outside the transparisteel windows. Much like the first time he was brought here, Anakin gazed out in astonishment over how vast the capital world of the Republic truly was. He wondered how anyone could go anywhere without getting completely lost, but he supposed it was a matter of becoming used to it. He doubted many Coruscanti natives would know how to navigate the dunes of Tatooine after all.

Their descent went on without issue since their ship carried several important Jedi, and a shuttle was brought to quickly take them to the Temple. By the time they arrived it was well into the night and Anakin couldn't help but groan as they were stopped by an entourage of Jedi. Anakin learned later that the ones who greeted them on the landing pad were other members of the Council who wished to exchange a few words with the Master of The Order. Windu reassured the other Council members and informed them that an in-depth discussion would follow in the upcoming days concerning Naboo, and the newest addition to the Padawan ranks.

Anakin was glad for it as he couldn't bear to undergo another meeting right now; he was bone tired and needed sleep.

Mace Windu did not need to feel his padawan to know his current state for the slacked posture and bleary eyes conveyed it all very clearly. The long travel from Naboo and the worry over what happened took its toll on the boy and he deserved some much needed rest. He told Anakin to find Yaddle so she could take him to the dormitories. The boy nodded lazily and shuffled away towards the Temple.

"So it would seem you really did take a new padawan, Mace."

The Korun turned his gaze to regard his friend, Master Ki-Adi-Mundi. He was a tall and thin Cerean male who appeared to be of more advanced age but, in actuality, was still in the midst of his prime even if he did have visible wrinkles. His enlarged, conical cranium devoid of hair was his most striking feature and he bore a slight smile as he stroked his greying beard. Mundi's yellow eyes tracked Anakin as the boy left the gaggle of Jedi behind.

"Jealous?"

"Hardly. I already have my hands full with Hett and based on my experiences teaching him I can tell you that Tatooine natives are a troublesome bunch." Windu quirked his lips upward as he stifled a chuckle before his friend continued to speak, "Still, the boy has potential."

"That he does. I can now see what Qui-Gon saw in him and why he'd call him a vergence, and yet…"

Windu caught the final moments before Anakin disappeared and he pursed his lips as he pondered on the boy. From what he pieced together on Naboo, Anakin has a deep and instinctual connection to the Force. The feats he managed to accomplish with no training whatsoever showed an affinity seldom seen and he wondered if the boy possessed insight akin to a Mirialan, or a Miraluka, or even a Korun. It was not inconceivable that Anakin already had the ability to consciously come into harmony with the Force and allow it to flow through him. That notion was dashed at his poor display earlier as he had no idea how to properly focus and enter a meditative state.

Then there was the matter of how easily he was overcome by the tendrils of the Dark Side and the subsequent drastic spike in power he felt from the boy. While his presence is pitiful, Anakin was like a vast trench capable of channelling a tremendous amount of the Force with little to no strain. Were he a fully developed Jedi in full control of his gifts then that display would've been orders of magnitude more worrying. If Anakin was ever led astray, this could be a prelude to a much graver cause for concern than the current Sith threat. He had hoped Anakin would possess the presence of mind to realise something was amiss when his emotions ran away from him, but sadly he did not. Fortunately, due to his status as an untrained sensitive with no experience handling the Dark Side, his inability to do so was expected and Windu was quick to intervene before Anakin spiralled further. Windu now felt he had a better grasp of what Anakin was capable of.

The Master of the Order looked over to Mundi, who sported a cocked eyebrow in eager anticipation as he waited for Windu to speak his mind. The human shook his head, meanwhile, then motioned his friend to walk with him.

"I feel he will indeed be troublesome. I'll have to keep a close eye on him."

"And here I thought you had a more serious issue with the boy than that after such a pregnant pause." Mundi said and his smile widened as Windu levelled him a dour glare.

"Peace, my friend. Through my meditations, I felt the connection you and Skywalker have formed now that you're Master and padawan and I believe there is none better to teach him. The Force has a great many things in store for the two of you." Mundi said in reassurance. The human was quiet for a moment as he mulled over his friend's words.

He had felt a sprawling shatterpoint in his initial meeting with Anakin. It was one of the most expansive and intense shatterpoints he had felt in many years, and that brought with it its own set of implications. Windu felt the Force had wanted to bring him and Anakin into contact at that moment, he was sure of it. However, if the Force desired him to teach the boy why had he not felt Anakin's presence at all until Qui-Gon brought him forth? Did the Force truly desire him to be the boy's Master or had something changed? Was that the reason why he remained hidden from their sight and was only found when he was?

"Do you believe what Qui-Gon said about him being the Chosen One?" Windu said.

"Do you?"

Herein lies the million credit question. It was none other than Qui-Gon who had proclaimed not one, but two things upon his return from Tatooine with the young boy in tow: he was a vergence and the Chosen One. Knowing what end befell his friend, it seemed almost as if it was Qui-Gon's fate to shepherd Anakin into the arms of the Order. Regardless, a part of Windu felt that to reduce the life of Qui-Gon Jinn to that simple role — a role which, once fulfilled, led to his demise — was a disservice to the calibre of Jedi and man that he was, but if that was the part the Force had him play then so be it.

The Jedi are protectors of the galaxy and they stood in defiance to the corruption wrought by the Sith. None would be opposed to rid the Force of such a pervasive influence, but the notion that true balance was to be achieved by a single being was… Windu scowled. Did he doubt it to be possible? If it was a true prophecy, then the Will of the Force deemed it so and Anakin was now of vital importance to the survival of his Herd. However, that ran counter to his beliefs that an individual could outweigh so many.

Yet, it was difficult to deny that there indeed was an imbalance. The Force had been nebulous and… capricious for many years now. The shatterpoint on Anakin had been the clearest he felt the Force to be in a long time. Now, as the Sith slither in the shadows hidden from the vigil of the Jedi, and the Republic tried its best to maintain peace in the galaxy, he could not help but hear the words of Qui-Gon ring in his ears once more. A vergence and the Chosen One.

"It's much too soon to proclaim him a Jedi, let alone something so lofty as the Chosen One." Windu said with a tone of finality. Mundi studied him for a long moment as he rubbed his beard before he spoke.

"Suffice to say, he will be an interesting student. It's not often one can claim they were in the vicinity of a Sith Lord in anger and lived."

Before Windu had much chance to contemplate on the threat the Sith Lord posed, he caught a glimpse of the familiar muscular, and bronze-skinned form of Quinlan Vos. The Master hadn't had the chance to speak to him since they left Naboo as he was busy with other affairs and Anakin, plus he felt the young Knight had been avoiding him. If not that, then the events he witnessed on Naboo had a profound impact on the Kiffar. He looked inattentive, his mind many light years away. Windu spread his senses to Vos and felt how troubled his presence in the Force was: it was shrouded in frost and it seemed to teeter before the looming darkness. There was also a deep seated fire of resentment that churned akin to a smelter rather than a signal pyre; it wasn't obvious but it was there. Windu's scowl deepened and he called out to him.

"Quinlan Vos."

Windu did not yell, yet his voice carried itself like thunder through the halls of the Temple and the young Jedi Knight stopped dead in his tracks. He turned and walked towards the Master of The Order with heavy steps until he stood before the two and greeted them briefly. Windu regarded the young Knight in silence as he felt the whirlwind that raged within him.

"These are dark times for the Jedi and we have lost an important member of our Order along with his padawan. Two men whom you were close to and wish to provide closure. All of that I understand." Windu said and Vos hung to his every word, even as he knew what was to come.

"However, your outburst on Naboo is inexcusable for a Knight of the Order. Master Jinn and Padawan Kenobi fulfilled their duties as Jedi in exemplary fashion and never faltered in the face of the enemy. To let yourself be swayed as you were is an affront to their memory and I question if I should even entertain the notion of allowing you to pursue the Sith Lord."

"You know what that Sith did to Master Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, he is an animal that needs to be put down." Vos said with a snarl as anger flared past the layer of frost he tried to use to contain it. Windu shot him a scathing glare.

"You speak of retribution and revenge before the Master of The Order? To act upon the very same impulses the animal you are so keen to 'put down' indulges in? Based on what I have witnessed from you, Quinlan Vos, I would sooner strip you of your title and banish you from our ranks before I allow you to enact your revenge." Vos baulked and opened his mouth to plead his case but Windu sent a warning through the Force that he best be quiet lest he face dire consequences. Vos clammed up quickly and lowered his eyes to the ground.

"Despite my desire to discipline you further for your abhorrent handling of your emotions, I acknowledge your contributions were invaluable in ascertaining the identity of the Sith Lord. As you are the only one among us to experience his presence firsthand – and combined with your unique talent – I would be a fool to bar your involvement in his pursuit. You are a Knight and a good Jedi; do not let your fears or your anger control you. Remember that even in pain and loss there are lessons to be learned and one can grow from them. Meditate on your mistake and, when you feel you are ready, a mission to investigate and find the Sith will be waiting for you. Now go and may the Force be with you."

Windu kept his eyes on Quinlan Vos as he bid farewell and all but scampered away from the Master. The imposing Korun let out a deep sigh and rubbed eyes as he considered the amount of work the upcoming days will be for the Order and the Republic both. His thoughts were interrupted by Mundi who placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it in a comforting gesture.

"Out of everything you said, I believe meditation is the one thing we both could make use of. Why don't you join me, old friend?" Windu had to consider the offer for only the briefest of moments before he took it. He felt a weariness had begun to set on his bones since they had left Naboo behind. He had wondered if it was due to relief or perhaps something else… Now that he had set foot in the Temple, he sensed in the back of his mind that some of the hardest trials he would yet endure were still to come. For the sake of both Anakin and his Herd, he would prepare then lead them with conviction past whatever stood before them and to usher them into the light.

He only hoped the Force would provide some much needed respite.