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For just a moment, the three Jedi were too surprised to react. Qui-gon was the first to follow Anakin. The two Knights were shocked to see that this boy could withstand a Jedi Master's mind trick, but they recovered quickly.
"I'll detour to the hanger his ship is registered at. You two herd him to it." Qui-gon ordered and sped off in another direction.
Jedi Knight Ti-ekam T'now looked at Knight Drah Seirt as they ran across the rooftops.
"Any ideas?" Ti-ekam asked. He was a Twilek and frowned as they leaped over a protruding gable and yet still could not see the boy.
"Nope." Drah replied. "There he is!" she exclaimed suddenly. She was of a short humanesque species. Her faintly lavender skin glistened in the starlight.
"At least he doesn't know we were there." Ti-ekam observed.
"Yes," Drah answered. "That should make this easy."
Up ahead, Anakin Skywalker nimbly skipped across roof tiles and skylights. He had known that two Jedi were lurking in the shadows while he was talking to Qui-gon. They are in for a surprise.
Knight Drah Seirt sensed the danger first. "Stop, Ti-ekam!" she called in warning.
They both halted and scanned the next roof carefully with the Force. "He's left a trap, I think." Ti-ekam said. His yellow eyes narrowed.
Drah nodded. Gingerly, they leapt across and stepped with great care across the tiles. "I think I see it." Drah said. She pointed to a slightly darker patch of tiles that took up most of the center of the roof. They both jumped over it and continued their race to catch up with Anakin.
They must both be Knights. Anakin decided when he saw that his pursuers were still following. I'd hoped that one was a Padawan. Had they stepped in his trap the chemical he'd poured on the roof would have eaten quickly through the soles of their boots. It would have only forced them to remove them before it reached their feet, but that delay would have given Anakin much needed time. It will be harder now.
The Knights stopped when they reached the end of the buildings and scanned the area for the direction Anakin took. They felt the smallest hint of warning from the Force. A bizarre, narrow beam of light flashed up into the sky like a beacon and blinded them both briefly. It made no sound. In that second of distraction, Anakin attacked.
Knight Drah dodged and flipped backwards along the roof. However, Knight Ti-ekam fell. Anakin shoved him off the roof and grasped the older man's arms behind his back as they both plunged to the ground. Anakin was stronger then he looked and Ti-ekam had no choice but to brace for impact.
Drah ran to the edge and looked down in horror as she saw her fellow Jedi slam into the paved road far below. She knew that, as a Jedi, he would survive the fall itself with few, if any, injuries. But if his attacker used his dazed state as an opportunity to kill him...? Drah sprung off of the housetop.
Anakin used the Jedi as a shield when they met the ground. He swiftly took advantage of the man's stunned condition to knock him unconscious with a well-aimed kick to the head. He didn't hesitate long, but vaulted upon another roof and continued his flight.
Drah paused by her friend and checked his injuries. When she was satisfied that none were severe, she pulled out her comlink. It greeted her with static. She looked up at the figure disappearing in the distance and sped after him.
One down. Anakin congratulated himself. And unable to contact Qui-gon, too. I'm sure that the Jedi's comlinks can't break though my jammer. He smiled as he prepared to meet the second Knight.
Drah slowed at the end of another row of houses and jumped down into a large fenced private yard. Most of the wind was blocked and the drizzle had begun to let up. She quickly searched for any sign of the boy. In a flash, she spun around, ignited her lightsaber and sliced apart two lawn chairs that flew at her. Drah calmly watched Anakin stride into view.
"Very nice." he complimented. His face was expressionless and he stood in a ready stanch.
Drah adjusted her grip on her golden lightsaber. It glowed and hummed in the darkness casting an eerie yellow light around it. "You must return with me to Master Jinn." she stated in a challenge.
"You know I won't." Anakin replied simply. He was not intimidated by the lightsaber pointed at him. He knew it wasn't a real threat. A Jedi wouldn't attack him with it. Suddenly, he leaped in the air as he sensed Drah use the Force to slide an empty flowerpot along the ground in an attempt to trip him. It passed beneath him untouched. Rapidly, several more objects began to fly at him. Drah levitated first the lawn chair pieces, then a few more empty pots and even the table at him. The faster Anakin dodged and force pushed them away the faster Drah flung them. Anakin vaulted over her head in his efforts to evade the objects and fell right into the swimming pool.
Drah paused and deactivated her lightsaber. After clipping it to her belt she walked to the pool's edge in concern. She could sense fear emanating from the boy. But he did not return to the surface. Puzzled and wary for tricks she watched the submerged boy. As the minutes passed she became too worried to heed the warnings from the Force of a trap. Drah jumped into the water and swam down to the bottom where the boy appeared to be caught in the circulating grate. As she reached for him Anakin quickly latched a wire noose around her wrist and pulled it taut. Swiftly, he propelled himself out of the water and left the Jedi to free herself. It took her only a few minutes to get free and break the surface, but by that time she could no longer locate Anakin.
***
Sliding through the hanger doors, Anakin allowed himself a smile. He jogged across to his ship and vaulted up to the closed hatch. And nearly fell on Qui-gon. Hastily, Anakin jumped aside along one of the wings in surprise. I never sensed him! Of course I didn't. He's a Jedi Master. Anakin took a ready stance and prepared to run again.
"We need to talk Anakin. And we will, even if I must drag you to Coruscant." Master Qui-gon declared firmly.
***
I must be calm. Frightening him will only make things worse. "Ani, I only want to help." Qui-gon said kindly. "We have all been very worried. I apologize for my behavior on the roof, but you must see I have good reason to be concerned."
He looked sadly at Anakin's stoic face. He studied the boy cautiously with the Force, not wishing to alarm or anger him again. He could perceive that Anakin had suffered greatly in some way that remained elusive to him at present. And, the boy had learned how to use the Force adeptly. Who has been teaching him? Qui-gon understood the great distress and alarm that Obi-wan had displayed in his message now. The Council will not like this. It grieved him immensely to see Anakin so untrusting.
"Please, tell me something." Qui-gon entreated. He carefully relaxed and tried to appear as non-threatening as possible.
Anakin didn't move his wary position. "I don't have anything to talk about."
"Will you explain further why you feel you can't return to Coruscant with me?"
The boy thought about it for a moment before answering. "I don't belong there. The Council already views me as defective." he spat. "What would they think of me now?"
"What do you think?" Qui-gon responded.
"I think that they wish you'd never found me. And I'm beginning to feel the same." Anakin's expression was cold.
The barb hit home and Qui-gon's brows furrowed slightly. It was very hard for him to not wince. I will not feel guilty. He told himself. I know without a doubt that it was the will of the Force that I find him.
"Taking you from Tatooine was no mistake."
"Well, we'll never know now." Anakin answered bitterly.
"Anakin, your behavior is reprehensible, but not irreparable. We can overcome this." Qui-gon said in earnest.
Finally, Anakin's face softened. "It's nice that you are willing to help me, Master Qui-gon. There is just one problem, except for you, no one else cares about me."
"You know you are wrong." Qui-gon disagreed. "Your mother cares, so does Queen Amidala, and Obi-wan and..."
"Obi-wan doesn't care about me!" Anakin interrupted with a scowl.
Qui-gon puzzled over this briefly before the answer came to him. "It is not Obi-wan's fault that the Council tried to send you to the Agri-corps."
"I know that! But he didn't try to stop them either!"
"Anakin," the Jedi Master scolded him. "He was a Padawan at the time. The Council did not need to consult him, nor would they have. His opinion would have made no difference whatsoever. He did not learn of the Council's decision regarding you until I did!"
Anakin's face fell. A look of guilt flashed in his eyes for a second only to be replaced by implacable calm. Qui-gon sighed. I miss the child he once was. How will I ever get through to him?
"Ani, your control of the Force is remarkable." Qui-gon said in an attempt to diplomatically restate his question from earlier on the roof. "How have you been learning for the past three years?"
"I can't talk about that."
"Can not or will not?"
"Both."
"You know that I must report this. If you would just tell me the name of your teacher now..."
Anakin looked Qui-gon straight in the eye. "It's none of the Council's business and I have no reason to tell you."
Master Qui-gon had no response to that, only that his frown deepened. Anakin did not carry a lightsaber or show any of the dangerous symptoms of the Darkside. The actions he had seen Anakin display were unusual, but not as alarming as he's first thought.
"In fact," Anakin spoke haughtily, "I don't see why you don't get off my ship right now! You have no right to detain me. If you would like to talk to me some other time, that's fine. But right now I've got places I need to be."
"If you do not come, the Council will see that as evidence that you are a danger. They will hunt you down and bring you back, regardless."
"Then I won't let them catch me." Anakin smarted back.
Qui-gon looked at Anakin severely. It was true that he had no right to hold Anakin against his will. He had not seen the boy do anything truly wrong or commit any crimes. Forcing Anakin to accompany him would only drive him further away. He needed to earn the boy's trust again.
"Then," Qui-gon reluctantly said. "I wish you a good journey. If you need anything, you know how to contact me. May the Force be with you."
***
After watching Anakin Skywalker lift off, Qui-gon took out his comlink intending to contact the other Jedi. Just then he sensed, Knight Siert approaching.
"Where is Knight T'now?" he asked.
"Injured, but nothing severe. I took him to our transport." she answered.
"The boy has already left." Qui-gon informed her.
He was surprised to see her lips purse and frown. She didn't trust herself to speak calmly until they reached their own ship.
"He took us down." Drah announced suddenly, as they boarded for take off. She could sense clearly that Master Qui-gon was shocked. While she waited for him to recover his voice, the captain came to tell them that they were ready to leave.
The two Jedi mutually decided to take this discussion elsewhere and went to Knight T'now's cabin. He had just awakened and was patiently waiting to hear what had transpired while he was unconscious. Together they relayed to Qui-gon all that Anakin had done. By the time they finished he was very worried and anxious to contact Obi-wan.
***
When they arrived on Coruscant, Qui-gon was not surprised to learn that the Jedi Council wanted then to report immediately. Obi-wan was already with the Council, as he had returned only a few hours before.
The four Jedi, one Master and three Knights, stood in the center of the Council Chambers to each give their account. Obi-wan had already told the Council of his meeting with Anakin. As the elder, Qui-gon gave a general account of all that occurred. And then waited as the two Knights that accompanied him each described what they experienced. Qui-gon could feel Obi-wan's growing alarm.
"Masters," Master Qui-gon said formally, "Anakin Skywalker has displayed unusual control of the Force. I was unsuccessful in learning who has taught him. He does not trust us, however I sensed no deceit nor evil."
The next in seniority was Knight Drah Seirt. "This boy showed skill in levitation and in deflecting objects thrown at him. As Master Jinn explained, he overcame me by trickery to enable himself to escape. I underestimated him. However, I do feel that he knew that I would not drown."
Knight Ti-ekam T'now spoke last. "I, too, underestimated Skywalker, and I did not respond as swiftly as I should have. I allowed myself to be overwhelmed by surprise and therefore was unable to defend myself. He easily incapacitated me, yet I do not recall sensing any malicious intent."
Master Mace Windu spoke. "Knight Seirt, Knight T'now, this boy is an unusual case and the Council has determined that your actions were the best possible under the circumstances. You are both dismissed. May the Force be with you."
The two bowed and went, leaving Qui-gon and Obi-wan to contend with the Council.
Master Windu spoke, "We will assign additional teams to search for Anakin Skywalker."
"No less then two, each team will be." Master Yoda added.
"He must be found and brought here as soon as possible."
"Even if it is against his will, you mean." Qui-gon stated what Master Windu had not said.
"Yes," Yoda answered. "Dangerous, he is."
"Coercing Anakin will only make this situation worse." Qui-gon retorted.
"That is a chance we must take." Mace Windu replied.
***
"I am curious about the beam of light they described." Obi-wan said to Qui-gon after they left the Jedi Council Chambers.
"As am I," Qui-gon responded. "The Council and the Knights, for that matter, seemed to not notice its significance."
"And you chose not to enlighten them." Obi-wan glanced at his best friend and waited for his answer.
"I did not see this phenomenon myself, so I have only my own speculation."
Obi-wan looked at him riley. "You are slipping into teacher mode again."
Qui-gon gave his former apprentice a guilty smile.
"Just tell me the real reason, Qui-gon." Obi-wan said in faint exasperation.
"I don't want to inadvertently give them more reasons to distrust Ani."
"Ah, so you side with Anakin."
"Yes." Qui-gon replied.
"So do I." Obi-wan said sadly.
***
Word came quickly of Anakin's current location. Jedi Council member Master Adi Gallia's extensive intelligence contacts had discovered that the boy's ship had landed on a small merchant planet in one of the nearby Core systems. She also discovered that Anakin had several falsified documents and many fake names for his ship. Tracking him would be hard.
The Council had assembled and briefed six more Jedi to assist on this mission. They had decided that it was too dangerous to send anyone with a Padawan. Each of Knights and Masters asked to participate had chosen to go in groups of three after learning how Anakin had defeated two Knights. Obi-wan still had priority over this mission and had of course chosen Qui-gon to accompany him.
The Jedi Council had given very detailed and strict instructions. They decided that Obi-wan and Qui-gon would go down to the planet itself to fetch Anakin. One team would be in orbit waiting as back up should they need help subduing him. The third team would be in the system ready to disable his ship should he somehow manage to evade the other two teams and leave the planet.
As they descended into the atmosphere of Teews, Master Qui-gon and Obi-wan concealed their presence in the Force as best they could. They docked close to Anakin's ship. Obi-wan went to give the Docking Manager an order, which the Jedi Council had requested, to impound the boy's ship. Meanwhile, Qui-gon scouted the area to pinpoint the boy's location.
***
Anakin Skywalker was having a good day. Intov Mechanic Company kept excellent records on all of their droid products, very useful records. And K-LE1 had located them very quickly.
He'd had no choice but to come here during the day. Their security was much tighter at night and he didn't feel that he was capable of overcoming it. However, in daylight they weren't so strict. He only had to contend with the large number of workers. His solution had been simple. He had entered the large Teews public library and rode up to the roof. From there it was easy to leap to the neighboring building's roof. Once inside the Intov Mechanic building, it had been a little difficult to navigate around the people. But he had managed. His only real worry was that whoever was watching the security cameras might wonder what a kid was doing wandering around. He hoped that coming at the mid-day meal would mean that they would be distracted. So, far it seemed to have worked.
The Secure Archive room was fascinating. It was filled with datacards about every kind of droid part he could imagine. He had scanned some of them randomly while waiting for Kaely to finish locating the ones he'd come for.
"Oh wow!" he exclaimed. "This is a schematic of that new speeder type's propulsion engine, Kaely!" He scanned through it quickly and put it back. He then randomly slid another datacard into his reader. "Hmmm, kitchen droid stuff, boring." he declared.
Kaely beeped at him suddenly.
"What? You done?" He walked over to see the listing she had compiled of the locations of each datacard he wanted. Moving swiftly through the racks and shelves he plucked each one and stuffed them in his pack. When he had them all he stopped and began to check them in his reader.
He heard a plopping sound behind him and turned to see that Kaely had rolled off the console and on to the floor. She wheeled toward him and trilled impatiently at his feet.
"Don't melt your servos," he told her. "I have to be sure I got the right ones."
Kaely gave an electronic snort of contempt.
"I'm not insulting you!" Anakin said defensively. "There might have been a typo in the computer or maybe someone put a card on the wrong shelf? I don't want to have to come back just because I wasn't careful." He went through the rest of the cards more quickly. And then inhaled sharply.
"A Jedi is here, in this building." he told his little droid in alarm.
"Okay, lets go." Anakin picked up Kaely and snuck out the door.
***
"If we split up he will jam our comlinks." Obi-wan said.
"It would be best to stay together." Qui-gon answered. "Alone he will certainly resist but.."
"but together he is more likely to give up peacefully." Obi-wan finished his sentence for him.
They entered the turbolift. "You have been unusually... instructive lately, Qui-gon." Obi-wan said slyly. "You just don't know how to live without a padawan to torment do you?"
Qui-gon smiled. "It has been awhile. You really ought to take one yourself soon." he countered.
Obi-wan laughed and said. "I like my freedom. You, however, seem miserable."
Exiting the turbolift. Qui-gon moved to the terminal built into the wall. "He can't jam this building's netcom." He activated it and called the Intov Mechanic's security office. "Are you aware," he began. "that you have an intruder?"
The security officer on duty answered. "No, sir. If you could elaborate...?"
"I am Jedi Master Qui-gon Jinn and I request that you seal off all exits in this building to prevent the intruder from escaping."
The officer paled. "At once, Master Jedi."
Immediately, an automated voice declared that the Intov Mechanic Company was closing the building temporarily and that everyone should remain calmly where they are.
"Knight Kenobi and I will keep in contact with you as we track the intruder. This is a Jedi matter."
"Yes, sir. Per our policy, guards will gather at the main entrances and exits, however out of respect for you, we will not deploy them internally. This facility is protected with a Bothan security system. I will be awaiting further orders."
The two Jedi left to run down the passage as they sensed Anakin change direction and go down.
"A Bothan system." Obi-wan said. "That will be very useful."
Obi-wan turned at the emergency staircase and they swiftly jumped down to ground level. Once there Qui-gon went to the nearest terminal and called the security again. "Seal the ground level."
"Yes, sir." the officer replied. Instantly, the doors locked behind them.
"I sense he is near the cargo entrance." Obi-wan said after looking at a map on the wall.
Qui-gon nodded. "Officer, seal off the corridors that access the cargo entrance."
Swiftly, they ran along the passages to the back of the building.
***
Anakin Skywalker was now having a bad day. The cargo door wasn't just locked, it was sealed shut. The lack of alarms was unusual. Announcing that they were closing the exits was odd. They must know I'm here. Even K-LE1 couldn't open the door. A sudden hissing sound startled him and he spun around to see blue laser shields spring out from either side of the door and instantly block both passages. For a moment all he could do is stare in shock. How am I to get out of this one?
Anakin sucked in his breath abruptly as he felt Master Qui-gon and Obi-wan approaching. He composed himself and waited as they came to a halt on the other side of the laser shield to his right.
The two Jedi were relieved to see that Anakin was trapped. Obi-wan relaxed and looked at the boy calmly. Qui-gon, however, remained tense.
"So, you are a thief now." Master Qui-gon said coolly. It was the only explanation he could think of for Anakin's presence in this building with a loaded pack. He waited for the boy to confirm or deny the accusation.
Anakin didn't answer. He shrugged his shoulders and began to pace.
"I've been in communication with Queen Amidala." Qui-gon informed him.
"That's nice, how is she?"
"Worried." he replied. "When you refused to come back I asked her if you had contacted her. You never have these past three years."
"Why would I make it easy for you to find me?" Anakin sneered.
"What about your mother?" Obi-wan pressed.
"What about her?"
"We know you haven't contacted her either and that she is still a slave on Tatooine." Obi-wan told him.
"I don't have enough money to free her, yet."
"Not even to send a holo-message?" Obi-wan countered.
Anakin rolled his eyes. "They are rather expensive to send that far."
"Or perhaps you are just ashamed." Qui-gon said with disapproval.
That silenced him. Anakin became still with barely controlled fury.
"We can help you." Obi-wan tried to reassure him. "If you would just tell us what has happened to you. How did you free yourself?"
"The pirates didn't sell me like they did the others."
"You must come back with us. Willingly, I hope." Qui-gon said.
"Why? To be executed?" Anakin answered bitterly.
Qui-gon frowned in confusion. "The Council is not going to..."
"Oh, really." Anakin interrupted. "They were right. I am dangerous. In fact, I don't expect to survive to the end of the year. But what little time I have left I intend to enjoy."
"I never escaped from the pirates, exactly." Anakin said and paused his pacing to look at both Jedi.
"I killed them." he confessed suddenly. "All of them."
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