Chapter 2: A Wrinkle In Time Part 2
Three figures watched her walk away from the other side of a portal.
"I think you enjoyed that a little too much, Ves," said an adult Ahsoka. "You weren't taking it out on me for all those exercises I put you through on Ossus were you?"
"Of course not, Master," Vestara replied innocently. "Exercise regiments are a fundamental part of what we do; those research projects on the other hand."
Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "Still, you almost pushed her a bit too far. At that age I was still rather headstrong."
"Of course, at that age, Master," Ves said in her best innocent voice.
This time Ben rolled his eyes and sighed. "If we could get back on the subject, I believe there's one more thing to do and we shouldn't tarry too long in here, from what I recall of Master Tano's last visit to the World between Worlds."
"Indeed, the longer we stay, the more prone we are to discovery by anyone actively searching for this place," Ahsoka replied.
Padme's apartment, the night of Ahsoka's release
It was unusual that Anakin was this distraught. Padme was sad to see her husband upset over the loss of his padawan. After his victory over the fallen Jedi healer Bariss, he would usually be giving a blow by blow account of the fight. Padme sighed when her bell rang. Anakin and Padme looked at each other and after a moment decided to answer it.
"Who is it?" Padme asked over the com.
"Senator Amidala, it's me, Ahsoka," the familiar voice of Anakin's apprentice said.
Skywalker nearly flipped his chair over to get up.
"Please do come in Ahsoka," Padme said. Padme looked at the jubilant Anakin. "What do you think?"
"I don't know," Anakin said. "Maybe we can her get a job as your security until she decides whether to come back."
Before Padme could reply a knock on the door was heard and she opened it. "Ahsoka, do come in."
Ahsoka walked in with two new lightsabers on her belt. "Hi, Padme," she said as she hugged her. "Hello, Master."
"Ahsoka! We're happy to see you," Anakin said as he watched her limp to the couch, " but you're hurt!"
"A minor injury, Master. I got some sense beat into me by a pair of Jedi shadows, but some aspirin would be nice," Ahsoka said.
"Does that mean you will rejoin the order?" Anakin asked.
Ahsoka took the medicine and glass of water from Padme and swallowed. "Kinda hard to rejoin an order I'm a member of. I was knighted an hour ago by the sentinels. I must admit a dark alley on Coruscant would not have been my preferred place to be knighted but that's how it happened."
She then recounted the story to the married pair while excluding the fact that the shadows knew of their marriage and where she was going.
"Wow," Padme said. "So they believe all that's happened recently was to strike a blow at Anakin"?
"Yes, and they stressed secrecy," Ahsoka grimly acknowledged.
"Well, the important part is, you're back," Anakin said, grinning,"with paid vacation time. No one has deserved it more."
"Thanks, Master, for the support." Ahsoka said.
The next morning in the temple Obi-Wan came across Anakin under his freighter the Twilight II.
"Good morning, Master," said a cheerful Anakin.
"Good morning, Anakin. How are doing this morning?"
"Oh, excellent - especially now that Ahsoka is back."
Obi-Wan blinked. "Really? That's excellent news, Anakin."
"Really, news I figured you knew by now," Anakin said.
"No, I hadn't. I guess we have a knighting ceremony to arrange."
"Huh, you really haven't heard? A pair of sentinels knighted her last night."
Obi-Wan blinked. "Sentinels?"
Anakin related Ahsoka's story finishing up with, "I would have thought it odd if I hadn't seen the permission strip and stipend for the retreat."
"Yes, odd indeed. Yoda or Mace must have authorized it, though I'm surprised at the lightning, but then sentinels are indeed a strange lot." Obi-Wan said thoughtfully.
"They said it's a light side variation. Speaking of which when were you going to teach me that trick, Master?" Anakin jabbed playfully.
"I would need to learn first, my former padawan. Besides, haven't you been hit by it enough to develop a distaste for it?"
Skywalker shrugged "It would have been helpful in our last battle with Dooku. Maybe he wouldn't have escaped."
"So is Ahsoka around?" Obi-Wan asked.
"No, she took off this morning on her meditative retreat," Anakin said.
"Well, looks like you will have to suffer with just me around for a while," Obi-Wan joked. "I'll catch you later. I have a council meeting."
Outside the Council Chambers
"Happy young Skywalker is this morning, Master Kenobi."
"Yes, Master, after Ahsoka was knighted last night by a group of sentinels who then gave her a stipend and means to go on a meditative retreat."
Master Yoda looked wide-eyed at master Kenobi "Know of this I did not. Know the identity of these Jedi did Skywalker?"
"No, but he said one of them used green force lightning?"
Master Yoda closed his eyes and contemplated. "Hmm, a Jedi knight she is then but green lightning used was by Jedi in the Sith wars of old, the secret of which was lost a millennium ago.A word I will be having with our sentinels about sharing the rediscovery of old secrets. It was considered too dangerous to experiment and rediscover given the nature of the ability, but if taught correctly no danger of corruption it was said to cause the student."
The Night after the Battle of Coruscant
Disturbed by his visions Anakin Skywalker was up watching traffic. "Ani, are you alright?"
"It's just dreams," Anakin replied.
"You know the children and I are all right. Could Obi-Wan help you with the dreams?" Padme asked him.
Anakin nearly replied then stopped and thought the question through. "I don't know if he could help; he has known about us for a long time even if he pretends not to. He left me a note the night of the Hardeen incident that stated as much. But I would hate for him to get into trouble for us, especially after losing Satine."
Padme looked at him."I didn't realize he knew."
Anakin smiled. "I'll have to show you the letter sometime. It's actually rather sappy, especially for Obi-Wan. I read part of it to Ahsoka that night. She was flat down crying." Anakin thought a bit more about it, contemplating why he just now remembered. "You know I don't know why I hadn't thought to show you. I guess with the outer rim sieges, it slipped from my mind."
"It's good to know he has your back," Padme said hugging him, while watching the night traffic.
"Indeed, he always has, but this time I think I'll go ask Master Yoda first. He usually has a better grasp of the theoretical."
Padme looked at him.
"And then I'll ask Obi-Wan if I don't find his cryptic advice useful," Anakin said.
Yoda's meditation chamber next morning.
Master Yoda was contemplating the conversation he had the evening before with Skywalker's soon-to-be son, when he sensed the nervous father slowly approaching his chamber. The master contemplated whether to leave him in the dark about his knowledge or whether to make enough subtle hints that he would eventually get the picture that his not very secret secret was the subject of every betting pool in the temple. Most of the pools were simply on when they had gotten married, not if, and the few that put money on not married was only due to the 1,000-1 odds they could win in the unlikely payday. He knew Ahsoka had put her money on very early in the Clone Wars and Obi-Wan had pretended that he didn't know what anyone was talking about as he slipped his credits alongside Ahsoka's. Mace and a few council members were likely the only members who suspected nothing. The Grandmaster was generally prohibited from betting on the pools but suspected they were correct. In fact, one of the reasons he had insisted on Ahsoka being Skywalker's apprentice was to teach him the patience of raising a child.
All these thoughts went through Yoda's mind before Anakin got the nerve to knock on the door. "Good morning, young Skywalker," the Master said as he opened the door with the Force. "Expecting to see you today I did but not quite this early."
Anakin sat down. "Because of the Chancellor's request, Master?"
Yoda frowned and picked up his long-neglected data pad and scanned the request from the chancellor. "No, I had yet to see this request, but worried you are about something coming in the near future perhaps," Yoda said coyly.
"Yes, Master. I have had premonitions of someone I cared about dying," Anakin said, voice shaking. Anakin didn't notice but Yoda started to really key in at this moment.
"At war we are, even if the close soon appears to be upon us," the master said, seeing if he could pry more information out of Skywalker.
Skywalker contemplated the Grandmaster's words and nodded. He had seen many friends die in the Clone Wars. "True, Master, but this appeared to be medically related, outside of a wound found in war."
That description narrowed down Skywalker's list to Padme. If it were the Chancellor or Tano, Skywalker would have come straight out and said it. Anakin watched as Yoda closed his eyes and began to meditate, hopeful the wise master would come to a decent solution. Yoda contemplated what Skywalker said to him. If he had not known Anakin was soon to be a father, he would have suspected that Anakin had seen a friend die in the war. As such he would have given his longtime speech of letting go- a speech that had taken him several centuries to accept and teach. Most Humans didn't understand it well at first, but if you live 900 years, you continually lose friends. Without the belief of them being better off, he would have gone insane centuries ago, watching thousands upon thousands of his old friends pass away. This moment though, it wouldn't help with Skywalker concerned over his wife's future health and ,frankly, Yoda was concerned about Luke.
"Did your vision indicate when this might happen?"
"6-8 weeks, perhaps, not likely any longer," Anakin replied.
"Careful we must be. Remember, we only see possibilities. Rush we should not, or cause the very future we are trying to prevent," Yoda said, "but prepare we can."
Anakin looked relieved. "So you will help me?" he asked.
Yoda nodded.
"Master Yoda, it was recently told me that the Sith might have had a way to heal people using the Force," Anakin said, "is that anything you would know about?"
At this saying the old master's ears perked up. Someone had been trying to play on Skywalker's fears already.
"Hmm, from Jocosta Nu you learned this?" Yoda asked innocently.
"No, from the Chancellor who said he had been told of a legend where it was possible," Anakin stated.
Yoda closed his eyes. One of the Chancellor's inner circle had been suspected of being the Sith Lord for well over a month. Sage Prestage was a prime suspect with his oily Force signature. Now Skywalker was being fed deliberately vague "Legends" and according to his datapad was being sought as the Chancellor's personal envoy to the council along with a demand/request for the position of council member and the rank of master. The request along with Luke's warning and his battle with Sidious on Coruscant 6 months prior were starting to have an uncomfortable rhythm. The Sith Lord knew Anakin was a long-term threat and was actively moving against him and for some reason wanted Skywalker on Coruscant. No, this needed nipping in the bud.
"Legends rarely are accurate on details. Force healing was said to be strictly a light side power. The ancient Jedi were known to be quite phenomenal at it. The Sith targeted those with the ability and the after the fall of Ossus the ability was largely lost, though our healers do use a form of it. Speak with Master Che perhaps we should," Yoda said. "Also, deny the request from the chancellor I will."
Anakin looked shocked. "But, Master, why? After everything I've done in this war haven't I done enough to earn the title?"
Whack the gimmer stick went across Skywalker's knees. "The future of the one you care about, more important than politics is. You also cannot take care of this on Coruscant." Yoda reprimanded. "Sending you away on a mission I am, much like the one you helped me sneak off on, title of Master you will earn, not be given for political games. A Sith Lord you have defeated, yes, but so had your master and only granted the title Knight, he was. Training you must still receive and get."
"Training? Master Obi-Wan taught me everything," Anakin said.
Yoda sighed. "Everything he knew, yes, and enough it has been for you and your former padawan to survive the Clone Wars thus far. Against the Sith Lord, however, you are not ready," Yoda said sadly.
"I'm fairly certain I could take him on, Master." Anakin said.
"Oh, really? Show me you will. To the training center we should go." Yoda jumped off the couch and hobbled to the door.
Anakin followed the diminutive master, not quite certain what he had gotten himself into. They reached the halls, and the master entered his personal code for a large private room, to the disappointment of the younglings who watched them go by. The room's walls, Anakin noted, were cushioned, as was the floor. "I have never been here before, Master."
"No, used this room has not been much since I was a young knight. The story of which you will be told after our spar," Yoda answered. He tossed him a training saber as he put his real saber down on the mantle so it wouldn't get in the way. Anakin did the same, still confused but eager to finally to duel Master Yoda after all these years.
"Don't hold back," Yoda said."
Anakin nodded.
20 seconds later Anakin was staring, open mouthed at the diminutive master on his chest with a lightsaber at his throat.
"If to a draw you cannot bring me, survive ten seconds in a fight against Sidious you will not," Yoda said to the wide-eyed, humbled knight.
The last 20 seconds of Anakin's life slowly flashed before his eyes. Yoda had been a blur, but he had been able to keep up with his lightsaber until Yoda unceremoniously threw him against the wall then the floor, at which point the green troll pulled something from his pocket and electrocuted him midair, knocking him to the floor on his back. The barely conscious knight vaguely registered the green meteorite as it soared through the air and landed on his chest.
"Still think yourself ready for the title of master? Or ready for more training are you?" Yoda asked, disengaging his lightsaber and flipping off of Skywalker's chest.
"Forgive me, Master. I always thought Mace was more powerful than you," Anakin said, slowly sitting up.
"Oh, received I my title from a cracker jack box did you think?" Yoda asked amused.
Anakin shook his head. "I thought it was your wisdom that was the reason you were head of the order."
"Experience, young Skywalker. Over 32 generations of Jedi knights I have watched and seen wisdom comes in many forms. Your own master, wise he is, seen much in his life he has, even before his knighthood. But young Master Kenobi, even if he were one of the only knights I had left, I would not send him against the Sith. Not powerful enough to beat him is he."
Anakin looked at him. "How do you know?"
"Fought him I did, in a force vision 6 months ago. If not fought in the Force, defeated the Sith Lord I would have, but neither of us would have survived."
Anakin considered the spar, if you could call it that. Yoda had not used anything he couldn't theoretically, but where his fights with Ventress and Dooku had been attempting Force throws and throwing objects, they were generally feints or attempts to gain distance. This was weaponized. The discipline, concentration and power to this was phenomenal.
"Why is this not standard training?" Anakin asked.
Yoda did not answer him straight out, but Skywalker felt the Force in the room change and everything not bolted down be lifted up. Skywalker stretched out with his senses and felt shock throughout the temple and realized the Grandmaster was lifting every object in the temple not bolted down including the ships. After a moment Yoda sighed and put everything down. Anakin was shocked at this display from the Grandmaster. All his years living here and he had never seen anything quite like it. Yoda looked at Skywalker and said, "Come back to my chambers and I will tell you a story."
Anakin, now stunned, followed the master as he hobbled back towards his chamber and was now very curious as to whether he needed the gimmer stick or whether it was a prop to trick people like him into thinking he was old and crippled. His thoughts turned to his wife, and he considered what other powers the Grandmaster was hiding. He wondered what kind of mission he was about to be sent on and how it would save Padme. He also was having an uncomfortable sneaky suspicion that the old troll knew more than he was letting on. As they slowly reentered the room and took seats Yoda began, "Now tell you the story of the end of the era of Force Masters, I will."
Hello everyone I want to thank FaithandG for being willing to Beta and edit the grammar in this story. So far up to Chapter 4 is ready to go. Clarification I believe I accidently said Chapter 3 would be posted when its really Chapter 2 in the new notes on the prologue page. The previous two chapters if you count the prologue have been updated with improved grammar flow.
So, expect weekly updates on Thursday Night or Friday EST. I will not post on Christmas Week and maybe not Thanksgiving.
Final Book is around 90K words, and 303 pages Times New Roman expect 30-35 chapters after clean up its taken 3 years to complete this story I started writing it in 2021 most was completed in 2022 I was able to wrap it up in the last 6 weeks. Your follows and comments are appreciated. So sit back and enjoy the ride for the better part of the next year.