Finally, an update! Thank you for your patience and for all those who have shown support for me and this story through their reviews and messages. I am sorry for the long delay, but this chapter was extremely difficult to write. In addition to my life being busy because I'm still trying to finish a PhD, this chapter was torturous to write for some reason. It is not my best writing, but y'all deserve an update and I need to move on for the sake of this story and my sanity. I don't know if any of y'all have experienced this, but I would set aside 5 hours to write and maybe get 200 words down which usually ended up being deleted the next time I finally got a chance to write. Nothing I wrote felt right. The good news is I have already written 3000 words for the next chapter rather quickly. It was a refreshing reminder that writing could be that easy, so hopefully you won't have to wait as long for the next chapter.
Fair warning though, this isn't the chapter I necessarily wanted to write, or the one you are probably expecting. I spent months fighting to turn it into that, trying to force Annabeth's POV and to get it to the demigod vs Jedi Council showdown that we all are looking forward to (that will definitely be in the next chapter), but it just wasn't working after months and months of trying. Instead, there is head hopping again, and this chapter, if anything, sort of focuses on relationships between characters (appropriate given the holiday) while starting to tie-up some lose ends. Here's to moving forward and not obsessing over perfection and trying to get to AOTC by Chapter 40. Thanks again for your amazing support.
Interlude XIII – Gorga
"She took the bait, sir!" one of Gorga's guards reported.
"Excellent, at last we can end this game of hide and seek," Gorga eagerly slid towards his large viewport and watched as the beat-up freighter pulled out of the hanger. He had to admit, this Atalanta was rather intelligent for a human. After all, she'd somehow managed to evade his guards and rather advanced security system for over twenty-six hours. It was like she had just vanished. Even his heat sensors couldn't pick her up. But in the end, she fell for his trap.
Gorga knew that Atalanta wanted to leave his ship. A task made more difficult since he'd blown up her own ship as soon as he had found out about the double cross on Tatooine. After several hours with no luck capturing Atalanta, he made sure to shift his guards' positions as they looked for the girl, conveniently leaving one particular ship from Gorga's smuggling fleet virtually unguarded. With no other option, Atalanta had taken the old XS freighter. Pity that she would soon discover the broken hyperdrive, damaged shields, and defective weapons.
"Captain, fire at that ship," Gorga commanded into his headset, "but do not destroy it completely, I want her alive." That girl had betrayed him and allowed Tatooine to be taken by the Republic after promising it to him. He would not give her a quick death, but more importantly he wanted the plans she had showed him for a new holoprojector that would advance holographic technology and make him the wealthiest Hutt in the galaxy even without Tatooine. Originally, he'd been willing to agree to Atalanta's deal for a free people's economy to produce the new holoprojectors on Tatooine (given the current troubles with the slave market, it was actually more profitable to pay for workers than maintain a slave population these days) and even that ridiculous Jedi exchange program in order to get his hands on those holoprojector plans and Tatooine. Now that she and her mysterious ally, Da Soocha, could no longer help him claim Tatooine, there was no reason why he couldn't just take the plans from her by force, and then make an example of her, so no one would dare to double cross him again.
"Yes, sir," came the reply from his captain. For most, it would be a tricky shot, but when it came to his crew, Gorga got the best, and his laser canons were state of the art. He could already imagine the shot hitting, damaging the thrusters, leaving her completely helpless, but the shot never came.
Instead, his captain tentatively said, "Sir? It appears that the laser canons have been disabled."
"What?" Gorga roared. It was impossible. His laser canons were protected from tampering behind meter thick durasteel walls, only accessible by droid. "Then get them back online. There are droids here for a reason."
"Right away, sir."
Perhaps his current captain needed to be replaced. Gorga forced himself to be patient as his ship easily kept up with old freighter. It wasn't like she could go anywhere. "Umm your Eminence?" Gorga braced himself for the news. His underlings only used that title when they had something bad to report. "As soon as the astromech droid made contact with the computer, it . . . something happened, and it's fried. My best guess is there's some kind of slicer virus in the system."
"So, the supposed Da Soocha has a slicer for a priestess. How convenient" Gorga muttered. Unfortunately, he didn't keep slicers on his ship because they couldn't be trusted as Atalanta just proved, and his computer was supposed to be slicer proof. Someone would pay for that later. "No matter, we will stop her another way. Pilots to your ships." At any given time, Gorga had at least five smuggling craft on his flagship for extra security and quick business transactions. His ships could easily overpower her broken-down vessel and capture her.
Boom! The ship rocked, and Gorga had to steady himself. An alarm blared somewhere onboard. Where had the explosion come from? Atalanta's stolen freighter didn't have working weapons. "Report!" Gorga demanded though he had a sinking suspicion of where the damage had been.
A guard rushed over, "Sir, there was an explosion in the main hanger. Most of the ships are damaged, and the bay doors are jammed. We think charges must have been planted and set on a timer."
Despite Gorga's fury, part of him was impressed. Clearly, not only was this Atalanta a skilled slicer, but she also had the foresight to hide charges and had somehow known exactly when and where to set them off. At the moment, they were in a stalemate. She couldn't escape, yet he couldn't actually bring her in. However, he still had a few moves he could play.
"Sir," his captain's voice came through his headset. "We are receiving a transmission from the XS freighter. Should I put it through?"
"Yes," Gorga grunted as he moved toward his holoprojector. "And cut off that kriffin alarm." Atalanta had probably discovered the damaged hyperdrive and wanted to negotiate a more favorable surrender. The nearest inhabitable planet was over six days traveling at sublight speeds. She would never make it in that ship.
A fuzzy hologram of Atalanta appeared. For once, she had removed the veil that had been covering her face since she had arrived. She claimed it had something to do with being a priestess, but Gorga suspected it was to hide her identity. Unfortunately, the quality of the hologram was too poor to make out any distinctive physical characteristics besides her light hair and relatively young features. "Ahh, Atalanta, I assume you have finally realized that the ship you stole does not have a functioning hyperdrive."
Gorga couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw Atalanta roll her eyes as she scoffed, "Actually, I knew this ship had a broken hyperdrive as soon as you altered your guards' positions. Though this ship is no longer the one with the nonfunctioning hyperdrive."
She couldn't have fixed it. His mechanics hadn't even been able to figure out what was wrong. "Nice, try Atalanta, but we both know you are only stalling with that silver tongue of yours. If you actually had a working hyperdrive, you would've already left."
She shrugged, "I'll admit that I'm not a natural mechanic, unlike a few friends of mine, but I have picked up a lot over the years. Plus, I have a very good computer program for troubleshooting repairs. I had the hyperdrive fixed before I left your ship, and while you were busy trying to shoot me and watching your hanger explode, I was figuring out what exactly happened on Tatooine and why the Trade Federation is there. As for why I still haven't left yet," she smiled. Even over the hologram, the expression seemed extra cold. "I wanted to have a little chat since the last time we talked, you were too busy trying to detain me to pay attention.
"Now, to address your accusations. Did you really think if I had intended to double cross you that I would be foolish enough to be anywhere near you when it happened? Clearly, other forces are at play here, since neither I nor – Da Soocha have any love for the Trade Federation." Her voice broke over the name of the god as if saying it caused her pain. However, she quickly continued as if she hadn't shown a moment of weakness. "If you had used your logic instead of lashing out in anger and delaying my departure twenty-six hours, maybe I could have still salvaged our deal, but now, you will be lucky to get anything at all without a full-blown war. I imagine you will have a good bit of time on your hands over the next six days to regret your rash actions that botched the best deal of your life. I advise you to not come after me. If I even have reason to think that you are looking for me, I promise that you will not survive to regret those actions."
Before Gorga could say anything, the transmission ended, and he watched as the battered XS freighter jumped to hyperspace. He roared in frustration, but slowly the meaning of Atalanta's words dawned on him. "Captain, check the hyperdrive."
"Your Eminence, it appears the hyperdrive is not operational," his captain timidly reported. No doubt the man was beginning to fear for his life. Gorga, like most Hutts, wasn't known for his forgiveness.
"And communications? Can we send transmissions?" Though Gorga had a bad feeling that he already knew the answer.
"Communication is down as well," Gorga could hear the confusion in his captain's voice. "It must have happened right after the transmission with the XS freighter ended."
Gorga glared at the spot in space where Atalanta had disappeared in the ship she had stolen from him. He couldn't believe that a mere human could get the better of Gorga the Hutt. Then again, there were those rumors that Atalanta wasn't human, or at least not a normal one.
Quinlan
Quinlan hated waiting. Well, he strongly disliked waiting since Jedi weren't supposed to hate, though, Quinlan had never claimed to be the perfect Jedi. Currently, he was waiting for Annabeth to come back to Tatooine, so the two demigods from a different universe (Force, when did his life get so weird) could decide how difficult both their lives and his would be in the upcoming months. He really hoped they would make things easy for everyone and come back to the Jedi Temple with him. Not only did Quinlan dread getting assigned to some miserable, remote planet for failing the Council, but he didn't want to see his new friends become the Republic's most wanted.
Hopefully, Annabeth would realize it was smarter to talk to the Council because at the moment he wasn't sure about Percy. Quinlan couldn't shake the feeling that Percy was hiding something. When Quinlan had first brought up the Council's wish to question him, Percy had immediately seemed defensive, and the distrust he'd heard in Percy's voice had hurt. It was like Percy was already assuming the worst about the Jedi Council and Quinlan, but Quinlan wasn't sure why.
An annoying voice disrupted Quinlan's thoughts as it carried down the hall from Percy's bedroom, "Commander Percy must be recovering. This is the first time he has told me to 'shut up' since he has been back." Quinlan grinned. It was a good sign if Percy had the energy to snap at the annoying protocol droid again. C3PO carried a tray full of empty dishes to the kitchen area with Shmi walking behind.
"Yes, he is getting better," Shmi said brightly, "his appetite has returned."
"Good, he needs as much food as he can get," Quinlan remarked. "The guy looks like he lost at least ten kilos in weight that he didn't need to lose."
Shmi turned her assessing gaze towards him. "Percy's not the only one who looks the worse for wear. When was the last time you slept or left this house even? If you want, Gaarchit and I could stay, and you could have a rest or get some fresh air?" she offered.
She did have a point. Quinlan had hardly slept in five days and hadn't left since they'd found Percy, but he couldn't leave. "I'm fine, and you should go ahead. The work you're doing, helping the people smart enough to leave this Force-forsaken planet, is even more important now that the Trade Federation is here. I can watch Percy. I don't mind." Ever since they'd gotten Percy back, Quinlan had been reluctant to leave his friend while he was so weak. Gaarchit had heard troubling rumors in cantinas that the Trade Federation had been asking a lot of questions about Da Soocha and Atalanta, and Quinlan knew there were probably still Hutt supporters in the area that would love to get revenge on Percy.
Shmi gave him a knowing look before asking C3PO to inform Gaarchit that they were ready to head out. Once they were alone in the room, she said, "I hope you know Quinlan that this isn't your fault. You don't need to punish yourself."
Quinlan winced. Somehow this normal human had seen right through the tough Jedi persona, he'd portrayed for the past few days and found the real reason he couldn't sleep. Then again, he supposed Shmi wasn't exactly normal. She'd given birth to Skywalker, the supposed Chosen One and had spent the last six years as a sort of mother figure to two demigods. "I doubt the Jedi Council will agree. I was sent here to make sure none of this would happen." He waved his arms to indicate the drastic consequences of Percy's loss of control and the impending galactic war. He'd never managed to kriff up a mission so badly before.
A comforting touch on his shoulder interrupted his brooding. It felt familiar, like a half-forgotten memory. "Everything happens for a reason," she said, offering him a kind smile. "Things will work out. You'll see."
Coming from anyone else, the words would have sounded fake and hollow, but for some reason, Quinlan felt better. Maybe, it was how she had said it or just the fact that it was Shmi, a woman who had lived most of her life in slavery yet could still see the good in the galaxy. As Quinlan watched Shmi and her Wookie bodyguard head out with the annoying protocol droid, he found himself hoping that she was right.
Quinlan glanced at the chrono. Annabeth should be here soon. Even in the clunker of a ship she'd stolen with a patched hyperdrive, it shouldn't take more than two days for her to get to Tatooine. He wished he could tell her about Percy, but her ship was so outdated that it lacked the proper equipment to communicate in hyperspace, so she still didn't know that he was safe. Quinlan sighed. Well, nothing to do, but wait. He closed his eyes, figuring he might as well meditate, but at last all those sleepless nights caught up to him.
Woosh! Quinlan's body reacted before he even realized what was going on. He sensed danger in the Force and grabbed the blasters on his belt, but he couldn't sense anyone. He opened his eyes and blinked twice as he focused on the cloaked intruder in the doorway with his blasters ready. Finally, Quinlan's mind caught up to his reflexes, and he lowered his weapons as the person who could only be Annabeth Chase walked towards him. "Force Chase! Couldn't you knock or something? There's dangerous people about," he tried to joke, but as Annabeth lowered the hood of her cloak, he could tell that she was not in a joking mood. Now, he knew why the Force had warned him of danger. She was the danger.
Her current expression was downright frightening in its intensity, and her Force presence blazed stronger than Quinlan had ever sensed from her. At the moment, she looked like she would destroy anyone who crossed her. He had no doubt that her concern for Percy and desire to be reunited with him had caused this response. Quinlan realized then that the Council might be wrong to consider Jackson the larger threat. They had been so worried about what Percy would do if anything happened to Annabeth, but Quinlan was beginning to think they should be more worried if the situation was reversed.
Sure, Percy's Force presence was generally more overwhelming, when it could be sensed that is, and it was completely different than anything the Council had ever known while Chase's powers seemed more aligned with the Jedi's own abilities. After all, the Force could enhance cognition and forethought with meditation for most Jedi. But, if Percy's Force presence was like a hurricane, then Annabeth's was like a dagger. She would strike when you least expected, and she would not miss. Right now, all that cold, lethal intent was leveled at Quinlan.
Finally, she asked, "Is he . . .?"
She couldn't finish the question, but she didn't need to. "He's recovering in there," Quinlan answered and pointed towards Percy's bedroom. Her cold gaze melted, and she made a noise somewhere between a sigh and a sob before rushing off to see her beloved.
Even though Percy's room was far enough away that Quinlan couldn't sense the demigods in the Force unless he stood right outside the bedroom door, he still felt like he was intruding. It was time to get some fresh air since he didn't need to stay anymore. Percy was in good hands. In fact, Quinlan almost pitied anyone foolish enough to go after Percy with Annabeth there. Quinlan grabbed his cloak, but before he walked out the door, he found his gaze drifting back towards Percy's room, where he and Annabeth were no doubt having a very heartfelt reunion. A rather un-Jedi like emotion crept through Quinlan as he realized that he would likely never know what it was like to be loved as much as Annabeth loved Percy. Once Quinlan stepped out into the rain, he released his jealousy into the Force, and the feeling was washed away as quickly as it had come as if by the rain itself.
The usually bustling streets of Bestine were empty except for the squadron of battle droids stationed every other block. Quinlan figured the lack of sentients on streets had more to do with the constant down pour than Trade Federation droids. At first the residents of Tatooine had danced in the streets and celebrated the first rain in thousands of years, but non-stop rain was one of those things that got old fast. Now, everyone just hurried along to reach their destination trying to stay as dry as possible.
Quinlan pulled his cloak tighter around him as he passed a few droids patrolling. He was under strict orders from the Council to keep his presence hidden from the Trade Federation at all costs. Quinlan's mission hadn't exactly been sanctioned by the Senate or even the Chancellor. If he was discovered now, the Jedi Order could get blamed for orchestrating the whole thing and accused of going rogue and warmongering, all of which would damage the already strained relationship between the Jedi and the Senate. Currently, all the Trade Federation and Hutts had to go on were rumors about a Jedi being present, but with the craziness surrounding the quickly growing legend of Da Soocha and Atalanta, it would be impossible for anyone to sort out fact from fiction as long as Quinlan kept a low profile and his lightsaber hidden.
Luckily, the droids just ignored him and continued their patrol. From what Quinlan could tell, the droids were just there for extra security. Unlike with Naboo, the Trade Federation hadn't tried to subjugate the population, yet. The people still had all their weapons and were able to move freely both on and off the planet. As far as he could figure out, the blockade of spaceships around the planet was only there to discourage the Hutts from retaking Tatooine. It was as if the Trade Federation knew how volatile the populous of Tatooine was and didn't wish to anger them. Quinlan wondered how long the Trade Federation's hands-off approach would last. Although the true value of Tatooine was its access to important hyperlanes, the Trade Federation wouldn't hesitate to exploit the people if it would help increase its profits.
With nothing else to do, Quinlan ducked into a cantina and was immediately surrounded by a rowdy crowd, still celebrating their apparent freedom while enjoying the new goods from the Trade Federation. Even Quinlan couldn't help himself and ordered a Corellian whiskey, a beverage that was usually rare on the Outer Rim but was now fully stocked at the bar. He kept his hood up and stuck to the shadows, so no one would recognize him. There was always the chance that he would overhear something useful.
"A buddy fighting in Mos Eisley said it should stop within the week," declared a man with a scar on his cheek from his spot at the bar. Shmi had told Quinlan that Jrome and a few cohorts of freedom fighters had gone to Mos Eisley to stop resistance from the last of Jabba's supporters.
Curious, Quinlan asked, "Is the Trade Federation helping at all?" He made sure to lengthen his vowels, the fake accent rolling off his tongue.
"I hear they sent two platoons of those battle droids," a female Lutrillian supplied.
The bartender snorted, "A lot of good they do if it's taking them almost a week to stop a few Hutt sympathizers. Da Soocha would've done it in a few hours."
"Well, Da Soocha isn't here," the original man bitterly spat out. "He left us this parting gift," he waved towards the outside where the rain continued to fall, "and vanished."
"I don't think he vanished," a women suggested. "The Jawas I trade with told me they saw him moving through Jabba's destroyed palace. Maybe he's going to build his own palace on the ruins."
Quinlan sensed a spike of interest coming from three different patrons at the mention of Da Soocha's possible location. Those must be the Trade Federation spies. Quinlan didn't know whether the Trade Federation was looking for Da Soocha for their own interest or if their ally, the Sith Lord, had tasked them with finding Percy. Either way, it would not be good for his friend if they found him. Percy needed to get off planet as soon as possible.
"And how would Jawas know what Da Soocha looks like?" a Nikto, who Quinlan knew was a smuggler, asked scornfully. "Besides, I heard he was spotted half-dead in Mos Eisley."
That was far too close to the truth for Quinlan, so he added his own rumor to the mix, making sure to keep the fake accent. "Don't be ridiculous, I heard from one of the centurions that Da Soocha is going after another Hutt, now that he's freed everyone here and offed Jabba."
Several people in the cantina nodded, clearly buying his story, but the bar tender just crossed his arms, shook his head, and said, "You are all assuming that Da Soocha is flesh and blood just like us. He is the living ocean, and now thanks to his generous gift he is all around us. And if we ever are in need again, he'll rise out of the water to protect the children of Tatooine once more."
Quinlan resisted the urge to laugh. If the bar tender had seen how awkward Percy had been around the Lady or just how goofy he could be, Quinlan doubted that he would be so deferential. At least the bar tender's belief in myths and legends did help confuse the Trade Federation spies. That was until the man at the bar scoffed, "And if we were to believe that Da Soocha just vanished into ocean mist then what about his accomplices? No one has seen Atalanta or the Jedi in days. I doubt they vanished into the ocean too. No, it makes more sense that Da Soocha went after another Hutt, probably Gardulla, and took his companions with him."
"Jedi?" one of the Trade Federation spies asked. "Did you say there was a Jedi here?"
Great, Quinlan thought, the idiot at the bar must've at least known someone who was part of the original band from Mos Espa. They and a few trusted members of the Governing Council were the only one who knew about him actually being a Jedi. "I thought Atalanta was a rouge Jedi. That's why she can do what she does," Quinlan suggested, hoping they'd take the bait.
"No, there was that other guy," the man at the bar insisted.
"That guy, a Jedi?" Quinlan scoffed. "From what I could see, he didn't look like a Jedi. He probably was a bounty hunter."
A woman chimed in, "Yeah, I got a good look at him when they first came to Bestine. Didn't see one of those laser swords."
"No lightsaber, no Jedi," the Nikto stated. Quinlan was glad he'd kept his lightsaber hidden this whole time except when he gave it to Percy in Mos Eisley. "Besides, you think a Jedi would really care enough to help us out here? They're too busy with important people to bother with us."
Quinlan had to bite his lip to stop himself from saying something stupid. Sure, it made his life easier if no one believed a Jedi was sent to Tatooine, but it hurt to see how easily the crowd in the cantina agreed with the Nikto. He wanted to tell them that the Jedi did care; they had sent him. But a traitorous thought reminded him that he was here primarily to keep an eye on Percy and Annabeth. He might have thought Annabeth's Outer Rim Jedi exchange program with the Hutts was a ridiculous idea, but he had to agree that the Jedi had some serious issues with PR out here. Something that could cause problems if it wasn't improved.
After one more drink at the cantina, Quinlan decided that he'd heard enough and headed back to their current residence. He paused at the door, not sure what he would find. Would Annabeth and Percy still be there? They could've easily hopped on one of the SASS ships transporting freed slaves with Shmi and Gaarchit. It would give them a decent head start if they decided to run. But when he opened the door, Annabeth was there sitting in the seat he had left a few hours ago, huddled over a cup of caf. She looked up at him, and Quinlan saw the tears running down her cheeks before she quickly wiped them away with her sleeve. Seeing her like that, so small and vulnerable, reminded Quinlan how young both she and Percy actually were. They were what, twenty-three, twenty-four? Most Jedi were still Padawans at that age. They had Masters to turn to for guidance and protection, but Percy and Annabeth didn't have a Master. They'd been on their own for a long time even before they came to this galaxy judging from Percy's memories.
"Are you okay?" he asked in a soft voice that he had only ever used for Aayla as he took a seat across from her.
Annabeth stiffened, and that hard look returned to her eye. Quinlan knew it well. The galaxy could be cruel, and it didn't do well for people to perceive you as weak. "I'm fine," she snapped.
"No, you aren't," Quinlan corrected. "And it's okay."
Something in Annabeth seemed to crumble then, and she looked at the caf like she wished it was something stronger. "I'm glad he's safe. I thought . . ." She closed her eyes as if that could block out the horror of what she must've thought. "I've thought I've lost him a few times before. Gods, I even had a funeral for him once." Her lips quirked with a hint of a smile at the memory though it didn't last. "Even though I've gotten him back each time, I'm afraid one day our luck is going to run out, and the next time he'll be gone for good."
Quinlan didn't know what to say, but Annabeth didn't seem to care since she continued speaking. "It also hurts to see him like that," she confessed. "He looks like he crawled out of Tartarus, again. The amount of pain he must've been in . . . Gods, he's already suffered so much. I hate that he suffered more, and I wasn't there to help."
Guilt flared up in Quinlan, "I'm sorry Annabeth. I'm sorry I didn't stop it."
She looked at him then, and Quinlan forced himself to not look away even though it felt like those grey eyes were picking him apart, layer by layer. "It wasn't your fault," she finally stated, softly. It was the second time that day someone had told Quinlan that, but he still found it difficult to believe. "I have a theory that this, what Percy did, was inevitable. Based on the previous times he made water on this planet, each time it was more difficult for me to make him stop and call him back. I'm still working on a way to prove it to the Jedi Council though."
It took a moment for what she said to click in Quinlan's mind. "So, you are coming back with me to meet with the Council?" He didn't bother to keep the eagerness out of his voice.
"Yes, we decided to give the Council a chance," she confirmed. "It meant a lot to Percy, to both of us that you gave us a choice and didn't try to force the issue. And as tempting as it would be to just avoid dealing with the Council, Percy and I have worked too hard to have a peaceful life on Naboo if we can't get home, and we're not giving up on that to become fugitives, at least not without a fight."
"It shouldn't come to a fight, especially since you are cooperating. They just want to ask Percy a few questions about how he did what he did." At least, Quinlan hoped that's what would happen.
Annabeth cocked her head to the side as if she knew of his own doubts. "I hope you are right. Here's to not becoming enemies." She raised her cup of caf in a mock toast before draining it. "Now, that we've got that settled, we can start planning our departure." Just like that all trace of that sad, lost-looking girl was gone, and Quinlan was once again dealing with one of the best strategists in the galaxy. "I'd rather leave sooner than later and not give the Trade Federation a chance to find us. Plus, there's not much else we can do here until the Republic decides on a course of action."
Quinlan nodded. "I agree. Besides, I ran into some Trade Federation agents looking for Da Soocha and Atalanta. It's only a matter of time before someone who actually knows something spills the goods. I mean people like Jrome and Jira will never tell the Trade Federation anything, but other Freedom Fighters or members of the Governing Council might."
Annabeth frowned, "We need to get ourselves a ship then." She pulled out that incredible datapad of hers and consulted the screen. "Looks like most of the SASS cargo ships are busy transporting freed slaves. I don't want to divert them or risk anyone recognizing Percy and me and associating us with SASS, so it would be better to just use an inconspicuous ship from here."
"Oh, I've got a ship we can use, but it's not inconspicuous," Quinlan volunteered.
She narrowed her eyes. "You took the CR-70?"
"I couldn't stand the thought of the Trade Federation getting their grubby hands over a beauty like that, so I snuck it out of Mos Espa and hid it nearby," he admitted.
Annabeth bit her lip slightly as she considered the option while her Force presence flared again, "I suppose that would work. Although it will certainly attract attention, maybe to the point that the Trade Federation would try to apprehend it even if they haven't stopped other ships from leaving. But they don't have the fire power to stop that ship, not with those modifications to it. And I could return it to the Organas' and use it to remind Bail what good friends Percy and I can be, that we can do things that the Jedi can't or won't."
"Excuse me, I believe it was a Jedi who did 75% of the seizing of that ship," Quinlan corrected.
"Except, the only reason you were able to get that ship in the first place was because you dangled Percy, like a piece of meat, in front of an extremely dangerous Zeltron seductress," she retorted.
"He told you!" He couldn't believe Percy would do that to him, and before he could think better of it, the familiar phrase followed, "What happened to bros before . . ." The word almost slipped out of his mouth, but the flash of warning in Annabeth's grey eyes was enough for him to swallow it. Usually, Quinlan enjoyed living dangerously, but unnecessarily antagonizing Annabeth in her current mood seemed a little too dangerous for even Quinlan's liking. He'd rather no harm come to his more private body parts, remembering how she'd threatened Jrome, or however else she might decide to get back at him. "Umm extremely scary and intelligent young women."
"Nice save, Vos. And Percy didn't tell me. As you pointed out, I am an intelligent woman, so therefore I made sure to determine the identity of the previous owner of the CR-70 in order to guarantee that she really wouldn't trouble us. After discovering that it was a powerful female Zeltron, it wasn't hard to figure out." Grudgingly, she added, "To your credit, it was an effective strategy even if it did involve the sexual objectification of my fiancé."
Deciding it was best for everyone if Annabeth wasn't thinking about another extremely attractive female flirting with Percy, Quinlan quickly changed the subject, "So we'll leave for Coruscant in the CR-70 as soon as Shmi and Gaarchit get back?"
"Actually, I want to stop in the Andooweel system, so Percy and I can transfer to The Blackjack," Annabeth stated. "You can stay with the CR-70 if you want, or Koyla can pilot it back to Coruscant for us. But I want Percy soaking in the saltwater pool. I think it will help him recover faster even if he's a little sick of water at the moment."
Quinlan snorted, "A son of a supposed sea god sick of water? I didn't think that was possible. It would be like a Jedi sick of the Force."
Annabeth sighed, "It's complicated. Of course, Percy loves and appreciates his power like you would any talent or ability, particularly one that makes you feel closer to a parent, though I suppose that doesn't mean much to a Jedi. However, I think his favorite aspect of his powers may be making water. You should've seen his face when he watched the children of Tatooine play in water for the first time after he flooded Jabba's stadium. But for the past few weeks he's had to use his abilities to kill others. Something he doesn't exactly enjoy doing but did anyways because he knew it was necessary. And then this special ability that he cherishes nearly killed him. I think he feels violated, betrayed by his own nature, and perhaps worst of all, he might feel like he deserved it. I know he let himself get poisoned once for a similar reason and almost died. I'm afraid one day his strange sense of honor will be the death of him."
Quinlan remembered what Percy had told him, how he didn't like killing people even though he was good at it. Quinlan tried to imagine how he'd feel if he used his connection with the Force, something he cherished and enjoyed, to kill people hundreds at a time and then for the Force to nearly kill him. He'd probably want some time before he reached for the Force again if ever. Not to mention, not many Jedi were able to use the Force to cause that much death and not fall to the dark side. Perhaps the Council was right to be concerned. "Deserved it? Because of all the people he killed with his power?"
Annabeth shrugged. "Hard to know. Maybe, a little from that, though I think the innocent slaves that Jabba slaughtered probably bothers him more," Annabeth presumed. "That's something we're both going to have to live with for the rest of our lives, always wondering if we could have done things differently to avoid that terrible lose of innocent lives."
"Will he . . .?" Quinlan didn't know how to finish the question. 'Okay,' really didn't cover the picture Annabeth had just painted. Quinlan had been so concerned for Percy's physical health and survival that he hadn't thought too much about how he might be feeling.
Luckily though Annabeth seemed to understand what he was asking. "He'll bounce back, probably faster than any of us think. He's resilient like that. We just need to remind him of the good and joy his abilities can bring as well, that his gifts are not death and destruction."
"What about you?" Quinlan asked, "Do you ever get tired of planning and strategizing and being too smart for your own good?"
Annabeth smiled then, the first real one he'd seen since she returned. "Never."
Clearly, Percy wasn't the only resilient one. "Good, because I think the Republic's going to need a good plan to get out of this current mess," Quinlan implied.
"Don't worry, Vos, I'm already working on not one plan but two," came her confident reply, and somehow that response made Quinlan feel much better about the whole situation.
Obi-Wan
Obi-Wan was worried. He could not believe Percy had flooded a whole planet, but at least he was coming back to meet with the Jedi Council. Knowing Percy's tense relationship with the Council and authority in general, Obi-Wan had not been certain that he would and had half expected the Council to order him to hunt down his friend like a criminal. However, the relief Obi-Wan had felt when Quinlan had reported that they all were on their way to Coruscant was quickly overshadowed by the new concern of what action the Council would take and how his somewhat-volatile friend might react. It did put Obi-Wan in a rather awkward position. Hopefully, this encounter would go smoothly and not end with Percy flooding Coruscant and the Council being forced to respond accordingly to the threat. There was also the possibility of a war.
"Master, usually, I'm the one that disrupts your meditation with my loud mind, not the other way around," Anakin huffed from his spot beside Obi-Wan.
"My apologies, Padawan, I have a lot on my mind," Obi-Wan responded careful not to allow his embarrassment to show. Really, as a Jedi Knight trying to set a good example for his Padawan who still struggled with traditional meditation, Obi-Wan should do better at quieting his mind. He had not had this much trouble meditating since he was a Padawan himself. "I will quiet my mind and no longer disturb you." He closed his eyes again, forcing himself to find that familiar calmness, but he felt Anakin still studying him.
"You're worried about Percy, aren't you." It was not a question since Obi-Wan knew Anakin could feel his unease and had guessed the source. Obi-Wan looked at his Padawan and saw the concern in his eyes. "Is he in trouble?"
Like every Force-user in the galaxy, Anakin had felt the disturbance a few days ago, but unlike most of the other Jedi, Padawans, and Initiates, Anakin was familiar with Percy's Force presence and knew that the storm in the Force had to be connected to him. It didn't help that the night before the disturbance, Anakin had a rather distressing dream of Percy drifting underwater either unconscious or dead. At the time, Obi-Wan had reassured Anakin that it was just a dream since he knew Percy was on Tatooine where there was not a large enough body of water for that particular situation to occur.
Afterwards though, Obi-Wan had been reluctant to reveal too much despite Anakin's pestering. Anakin was at a delicate stage in his training. At fifteen, his spirited Padawan had reached his rebellious adolescent years and therefore had become even more insolent and defiant than normal. Obi-Wan worried how Anakin might react if he was aware of the potential conflict between his friends and the Jedi Council. The Jedi Council had a duty to protect the Republic against Force-users. They could not allow a Force-user with the ability to wipeout a whole planet go unchecked and remain unaccountable. However, Obi-Wan doubted his Padawan would see it like that. In his eyes, Percy could do no wrong.
Therefore, when Obi-Wan answered his Padawan's question, he did so from a certain point of view, "As far as I am aware, Percy is currently in no physical danger, which is a rather rare occurrence for him as I'm sure you know."
Unfortunately, this half-truth did not appease his Padawan. "I'm not an idiot, Master! I've seen the HoloNet News. I know it's flooding on Tatooine. The other Padawans think the news reporters are exaggerating, but I know they aren't because of my dream. I know Percy somehow caused that. He also killed Jabba and freed the slaves. But something went wrong, and the Trade Federation took over, and now there's talk of a war starting between the Republic and the Hutts. So, please Master just tell me whatever it is you're not telling me!"
"I am glad to see that you finally listened to my advice and developed an interest in current events beyond the latest ship model releases." Obi-Wan said dryly. Anakin only glared at him, clearly not in the mood for Obi-Wan's humor. Obi-Wan sighed and finally said, "The situation is complicated, but there's no need for you to worry."
Anakin jumped to his feet and snapped, "Stop treating me like a child!"
Before Obi-Wan could respond that if his Padawan wanted to no longer be treated as a youngling then he should stop acting like one, starting with not having a temper tantrum, a familiar female voice came from the comm on his wrist, "Obi-Wan, we need to talk."
"Annabeth!" Anakin desperately called out. All trace of anger and annoyance gone. "Are you okay? Where's Percy? Is my mom safe?"
Obi-Wan did not know whether he should be grateful for the interruption or concerned at the possibility of Anakin getting drawn into the growing tension between the demigods and the Jedi Council. By calling out to Annabeth like that, Anakin had initiated the contact and once again circumvented the oath Annabeth had sworn.
"Anakin, good to hear from you! Thanks for the greeting!" Although she sounded pleased, there was also a weariness in her voice. "I'm fine all things considered and so is your mother. She's heading back to Naboo to help some recently freed people start a new life. Percy is fine too. Currently, he's playing Theed quoits in the pool right now with Quinlan. I'm not sure which one is cheating more since neither one is really bothering to actually hold the ball with their hands. I just borrowed the wrist comm to discuss something with Obi-Wan."
Something that she clearly would rather Percy not hear, though another bit of information caught Obi-Wan's attention, "If Percy's using his abilities to cheat in a water sport, I assume his powers have returned to normal?"
"It seems like he should make a full recovery, but for a while there, I wasn't sure. He could barely lift a drop those first few days," she disclosed. "The closest thing I've seen to it was when his cousin Nico overextended his powers and started to turn into shadow, but after several days of rest and soaking in the saltwater pool, he's getting better." Her tone shifted then from grateful relief to something more serious. "However, I believe it will be a few more weeks before he'll be able to safely create or control large bodies of water again, so the Council can relax. There won't be a repeat performance when we meet. You can consider that tidbit of information as a show of good faith."
That was indeed valuable information. He had no doubt that Annabeth and Percy could have used the threat of flooding Coruscant as a very effective bluff if any disagreement with the Council escalated, but she had told him instead, which meant she must want to know something in return. Anakin's voice broke through Obi-Wan's thoughts. "Wait, are you guys coming here to meet with the Council?" Obi-Wan cringed slightly at the defensive tone in his Padawan's voice. "Is Percy in trouble because of Tatooine?"
"This does not concern you, Anakin. Please continue your meditation in a quieter place." Obi-Wan kept his tone calm and polite, but there was no mistaking the dismissal.
"But I want to know what's going on!" Anakin demanded.
Obi-Wan asked the Force for patience as he responded, "Unfortunately, Padawan what we want and what we need are sometimes very different." Obi-Wan met Anakin's steely blue gaze with his own. He could feel the defiance pumping through his Padawan, but eventually Anakin's sense caught up with his actions, and he lowered his head into a respectful if slightly too stiff bow.
"Yes, Master," he muttered before he turned and left Obi-Wan's quarters.
Obi-Wan sighed and wondered if one day Anakin's good sense would fail to catch up with his actions and land his Padawan in more trouble than Obi-Wan could handle. "I assume you wish to talk about the upcoming meeting with the Council."
Annabeth hesitated as if she wanted to address the interaction she had just heard between Obi-Wan and Anakin, but she must have decided that her own problems were more pressing, "Yes, I need to know how bad this could get. What is the worst-case scenario?"
Obi-Wan did not answer immediately. He knew Annabeth's priority was to protect Percy and not necessarily the Republic, but he also felt that Annabeth and Percy deserved to know how serious this could be. It was only fair, and perhaps it would provide Percy with additional motivation to keep his temper in check. "I suppose the worst-case scenario would be if the Council decides Percy is a danger to the Republic and galaxy. In which case, they will detain him until they determine he is no longer a danger to society."
Annabeth said some words in an unfamiliar language, probably the one that only she and Percy spoke, though the tone was sufficient for Obi-Wan to understand the meaning if not the exact translation. Finally, she switched back to Basic, "I was afraid it might be something like that. I'll have to prepare, just in case." Obi-Wan wondered if he should be worried regarding whatever preparations Annabeth was no doubt planning. An uncomfortable silence rose between them until Annabeth asked reproachfully, "Do you think he should be locked up?"
This was why Annabeth had not included Percy in this conversation. She was trying to protect him from Obi-Wan. "Percy's still my friend, Annabeth," Obi-Wan reassured her. "Of course, I do not want him detained, especially not against his will. However, the Council is right to be concerned. Someone cannot just go about flooding whole planets on a whim, and if Percy has been corrupted by the dark side, detainment may be necessary. Unfortunately given the circumstances and the amount of power he displayed, the dark side is the most logical explanation. It certainly does not help that the Force has become. . ." Obi-Wan paused trying to think of a word to describe the strange phenomena the Jedi had noticed, "well, mirkier since the incident."
"I'll admit I don't know exactly how Percy did what he did, and I still don't know much about the Force or this dark side." Obi-Wan heard the frustration in her voice. He knew Annabeth strongly disliked not knowing something. "Though it's not from lack of trying. Since the Council thought it wisest not to teach us and Percy and I have refused to work with the Sith, we don't have many resources. But do you know what Percy's first question was after he regained consciousness and realized how much time had passed and what he'd done?"
"I imagine it was to ask about you," Obi-Wan guessed since he knew she had returned to Tatooine a few days after Percy was found.
"Even before he asked about me, he asked Quinlan how many people had died because he lost control," Annabeth stated. "Now, does that sound like someone who has been corrupted by the dark side?"
It did not, at least not someone who had fully turned. Instead, it reminded him of a young man in an engine room asking someone who he barely knew, who he did not agree with, and who had not been particularly kind to him for help to control his powers because he was afraid of the destruction they could cause. "No," Obi-Wan admitted.
Annabeth released a breath as if she had been holding it, "Will you help me then?"
Obi-Wan's gut clenched. "I promise to do what I can and vouch for his character, but –"
"Don't worry, I'm not asking you to compromise your loyalty to the Council or anything like that," Annabeth quickly reassured him. "But am I correct in assuming that the Jedi have some sort of record of all their prophecies that you can access?"
"Yes, we have a holocron," Obi-Wan answered. He wondered what Annabeth could want with prophecies, but then he realized her strategy. Obi-Wan was not sure if it was a stroke of brilliance or madness. "You are hoping I can find a prophecy that predicted the recent events on Tatooine." Although the wording of prophecies often left them open to interpretation, but perhaps that ambiguity was what Annabeth intended to capitalize on. And the implications if he found an applicable prophecy could mean that Percy flooding Tatooine was always meant to happen. At the very least it would start a long philosophical debate between the Council members regarding free will vs the Will of the Force and if a person could be held responsible for the latter. "Do you really think it could be connected to a prophecy?"
"When it comes to Percy, it usually is," she replied wearily. Based on what Obi-Wan knew of Percy's past, he was tempted to agree.
It had been many years since Obi-Wan had looked at that particular holocron for Qui-Gon. At the moment, he could not recall a relevant prophecy, but that was not surprising since it had been a long time and there were many prophecies. It was certainly worth a look. "I will see what I can find. There is likely a vague enough prophecy somewhere that could apply to the situation," Obi-Wan reasoned. "However, the vagueness of prophecies is why some Jedi, like Master Windu and Master Mundi, do not put much stock in prophecies. However, depending on how closely whatever I do manage to find matches with the circumstances, it may make a few of the other Masters pause to think at least."
Annabeth gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you Obi-Wan, that should be enough for me to work with."
"I am sorry that it has come to this," Obi-Wan said. He really did wish he could do more or better yet that this whole mess could have been avoided.
"Me too," Annabeth admitted, "although, we understand why the Jedi want Percy to come in. I'm just worried certain Council members might decide that Percy and I have caused too many headaches and use this situation as a convenient excuse to get us out of the way."
"I assure you that despite any personal or philosophical disagreements, the Council will be fair and will listen to what you have to say. They will not take such unpleasant measures unless absolutely necessary. Although, it would help if Percy could avoid any outburst."
Annabeth snorted, "I can't make any promises on that. I said he understood why he needs to talk to the Jedi, not that he's happy about it."
"He is not the only one. That is why I tried to keep Anakin away from all of this. He has such a high opinion of you and Percy that I worry he is blind to the Council's rather valid concerns," Obi-Wan divulged.
"Well, I suppose I could help with that," Annabeth offered, "not only because we put you in this situation, but also to encourage wisdom. As my mother says: to understand your own motives is smart, but to understand the motives of others is wise."
Obi-Wan found that he could not disagree with that statement though he figured it was difficult to argue with a wisdom goddess. "The trouble is getting Anakin to see others' perspectives. Sometimes, his emotions cloud his judgements" Obi-Wan tried not to let Annabeth hear the frustration in his voice.
"I suggest then that you remind him of a story, one that applies to this particular situation," Annabeth suggested.
Fifteen minutes later, Obi-Wan once again found his Padawan at the top of the aquatic levels. He had barely needed the training bond once he realized the general direction Anakin had gone. Over the years, this spot had become a favorite of Anakin's especially if he was troubled. Obi-Wan felt a twinge of guilt as he remembered the promise he had made the first time he and his Padawan had talked here, to always answer Anakin's questions. However, the feeling was quickly overshadowed as he saw Anakin calf deep in the water throwing rocks.
"Anakin, stop!" His Padawan automatically tensed at the reprimand. "You do realize you are throwing rocks into your fellow Jedi's living quarters."
Anakin's shoulders slumped, and he immediately dropped the rest of the small rocks onto the shore, "I'm sorry Master. I didn't think."
Obi-Wan sensed true remorse and embarrassment from his Padawan. "I know Padawan, and that is a problem. You have a good heart but can run into trouble when you fail to think through the consequences of your actions. I expect you to apologize to Master Fisto and Master Erin and the others when you get the opportunity." Anakin dutifully nodded his head, eyes lowered.
Obi-Wan sighed. This was not how he had wanted to start this conversation. "That being said, I also owe you an apology as well." Anakin's eyes snapped to his in surprise. Obi-Wan sat on a large flat rock at the edge of the grassy area and waited for Anakin to join him. Anakin did a rather impressive leap, landing directly on the rock. "Showing off?"
"I didn't want to get sand on my feet," Anakin muttered before gracelessly plopping down next to Obi-Wan.
Resisting the urge to smirk at Anakin's clear avoidance of that particular material, Obi-Wan said, "I am sorry for not being more forthright with you regarding the situation on Tatooine and the fallout Percy and Annabeth are currently facing. I wished to spare you the uncomfortable feeling of conflicting loyalties. I know you are close to Annabeth and Percy, maybe too close. Perhaps I should have put a stop to all those secret meetings of yours."
"You knew about those?" Anakin asked, the shock evident on his face.
"Of course, I did. You occasionally would return from Chancellor Palpatine's far too happy for someone who had just left a two-hour meeting with a politician. It was partially because of that happiness that I let it go, and unlike most of the Council, I do not consider Annabeth and Percy a bad influence, at least until now. As a Jedi we must put our duty first, even before our friends."
Anakin frowned at that, "So they are in trouble with the Council?"
"Potentially, yes," Obi-Wan admitted.
"What! That's completely unfair!"
"Percy did flood a whole planet and started a storm that will last for years," Obi-Wan contended.
However, his Padawan was not listening, "The Council has always been out to get Percy. They have never liked him because he's different."
"Some of the Council may have disapproved of Percy because he's rash, impulsive, and governed by his emotions coupled with a rather significant amount of power as the incident on Tatooine proves. Of course, the Council was concerned," Obi-Wan refuted.
"You would take their side," Anakin scoffed.
This was exactly why Obi-Wan had wanted to avoid this whole issue. "Sometimes, I believe that you do not listen to a single word I say, but perhaps you will listen to a mutual friend. She said to remember the story of 'Phaethon and the Sun Chariot,' and think about what would have happened if Zeus had not blasted Phaethon with lightning?"
Anakin's brow wrinkled in confusion, then he frowned before his face shifted to a thoughtful expression. His Padawan was still far more expressive than a Jedi should be. Eventually, Anakin said, "I suppose the planet would have either frozen or burned to a crisp, and a lot of people would have died."
Well, it seemed like Annabeth had chosen her analogy well, and Anakin always did seem to understand things better when a story was involved perhaps because oral tradition often played an integral role in slave culture. At least, that was what Obi-Wan had learned in his history lessons as a youngling. "I'll take your word for it. I feel like Annabeth and Percy speak in code whenever they bring up those stories, but they do seem to help you understand."
"In a way they are a code." Anakin smiled as if at a joke. "Though not in the way you're thinking. Those stories are sort of like their version of the Jedi Code. I think you would be surprised, Master. There are quite a few similarities. Several are about the dangers of pride and the importance of listening to your elders."
"It seems I must learn these stories then, so I can remind you of them when you chose not to listen to me," Obi-Wan said amusedly. He remembered what Qui-Gon had said all those years ago when he had questioned his Master on how Percy had not turned to the dark side, and Qui-Gon had suggested that there might be another way. Perhaps the demigods did have another code that could work for other Force-users and keep them from the darkness. But then Obi-Wan had a troubling thought. "Did Percy break his Code?"
Anakin shrugged. "I don't know. There are a few things in Annabeth and Percy's world that only gods should do, like driving the Sun Chariot in the story Annabeth mentioned. Whenever a mortal or even a demigod tried usually because of pride, it didn't end up well. In fact, most of Percy's stories didn't have very happy endings. So I guess Annabeth's saying that Percy flooding the planet is like that, something no mortal should do. From what I know, if Percy had done that on his home planet his uncle would've probably blasted him with lightning too."
"Well, I can promise you that the Council will not be blasting him with lightning or anything that uncivilized," Obi-Wan reassured him, "but they do need to try and make sure it will not happen again. Percy was very fortunate that he did not hurt more people."
"I understand Master." Obi-Wan felt relief as the Force sung with the truth of those words. "But unlike those heroes in Percy's stories, Percy wouldn't have flooded Tatooine out of pride or to prove how good he is. Percy isn't like that."
"I agree Padawan. However, the Council believes that he might have done it out of anger which could lead to the dark side," Obi-Wan explained.
"Oh," Anakin grimaced as he grasped the full seriousness of that statement. "But can Percy even use the dark side? I mean they don't exactly use the Force like us?"
"I do not know if Percy can channel the dark side of the Force, but remember, my Padawan, everyone has a darkness inside themselves. The question is if you allow it to manifest and how. Though Percy claims what he did on Tatooine was an accident, and Annabeth thinks it may have been his destiny." Anakin perked up at Obi-Wan's words.
"But if that's the case the Council can't punish him!"
"No, they would not." Obi-Wan agreed. "However, convincing the Council that it was not the dark side may be tricky, considering the amount of power Percy displayed and the fact that he was likely extremely angry and wanted revenge on Jabba when he did it."
"But if what Percy and Annabeth say is the truth, then helping the Council see that wouldn't be going against our duty," Anakin reasoned. "So, we should help them."
Obi-Wan smiled slightly at his Padawan's round-a-bout logic. It was how his own Master would have seen it, and how Obi-Wan himself had justified helping his friends even though most of the Council would probably disagree. However, Anakin had come up with the idea on his own without Obi-Wan trying to push him to that conclusion. Perhaps there was hope for his hot-headed Padawan after all since that was how a negotiator thought. "Yes, Padawan. However, that only works if you truly seek the truth and do not let your affection for Percy and Annabeth blind you. But if you truly wish to help, there is something you can do. I offered to search through the holocron of prophecy for Annabeth and could use your assistance."
Anakin's eyes filled with an amused glint as he shook his head. "Percy and prophecies, of course!" he muttered before looking back at Obi-Wan, "Thank you Master, I do wish to help!"
Obi-Wan chuckled, "I have a feeling you will not be thanking me for long. Going through the prophecies is rather tedious work. I hope you have been paying attention during your lessons on ancient languages and history." Anakin groaned. However, he still slipped on his boots and followed Obi-Wan to the Jedi Archives. A good heart indeed.
Before they reached the door to the Archives Anakin asked, "Master, is the prophecy about me on the holocron?"
Obi-Wan hesitated. Perhaps it was not such a good idea to have Anakin help him look through the prophecies after all. Initially, Obi-Wan had worried that Anakin would let the possibility of his being the Chosen One get to his head. After all, despite Obi-Wan's best efforts to teach him humility his Padawan could still be rather arrogant. However, Obi-Wan had noticed that whenever anyone brought up the Chosen One around Anakin, his Padawan would feel a strange mixture of unease and determination, not the pride Obi-Wan had expected. He had a feeling he had Percy to thank. There was probably another story about how one should handle being the subject of a prophecy, not to mention Percy's own experience. But how would actually seeing the prophecy affect Anakin? Finally, Obi-Wan answered, "Yes, a translation of the prophecy that Qui-Gon thought might refer to you is on the holocron. Do you wish to see it?"
"I am curious, but according to Percy, knowing a prophecy too early can be just as bad if not worse than not knowing the prophecy at all. So I guess I don't know," Anakin decided, frowning. "And until I figure that out, I'm probably not ready to see it."
"Careful, Padawan," Obi-Wan said with a smile and a teasing tone. "That almost sounded wise. Keep that up and you will not need me much longer."
Anakin beamed at the praise and kept the grin until he saw the sheer amount of data stored on the holocron of prophecy. "Kriff!" Obi-Wan did not bother to correct his Padawan for the inappropriate language because he felt it accurately summed up the work they would be doing for the next few days.
Unfortunately, I have no idea when the next chapter will be ready but know it will come eventually.