He Started It!
"Take a seat, young Skywalker."
Anakin Skywalker was the most disobedient and disrespectful padawan Master Mace Windu ever had the misfortune of dealing with. But deal with him Windu must when it became apparent that the boy's master, Obi-Wan was incapable of keeping his young apprentice in check.
The boy could not be allowed to do as he pleased while the galaxy was in conflict. Unfortunately, while Obi Wan was an excellent Jedi himself, he could do nothing with the so-called chosen one and seemed to be more enamored of him than advisable. The recent incident involving rogue droids running amok in the temple was just another example of Obi-Wan's lax guardianship. So the council decided it was time to try something a little different. Instead of tasking Obi-Wan with the boy's discipline, they instead assigned the task to Mace.
Neither Master Kenobi nor Master Windu was happy with the pronouncement and though both were loyal and obedient followers of the Order, they each put forward their own misgivings and protests to no avail. Master Yoda and the rest of the council members had the final say and their pronouncement was law.
That was how Mace Windu found himself face to face with the Chosen One aka Anakin Skywalker, the biggest brat, and pain in the ass in the Jedi Order, perhaps even the entire galaxy. Anakin sat up straight and tall in his dark oversized robes with the hood drawn over his bowed head. But Windu wasn't buying this facade of piety. He stared at the boy's bowed head without saying a word, waiting. It didn't take long for the boy to look up at him definitely while also feigning ignorance as to why he had been called before Windu. It had come to the council's attention that the young Skywalker had been fighting with some of the other padawans. Again.
"Master Windu, with all due respect," Anakin said without a hint of respect at all, "why have I been called to this private meeting?"
It was strange for Anakin and Windu to have any personal dealings with one another at all let alone in Windu's private sanctuary. Mace was certain Obi-wan told the boy exactly what this meeting was all about and the insincerity was not appreciated.
"Young Skywalker, the council has learned of your indiscretion once again. They feel Master Kenobi is not up to the task of correcting your misbehavior and now that task has fallen to me."
"Indiscretion? Which one?" Anakin asked with a crooked grin.
Mace swiftly approached the seated young man and stood above him in a bid to show the insolent youth who was the master. "Obi-Wan may find your childish outbursts forgivable but such behavior will not be tolerated by me. Do you understand me, boy?"
Anakin jumped from his seat to stand toe to toe with Windu. "Who are you calling Boy?"
"Take a seat, young Skywalker," Mace ordered as he stared into the turbulent blue eyes.
Anakin stared right back at him without backing down. "I'm nobody's boy," he said defiantly.
"Then don't behave like one. Now. Take. A. Seat."
Anakin stared a moment longer before he finally backed down and sat as ordered. He folded his arms over his chest tucking his hands deep into the sleeves of his oversized robes and pouted.
Mace couldn't believe the nerve of this kid. He was already walking on thin ice but he didn't seem to care. "You are here because the council believes you require... stronger guidance than Master Kenobi can provide."
"There's nothing wrong with Obi-wan," Anakin shot back.
"I didn't say there was. Obi-Wan is a fine Jedi. He ranks among the best of us. But perhaps he is not best suited to training a boy- a padawan of your unusual circumstances."
"And what unusual circumstances are those?"
"You were brought here later in life. Other padawans are recruited when they are much younger than you, when they are too young to remember severed attachments. They are raised and trained from a very young age to master their impulses and are perhaps more suited to the Jedi way of life because of it.
"You don't think I'm suited to the Jedi way of life?"
"Are you? You are emotional. You covet attachments. There is still much fear in you after all these years. You're undisciplined, impulsive, insubordinate-"
"I am trying! Obi-wan understands that!"
"Obi-Wan is a good Jedi. He follows the will of the force. It is commendable that he honors the last wish of his late master. But Obi-Wan is not perfect. Perhaps he was too young and inexperienced when he took you on as an apprentice. He has barely knighted himself. Perhaps the council should have stepped in sooner. Regardless, they are stepping in now. You will be brought to heel. You will learn to control yourself and obey the council or you will be dismissed from the Order. Is that clear young man?"
"I'm a person. I'm not a slave to be ordered about. I'm not a pet to be curbed. Why don't you make your speech to the other padawan who provoked me instead of picking on me?"
"That other padawan is in the infirmary but I am sure his master will deal with him accordingly. You however are now my responsibility and I will deal with you accordingly."
"I didn't do anything, he started it!"
"You never start it, do you Skywalker? I suppose those droids that ruined the laundry started it too and reprogrammed themselves as well?"
"I was only trying to make them more efficient. Don't you want me to be useful?"
"All I want now is your obedience. When I say jump you jump. When I say sit you sit. And don't ask unnecessary questions. Is that clear Skywalker?"
Anakin didn't answer, he just sat staring ahead with his mouth set in a firm grimace.
"I said is that clear?" Windu repeated.
"As a bell. Master," Anakin finally answered.
"Good. Until I decide your punishment you may return to your quarters and meditate on what you've done. Do not leave the temple. Is that understood?"
"Understood, Master."
"Then you are dismissed." Windu pointed the way to the exit and waited calmly for the boy to obey.
With one last angry glare, Anakin stood and marched out of Windu's office.
Windu sat down at his desk and heaved a sigh. "That boy will be the death of us all one day."