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If I Don't Catch You
(Part 4)
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If I Don't Catch You
(Part 4)
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Chapter 28

Anakin looked down at his pink droid in irritation.  I'll just have to get used to it.  He carefully began applying the clear protective finish.  He was very tired, but Kaely had waited for almost a month and a half for a new paint job.  It was almost done, so he decided to just finish it now.

His brush strokes were slow and he yawned frequently, but Kaely didn't complain.  Master Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were still talking to the Council, but would come visit soon and they probably would not like it if he wasn't resting.  Anakin tried to work a little faster.

The Jedi arrived just as Anakin finished putting the painting supplies back in the box.  As before, he used the Force to hold his droid suspended in the air and prevented the liquid from jamming her tiny doorways.

As he expected, Qui-Gon's first words were a reprimand for not relaxing.  "Ani, promise me that you will rest for the remainder of the day."

"I will."  That is a good idea.

Anakin sighed and slouched in the chair.  "I really am okay.  So, when does the Council want to try it again?  Tomorrow?"

"Possibly."

"What did you both think about all that stuff the Council did?"

"They halted your light's expansion skillfully."

Obi-Wan suppressed a laugh.  "That's not exactly the answer Ani is looking for, Qui-Gon."

"It is an accurate assessment."

"They did block the glowing and even began slowing it down, however I did not see if they truly prevented another explosion or if one simply did not occur."  Obi-Wan looked to Anakin.

"I'm not really sure either."  Anakin thought for a moment before elaborating.  "They pushed it back differently.  Not like I've always tried."

"Can you imitate their methods?" Qui-Gon inquired hopefully.

"Yeah, I think so.  But I can't do it exactly the same.  I really can't push the light, I'd have to pull.  Before, I always tried to just snuff it out and squash the glowing.  Maybe that's why it hurt so bad?"

"Possibly.  Did you feel pain at all this time?"

"Not really, when the Council was working I felt dizzy and kind of overwhelmed."

Obi-Wan sat back in his chair and looked pensively at Qui-Gon.  "Was Ani really not hurting, or did the Council suppress his pain for him?"

Qui-Gon closed his eyes and recalled the morning's events in detail.  "No, they did not."

"Great!"  Anakin grinned.  "How come the Force stuff they were doing became colors?"

"You could see that?" Qui-Gon was puzzled.

"Yeah."  Anakin shrugged his shoulders.

"Did the light hurt your eyes?"  Obi-Wan was stunned.

"No, not at all.  My light never blinds me or anything like that."

"Well, Ani, I am not certain as to why the colors occurred," Qui-Gon told him.  "It seems likely that this was just how their efforts reacted to your glowing."

"Has the Council found out why all this stuff keeps happening in the first place?"

"Not, yet.  Or, at least they haven't told us," Obi-Wan explained.

"Explain to us again what the glowing feels like, Ani," Qui-Gon asked.

"Well, there is a lot of the Force hitting me.  Too much.  I think I'm getting used to it, but it's hard not to panic.  Why does it always happen when I meditate anyhow?"

Obi-Wan was just as confused, but Qui-Gon had a theory.  "When Jedi begin learning the Force, they must meditate to achieve their goals."

"Ah, I see now."  Obi-Wan relaxed as Qui-Gon began to lecture Anakin.

"When learning to levitate an object, it is at first necessary to meditate.  Otherwise your mind will not become quiet enough to concentrate.  Once you are without distractions, only then can you feel the Force.  In time, meditating before every action is no longer essential.  By then, your mind is naturally calm and the Force flows smoothly when called upon."

Obi-Wan added his thoughts.  "This is why we thought that you had a teacher, Anakin.  You have been unable to meditate without severe pain, and yet you have accomplished many Jedi skills."

"Like right now."  Qui-Gon gestured to Kaely.  Anakin was still holding her aloft.  "No one your age can do that so effortlessly."

"Oh.  Well, it's never really been hard for me to do once I started trying."

"I think that perhaps the Force screams at you, while it whispers to the rest of us, Ani," Obi-Wan concluded.

"So, when do I get sprung out of here?" Anakin asked with a crooked smile.

"When you are a Padawan," Obi-Wan replied.  He and Qui-Gon waited anxiously for Anakin's response.

Disbelief, surprise and bewilderment flashed across the boy's face.  He didn't even notice when he dropped Kaely.  She fired her repulsor lifts just in time and squealed indignantly at Anakin.

"Uh, Kaely I'm sorry...um, it's sticky enough that you can hover yourself until it finishes drying."  He waved absently for her to move away from the table.  Frowning, Anakin rested his elbow on the table and supported his forehead with one hand.

Obi-Wan almost regretted speaking.  He glanced at Qui-Gon, who gave him a reassuring look.  They did need to tell Anakin and now was a good time.  They waited as the minutes passed and Anakin still did not look up or answer.  The only sound in the room was the soft whine of Kaely's engines.

"Ani," Qui-Gon said softly, "it is not necessary that we talk about this now.  Take your time."

"No, it's okay."  Anakin's voice was hoarse.  He lifted his head and his eyes shone with unshed tears.  "I'm really glad now that you both dragged me back here.  I..."

Anakin face was strained and he frowned deeply.  "They don't want me," he choked out.

"Anakin, the Council does not resent you or want to get rid of you.  Give them time," Qui-Gon advised.

"Why are they...?"  He stopped speaking, again not trusting his voice.  The room became oddly quiet for a moment.

"This all depends on your control over the Force glowing," Qui-Gon warned.  "However, you have made so much progress that we are certain that they will accept you soon."

Anakin relaxed a little.  "Who would teach me?" he asked cautiously.

"That remains under debate," Obi-Wan answered.

Kaely's repulsor lifts made a strange sputtering sound behind them, but Anakin and the Jedi ignored it.

"Anakin, do you want to be a Jedi?"

Anakin didn't hesitate.  "Yes, I always have."

Master Qui-Gon smiled and Obi-Wan exhaled in relief.

"The Council is considering the possibility of having two masters teaching you," Qui-Gon explained.  "They have not yet determined which two would be the best choice."

"Why not you and Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan tried to lower Anakin's hopes gently.  "The Council would never agree.  I've never trained a Padawan and I do not feel that I have the experience necessary yet."

"And you like being on your own," Anakin added for him.

"That also," Obi-Wan admitted.  "A Padawan is a huge responsibility."

Qui-Gon clasped his hands on the table and looked at Obi-Wan.  "But, in this case you'd only have half a Padawan to deal with."

Anakin snickered.  "Besides, none of those stuffy Council members would be able to tolerate me."

For the sixth time, Kaely's engines went silent and then re-engaged.  Anakin turned his head around, but she was only flying slowly up to the ceiling.

"And just how to you intend to convince them?"

"If it is the will of the Force, we will not have to," Qui-Gon reminded him.

They could hear Kaely's repulsor lifts cease activity again.

"Kaely!" Anakin exclaimed in irritation.  "Quit freefalling!  It won't make you dry any faster!"


Chapter 29

Anakin waited excitedly for the Jedi Council to arrive.  They were in the large room again.  He was having a hard time being still and not smiling.

Qui-Gon looked at him curiously.  "You aren't pensive like you were yesterday."

"I know what will happen this time."

"Is that so," Obi-Wan said with raised eyebrows.

"You know what I mean."

The doors opened and the Council filed in and took their previous places without a word.  When they surrounded Anakin, Mace Windu gave the only command.  "Begin."

And Anakin began.  Swiftly, his light swelled out from him in sparks.  The glow obscured him and then abruptly froze.  It had the appearance of a miniature sun.

The Council did not lower their barrier nor allow it to touch the light.  Master Windu opened his eyes and spoke to the ball of light.  "Anakin, don't rush."

Over several minutes, each golden spark slowly streaked back towards the white ball.  All at once, Anakin became visible again.  The light reduced to a diffuse glow and the sparks were all in inter connecting clusters loosely wrapped around his arms.  Steadily, Anakin dissipated the light more and more until the last vanished along his palms.

Anakin looked straight at Master Yoda in triumph.

**********

That afternoon, Anakin stood alone before the Jedi Council.  Each Jedi was in their seats except for Mace Windu.  He stood facing Anakin.

"Anakin Skywalker," Master Windu announced, "we are prepared to receive you as a Jedi Initiate.  Do you accept?"

"Yes."

Everyone remained composed and serious.  "We have determined that for your training to succeed you must be under the charge of two masters and receive additional lessons from the Council."

Anakin remained cool and focused.  He looked at Master Windu as if waiting for him to continue.

"Surprise you, this does not."  Yoda's eyes closed to slits.

"I cannot argue with the best course of action," Anakin said stiffly and formally.  If any of the Council noticed his evasion, they chose to ignore it.

"You will be a Temple Initiate for now and we will inform you when suitable masters have been selected."

"Master Qui-Gon asked for me over three years ago," Anakin reminded them.

"Master Jinn choose him first and that takes precedence."  From across the room Qui-Gon's friend, Master Plo Koon, spoke on his behalf.

The rest of the Council knew that they could not dispute that.  Master Yoda and Mace Windu shared a look briefly.

"So be it."

Anakin could sense that they were preparing to debate over who would be the second master.  Before Master Windu could dismiss him, Anakin spoke quickly.

"How about Obi-Wan."

Master Windu looked down at the boy.  "Knight Kenobi is young."

"Exactly!" Anakin said cheerfully.

"Old, are we, hmmm?" Yoda challenged.

"Yup.  You said it!"  Anakin grinned at the ancient Jedi Master.

"The pair that teach you must be capable of blending their training methods smoothly.  Kenobi has never taken a Padawan."

"Well, there is a first time for everything.  And do you really think that any of you can work with Master Qui-Gon better than Obi-Wan can?"

The Council did their best not to react to Anakin's bold question.  When they did not answer immediately, Anakin plunged on ahead.

"We all know that Master Qui-Gon and you all sometimes can't agree on things.  And it's great that Obi-Wan is young!  Think of how many decades it's been since all of you were Padawans."

That might not have been the best thing for Anakin to say just then.  Regardless of how the Council felt about his impertinence, it did serve to validate his point.  And to encourage them to foster him off on Master Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.

Mace Windu sat down in his chair.  "Remember to tell Master Qui-Gon that your diplomatic skills need work."  At his gesture the Council chamber's great doors swung open and he mentally beckoned the two Jedi waiting outside.

Master Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan entered briskly to stand on either side of Anakin.  They bowed to the Council as usual.

"Master Jinn, Knight Kenobi, will both of you take Skywalker as your Padawan?" Master Windu said officially.

Obi-Wan's yes was only a second slower than Qui-Gon's.  Anakin just grinned and didn't care who saw him.

"Very well.  The three of you will be assigned new quarters.  We will inform you of when Padawan Skywalker will have sessions with the Council soon."  Master Windu looked at the boy with a soft smile.  "Congratulations Anakin."

*********

"How," Obi-Wan looked over at Anakin as they walked down the hall, "did you manage to pull that off?"

"I told Master Yoda he was old," Anakin quipped.

"Ani..." Obi-Wan said in warning.

"Yes, Master," Anakin replied seriously.  "I told them that you would be a much better teacher then any of them."

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were momentarily speechless.  Anakin didn't seem to notice or worry about it.

"And their response was...?"

"That I needed better diplomatic skills."

"Ani," Qui-Gon answered calmly, "in the future refrain from speaking too boldly to the Council."

"And you really don't have to call me Master," Obi-Wan mumbled with an odd expression on his face.

"Yes I do!"

"Ani is right."  Qui-Gon enjoyed his former Padawan's discomfort.

"Only during training or around other people, then.  Otherwise just stick to Obi-Wan."

Anakin grinned at the sour look on his face.

"I must say that I did not anticipate that this situation would resolve itself today," Qui-Gon informed them.  "You gained control of your glowing much better then I'd hoped, Ani."

"Thank you.  I've practiced controlling it a lot of times and I'm very familiar with what happens and how it feels.  I just didn't know a better way of stopping it until now.  Everything else I've tried either worked for only a little while or made it worse."

"I'm glad this is all over with.  The past three years have been one long frustration," Obi-Wan sighed.

"So, what will things be like now?"

Qui-Gon answered him.  "We will spend the majority of the next few weeks evaluating everything you can and can not do.  Including how far behind you are on academics.  After that we will have a steady schedule of training for the next several months at least."

Anakin nodded.  They reached his room and Anakin quickly collected his belongings.  He was excited that he would finally be out of that prison.  Kaely hummed a little tune and followed them to a turbolift.

'I doubt that the Council will send you or I on missions for a while, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said apologetically.

"That's fine.  I'm looking forward to relaxing a bit," Obi-Wan said pleasantly.  He then glanced over at Anakin and seemed to re-think what he just said.

"Well, perhaps I won't get to relax that much," he said ruefully.