Avatar of the force Volume I/chapter 1 part 4

 Chapter 1 Part 4 

Qui-Gon Jinn watched from the shadows completely unnoticed by those around him. At times being a force ghost came in really handy and right at this moment he was watching Anakin as he worked on his ship. From what Qui-Gon could tell the ship was almost ready and that within the next few days the young man would be leaving and going straight to Naboo where is soon to be bride awaited him.

As he watched Anakin work he found it hard to believe that the young man was the same boy he had met a decade ago on Tatooine. It often saddened him that if he had not been sent to watch over the young man and guide him that he would be destined to fall into darkness. It was a sad truth that he had had to learn to accept that he may have been the one that started Anakin on that path to darkness and he was grateful for the chance to fix that mistake.

“You always watch him when you start to feel depressed Qui-Gon” Another voice said causing the dead Jedi Master to turn to the source of the voice.

Qui-Gon looked at the man who had spoken to him before letting out a small sigh “It is difficult to accept that I may be the cause of the pain he had spent the last ten years feeling…Being so different from the other Jedi isolated him and they fear him too much as well”

“Perhaps but not all of what has happened to him is your fault…I could have appeared to him at anytime over the past nineteen years but I have not” The other man said with a bit of sadness in his voice.

“Why is it that you didn’t appear before him and continue to stay hidden from him” Qui-Gon asked with genuine curiosity.

The man let out a sigh of his own and shook his head sadly “He isn’t ready for the truth yet…He was meant to stay on Naboo with the young Queen so he could learn what he really needed to learn from her…But perhaps if I had appeared before him he would have had an easier life”

“What will you do now…I know you wont reveal yourself to him…Well not yet anyway”

“He still has things to learn…There are things that no Jedi can teach him and for what he needs to learn I have a surprise for him….There have only ever been two who have truly understood the truth of the Jedi and the Sith…Only they can teach Anakin what he needs to know” With that the man disappeared leaving Qui-Gon there to let out another sigh before he disappeared himself.

Both Padme’s parents and her sister Sola just stared at her in complete shock over what she had just told them. They had all seen the attraction that had existed between the two as well as the denial of those feelings as well.

Sola for her part was barely able to stop herself from jumping up and down in joy over the news that her little sister had finally acknowledged the feelings that were so clearly noticeable to anyone that was really looking. I knew it…I just knew it…Oh I am going to have so much fun with you my little sister. She thought to herself before speaking aloud. “Just a boy my foot” That statement was in reference to something that Padme had said about him only being a boy when he had first arrived with her and Sola knew even back then that there was more to their relationship than what her little sister was ready to admit to.

Jobal and Ruwee didn’t really know what to say or do over the news that their youngest daughter was getting married. They could both see it in Padme’s eyes as she spoke of Anakin how much love was there but there was one thing that stood in the way of them being happy for their daughter. Anakin was a Jedi and they were not allowed to be married and if the Jedi ever found out Anakin would be expelled from the order. “Padme honey I don’t mean to sound negative but you cant marry Anakin” Jobal said sadly.

“Why not” Was Padme’s surprised response over her mothers statement.

“Padme…Anakin is a Jedi…He cant marry you even if he wanted to…It goes against their rules and he will be expelled…From what I know very few Jedi have ever left the order” Ruwee piped in. He didn’t want to upset his daughter and he even had to admit that he liked Anakin and if the young man wasn’t a Jedi he would be happy for his youngest daughter. Unfortunately though Anakin was a Jedi and because of that they could never be together.

Padme understood what both her parents were saying and she knew that they were right except for two things. Firstly Anakin was leaving the Jedi Order to help the people of the Outer Rim and thus the Jedi couldn’t do anything to stop them from getting married. Secondly Padme knew without a doubt that even if Anakin stayed with the Jedi she still would have married him if he asked. Granted she still had that feeling that was telling her that if Anakin stayed a Jedi that in the long run something terrible would happen but she couldn’t deny what her heart was telling her and that was that nobody else could love her like Anakin does. And truth be told she didn’t want to be loved by anyone other than Anakin. “Mom…Dad I know what your saying is true but…Anakin is leaving the Jedi Order” As those words left her mouth a small smile formed “In fact he should be here within the next week”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Oh little sister I am going to enjoy this” Sola said with a smile and had to stop herself from laughing at the shocked expressions on her parents face. Realising that her parents needed a bit more convincing she decided to ask a question “So why don’t you tell us about how this love affair of yours started”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin sat in the cockpit of the Twilight with a smile on his face as he just finished reading a letter that Padme had sent him. It had been three days since she sent him the last letter telling him that she was going to tell her parents about them and she had sent him two more telling him how much of an effort it had been convincing her parents that everything was ok. In a way he felt guilty that he wasn’t there to help her talk with her parents but he also knew that she could handle the situation better than he could.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Your ship ready it appears to be” Anakin hear Yoda saying from behind him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin turned in his seat and there hovering in his hover chair was Yoda. “Yes Master…The Twilight is finally finished…All I got left to do now is load up my supplies and officially resign from the order”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Before you do that know you should that convinced the council I have to confer upon you the level of Jedi Knight”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Master” Anakin said back in complete shock and confusion.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Yoda realised he needed to clear some things up for Anakin “Want to appoint Obi-Wan to the council we do but not eligible unless trained at least one Padawan to knighthood…Since leaving the Order you are grant you the rank of Jedi Knight the council has”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“That must have taken some doing master” Anakin said back in response as he knew most of the council still didn’t trust him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“A lot of effort it took but once realised that leaving you are agreed to it they did”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“So basically they knighted me knowing they were getting rid of me” Anakin smiled as the words left his mouth “Maybe I should have tried that years ago…It would have saved everyone a few headaches along the way”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Speak to Madam Nu I will and have those holocrons brought here for you…When ready report to the council chambers you will” With that Yoda turned and started to leave.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">As Yoda started to leave Anakin called out to him causing Yoda to stop and turn back to face him “Master Yoda…I just wanted to say thank you…Even though you didn’t want me to be trained in the first place you never let it get in the way of being there if I needed advice…So thank you”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“An interesting experience it has been having you here young Skywalker…Believe I do that grateful Master Windu will be that no longer use him for your pranks you will” With that said Yoda left leaving Anakin behind grinning as several memories from practical jokes he had played on Master Windu came back into his mind.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Obi-Wan stood outside the council chambers waiting for Anakin to arrive. It had been an interesting morning for him so far and he knew it was about to get even more interesting. He had been quite surprised when late last night he had been called before the council and even more so when he was appointed as one of the new members. Several of the council members had been killed on Geonosis and he knew that the surviving members were looking to replace those who were lost. However he never in his wildest dreams thought that he would be one of those to be given a place on the council. What was an even bigger shock was when Yoda told him that Anakin was to be knighted and because of this he was named to the council.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Obi-Wan of course realised that Anakin was only being knighted because he was leaving and in a strange way he was feeling uneasy about the way it had been done. Yoda had told him that it took some convincing to get the council to agree to it. Of course he was proud to be named to the council but a part of him was wondering if her truly deserved it since Anakin was leaving the order. But the strange thing was though that since his conversation with Yoda a few days earlier where the old Jedi Master told him some things about Anakin he was feeling, well he wasn’t sure what he was feeling.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Something though was telling him that this choice Anakin was making was the right one and since he decided to stop trying to force his now former padawan to stay within the order he couldn’t help but feel that what Anakin was doing was a good thing. Well a good thing for Anakin anyway but it also made him realise that he needed to speak with the young man and apologise for some of the things he had done over the last few weeks.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">As Obi-Wan stood there waiting for Anakin he had also realised something else that he didn’t want to admit, but now knew that he had to. Padme had done something in just a few weeks that he hadn’t been able to do in a decade. She had helped Anakin find some real peace and that in itself seemed like quite the miracle. “Master why are you standing out here staring at a wall” Obi-Wan heard an all to familiar voice say. Turning his head to the right he saw Anakin getting out of the elevator.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Looking at his former apprentice Obi-Wan felt something strange within the force as it surrounded the young man. Over the past two weeks ever since Anakin had made his decision to leave his force signature had changed slightly and had also gained a little in strength. He doubted anyone else had noticed it but he had been around Anakin a lot over the past decade and it was easy for him to see. “Well I was waiting for you” Obi-Wan finally said as he came out of his thoughts. Then taking a deep breath he let out a sigh “I also wanted to talk to you before we go in there…I think I owe you and Padme an apology”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin instantly knew what his now former master was talking about and that was what Obi-Wan had done trying to keep him within the order. “You know master things would have been a lot easier if you just came to me and talked about it” Anakin responded sensing through the force that Obi-Wan was being genuine in his remorse over his actions.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“I guess as much as I don’t want to admit it I was afraid…Not afraid for you…The more I think about it the more I realise that my reasons were selfish ones”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin again studied Obi-Wan and found that he was shocked over his masters guilt. In all the years he had known him he had never felt him feel guilty, well except over what had happened to Qui-Gon. “Master why didn’t you come to me” He finally asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Obi-Wan let out another sigh before leaning back against the wall. “At first I honestly thought that you were letting your feelings for the senator cloud your judgment and I came to the conclusion that you wouldn’t listen to me…I thought that if I took away that option to be with her that you would come to your senses” As those words left his mouth he could see Anakin was about to say something so he spoke again “As I look back on it now though I realise that my reasons for doing what I did wasn’t because I believed that your place was here but because I didn’t want to admit that I might have failed you…I made Qui-Gon a promise ten years ago that I would train you and I just couldn’t accept that you wanted to leave to find your own way” Then Obi-Wan surprised Anakin by letting out a small chuckle “The funny thing about that is that if Qui-Gon were here he would be proud of the decision you are making…Your finally standing on your own two feet and don’t need me to guide you anymore…If Qui-Gon were here even with you leaving the order he would say that you must find your own path and that only you can make that decision…I guess it all comes down to the fact I just didn’t want to let you go”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Obi-Wan I once said to you that you’re the closest thing to a father that I have…But your more than that…I love you like a brother…I always have and I always will” Not wanting to make this conversation awkward Anakin let out a small sigh “We better go in”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Obi-Wan just nodded his head unsure of what to say to what Anakin had just said. He knew that his padawan’s feelings for him went beyond what was allowed as a Jedi but at the same time knowing that Anakin felt that way about him warmed his heart in a way he hadn’t expected. Not knowing what to say though he just told Anakin to follow him and they both made their way into the council chambers.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">As the two made their way into the council chambers Obi-Wan split off from Anakin and took his seat on the left side of the room. Anakin for his part moved directly into the centre of the council chambers and waited for someone to say something.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Yoda looked at Anakin and could see a strength within the young man that had not been there before whenever he had come before them. He had managed to spend a little time with the young man since the battle on Geonosis and he had to admit to himself that he liked the man that the boy was now becoming. There were still things he could sense from the young man that caused him a little worry, mainly his fear but the fear within Anakin had lessened greatly and he found himself really beginning to see what Qui-Gon had told him about the young man. Freedom was the key to the greatness that Anakin possessed within him and Yoda was beginning to understand that the life of a Jedi truly was destroying the young man. Now though where he once saw a dark cloud over the young mans future he saw something else. His future was still clouded but not in darkness like before but clouded purely in what the old Jedi Grand Master could call a mystery. The young mans future was simply beyond his ability to see but for some reason Yoda couldn’t explain it didn’t bother him at all. In fact as he looked at the young man who was standing in the middle of the council chambers he felt nothing but hope for the future. “Made your decision you have young Skywalker”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin turned his full attention to the old Jedi Master. “Yes Master…As I said the last time I came before this council I wish to resign from the Jedi Order”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“What will you do should we allow you to leave” Mace asked even though Anakin had already told them when he had previously come before them. In truth he didn’t like the idea of allowing the young man to leave as he always thought that Anakin was too reckless and potentially dangerous. It came down to the fact that he simply didn’t trust him and having him running around the galaxy unsupervised just wasn’t sitting right with him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“As I stated the last time I came before this council…My reason for becoming a Jedi in the first place was to return to the Outer Rim and put an end to the slavery and injustice there…While I know that several of the people in this room don’t like the idea of me going off alone and unsupervised it is something that I need to do”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“And if this council rejects your resignation” Adi Gallia asked with a certain amount of animosity in her voice.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin turned his attention to the Jedi Master and let out a small sigh “I would do it anyway…With or without the permission of the Jedi Council”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“So you would openly defy us if we reject your attempt to resign” Plo Koon asked cautiously. In truth he liked Anakin and had a great deal of respect for the young mans piloting abilities but like many on the council he was concerned about the young man. But as he looked at the young man now he could see a difference in him and in a way it reminded him of Qui-Gon which is exactly why he asked the question that he had asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“I would do it because it’s the right thing to do” Anakin answered before turning his attention to Adi Gallia. “None of you in this room understands what life is like in the Outer Rim…The Senate doesn’t understand either…I grew up there…I was a slave and I will not standby anymore and do nothing about it…I made a promise to my mother that I would one day return and free her and I failed” As those words left his mouth Anakin let out a small sigh and shook his head sadly. “Fortunately someone else managed to free her and she didn’t die as a slave…I cant keep that promise I made to her but I can keep the other promises I made as a child…And I will do that with or without this councils permission”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Certain you are that want this you do” Yoda asked while silently being impressed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Turning his head towards Yoda, Anakin answered “Yes Master there is no doubt in my mind that this is the right path for me…And in truth had I known ten years ago what I know now I never would have become a Jedi” As those words left his mouth he could see some of the Jedi Masters were about to say something but he decided to finish saying what he was going to say. “Some things come at too high a price…None of you know what it is to leave family behind…To you the Jedi are the only family you have but I am not like you…I knew my mother…Part of the person I am right now is from what she taught me and I am ashamed to admit that until recently I had allowed myself to forget the lessons that she taught me…Lessons that the Jedi Order forced me to forget so I could become your idea of what a Jedi should be...But I am not like you and I will no longer dishonour my mothers memory in such a way” Then Anakin took a few steps towards Yoda before kneeling down in front of the Old Jedi Master. “I hereby officially resign as a member of the Jedi Order” With that said Anakin stood up and walked out of the room before anyone had a chance to say anything.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">After leaving the council chambers Anakin made his way through the temple until he came across one of the sparing rooms which were currently occupied by a group of younglings all between the ages of ten and fifteen. Anakin knew that within the next few years many in that room would be taken on as padawans while the others got shipped off to the agro-corps. In truth he had to admit that he hated the way that some of the younglings would just get discarded simply because they didn’t fall in line with what the other Jedi felt would make a good Jedi. Most of the time Anakin knew that the ones that got rejected were turned away simply because they were considered too emotional or simply not powerful enough and that thought made him sick. In many ways as he had watched other knights take padawans over the years it reminded him of how slaves would often be auctioned off when he was a child. Only the best and so called brightest would be taken as a padawan while the others were just tossed aside and it was a sickening thought. He often wondered what the parents of those rejected children would think had they known when they give up their children that they could end up being rejected and shipped off somewhere out of the way. As far as Anakin was concerned each one of those potential padawans deserved far more than just being rejected.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Letting out a small sigh Anakin took one last look around the training room before turning away and walking towards the hanger where the Twilight was currently waiting for him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Obi-Wan walked out of the council chambers and let out a small sigh of frustration over what had gone on in the council meeting after Anakin had left. As usual his now former padawan knew how to make an impression and the entire council had been in an argument over what should happen with Anakin. Some wanted to just get rid of him while others wanted to refuse his resignation and the more arrogant ones wanted to contain him by force.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">It saddened him to think that maybe Anakin had been right when he had said over the years that the council feared and distrusted him. He could see it in the eyes of some of the council members that they were afraid of what Anakin would do if left on his own. Have we become so arrogant that we distrust any force adept that doesn’t follow the Jedi way. Obi-Wan thought to himself as he remembered his own actions in regards to Anakin’s resignation. If Qui-Gon were here he would have had told the council to stop behaving like children…Oh I wish you were here Master I could really use your guidance right about now.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">The most frustrating part was the fact that the day before the council were fine with Anakin leaving but now they were acting as if Anakin was a threat that needed containing. Obi-Wan realised that they simply didn’t like the fact that his former padawan was standing up for himself and that made him chuckle slightly as he realised that Anakin was more like Qui-Gon that even he had realised.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Getting out of the elevator Obi-Wan caught a glimpse of his former Padawan as he made his way to the hanger where the Twilight was currently docked. Realising that he needed to say goodbye to Anakin he made his own way to the hanger.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin made his way through the hanger towards the Twilight when he felt Obi-Wan approaching, turning around he watched as his former master headed towards him. “Master”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Obi-Wan came to a stop just a few feet away from his former padawan “You know Anakin…It’s never a dull moment with you” He said with a smile.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Thank you Master…It’s always nice to know that I can keep things interesting” Anakin responded with sarcasm evident in his voice. “So this is it then” he said with a surprising amount of sadness in his voice.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“I guess so Anakin” Obi-Wan answered before letting out a small sigh. “I may not have said this often enough but I am proud of you…You’ve turned out into a fine young man and I do wish you the best…And again I am sorry for the way I acted lately and I hope that you will give the senator my apologies as well…I never meant to hurt either of you”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“I know master…I guess what I was really angry about was that you went to her behind my back…It made me feel like you were trying to take away my right to make the choice for myself…I kind of felt like I was going to be turned back into a slave” Anakin admitted sadly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Hearing that made Obi-Wan wince and in that moment he realised for the first time what he could have done to his former padawan. In truth he hadn’t even taken Anakin’s childhood into consideration and the thought that Anakin felt like he was being turned back into a slave hurt him more than anything. Had I really been doing that to him. “I am so sorry Anakin…I never realised how what I did was really effecting you”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“It’s ok Master…I know you were only doing what you thought you had to but it still hurt that you didn’t trust me enough to make the decision myself” Anakin responded before taking a small breath and letting it out slowly. “It doesn’t matter anymore…And in truth I think I forgive you a while ago and I was only avoiding you because I was being my usual stubborn self” As those words left his mouth he give Obi-Wan a lopsided grin letting his former master know that everything was alright between them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“I hope you find what your looking for out there…I know you never really felt like you belonged here and I hope you find somewhere where you do belong”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“I already have” Anakin answered and Obi-Wan knew he was referring to the senator.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Well I guess this is goodbye then” Obi-Wan said with sadness in his own voice.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Anakin reached into his pocked and pulled out a small data chip and handed it to his former master “It has the comm. frequency for the Twilight…If you ever need me”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“I will Anakin and good luck”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">“Goodbye Obi-Wan” With that said Anakin turned around and made his way towards the Twilight with Artoo following behind.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Obi-Wan stood there in the hanger for the next several minutes until the Twilights engines came online before slowly flying off into the sky. “Goodbye brother” Obi-Wan whispered just as Anakin’s ship flew out of sight.