CH 2: The Path Of The Force
Jealousy is the path to chaos.
So far the day had been a lot, from meeting Boss Nass and the rest of the Gunguns to entering the palace and freeing some of the pilots and others in the hangar.
Anakin was been scared when the horned-clocked figure appeared and the destroyer droids surrounded Padme and the rest of the Naboolian party, but he wanted to help, but Master Qui-Gon (as he had started calling him) asked him to hide he jumped into the place he felt most comfortable, the cockpit of a Starfighter. The shields of the destroyer droids were far too powerful for normal blasters to break through so he activated the fighter and destroyed the droids. He saw out of the corner of his eye a nod from Padme before he was out of the hangar and away, the auto-pilot had activated and he was off toward a fight in outer space.
It was almost like he was back on Tatooine, in his pod racer. Instead of the canyon walls with twists and turns, falling rocks, and aggressive opponents there was enemy fire, starfighters both friendly and hostile. Anakin remembered the words of Master Qui-Gon.
"Remember to concentrate on the moment, young one. Feel don't think. The force will guide you." Anakin put his faith into the Force and it guided him past starships both intact and the wracked, scattered metal doesn't have much of an effect on his fighters' shields but why risk it?
The Pilots from Naboo weren't getting anywhere the shields on the droid control ship were too strong. The force was pulling Anakin toward the hangar aboard the massive ship. His mind screamed at him, it would be a death sentence. However, Anakin knew that the force would look after him. His landing in the control ship hangar was rough, it was only a crash if you couldn't walk away. His time on Tatooine taught him that, In a dangerous sport like pod racing in the event of some vehicle error or driving error the most important thing was to be able to stand up and continue to live.
He could now see why the force guided him here, despite the massive swarm of droids in here there were a couple of large reactors in this hangar that seemed to either provide power for the entire ship or would create an explosion once shot at that would destroy the control ship. He still was floating so he could fly out once the torpedoes were launched. Pulling the trigger aimed at the reactors he started to leave the hangar. With a direct hit, the force of the explosion pushed Anakin's Ship out of the hangar and the comms from his helmet burst with cheers and screams as they successfully defeated the Trade Federation. As they returned to the Palace he got to know some of the other pilots, while they were surprised that he was only nine the Naboo held a lot of respect for the young, and they believed him, they all felt a sense of camaraderie with all of them having fought against the droids.
Landing in the hangar they could see the party that captured Nute Gunray, everyone started celebrating, they had successfully freed their home, as pilots exited their starfighters they rushed toward Anakin pulling him free from the cockpit and lifting him over their shoulders. With his heart pounding and a smile that could brighten even the darkest night, Anakin felt something he had only felt once before: the thrill of victory and the delight that he felt and the ripples from everyone around him. People who had accepted him for what he had done.
Anakin felt into the force, the wave of emotion that hit him was intoxicating. The joy and happiness were seeping into the moment. However, another wave of emotion collided with the Elation in the hangar. Sorrow, Grief, and Misery leaked from the main entrance into the hangar, and as the crowd set Anakin back onto the ground he made his way toward the sadness he felt. Following the scorches covering the walls and floor leading into the power generation room for all of Theed. Sensing that the strong emotions came from an area above him Anakin made his way up, finding stairs just outside the room.
He found Kenobi half-carrying half dragging the lifeless body of Qui-Gon Jin as a Lightaber wound had penetrated his gut. Anakin ran over to Obi-Wan, words of condolences would be for later, Anakin lifted the part of Qui-Gon Jin that was on the ground. Normally Obi-Wan would be able to carry a fully grown individual but overtaken with grief all his strength had been sapped in the fight against the zabrak. He wanted to offer a smile in thanks to the boy knowing that it was the support he needed at the moment but he couldn't bring himself to smile. Together they made their way down to a courtyard where they were able to lay his body to rest before a funeral could take place.
Anakin gave him a giant hug, knowing words wouldn't help instead of filling the hug with love and happiness Anakin tried to reach out and provide peace and calmness. Obi-Wan was shocked he hadn't expected the show of kindness from the kid he hadn't shown much of anything towards him and here he was offering the condolences he needed. As Anakin hugged Obi-Wan, he calmed down the misery and grief started to fade and he knew that Anakin had something to do with it.
"Thank you." Croaked Obi-Wan, The boy whom he had been arguing with his master about receiving training was comforting him He could sense the boy's connection with the force through the hug, somehow he was utilizing the force to allow the negative emotions to drain from his body, he had only ever heard of artifacts doing that, the meditation areas had a couple. Now more than ever Obi-Wan wanted to train Anakin, not just as Qui-Gon's last wishes but he could see for himself the potential within this kid.
The next couple of days were chaotic as the Jedi council and others who were close to Qui-Gon flew in for the funeral. The bond between Anakin and Obi-Wan had closed as Obi-wan had decided to begin teaching Anakin. The encounter in the courtyard a few days prior had resolved Obi-Wan that Anakin could handle the pressure of utilizing the force in more ways, teaching him to jump higher and run faster, these skills were fairly challenging for the boy as this required a higher amount of concentration, emotions reacted naturally with the force. Augmenting once jumping ability was taught first as you could use soft objects to cushion the environment to reduce injury. Starting with normal jumping height and slowly moving higher, allowing the student to use the force teaching control rather than power.
Younglings toward the end of their training (before they became a padawan) would learn how to Force jump, here they were not used to much physical exercise only designating an hour to this training each day, in the Jedi temple learning took at fastest a month as classes had many children in them. Anakin had a background as a slave often doing physical labor for at least half a day, although sometimes he was worked well into the darkness of night, combined with one-on-one teaching (despite Kenobi's inexperience teaching) and Anakin's ability to connect with the force. Anakin had been able to reach a place of success with the force jump in a day. Force speed was not something taught to younglings it involved a ton of open space that was not available on Coruscant. There were meadows near the palace where Obi-Wan decided to bring Anakin to teach him, Force Speed, starting with straight lines, learning how to stop and start took all day long, and drenched with sweat Anakin returned to the palace with Obi-Wan.
The following day was building on the basics, learning to navigate with speed, processing obstacles, and turning, this day was harder as you had to rely on processing the area around you at a much faster pace, however, Anakin grew up pod racing, this was second nature to him. Over the day Anakin became attuned to using the new ability and Obi-Wan could see that Anakin would be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
The Jedi had come to Naboo and Obi-Wan was at the center of the make-shift council, he had just become a Jedi knight.
" There is something I must ask of you all, it was my master's last wish for me to train young Anakin Skywalker as a Jedi." At this, the council members all leaned in silently communicating with one another. Until the master of the order spoke up.
"Over the past week, we have discussed what will become of young Skywalker," Windu spoke his voice commanding, The grandmaster then spoke up.
"Great fear we sense in him, trained the boy will not be," Yoda spoke, and despite all the riddles that usually came with him speaking the message was clear, the Jedi Order would not welcome the chosen one into their ranks. Obi-Wan was crushed, though he stood resolute.
"I will train the boy, even if it means leaving the order behind." It was an empty threat, Obi-Wan had nothing, no family, no money, and nowhere to go. The Council called him on his bluff.
"Leave us, our decision is final." Mace Windu said making it clear the discussion was over. Obi-Wan stormed out of the ballroom where the meeting was held. What would he tell Anakin, what would happen to the boy he had grown close to over the past few days? He decided to talk with Padme first, while she was only fourteen she had a great amount of wisdom and knowledge, additionally, he had seen the connection that she had with Anakin and he knew that she would help find him a place to stay for some time.
"They did what?!" Padme exclaimed, She knew that the Jedi were indecisive on their decision to train Anakin which was partially the reason for him being here on Naboo but she had never expected them to reject him. "What will happen to him?"
"Well that is why I am here, I don't want to send him back to Tatooine." Padme Offered a smile to Obi-Wan.
"He can stay here, with him destroying the droid control ship he's a hero on this planet. Until we find him a home he can stay in the palace. I do enjoy his company, he is the kindest boy I've ever met."
"Well, I can't delay telling him the bad news forever can I?" With that, they both ventured off to find the young Anakin Skywalker.
Over the last two days as Obi-Wan left Anakin to himself, he explored the areas of the Palace available to him, he found a Droid mechanic shop with tons of parts and supplies. The droid who ran the Shop had gladly accepted the boy's help after realizing how skilled he was. He had spent the last day repairing droids, dreading the outcome of the Council meeting Obi-Wan was probably finished with now.
All Anakin could think about was the Council's judgment of him the last time he spoke with them.
After some time searching they eventually found Anakin working on repairing a protocol droid.
"Hey Anakin, can we talk for a moment?" Obi-Wan wasn't really asking.
"Sure, is this about the council? Did they reject me?" Anakin had always been an insightful kid it had been useful on Tatooine, whether scrounging for extra food to add to the rations that they got from Watto or building CP3O.
"I'm sorry" was all Obi-Wan could say, there was nothing else that could come to mind, he had failed both Anakin and Qui-Gon.
"I know you did all you could," Anakin reassured Obi-Wan, inside he was heartbroken but he knew it wasn't Obi-Wan's fault. "What happens now, where do I go?" Anakin had left his mother and everyone he knew on Tatooine. He had left that Dust Bowl hoping to only ever return to free his mother.
"You'll stay here, on Naboo until you are ready to do whatever you want to do," Padme spoke up, trying to cheer up her new friend how she could sense was crushed by the news he had just heard.
"Really?" questioned Anakin, "I love it here, it's so green." That infectious smile was back as Anakin imagined spending his days on Naboo.
"And do you want to know a good thing about not being a Jedi?" Obi-Wan said. "No one will take away the medal you'll receive in a few days."
"Why would I get a medal?" The strategy was working, Obi-Wan and Padme started to take his mind off the negativity of the situation.
"Because you saved the planet, Ani." Padme gave a welcoming smile to Anakin. "You're a hero
here."
The Funeral of Qui-Gon Jinn was Awkward, to say the least, the collective of Jedi that came to Naboo for the event decided to ignore Anakin for the duration of the funeral. Every time a Jedi would go up to Ob-Wan and offer condolences, they would all act like Anakin didn't exist.
Every time this happened Obi-Wan bristled, it reminded him that he had failed the one person who had believed in him. As a youngling he had been to one of these as one of the teachers passed to the force, the ceremony was very similar to this one, reciting the code, there is no death, there is the force. To his side, he could see Anakin roll his eyes, apparently, he thought that part of the code wasn't the smartest addition. Obi-Wan was starting to think maybe it was a good thing this kid wasn't joining the Order, maybe a lot of things could be better about the Order.
Palpatine was flying to Naboo for the Celebration he had been talking to the Jedi council and asked a small question about the boy he had briefly met when the queen was on Coruscant he had a small suspicion that this boy would be very special. He had been surprised to find out that the Jedi had denied the boy training, he knew the Jedi were wrong in many ways but the power-hungry Jedi would no doubt train someone with the potential he suspected the boy had. He must have been wrong about the boy oh well, he might as well focus on the one who vanquished his apprentice, maybe Obi-Wan could be a future apprentice.
The celebration was fun for Anakin he got presented with a medal from Padme, The Gunguns, and the Naboolian people symbolizing the new peace between their people. It was also very elaborate something they would never see on Tatooine. The clothing and the other elements were spectacular.
Eventually, it was time for the Jedi and Obi-Wan to say goodbye. Obi-Wan had secretly given Anakin some information on getting started for using the force.
They were gone the Jedi had left and Obi-Wan was now gone. He turned to Padme.
"So what happens now?"
