Chapter Text
Anakin Skywalker stood at the landing platform, feeling lonely and lost. He watched the two jedi arguing, hoping the wind wouldn’t carry their words to his ears but force decided otherwise. A lot had happened during the last few days and he was still amazed by most of it. A few short days ago he had woken up with his mom, done his chores, worked at his master’s shop, played with his friends and avoided Watto best he could. Never could he had imagined that he would end up racing at Boonta Eve Classic, better yet win the entire race. It had been a huge surprise when he was told that by winning he had also secured his freedom. The jedi master had told him he had potential to become a jedi and had taken him with them to here, Coruscant.
He missed his mother terribly and saying farewell to her had been most difficult thing he had ever made. His mother, however, had been proud and had wished him better future. It was a dream, dream that was being crushed by every word he heard. The jedi council that he had met earlier the day had been scary. He had stood alone in the middle of them while they asked questions, his motives and everything between. In the end, they had told him he was not good enough: he was too old and he had too much anger inside him. Anakin was not sure what this meant but he was certain they were sending him back to Tatooine.
He continued to listen the two jedi, jedi master Qui-Gon and his trainee jedi padawan Obi-Wan. They were arguing about him, younger jedi being against him and Qui-Gon on his side. Padawan Obi-Wan was, just like the council, for some reason thinking Anakin was dangerous. He didn’t understand why they thought so, he didn’t feel like he was dangerous at all. Qui-Gon was defending him and he was thankful for that but at the same time he felt horrible standing between these two jedi.
Anakin was pulled out of his thoughts by Qui-Gon who came to him. Obi-Wan was boarding the spacecraft, followed by familiar astromech droid R2-D2. He looked up to Qui-Gon shyly. “Master Qui-Gon, sir. I do not wish to be a problem.”
“You won’t be, Ani. I'm not allowed to train you but I want you to watch me and be mindful. Always remember, your focus determines your reality. Stay close to me and you will be safe.”
“But sir, what will happen to me at Naboo?”
“Force will show us that when the time is right. Don’t worry beforehand Ani, everything will be alright.”
“I… I hope so. I don’t want to go back to Tatooine”, words were out before Anakin had time to think about them. Quickly he moved his hands over his mouth and looked to master Qui-Gon horrified. Had he said too much?
“You will not end back to slavery Anakin. We will find your path, I know. The council will decide your faith when we return from Naboo but don’t worry. I will always stand by your side, no matter what decision they make. You will get the jedi training you deserve, I will see to that.”
“I… thank you master Qui-Gon.”
“And remember, Ani, you can always ask whatever questions your mind. I will answer the best I can.” Qui-Gon gave him a smile and picked him up from the ground. “Lets go then, we have a long way before we reach Naboo.”
“Sir Qui-Gon, I was wondering, what are midi-chlorians?” Anakin asked when Qui-Gon walked them into the craft.
“Ahh, Midi-chlorians are a microcopic lifeform that reside within all living cells and communicates with the Force.”
“They live inside of me?”
“In your cells. We are symbionts with the midi-chlorians.”
“Symbionts, what is that?”
“Life forms living together for mutual advantage. Without the midi-chlorians, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force. They continually speak to you, telling you the will of the Force. “
“They do?” Anakin was confused. He was not aware of anything living inside him.
“When you learn to quiet your mind, you will hear them speaking to you.”
“I don't understand.”
“With time and training, Ani, you will.”
They walked past the craft’s door, Anakin noticing a taxi pulling behind them before Qui-Gon carried him around the corner. He felt tingling inside him, briefly wondering what that was. Nervousness probably, this being only his second time on starcraft.
-.-
Obi-Wan sat on his bunk, his eyes seeing nothing. Qui-Gon had surprised him in the council chamber by telling the council he was ready for his trials. He felt betrayed, his master so easily throwing him away when he had met better apprentice. He was not angry to Anakin, he was just a boy for force sake, but he could feel the jealousy towards the boy creeping in his mind. He remembered how hard he had had to work in order to become Qui-Gon’s padawan. How Qui-Gon had told him he had had too much anger inside him, how he would not grow into a proper jedi if he was that angry. Logical part of Obi-Wan’s mind told him it had been because of Qui-Gon’s former padawan Xanatos but that part was hiding behind the envy he felt.
He touched his padawan braid mindlessly, thinking back his time as Qui-Gon’s padawan learner. At the age of 20, almost 21, he hadn’t even thought about taking trials. He knew for certain that Qui-Gon hadn’t either, he had at least five years to go as a padawan before, by tradition, he was ready to be a jedi knight.
Obi-Wan felt the familiar froom of engines being ignited and knew they were on their way back to Naboo. He continued sulking alone, trying as hard as he might to release his emotions to the force. Meditation had become easier for him during the years of his time as a padawan learner but he was not fond of it and, at present time, found it difficult. When he opened his eyes, anger stayed, making home at the back of his thoughts.
A while later Qui-Gon opened the door, sitting opposite side of Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan tried to ignore him, even though the master was not saying anything his presence annoying him.
“Why did you wanted to abandon me master?” Obi-Wan asked quietly.
“I genuinely think you are ready for your trial Obi-Wan.”
“But I am not, master. Nobody has become a knight at the age of 20, you know it, I know it and the council knows it. You only want Anakin and his potential.”
Qui-Gon was silent for a while, staring Obi-Wan’s closed eyes. It was true, he knew it. He had only thought Anakin, not paying attention or even wondered what Obi-Wan had thought about it.”
“I am sorry padawan. I understand I hurt your feelings. It was not my intention to do so.”
“But it is what you want, isn’t it? You want to train Anakin, you see far more potential in him than in me. I was the leftover, padawan you had to take out of compassion. You didn’t want to but after Bandomeer you felt remorse I had been send there.” He was able to keep his voice steady, even though the anger he had not been able to release was digging its way from the bottom of his psyche.
“I have never, ever, thought you as a leftover Obi-Wan. I know our beginning was tough but you have proven me wrong enough times padawan. You are and you will be a strong jedi, you are headstrong and you still have much to learn but that comes from experience and with age. There is little I could teach you that you don’t already know.”
Obi-Wan opened his eyes and looked his master doubtfully. “I don’t know master, I don’t feel I am ready yet. I told the council I am but I am not. I need your guidance.”
A small rattle told them they had entered hyperspace. Qui-Gon looked a bit guilty, recognizing the problems he had made during the years. They had never really talked about emotions between them and he had thought they wouldn’t have to. Emotions were not a way of jedi and even though Qui-Gon himself often broke this part of the code he wished Obi-Wan had forgiven him the errors he had made during the years Obi-Wan had stayed under his guidance.
“The force will show us the way padawan and we must respect that.” Qui-Gon hoped Obi-Wan would believe him, feeling his own mixed emotion floating around him.
“I hope it shows us the correct way”, Obi-Wan answered, still sulking.
-.-
Anakin was having a time of his life at the cockpit. The pilots were kind enough to feed his endless pit of curiosity by explaining the purpose of every button, gauge and lever he could focus his eyes on. He learned quickly, asking further questions about the mechanics and operating principles. When they had travelled from Tatooine to Coruscant he had been too scared of unknown to have courage to interfere with starcraft’s staff. Qui-Gon had left him to the cockpit, pilots promising to keep an eye on him. Queen Amidala had asked the jedi to accompany her to her chambers to discuss about something related to their arrival. Anakin was not sure what they were doing or where they were going but he didn’t even mind that much.
His concentration moved from forward stabilizer to front window when he felt the ship jerk and jump forcefully. The pilot, Ric Olie, took the control and rattles the controls before leaning back to his seat. He looked at Anakin who looked scared and comforted the frightened boy. “It was just some space wind hitting us causing turbulence, nothing to worry about. We kept our course.”
“Is it... normal?”
“Turbulence? It is uncommon but not unnormal. Just a part of university.”
“Okay… if you say so.” Anakin still looked a bit stressed. Ric thought for a second.
“Do you remember when you flew with your pod racer, did you ever fly in a windy weather?”
“Yeah and it was pain in the arse. There was sand everywhere.”
“But the wind didn’t cause your racer to shake or lose it’s course?”
“Well yeah it did but I just fixed the direction.”
“Consider that what you experienced as a little wind you experienced with your pod racer. I fixed the course and it is past us so everything is okay.”
“Really, it is windy in the space as well? I thought there is no wind in space.”
“I told you it is uncommon, just like hailstorm in Tatooine.”
“What is a hailstorm?” Anakin looked skeptical.
“Umm… it is very cold water of sorts, yeah. Okay maybe not hail storm but how about raining? That is rare on Tatooine, right?”
“Well yeah, it rains rarely, almost never.”
“But it still happened sometimes?”
“I see. Rare but happens sometimes, okay.”
They were interrupted by a comm link from the queen. After Ric explained the jerking to Amidala as well Anakin went back to looking around, finding yet another interesting gauge. “What does this do?”
-.-
Sabe and Eirtae stood behind queen Amidala who sat behind her desk. Other side of her were jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn and captain Panaka, wrinkles on their forehead. Obi-Wan and Jar-Jar stood at the doorway, listening the discussion.
“The moment we land the Federation will arrest you, and force you to sign the treaty”, captain Panaka argued.
“I agree”, Qui-Gon nodded. “I am not sure what you hope to accomplish by this, Queen Amidala.”
“I am going to take back what is ours” Amidala argued back.
“There are only twelve of you, Your Highness. We have no army!” Panaka rationalized.
“And I cannot fight a war for you, Your Highness, I can only protect you.” Qui-Gon continued.
Amidala looked her hands for a second, thinking. He looked around and focused her eyes on Jar Jar Binks. “Jar Jar, I need your help. I need you to contact your people, we need their help.”
“Mesa people, Your Highness?” Jar Jar questioned.
After Amidala laid down her impromptu plan Qui-Gon and Panaka eyed her skeptically. It was better than nothing, Gungan’s were their only hope. They agreed eventually, Qui-Gon hoping everything would turn up okay. They left the queen’s chambers to join Anakin on the pit. Queen Amidala’s handmaiden followed them, Amidala deciding to send her tell her plan to pilots as well.
They found Anakin on the floor, looking under the hyperspace accelerator.
“Ani, what are you doing here?” Padme asked when she recognized the small boy. She had no idea the boy would accompany them back to Naboo.
“I am here with sir Qui-Gon” Anakin answered and nodded towards the jedi master. “But they won’t let me be a jedi, I am too old.”
“This is going to dangerous Ani. We are going to war. The Queen has had to make the most difficult decision of her life. She doesn't believe in fighting but we have no other choice.”
“I want to help you”, Anakin answered, not quite understanding the concept of war. He knew what it was and had played war many times with his friends but he had never seen a real war.
“Anakin, we want you to stay safe at all times. I will protect you but you must do as I say.” Qui-Gon reminded him and placed his large hands to Anakin’s shoulders. “Do you understand that?” he asked quietly.
“Yes, I do, sir Qui-Gon.” He got a smile from the Jedi master and pat to his shoulder.
-.-
The computer beeped and told them they were approaching Naboo. They left the hyperspace short after that, seeing a lush green planet in front of them. Panaka opened the viewing screen and he looked closer the planet in front of them.
“The blockade is gone and there are no ships orbiting the planet”, he announced surprised.
“The war is over, there is no need for it now”, Obi-Wan answered and walked over to look the viewing screen.
“I don’t know, the lack of orbiting battleships is making me nervous”, Panaka said and ran another scan that also came back negative of any orbiting battleships.
The comm link woke alive and reported incoming transmission. Pilot Olie accepted the transmission and static voice filled the cockpit.
“Unidentified Nabian starship, this is Naboo space control. Identify yourself.”
Cockpit’s occupants looked each other, wondering what kind of plot this was.
“Unidentified Nabian starship, this is Naboo space control. Your identificator is off, identify yourself” the sound was heard again.
Panaka took action, pressing his shaking finger on voice transmitter. He was afraid of the outcome but wished to gamble for more time. “This is captain Panaka of Royal Naboo security forces. We have arrived to make peace with the Federation.”
The transmission was quiet for a while, almost whole second.
“Captain Panaka”, the voice came again. “We are not sure of your true intentions but we are allowing you to land on our planet. Please accept the landing vector we are sending you. Arrive unarmed.”
The beep was heard again, confirmation of received landing vector.
“Change of plans then, I guess”, Qui-Gon said eventually. “I had no idea federation would be able to stabilize their existence that quickly.”
“We will approach cautiously but this doesn’t look good”, Panaka confirmed, picking up his comm link to contact his troops while Padme did the same and commed the queen.
“I have a bad feeling about this” Obi-Wan told to Qui-Gon when they got closer and closer to the planet. The vector pointed them to Theed and they followed it, wondering what was going to happen. They spotted an armed battalion of Nabian military, further adding up to their confusion.
They landed on the shown spot. Panaka walked out to meet the greeting committee with Qui-Gon while rest of the crew: the queen and her handmaidens, queen’s security forces, Obi-Wan and Anakin waited inside. Anakin walked next to Padme, hugging her side.
“Captain Panaka”, man dressed as captain of Naboo security forces said when they walked close enough to hear. “What is going on?”
“What happened to the invasion?” Panaka asked, dismissing other captain’s question. He had never seen this man before and he knew all the captain from security forces.
“The invasion of Naboo was solved over a decade ago, thanks to you and Queen Amidala. It disturbs me greatly to see the same ship and you standing in front of me, captain Panaka.”
“Excuse me?” captain Panaka answered surprised. There had not been any conflicts in Naboo in decades before the current one.
“My name is jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn”, Qui-Gon introduced himself. “I am sure there is some logical explanation to all this.”
“Master jedi, I remember your name. You helped us defeat the federation with tragic consequences. I am not quite sure I understand what is happening.” Now confused captain said. “I met you this morning, Quarsh Panaka, and I know you are not him. Who you are, I don’t know, but you resemble captain Panaka from Naboo invasion.”
“Are you telling us the Naboo invasion happened ten years ago?” Qui-Gon asked slowly.
“More than that, it will be fifteen years tomorrow.”
“Are you joking, captain?” Panaka asked.
“Infortunately no, I am not.”
Panaka stood still, wondering what kind of plot this was. He was prepared for lots of things but not this. The lack of battle droids was one thing but presence of his fellow guards was entirely confusing.
“Could you take us to your queen, then?” He asked.
“I have informed the queen. If you could ask the rest of your crew step outside and I will contact the queen ones more.”
“Very well, captain?”
“It is Typho sir, Gregar Typho.” Panaka’s mouth opened and he stared, coming to conclusion he was going mad.
-.-
Trip to the palace was short one. They were all in a same transport, Anakin sitting on Qui-Gon’s lap and Obi-Wan next to his master. They had been allowed to keep their weapons which Obi-Wan thought was odd. Qui-Gon hadn’t been able to explain much when he had asked them to follow. Panaka was sitting next to queen and her handmaids, talking quietly but rapidly. Anakin was looking outside, pointing everything he saw. Coming from Tatooine and he was amazed by everything and asked question after question from Qui-Gon. Jedi master answered to all his question but Obi-Wan saw his thoughts were elsewhere.
They arrived shortly after and were led into the palace and to the throne room. Lots of people were present, including who Obi-Wan thought was a queen. To his amazement there was also a jedi present, looking at the curiously. They all stood in a tight group, queen Amidala stepping forward.
“I am Queen Amidala of Naboo. I have arrived to make peace with trade federation.”
The queen step forward, smiling suspiciously.
“I am queen Neeyutnee of Naboo. Queen Amidala sorted the crisis of Naboo several years ago. Who do you really are?”
Obi-Wan noticed the unidentified Jedi leaning towards a woman standing in front of him and whispering something to her. The woman nodded and stepped forward, nodding to the queen. “I am Padme Amidala, former queen and current senator of Naboo. I recognize your party and myself but I am confused how you ended up here today.” A lot of whispering was heard around them and queen guard asked order to the room.
“This mystery we would all like to solve.”