The Chosen Apprentice - Chapter 6

The Star Wars wiki of fan invention.

In a role he was so accustomed to that he could do it with his eyes closed, Anakin gave his report to the Jedi Council. He focused his gaze on the floor, not wanting to look anywhere else.

To look at the make up of the Jedi Council now was to see first-hand on how the face of the Jedi Order had changed. The only remaining member that had been there since Anakin had began as Obi-Wan’s Padawan learner was Master Yoda. For everyone else there had been replacements, unexplained disappearances and, most regrettably, deaths. Perhaps the one that was still most keenly felt was that of Mace Windu. Some still felt he died rather needlessly, but nonetheless his was a presence that could never be replaced.

There were new faces, of course, younger Jedi who had been elevated to the role of Jedi Master and Council member. Even Anakin had actually been again offered a seat, and with none of the sting in it as his first appointment had had. But Anakin had refused, and it was not humility on his part. He just didn’t like the idea of constantly being cooped up in the Temple. Yet he had told no one this, not even Obi-Wan.

Anakin finished his report, staring at the floor to await the customary discussion, cross examination and then dismissal. And then another mission so he wouldn’t have to stay on Coruscant.

“We have heard reports from the Corporate Sector that you were pursued by security officials,” said Shaak Ti.

Anakin’s gaze flickered from the Togruta Jedi Master and then to Obi-Wan who raised his eyebrows.

“Uh…yeah,” Anakin said lamely. “The ship was…impounded,” he explained, looking back at the floor when he noticed Obi-Wan’s frown. “And when we left we were pursued by a patrol ship.”

“You say we as if there was more than one aboard,” noted the Mon Calamarian Bant Eerin.

“There was,” Anakin admitted, “but I would prefer not to go into that, it’s not really related.”

“I can vouch for this,” Obi-Wan interjected.

Yet Yoda would not dismiss this lightly. “Raised concern this has in the minds of the senators as for our role to dispense peace and justice in the Republic,” he murmured. “Prefer some would if less active role we took; this event make an example of they do.”

There was a ripple of agreement through the room. Anakin permitted himself to look up; things were not going that badly.

“Now that the Viceroy is in custody, I request another mission,” Anakin said.

He was surprised by the confused looks he was given by the Masters.

Yoda shook his head decidedly. “Needed on Coruscant you are for Gunray’s trial,” the Jedi Master decreed.

Anakin glanced at Obi-Wan but his expression was as set as Yoda’s, there would be no help there.

“We are also concerned with how you keep requesting missions,” said Bant, a rather kind voice yet Anakin met it with stony silence.

“Even if needed you were not here, refuse we would to send you,” Yoda reiterated.

Anakin stared at him. “But I thought that you said that you needed Jedi in the field?”

“Need them we do not if feel we do that lost their way they have,” Yoda told him. “Return to centre you must, important this is for you.”

Anakin stared at him, a challenge on his lips. “But I don’t want—” And then, without waiting to be dismissed, Anakin left the chamber. There was a pause and then everyone looked at Obi-Wan.

“I’ll talk to him,” he said, pushing open the door and following him out.

---

“Anakin!” Obi-Wan could see him turning the corner and not looking back. “Anakin, we need to talk.”

“We don’t need to do anything, Obi-Wan,” Anakin shouted back, not bothering to turn around. “I’m not your Padawan anymore; I don’t have to listen to what you say.”

“Just because you don’t have to doesn’t mean you don’t need to,” Obi-Wan replied, then changed his tone. It would benefit no one if they continued to shout at each other. He slowly walked up to where Anakin was standing, waiting for the lift. “Anakin, please, how long is that we had a conversation that didn’t involve you rushing off somewhere?”

Anakin paused, the numbers of the liftcar slowly counting up behind him, there was a soft beep and the door opened. He strode in, yet held the door open for Obi-Wan.

“Fine then,” Anakin said, putting in what he perceived to be a heroic effort to endure anything the Council chose to throw at him. “Let’s talk.”

---

Ever since the time he had been Anakin’s Master, Obi-Wan knew that there was no use actually telling Anakin anything. For instance, if you told him not to do something he would normally go to great lengths in order to do it as well as to avoid getting into trouble.

The only way Obi-Wan knew to get Anakin to see things from a point of view other than his own was to give him a good shove in the right direction. Hopefully, Anakin would fall over and realise the way had been going all along was just to prove to someone—whether it be Obi-Wan, Yoda or the entire Jedi Order—that he was right when he was usually far from it.

So Obi-Wan was really at loss how to proceed, there were time-worn Jedi axioms for such situations, but he knew that it was a waste of breath in repeating them to Anakin. Yet he also realised the cause of Anakin’s problems: his inability to cope with Padmé’s death. The only way to get to that subject, Obi-Wan knew, was to get Anakin to refer to it himself and that was unlikely as he had not even mentioned Padmé’s name in more than a year.

What he needed was a third party, someone who could get around Anakin’s defences in the same way that Padmé herself used to. Yet there was no one now or in the near future that could fill that role.

“What was that you talked about with that Corellian you came with?” Obi-Wan asked as they walked towards an outside balcony. “What was his name…Solo?”

Anakin heard this name without any reaction. “He said he wanted to get into the Starfleet Academy.”

“And?” Obi-Wan knew there was more to this.

“I let him take the ship in,” Anakin said in a tired voice.

“Was he any good?” Obi-Wan queried.

“Not bad,” Anakin replied. This actually rated quite high on Anakin’s scale of piloting.

“Hmm,” Obi-Wan murmured as if the issue required deep consideration, yet Anakin had grown tired of this.

“What is it you wanted to talk to me about?” Anakin asked him.

“About?” Obi-Wan repeated. “Anakin, this is not about anything, we’re just talking.”

“And you’re telling me, Obi-Wan, you didn’t follow me after I left the Council just to have this conversation?” Anakin demanded acidly.

Even though sometimes Anakin could miss the point completely, he frequently surprised Obi-Wan with being very astute. “All right,” he admitted, “the Council—no,” he hastily amended. “I have concerns.”

“Concerns?” Anakin looked at him carefully. “The last time you told me that you had concerns it was about Palpatine.” That was as close as he would come to referring to Padmé, yet they both knew what he meant.

“This isn’t like that,” Obi-Wan explained patiently.

“Then what is it like then?” Anakin’s seemed to see right through him.

Obi-Wan paused for a moment, how could he approach this?

“Why are you running?’ Obi-Wan asked bluntly.

“Sorry?”

“You heard me.” Obi-Wan folded his arms across his chest. “Just answer the question.”

“I am not running,” Anakin said as if Obi-Wan had suddenly gone blind, stupid or both. “My feet are firmly planted here, at least for the time being anyway.”

“And what happens when that’s over?” Obi-Wan probed.

“I don’t know, there’ll be something else just ahead of me that I have to get to,” Anakin replied, staring at the toes of his boots. “It’s what I do, it’s what I am. They give me the order, I go in and do what must be done and then I go and do something else.” He looked up at Obi-Wan. “That’s what they Jedi are, aren’t we?”

Obi-Wan frowned. “If that’s all that Jedi are then the entire Order could be run by droids. What I am concerned about is not what you are running to, but what you are running from.”

Anakin stared at him; in exasperation Obi-Wan forced him around and pointed to a tall building of blue-coloured transparasteel within sight of the Temple.

“Look, can you see that building?” he asked.

“Yes, I can see it,” Anakin replied slowly, “it’s a building.” He almost added: So what?

“Now that particular structure is only three standard years old,” Obi-Wan told him with a dry smile, studying it carefully. “Or at least parts of it are, since a large portion of it was destroyed in the Clone Wars.”

Anakin was growing impatient of this already. “Your point is?”

Obi-Wan ignored him. “Yet it was re-built, over the old frame with new windows and durasteel as well as a whole lot of other things hadn't been there before.” He folded his arms and looked at Anakin expectantly. “And that’s not the only thing that’s changed.” He paused, hoping Anakin would catch on. “There are scars all over the Republic, Anakin. Some wounds are so deep that you wonder how they heal, but the fact is they do.” He was thoughtful for a moment, his eyes distant, his voice soft. “Of course there are marks left as there are some experiences that never leave you, the memories stay but the pain always goes.” He looked up at Anakin. “Just because you think something’s destroyed, doesn’t meant you can’t build something better.”

Anakin's mind was whirling, what was Obi-Wan trying to say to him? “I don’t…I don’t understand.”

Obi-Wan lightly touched his shoulder. “I can’t give you any more of a hint than that.”

And then he left, leaving Anakin staring at the distant building for a long time.