Phantoms of the Past/Chapter 3: Trust the Force

Anakin sat in the hallway outside of the main Senate chamber. Even from his viewpoint, he could see the raised dais where the Supreme Chancellor stood with his two councilors, watching as the vote continued. This was the third day of voting for a new Chancellor.

The Supreme Chancellor calmly watched as the contenders for his seat whittled down to Gaven Dorm from Alderaan and (surprisingly enough) Joshun Skywalker from Dantooine. What was really surprising was the fact that Joshun was Anakins’ older brother. He could see the quiet confident look on Joshuns’ face even from the complete opposite the room. But, then again, Anakin was a member of the Jedi Council. All he had to do was apply the Force to enhance his vision.

Many hours passed, and Anakin just sat there, listening to the proceedings. Politics fascinated him, even if he thought the politicians crooks and thieves. Just as Joshun rose up to deliver his spill on why they should elect him, his comlink buzzed. He pulled it out of the inner pocket of his Jedi robes and put it close to his lips before he pressed the talk button.

“Skywalker.”

“Where are you?” Ristro demanded.

Chrap. “Sorry master,” he replied, “I’m watching the vote.”

“You mean the politician circus,” the alien grunted.

“You could call it that,” Anakin replied.

“Get back here to the Council room,” Ristro snapped, “We are voting on a new member of the Council. And you need to be here for that!”

“Right,” he said, “Be right there.”

His finger lifted and the communication ended. He took a few breaths to prepare to stand. As he slowly stood up, he could hear his brother’s booming voice. The lies of politicians, Anakin thought grimly when he heard the honey-coated promises.

“I will end the corruption of this Senate!” his brother boomed, “No man in the Republic needs worry. I pledge I will“

Anakin didn’t know what he promised that ‘I will—‘ as he turned his back disgustedly and walked away.

Skywalker walked into the chamber room, and Lackstar grunted. “Late again, I see,” he muttered to himself.

“Sorry for the delay,” Anakin said, bowing as he took his seat next to Lackstar, “I got caught up watching the proceedings of the Senate.”

“Who’s the contest down to?” Tindora asked, blinking.

“Senator Dorm from Alderaan and Senator Skywalker of Dantooine,” Anakin answered.

“I’m surprised that your brother made it this far,” Kolla Sammera, the Twi’lek said, caressing her tentacles with her fingers.

“I do admit I was surprised myself,” Anakin admitted.

“Enough of politics,” Ristro said, “We have more important matters to discuss. Now, we have all decided, in your absence Skywalker, that Master Yoda is a perfect candidate to be on this Council.”

“You know him probably better than anyone else Skywalker,” Doffar said, staring at him with his silver eyes, “Would he accept this honor?”

Skywalker closed his eyes to think. “Only if the Force dictates it,” he finally said, “He only wants to work with the younglings.”

“I have trained four apprentices while I’ve been on the council,” Lackstar pointed out.

“Indeed,” Ristro said, “That is easily worked around. Long have I meditated upon it, and Yoda's name continually comes to mind. I know the Force wants him. So, if we are all in agreement, let us call him in and give him his new office.”

Ristro bent over and punched the button on the side of his seat that activated his comlink. Master Yoda’s voice soon came on.

“What need you, Master Ristro?” he asked, and younglings could be heard in the background.

“The Council needs you to come to the Council chambers immediately,” the Nautolan said.

“Be there I shall,” Yoda said, and then chuckling added, “In a couple minutes. Long ways to walk it is, and short legs, have I.”

“Size matters not,” Ristro retorted, smiling, “As long as you follow the Force.”

Yoda chuckled and the communication ended. There was a silence for a couple minutes, no one talking. Anakin slipped into his own thoughts. At once he felt it.

A disturbance in the Force. Some phantom menace was growing. Something was not right. The Galaxy was in danger.

But from what? He could not tell. But, he knew it was preparing, like a spider. The webs of its deceit were snagging everyone around it. Overshadowing the light the Jedi brought. It had just won a major victory. But, where was it? Where could it be?

“I feel a disturbance in the Force,” he said, and the expected reaction of the entire group of people looking up at him in bewilderment came.

“What are you talking about Skywalker?” Ristro asked.

“I think the Dark Side is returning,” he said, looking at the other members, “Did you not feel the disturbance?”

“None of us felt anything Skywalker,” Tindora remarked, voicing the feeling of the Council.

“You must have!” he exclaimed, “I felt it like a brick falling on me.”

“Skywalker,” Sammera said, “We shall talk about it afterwards. By ourselves. Right now, we are to make your old Master a Council member. No pun intended.”

“Alright,” he sighed, “I guess so.”

“I have an idea,” Lackstar said suddenly.

“What is that?” Ristro asked, looking over to him and blinking.

“Let Skywalker knight his Master a Member of the Council,” he suggested.

There was a muttering in general agreement to the proposal. Skywalker looked around, shocked. Were they sure? He didn’t know how to though. It would be better for someone with experience to do so.

“I do not know how to,” he stated.

“Just say whatever you like,” Ristro said, and he signaled for them to stand in a circle, “Trust in the Force, and it will guide your words.”

As they all stood, the other members of the Council threw their hoods over their heads to conceal their faces. Anakin went to do so also, his hands lifting to grab his hood. His hands flet the soft material, worn with time, and began to lift it over his head but Sammera lifted her hand.

“You don’t,” she said, and he let the hood drop back down to his shoulders.

Ristro lifted his hands, and the blast shields to the windows rose to close. The lights turned off as well. The sun and light of the outside world swiftly disappeared.

“Only thing you have to do Skywalker is turn on your lightsaber,” Lackstar said, “I will tell you when to through your mind.”

“Thank you,” he said.

Soon, the room was thrown in darkness. Almost immediately after, the chamber doors opened, and in walked Yoda. He stopped for a second, unable to see anyone, but felt their presence. He slowed his walk, looking from side to side, bewilderment in his face. What was going on, know, he did not.

The doors closed once he entered the circle. NOW! And all the lightsabers flashed on, pointing to the roof. Yoda looked back and forth, but knew better then to speak, although he wanted to.

“Kneel Master Yoda,” Anakin said, and he knelt, his hands firmly on his stick, “By the will of the Force, and the will of the Council, you are elected a member of this, the High Council of the Jedi Order.”

As he said these words, his lightsaber did three downward taps, not touching the Jedi Master, but one went to their shoulder, and one to his head. Yoda went to stand, and the lights turned on and the blast shield went down. That was enough to say. The members of the Council went to congratulate Yoda.

But, Skywalker did not move. Even as the lightsabers turned off, he did not move. Yoda looked up at his padawan, noting the glazed look in his eyes. Ristro and the rest of the members saw this, and Ristro raised his hand, silently commanding the rest of the Council not to move. Obviously, the Force was not finished yet.

“Yoda,” Anakin said, his voice suddenly empowered by the Force, “The Force has need of you. Only you does the Force trust with this assignment. The time is short at hand. You must be prepared for the time to come.”

As he spoke, the Council watched in bewilderment as a blue glow surrounded the young Jedi Knight. He was, becoming one with the Force. And yet, he was still alive! Never in any of their lives had any of these masters seen something so rare. Only twice before in the whole history of the Jedi had something like this occurred.

“The Sith are returning,” Anakin, or more rather, the Force continued, “They are taking over the Senate. In your time, the Galaxy will be overthrown by the Sith. Conventional means will not be enough this time. War will not overthrow them.’

“Rely not upon it. There is only one way.”

“How then?” Yoda asked suddenly, “To do it, am I?”

“Trust in me The Force,” Anakin said, “A time comes, not even one hundred years hence, that a child will be born. It will have no Father. It will be conceived by the Force. Human mother will it have, but the most Powerful of Fathers will conceive it.’

“A Chosen One. It will bring balance to the Force. It will destroy the Sith. You will live to lead the Jedi Order during this time. Prepare your Jedi.’

“Read not this prophecy to mean he has to be Jedi to do so. Jedi he will certainly begin. But, be not at all surprised if he will fall. Yoda, you are to be the greatest Jedi Force holder of all history. But, you will be overshadowed by one who will be the greatest of either Jedi or Sith. Be wise, and you shall be blessed by the Force.’

“You must hunt down Darth Guiiloteen, one of the two survivors. Only then can you be assured to be guided by me. After that, you must prepare the Jedi Order for the storm that is not far off.”

“What of Anakin Skywalker?” Yoda asked, concerned for his padawan, who was channeling the Force through him. The glow was so brilliant by now, had they not had the Force, they would have all gone permanently blind.

“He will hunt down the other,” the Force said, “Shortly his time to permanently become one with the Force comes. Do not apprehend him. Follow his advice. Guide you wrong, he will not. Tell him not what the Force has said, but only to go hunt down Darth Plagueis the Wise.’

“Trust me, the Force, to guide you in all things. Thus says the Force.”

The Force suddenly withdrew himself, and Anakin, having been overwhelmed by the Force, collapsed.

Notes on Chapter

 * Anakin was originally meant to have the vision while meditating upon who could fill in the empty seats on the Council.
 * Lit Ristro was originally going to be the only one present to hear it.