Avatar of the force Volume I/chapter 1 part 3

 Chapter 1 Part 3 

Walking through the small village that she grew up in Padme couldn’t stop her mind from wandering back to the last time she came home with Anakin. Her whole family seemed to love Anakin especially her two young nieces who followed him around everywhere he went. In truth part of her was nervous as to how her family would react to the news that she would be getting married in a few weeks but she also knew that no matter what they said she would marry Anakin even if her family didn’t approve. She doubted that would happen though and she could remember how her mother and sister commented about the way Anakin would look at her and how she was in denial.

Part of her though was dreading what Sola would do when she found out and she knew her older sister would probably start asking all kinds of questions. Sola had always been one to follow her heart and until Anakin had come back into her life it was something that she had in all honesty forgotten how to do. Padme realised that ever since she became the Princess of Theed all those years ago she had always put her heart second to the needs of Naboo and for the first time in her life she could see how much that had cost her over the years. But she also realised that had she not taken the path that she had growing up she never would have met Anakin and she doubted anyone else could come even close to making her feel what he did. For the first time in years Padme Naberrie was truly happy and she wouldn’t change that for anything.

Coming out of her thoughts she approached her parents house and as she got closer she could see and hear Ryoo and Pooja playing outside and the sight of them made her smile again as she remembered Anakin playing with them. Anakin will make a great father. Padme thought to herself as the memory of their time here together run though her mind again and she shook her head and chuckled slightly as she realised she was getting way ahead of herself since she and Anakin weren’t even married yet. “Aunt Padme” She heard the two children shouting bringing her out of thought and she once again looked at the two children with a smile.

Kneeling down Padme hugged the two children as they came up to her and hugged her tightly “I’ve missed you two” Padme said with a smile before letting the two children go and standing back up.

“Is Anakin coming to see us” Ryoo asked with a small smile that made Padme chuckle slightly.

Padme knew that the two children had taken a liking to Anakin but she wasn’t expecting the first question to be if Anakin was coming with her. “Anakin is still with the Jedi at the moment” She said and instantly noticed a look of sadness in the eyes of the two children. “But he will be coming for a visit in a few weeks” As those words left her mouth she instantly saw the two children’s eyes light up and she couldn’t help but chuckle again. “Come on you two lets go say hi to you mom and your grand parents” With that said the three walked into the house.

Anakin was laying on his back with half his body wedged inside the large computer core repairing some of the damaged systems. It had only been four days since he bought the ship and in truth he was surprised on how much of the ship he and the droids had been able to repair. Yoda had given him permission to use as many maintenance and repair droids as he needed and at the moment there were twelve of them helping to repair the ship.

So far they had repaired the hyperdrive, life support and she shield generators along with repairing the hull damage. In total including himself and Artoo there were fourteen of them and it amazed him how quickly they were working. In just four days they had repaired so much but at the moment the computer core was doing his head in. From what he could tell the ship had been exposed to a massive electro magnetic pulse that had fried most of the systems and the damage to the computer core seemed to be the worst.

He needed the computer core operational well before he leaves the Jedi as he wanted to download a lot of information from the Jedi Archives to help him so getting it repaired was at the top of his list of things to do. For the most part he had left the droids alone to carry on their work and from his estimates the ship should be fully operational within the next two or three days.

Thankfully with the droids doing their work it left Anakin and Artoo to work alone and the two of them seemed to work well together. “Artoo…Try bringing the core back online” Anakin shouted out to the little astro-droid to which he heard a couple of beeps and whistles which told him that Artoo heard what he had asked him to do.

A few seconds later some of the internal components of the computer core lit up and Anakin could hear a small humming sound coming from the equipment. With a small smile Anakin slowly slid out from inside the computer core and stood up turning his attention to the large circular computer in the middle of the room.

After waiting a few more seconds a large hologram of the galaxy appeared in the middle of the room and Anakin could do noting but smile like a kid celebrating his lifeday.

Walking over to the large computer Anakin pressed a few buttons and an image of a man appeared who had shoulder length hair and from the looks of it was in his late thirties.

“To whoever is watching this recording I can only hope this ship was found intact…Twenty hours ago this ship was hit by a solar storm as the red giant we have been studying enters it’s final stage of life…From our estimates in less than a hundred years this star will go Nova completely destroying this system…The instability in this star has caused it to put out massive solar flares as well as extremely powerful electromagnetic pulses…Our shields and propulsion systems have been knocked offline and as a result my crew has been exposed to increasing amounts of solar radiation…For the most part the hull plating has kept most of the radiation out but the levels inside the ship are slowly increasing…It is unlikely that my crew and I will survive…The discharges from the star have also disabled the escape pods which will make it impossible for us to reach a system that could help us…We have a little more than an hour before the next discharge from the star hits us and it is our hope that we can get the engines back online to push us away from the star far enough so that we can effect repairs…However it is unlikely that we will survive…Within this ships data core the names of my crew are stored on an isolated data chip that has been disconnected from the main unit…Even with the discharges from the star this data chip should be left undamaged…I ask whoever has found this ship to contact our families and let them know what happened to us…This is Captain Taybarn signing off”

Anakin stood there for a few seconds just looking at the place where the last captain of the Twilight stood only seconds ago. Letting out a sigh Anakin turned his attention to Artoo. “Artoo…Open all the panels around the computer core…We’re looking for a data chip that has been disconnected from the main unit” With that Artoo whistled and began removing the panels from around the computer core.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">As Artoo started to remove the panelling around the computer core Anakin hears the voice of someone he knew rather well “So it’s true then…Your leaving the Order”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin turned around to se Serra Keto standing in the doorway with a look of annoyance “Yeah…I should be leaving sometime next week”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“So your just turning your back on the Jedi…How can you just leave…We’re at war and your just abandoning us” Serra said with anger in her voice.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin shook his head sadly and let out a small sigh “My reasons are my own Serra…I don’t belong her and I never did…I can do more good out amongst the stars operating independently from the Jedi”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“So much for being the Chosen One” Serra said before turning around and storming off.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin watched her go but decided not to say anything. He hated the fact that some prophecy was being used as a means to control him and in the past it annoyed him to no end. However recent events had changed him and the way he saw it was that the prophecy doesn’t say the Chosen One would be a Jedi. What the prophecy did say was that the Chosen One would destroy the Sith and bring balance to the force. He now understood something that he hadn’t before and it was something that annoyed him even more. The Jedi assumed that the Chosen One had to be a Jedi because they were the Sith’s natural enemy but he now knew something else. The Jedi and the Sith weren’t the only force users in the galaxy and many of those other groups opposed what the Sith stood for just like the Jedi did. He now knew he didn’t need to be a Jedi and the only thing he could be was who he was and not what others wanted him to be.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">With that in mind Anakin turned his attention back to the computer core and carried on with his work.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Yoda was once again sitting in his meditation room when Qui-Gon appeared before him. “Have you given any though about what I have told you” Qui-Gon asked the old Jedi Master.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Much to think about there is…Confused I am as to how missed the obvious I have…Known I should have that a Jedi the force did not want young Skywalker to be” Yoda responded sadly with a small shake of his head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Arrogance” Qui-Gon said back with a small chuckle “It was the same mistake I made…No matter how hard we try to follow the will of the force we can easily place our own desires above what the force wants…But if you remember you did fight against Anakin being trained”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Fought hard enough I did not…If interfered you had not then slowly loose himself young Skywalker would have”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Do not be so hard on yourself Yoda…There was no way you could have known…I allowed my pride to back Obi-Wan into a corner forcing him to take Anakin as his padawan…If I hadn’t done that there is a good chance that you and the Council wouldn’t have approved of Anakin being trained” Qui-Gon told the old Jedi before taking a seat opposite him. “These small steps we have taken now will help Anakin along the path he was always meant to walk…Granted he is a bit late setting out to do what it was he originally wanted to do but it is a step in the right direction”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Yoda looked at Qui-Gon for a few seconds before letting out a sigh “Perhaps but a feeling I have that prevented only a small amount of the damage that is to come”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Perhaps…But as long as Anakin is free he will be there to stand against the darkness…I like that outcome a lot more than the alternative”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Hope that right you are…To much at stake there is…A feeling I have that survive this war the Jedi may not” Yoda said back taking into consideration what he and Qui-Gon had talked about lately.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Anakin is our hope for the future…If he falls to the Dark Side then all hope will be lost…There is a possible future where Anakin turns to the Dark Side and returns to the light many years later to save his son” Qui-Gon stated before letting out a sigh of his own. “But even then the force will not be brought back into balance…Well not completely anyway…Should that future come to pass Anakin’s son will rebuild the Jedi Order and they will be better than what the Jedi are now but they will not understand true balance the way Anakin is meant to…Anakin is essential in ways that not even I understand…He is unique in all the universe and should he reach his true potential then nothing will be able to stand against him”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“More there is that told me you have not” It wasn’t so much a question as it was a statement but Yoda knew that Qui-Gon was hiding something about Anakin and that it was something important but he couldn’t figure out what it was.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Yes there is more that I haven’t told you…But it is not because I don’t want to…But because I am not allowed…You will find in the days to come that there will be much I cant tell you and I hope that you can except that” Qui-Gon said back while studying the old Jedi Master closely.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Later that evening Anakin was still working on the computer core when the comm. system beeped telling him he had a message. Walking over to the comm. unit in the room he activated it and smiled when he noticed that it was a message from Padme.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Hi Ani

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">''I just wanted to let you know that I made it home ok and that Master Tachi is staying at the palace in Theed. I don’t know why Obi-Wan was the one that suggested she was the one to come with me but I get the feeling that he is up to something.''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">I hope the repairs to the ship are going well and I hope to see you in the next week or so.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Right well I have to go and give Sola and my parents some good news.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">See you soon My Love.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Your Soon to be Wife Padme Naberrie Amidala (Skywalker)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">As Anakin finished reading the end of the message his face lit up at the way she had added Skywalker to her name in brackets. Truth be told he couldn’t wait for the day that she would officially be Padme Skywalker and he knew that day couldn’t come soon enough.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Yoda walked through the Twilight following Anakin’s bright force signature in order to find the young man. It still surprised him that Anakin had the credits to buy such a ship and he couldn’t help but wonder how much the ship actually cost. For the last four days Anakin had worked almost night and day to get the ship operational and Yoda couldn’t help but be amazed at how much work had been done on the ship in such a short amount of time.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Making his way to the back of the ship Yoda walked into the engine room and saw Anakin talking with one of the repair droids. “Done a lot you have young Skywalker”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin who was talking to one of the droids about the hyperdrive unit turned his attention to the voice that had just spoken and saw Yoda there floating in his hover chair. Dismissing the droid he walked over to the old Jedi Master “Yes Master…Most of the damage seemed to be cause by system overloads…But most of the hardware itself is relatively undamaged…From our estimates the Twilight should be fully operational within the next three days or so…It also helps when you have twelve maintenance and repair droids that don’t sleep”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Need to speak with you I do…If have a few moment you do” Yoda asked the young man.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin nodded and told Yoda to follow him so they both left the engine room and made their way through the ship until they came to a room that Yoda assumed was some kind of briefing room. Taking a seat Anakin turned his attention back to Yoda “What did you need to talk to me about Master”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Know I do that continue your training you wish to do…But also know that a Jedi no longer will you be…Arranging I am with Madam Nu to have two holocrons copied for you to take” Yoda responded.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin for his part was completely shocked to hear what Yoda had done and in truth he didn’t really know what to say. “I don’t know what to say Master except thank you”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Much to learn you still have…A copy of mine and Master Qui-Gon’s holocron you will take with you…Learn from Master Qui-Gon’s holocron you should before using mine…Of more help to you Qui-Gon’s will be…A master of the living force he was”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“I honestly don’t know how to thank you Master…I have always wanted to learn from Qui-Gon’s holocron but Obi-Wan wouldn’t allow it” Anakin said back.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Yoda smiled at that as he had an idea of why Obi-Wan wouldn’t allow Anakin to learn from Qui-Gon’s holocron. “Believe I do that afraid young Obi-Wan was that pick up more of Qui-Gon’s defiance if learned from his holocron you did…Believe I also do that learn more from Qui-Gon holocron you can than what Obi-Wan has taught you…Ready the holocrons will be when ready to leave you are” With that Yoda turned in his hover chair and left the room heading towards the exit ramp of the ship.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Obi-Wan walked through the Jedi Temple lost in thought as he still couldn’t find a way to keep Anakin amongst the Jedi Order. From everything that he had learned so far unless Anakin proved to be emotionally unstable there wasn’t anything he could do. Since his return from Geonosis Anakin had been completely calm and at peace so it made arguing that his emotions posed a risk irrelevant.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Realisation that there was nothing he could do was making him feel like he had failed both Qui-Gon and the Jedi Order. Anakin was the Chosen One and as such belonged with the Jedi but there was nothing he could do. Obi-Wan knew that when Anakin leaves he would go straight to Naboo which was why he recommended Siri go to Naboo with the Senator. That was his only option to prove that Anakin had lied about his reasons for leaving the Jedi. It was the only way to have Anakin recalled but now it looked like that there was nothing else he could do.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Letting out a sigh Obi-Wan walked into Yoda’s meditation room as he had been summoned by the old Jedi Master. As he entered the room he saw Yoda sitting there with his eyes closed. “Master Yoda…You asked for me”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Yoda opened his eyes and looked at Obi-Wan sensing the Jedi Knights frustration over Anakin leaving the Order. “Come…Sit Master Kenobi…Need to speak with you I do”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Obi-Wan nodded and took a seat opposite the old Jedi Master before letting out a small sigh “What is it that you need master” He asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Know I do that looking for a way to prevent young Skywalker from leaving you are…Stop this quest of yours you must” Yoda told the younger Jedi.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Obi-Wan for his part was surprised by Yoda’s statement and was also slightly confused. “Master…He cant be allowed to leave…He is the Chosen One and belongs here…He cant escape his destiny no matter how much he may want to”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Yoda shook his head sadly before looking Obi-Wan in the eyes “His destiny for you to decide it is not…Follow his own path he must and interfere with it you will not…Much like Qui-Gon young Skywalker is…Feels he does that out amongst the stars he belongs and agree with him I do” Yoda stopped for a second and let out a small sigh. “Different from us young Skywalker has always been…Happy here he is not and never has been…Feels he does that do more good travelling the stars independently from the Jedi…Right I believe he is”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Master…I don’t think Anakin has been entirely honest in his reasons for leaving the Order” Obi-Wan said realising that Yoda was siding with Anakin. Knowing that this may be his last chance to stop Anakin from leaving he decided to tell the Old Jedi Master when he knew about Anakin’s relationship with Senator Amidala. “Anakin and Senator Amidala have developed an emotional attachment to one another…I believe that that is the real reason he is leaving…I have already spoken with the Senator but she refuses to end their relationship which has forced me to contact the Queen herself but I believe that their relationship still continues”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Done that you should not have” Yoda said with a surprising amount of frustration in his voice. “Manipulate one of our own we do not…Disappointed that you would do this I am…Perhaps remember you should that left the order once you did”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Shocked by Yoda’s words Obi-Wan couldn’t believe that Yoda had said that to him. “Master Anakin’s destiny is too important for him to throw it away…He is allowing his feelings for the Senator to guide his actions…If that is the case we cannot allow him to leave”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Know of their relationship I already do” Yoda told Obi-Wan who had a look of complete shock on his face “The will of the Force their union is…Interfere with it we will not”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“But how can than be…It goes against the Jedi Code” Obi-Wan asked in shock.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“To be like us the force didn’t want young Skywalker to be…Different from us he needs to be…Destroying him the Jedi Order have been” Yoda said back sadly bowing his head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Obi-Wan studied Yoda for a second and could see that the old Jedi Master was feeling ashamed or even guilty “What do you mean the Jedi Order has been destroying him”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Trust him the Jedi did not…Accept him for his differences we did not…Blamed him we did for those differences when except those differences we should have” Yoda said to the younger Jedi Knight.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“But Master what of the prophecy…If Anakin leaves then he cannot be the Chosen One…Does that mean that Qui-Gon was wrong and that Anakin isn’t the Chosen One” Obi-Wan asked cautiously.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“A Jedi the prophecy does not say the Chosen One would be…In our arrogance assumed we did that a Jedi the Chosen One must be…But wrong we were…In trying to control young Skywalker changed his fate we did…Sending him down a path that will lead to darkness we were…Meant to be a Jedi he was not…Listen to the force the council did not…At first turned the boy away out of fear we did even if admit that the council will not…Only allowed his training we did because the last request of Qui-Gon it was…If listened to the force we did then known we would have that left alone young Skywalker should have been” Yoda responded sadly. There was still a lot he had recently learned from Qui-Gon that he couldn’t say as he knew that the council’s fear of Anakin would grow beyond reason if they knew the complete truth. It saddened Yoda to admit it but he had this feeling that if the other Jedi find out what he knew they would do everything within their power to destroy the young man. “Blinded by our arrogance we have been…Allow young Skywalker to follow his own path we must…The hope for the future he is” With that said Yoda closed his eyes returning to his meditation.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Obi-Wan stood up after realising that Yoda had finished talking and left the room lost in thought over what the old Jedi Master had just said to him. In all honesty he didn’t know what to say or do so he just decided to wander the temple for a while.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">It had been a few hours since Padme had sent a letter to Anakin telling him that she was home and now she was sitting in the kitchen after evening meal with her parents and sister. For the past few hours she had been trying to find the right way to tell her family she was getting married but every time she tried the conversation got diverted to something else.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Sola had been watching her younger sister for a while and had noticed when she disappeared earlier on in the day. When Padme returned a little while later she had a small smile on her face and was playing with a small necklace that she hadn’t seen her sister wear in years. She remembered asking her sister where she got it from years ago and could remember Padme saying that it was from a friend and that she felt a strange connection to him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Now though watching her little sister she can see her still unconsciously playing with the necklace and then she realised who had given it to her. “So I finally figured out who give you that little necklace” Sola finally said causing Padme to look at her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Glancing down Padme realised she was gently rubbing the necklace again and a small smile formed on her face as she thought about Anakin “Yes…Anakin give it to me when we first met years ago…It was just after we left Tatooine to go to Coruscant to get support from the senate during the blockade”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“In all the years you’ve had that I have never seen you play with it so much” Sola said with a small smile on her face before taking on a completely neutral expression “Is there something that you want to tell us little sister”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">At that both of Padme’s parents looked at her with a curious expression “Padme honey…What’s going on” Her mother asked now noticing for the first time the way her daughter was holding on to the small necklace.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Standing up Padme took a deep breath. Well I have been looking to do this all day. She thought to herself before looking at her parents and sister. “Um…You remember Anakin” She asked which got her a nod of everyone. “Well something happened between us recently” As those words left her mouth a smile started to form on her face “Well Anakin asked me to marry him…And I said yes”