Chapter Four: The Test.

Padme is angry but remains composed.

"I will not defer...I have come before you to resolve This attack on our sovereignty now. I was not elected to watch my people Suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee. If this body Is not capable of action, Then I...Then I.."

Padme is undecided. Her mind is telling her to do what Palpatine suggested, but her gut is telling her to trust the compassionate child she recently met.

In the end, she says a mental quick prayer before deciding.

"Then I will deal with it on my own. Do what you will, I can not waste any more of the precious time my people have. I will say this... I have lost faith in this Senate and in this Republic." She stated before piloting the pod back to its perch and then leaving the chamber.

This causes a great stir in the assembly. A loud murmur turns into a mixed roar of Support and jeers. Chancellor Valorum is stunned and stands Speechless. His Vice Chair, Mas Amedda, takes over as his superior is to shocked to speak.

"Order, We shall have order!"

~ - ~

"Your Majesty, this is most disturbing. Your intention is to return home and lead a rebellion against the droid occupation?"

Padme nodded. "I cannot in good conscience wait in a comfortable room for idiots and incompetent fools to stagger and stutter to a decision on whether to believe us or not. I will not stand idly by, action is needed, and so action will be taken."

Palpatine is beyond shocked. This didn't line up with his plans at all! she was going off the course Palpatine and his master had laid out for her months in advance, just what had changed her mind!?

~ - ~

Obi Wand and Qui Gon stand outside the Council Chambers on a balcony. There they discussed the possible future of the boy.

"The boy could pass the tests Master I do agree on that, the only issues are his age and darkness. They will see him as too old and too close to the dark side to even risk training." The padawan told his master.

Qui Gon hummed. "I know, But Anakin will become A Jedi, one way or another I promise you."

Obi Wan frowned. "Don't defy the Council, Master. Not again, last time was bad enough..."

Qui Gon merely smiled at his student. "Do not worry so much Obi Wan, I will do what I must."

"Master, you could be sitting on the Council by now if you would Just be more in line with the code. They will not go along with you this time." Obi Wan tried to convince his teacher.

Qui Gon chuckled and shook his head. "You still have much to learn, my young apprentice. The code is not perfect, nor are the Jedi who abide by it."

~ - ~

Anakin stands before the Council, his eyes open as he looked over them all.

These tests were incredibly boring...

They had asked him to predict/see what pictures were on their screen, one by one in rapid succession. He had succeeded, but they weren't happy or impressed, instead they were fearful.

But he was just a kid, why would they be scared of him for?

"A Starfighter, a cup for holding hot liquid, a three engine speeder." Anakin finished.

Mace turns the viewing screen off and nods toward yoda, it will be his final call.

Yoda hummed. "Good, good, young one. How feel you?"

Anakin shrugged. "Cold, tired, annoyed I guess."

Yoda raised an eyebrow. "Afraid are you?"

Anakin frowned. "No, sir."

"Aren't you afraid to give up your life? Mace asked.

Anakin snorts. "What life? I keep myself and my few friends alive and fed, that's it. And I'm pretty sure after I've helped the queen and her people that I'll return to that."

"See through you, we can." Yoda pointed out.

"Be mindful of your feelings..." Mace warned.

Ki Adi Mundi pursed his lips. "Your thoughts dwell on your mother."

Anakin's face turned dark. "Of course they do, she died and I miss her. I live on so that her sacrifice wasn't in vain, but it doesn't mean I have to like being alive."

Yoda hummed. "Afraid to disappoint her memory, you are."

Anakin's emotions flashed. "So what, that isn't your business! What has fear got to do with anything?"

Yoda sighed. "Everything, it does. Fear is the path to the dark side... fear leads to Anger... anger leads to hate.. hate leads to suffering."

"Only if you let it control you, sure I have my moments but I'm only human." Anakin shrugs.

Yoda shook his head. "A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. I Sense much fear in you, much darkness, much hate."

Anakin narrows his eyes before whispering; "And you aren't afraid?"

"What?" Mace Windu blinks.

"You're afraid of the sith possibly returning, he's afraid of a civil war being started because of the situation with Naboo and the Trade Federation. And the rest of you are afraid...of me." Anakin reveals, having read them by reaching out with the force. Sending shivers down their spine.

He had read their feelings and their thoughts. He had bypassed their mental shields like they were nothing. He didnt break through them, he just walked straight in like the walls didn't exist.

"How did he?" Ki-Adi Mundi muttered.

"You are a threat, boy!" Yarael exclaims.

Anakin raises an eyebrow. "How?"

"If you are trained, we could be creating our own downfall. The destruction of the Jedi order and its members from within. You are already starting down the dark path, and nobody has ever come back from that. You can not and will not be trained!" The long necked Jedi Master explained.

Anakin smirked. "At least you are the one who's willing to be honest with me. I respect you for that." The boy replied before turning around to leave the room.

"Dismissed you are not." Yoda called out.

"I am not your enemy, and legally, you can't hold me. I've heard all I needed to, and I dont want to waste anymore time. After all, made a decision already, you have." Anakin replied mockingly before leaving.

~ - ~

Queen Amidala is standing in Palpatine's apartment, staring out of the window at the setting Coruscanti sun.

She would have liked to have left the planet immediately after the session of Senate, but her ship needed to be refuelled and her Jedi companions needed to return.

Captain Panaka walked into the room to announce something. "Your Highness, Senator Palpatine has been nominated to Succeed Valorum as Supreme Chancellor."

Palpatine takes that as his queue to enter the room behind Panaka, a beaming smile on his face. "A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. I promise, Your Majesty, if I am elected, I will bring democracy back to the Republic. I Will put an end to corruption. The Trade Federation will lose its influence Over the bureaucrats, and our people will be freed." He vowed.

Padme turns to Captain Panaka. "Who else was nominated?"

"Bail Antilles of Alderaan and Ainlee Teem of Malastare." The good captain replied.

"I feel confident...our 'situation' will create a strong Sympathy vote for us... I will be Chancellor, I promise you." Palpatine tried to assure her.

Padme sighed. "I fear by the time you have control of the bureaucrats, Senator, There will be nothing left of our cities, our people and our way of life."

"I understand your concern, Your Majesty; but unfortunately, the Federation has possession of our planet. The law is in their favour." Her senator replied.

Padme nodded with a sigh. "With the Senate in transition, there is nothing more I can do Here...Senator, this is your arena. I still feel I must return to mine. My place is with my people. Pray that I succeed."

Palpatine bows. "Of course your Majesty, I will."

The moment she and the captain leave the room, Palpatine's face turns from a small smile and into a scowl.

That woman! Her hopes and ideals have been a pain to deal with the last few years. And she explicitly ignored his 'suggestion' and said her mind, completely going against his plans.

Thankfully it was no matter, As always, Palpatine had a backup plan. The vote was brought up anyway and he would be Chancellor.

But he would rather not have to deal with the infuriating Queen again, it was time for his apprentice, Darth Maul, to prove his worth.

~ - ~

Two taxis pull up outside the parked Naboo starship where Obi Wan and Qui Gon waited.

Captain Panaka, a group of Nubian troops, guards, and officers walk briskly toward the ship, followed by Padme, her handmaidens and Jar Jar.

Qui Gon bows respectively. "Your Highness, it is our pleasure to continue to serve And protect you."

Padme smiles. "I welcome your help. Senator Palpatine fears the Federation means to destroy me." She

Qui Gon nodded. "I promise you, I will not let that happen."

"Thank you, what is to become of young Anakin?"

Qui Gon looked dejected at the question but answered honestly. "The council have decided that he will not be trained."

Anakin snorts. "They are a bunch of self righteous-"

"Anakin!" Obi Wan interrupts with a small glare, shutting the boy up.

Padme frowns. "Ah, I see. Well I am glad to see that you still wish to join us."

Anakin shrugs. "I gave you my word, and my word is my bond. I shall not break it."

Captain Panaka and Jar Jar smile at that.

They all enter the ship, once aboard, Jar Jar hugs Qui Gon and then Anakin.

"Wesa going home!"

~ - ~

(Naboo, Theed Palace, Night)

Nute Gunray and his assistant Rune stand before a hologram of their employer, Darth Sidious.

"The Queen is on her way to you. I regret she is of no Further use to us. When she gets there, destroy her. She is being protected by two Jedi, I will send someone to assist you. May I introduce my apprentice, Darth Maul."

A hooded Zabrak stepped into view, revealing his tall stature and painted face. "He will be all that you need to ensure victory."

Nute nodded. "Of course my Lord, he will be welcomed graciously."

Sidious nodded at that. "Viceroy, is the planet secure?" He then asked.

Nute smiled nervously. "Yes, my Lord, we have taken over the last pockets of primitive life Forms. We are in complete control of the planet now." He replied.

"Good. I will see to it that in the Senate, things stay as they are. Do not fail me.."

Nute nodded. "Yes, my Lord."

The hologram flickers off, leaving Gunray and Rune alone again.

"There is another sith lord? this is getting outrageous, Now there are two of them!"

Gunray glared at his aide. "It is too late to back out now, all we must do is ensure we succeed."

~ - ~

Anakin stands next to the starship pilot, Ric Olie, pointing out various buttons, switches and dials.

The pilot had kindly offered to teach him a bit about flying after noticing how well the boy had fixed up the hyperdrive. The man had figured that if the boy could handle the technical side, then why couldn't he handle the physical side?

"-And that one?"

"That's the forward stabilizer."

Anakin nodded and then pointed to something else, figuring out what they were. "And these control the pitch?"

Ric chuckled. "You catch on pretty quick kid, good job. Now I would show you more but we're coming into land soon. Go strap yourself in."

(A few minutes later)

The Naboo Cruiser heads toward the lush green planet. There is only one Federation battle cruiser orbiting. Obi Wan and Anakin spot in on the viewscreen.

"The blockade's gone." Anakin points out.

"The war's over...so there's no need for it now. They can probably handle all the droids with one control ship." The padawan theorised.

Captain Panaka looked alarmed at this. "They've probably spotted us."

"Then We haven't got much time. Let's hope the Queen's plan works." Anakin stated.

~ - ~

The Naboo spacecraft has landed in the Gungan swamp. Nubian Troops unload it in the background as Obi Wan approaches Qui Gon.

"Jar Jar is on his way to the Gungan city, Master."

Qui Gon nodded. "Good."

"Do you think the Queen's idea will work?" Obi Wan asks his teacher and father figure.

Qui Gon hummed. "The Gungans will not easily be swayed, and we cannot use our power to directly help her. It could go either way, but have faith."

Obi Wan. "I'm sorry for my earlier behaviour in the week, Master. It is not my place to disagree with you about the boy. I am grateful you think I am ready for the Trials."

Qui Gon looks at his padawan for a long moment. "You have been a good a student. You are much wiser than I am, Obi-Wan. I foresee you will become a great Jedi Knight."

Obi Wan bows his head and smiles. "Only due to your teachings, my Master." He replies with respect.

~ - ~

"What do you mean they aren't there?" Captain Panaka questioned Jar Jar.

"The city, it is empty. Mesa see signs of long battle and bloodshed."

"The droids, they must have attacked the Gungans also. Jar Jar, do you know if your people would go somewhere to hide?" Padme asked her friend.

Jar Jar nodded vigorously. "Yessa, hidden sacred place. Mesa take yousa there!"

~ - ~

The group follows Jar Jar as he moves through the swamp. Suddenly he stops and sniffs the air. So the group stops behind him.

"Yeah, disseh it!"

Jar Jar makes a strange chattering noise. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Captain Tarpals and Six other gungan soldiers riding on domesticated kaadus emerge from the brush.

"Oh great... more Jar Jar's." C-3P0 mutters to Anakin, who merely smirks.

~ - ~

The Gungan soldiers heard the group to an open area where the ruins of a grand temple with massive carved heads can be seen. Boss Nass and several other Gungan council members walk out and onto the top of a three-quarter-submerged head.

"Jar Jar, yousa payen dis time. Who's da uss-en others??" Boss Nass demanded to know.

Queen Amidala steps forward from the group. " I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo...I come before you in peace."

Boss Nass spits onto the floor. "Naboo biggen. Yousa bringen da Mackineeks... Dya busten uss-en Omm. Yousa all bombad. Yousa all die'n, mesa tink!"

Captain Panaka and the Nubian Troops look around nervously, however the Jedi and Anakin stay calm and watch everything with great interest.

The Queen seems nervous but steels herself and begins to speak. "We wish to form an alliance-"

Suddenly, Padme steps forward.

"I got a bad feeling about this..." Obi Wan mutters.

Boss Nass frowned. "Whosa dis?"

"I am the real Queen Amidala, that is my decoy. My Protection...my loyal bodyguard." Padme admitted.

Obi Wan is stunned, but Qui Gon and Anakin give each other a knowing look and smirk.

"I am sorry for my deception, but under the Circumstances it has become necessary to protect myself. Although we do not always agree, Your Honour, our two great societies have always lived in Peace...until now. The Trade Federation has destroyed all that we have Worked so hard to build. You are in hiding, my people are in camps. If we Do not act quickly, all will be lost forever...I ask you to help us...no, I Beg you to help us." Padme pleads, falling to her knees before prostrating herself towards Boss Nass.

Slowly, the Nubian Troops, Jedi, Anakin and the two droids do the same.

"We are your loyal servants, do with us as you wish." Padme tells the High Gungan.

At this Boss Nass begins to laugh. "Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans.. Mesa like dis. Maybe wesa bein friends. Free them, wesa are now allies!"

The Naboo Rebellion was growing in members...

(End of chapter four)

I have been doing well with releasing chapters and writing, however it will not always be this way. I am busy with work and illness, but I will continue to try my best.

I can't promise to ALWAYS upload. But I will try.