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"I need to see Master An-Paj, now."
The young man at the desk in the desk didn't look up, "He is not available at this time."
"He told me to come when I needed to, just tell him I'm here," Anakin frowned.
"I can not disturb him right now."
Anakin tried not to scowl, "Is he busy doing a surgery or something?"
"No," The young healer didn't seem interested in helping him at all. "He is with a patient. I suggest you leave Master An-Paj a message and go."
"He told me I had to come. Can't I just wait by his office?"
The man walked from behind the desk to block Anakin from going further, "No, he has more important things to do then be pestered by un-injured Padawans who want to chat."
Anakin refused to back off, "And how can you be sure I'm not hurt?"
The healer nearly rolled his eyes, "If you have wounds one of the other healers can tend to you. You don't have to see Master An-Paj."
"Yes, I do."
The young man was unimpressed, "Out." He ordered and pointed at the door.
Anakin glared at him, I've had enough of this. Pushing past him, Anakin stormed quickly down the hall and began scanning the rooms with Force.
"Kaely, get him!"
Out of nowhere a tiny pink fury instantly began buzzing around the healer's head. Kaely squawked and dove at his face forcing the man to defend himself. He batted at her uselessly as she skillfully bobbed out of the way.
He finally gave up and began following Anakin anyway, "What are you doing! Stop!"
Anakin ignored the order entirely. Towards the end of the hall, he felt the presence of An-Paj faintly. The young man caught up with him just as Anakin was knocking on the examination room door.
"Who is your master?" The healer clamped one heavy hand on Anakin's shoulder. "You are coming with me now!"
The door opened and the blue healer stepped out, "What is the meaning of this, Healer Mlacton?"
Kaely ducked to hide behind her maker when she saw An-Paj. As Anakin expected his voice was calm and simply inquiring. Very unlike the man still grasping his shoulder,
"This Padawan will not obey me."
An-Paj returned his gaze to Anakin and waited.
"You said to come immediately after the next time it happened."
Anakin's statement meant nothing to Mlacton, but An-Paj understood, "Finish filling Master Dlosi's file and release him." He thrust a datapad into the young healer's hands. "I'll deal with this. Come Anakin."
An-Paj led him into another examining room and quickly began flipping on various screens and pulling out medical devices unfamiliar to Anakin. The Padawan hopped up on the table and waited for directions. Kaely darted to land behind Anakin, and rolled on her wheels to peek around him at the healer.
"Tunic off. How long ago was it?" An-Paj asked while he clasped a band around Anakin's upper arm.
"Just minutes, I came straight here from the Etaciled plant garden one level below us."
An-Paj nodded and stuck a device over Anakin's heart and put another on the boy's forehead, "What caused your glowing this time?"
"Master Yoda insisted that I meditate with him. He knows this happens, but since I've learned to meditate a little with my masters he decided I should anyhow."
"And how much time passed before you lost control?"
"I'm not sure," Anakin concentrated. "I've managed to meditate for ten minutes with Obi-wan before feeling it about to happen. I think it was probably about that long."
An-Paj removed the instrument from Anakin's chest and began typing at the console, "Were you in pain this time?"
"Just for a few seconds."
An-Paj suddenly stopped and looked at Anakin, "Where is Yoda? Wasn't he with you?"
Anakin's face turned red, "He's dealing with the aftermath."
The healer raised one white eyebrow in question.
Anakin slumped, "It messed up the garden and that room's door automatically opens when it senses movement. So, when plants and stuff started blowing around," Anakin sighed dismally. "A lot of stuff blew out into the hall and people noticed."
An-Paj began to put away each of the medical tools, "I can find no serious side effects from this incident. How often do you practice meditating with your masters now?"
"Every day while they are here at the Temple."
"And do you feel the glow about to start every time?"
"Yes."
"But you haven't come here, so you stopped it?"
Anakin nodded.
An-Paj looked at him quizzically, "Then why didn't you stop it this time?"
Anakin twisted his tunic in his hands and looked down at the floor, "Its not the same. Yoda doesn't know how to help and -"
"And you were angry that he ordered you to meditate and so you let the glow happen," An-Paj finished for him.
Anakin pulled his tunic back on and didn't answer. Figures he'd know.
"Anakin, this glowing problem once caused you extreme pain and enormous damage to your surroundings. Yet, now you are using it as a tool to irritate Master Yoda. How did this change happen?"
"Well, I... I didn't know how to control it right for a long time, so of course it hurt. And now I can, but... " Anakin stammered trying to find the words that would make sense. "The Force is different for me. Obi-wan once described it as the Force screaming at me when it whispers to everyone else. Since I started training here it's become easier to tolerate."
An-Paj sat back in the hover chair by the console, "An apt description. With such a high midi-chlorian count it's understandable that you'd feel overwhelmed when exposed to the Force in such huge bouts, as is typical during meditation. But why you react like this...?"
Anakin could only shrug.
***
"It's WHAT?"
"Warping matter," Yoda repeated.
"My glowing warps matter?" Anakin stared. Okay, that does sorta make sense, especially the way stuff would melt and twist or just explode the first few times it happened. But, ugh.
"So, how do I stop it?"
"Unconsciously you do this, so consciously you must learn."
What? Anakin slouched in exasperation.
Yoda didn't wait for an answer. He pulled out a very small container and dumped a bluish transparent rubbery substance out onto the floor. It stayed in the dome shape of the box it had been in.
"Easy, liquid matter is," Yoda began to lecture. "Freeze water, melt ice, already you know. This," he pointed to the gelatinous ball. "Malleable it is, but not as simple. Difficult it is to warp metal or wood. Ship hulls and stone, most difficult of all. Power to learn those, few Jedi have."
Anakin's eyes were very wide, But I have... He didn't have to say it aloud or remind the Jedi master. Yoda along with the rest of the Council had seen Anakin turn thick reinforced durasteel walls and stone floors to slag. And I was doing it unconsciously, too.
Yoda cupped his hands gently around the blue mass and closed his eyes. Anakin watched in fascination as the round ball began to morph into a cylinder and become a small cone. Yoda opened his eyes when the outer edges began to harden into a thin smooth crust to maintain the new shape.
Oh wow. Anakin hardly breathed.
"Remain in this shape permanently, it will," Yoda explained. "Does not destroy the matter, merely changes it. On living matter, this cannot be done. Impossible even for the Sith."
If I can do this, I'd be able to do almost anything. Make my bed without making it, clean up messy oil spills on my worktable in a flash, dump a bowl of Yoda's gruel on Lavir's head and not get caught... A grin began spreading rapidly across Anakin face.
Yoda put his hand back on the cone and instantly it warped back into the soft rubbery blob.
"Now hold it," Yoda instructed. As Anakin did so, Yoda placed his small three-fingered hands on top of Anakin's large ones.
Slower this time, Yoda repeated changing the shape of the ball. Anakin could feel the Force thrum with power through the old Jedi's hands, past his own and into the object. The Force coaxed the matter particles to move apart and condense into a square this time. Once it was finished, Yoda again reduced it back to the blue lump and removed his hands.
"Now, into another shape, mold this," Yoda ordered. "Return later I shall to see your progress."
"Yes, Master Yoda," Anakin eagerly focused on his new toy.
Yoda hobbled to the training room's exit rather quicker then usual, but Anakin didn't notice.
"Hey! Its not working!" Anakin complained.
"Practice, practice," Yoda said from the doorway.
Just as the door began to shut, a loud splat echoed inside.
"Aw, man. What a mess," Anakin moaned.
Only after the door finished closing did Yoda smile.
***
That afternoon's sparring match with Lavir was not going well.
"You are not paying any attention," Lavir was puzzled. He'd managed to dump Anakin on the floor twice in a row.
Anakin hauled himself off the floor in frustration while he tried to come up with a suitable answer. At least I don't have to worry about Lavir bragging. So, long as he keeps his word about not telling anyone about our sparring matches, that is. Finally, Anakin just settled on the truth. It's not like he could use it against me.
"I was just told this afternoon that my masters have been delayed," Anakin grumbled. "I have no idea when they will get back, only that it won't be in a few days, but rather more like a few more weeks. I'm not sure."
Anakin scowled at the lightsaber in his hand. Lavir looked at his opponent warily. Anakin had never let his anger churn like this in public before. Lavir quietly tensed in preparation, just in case Anakin choose to take it out on him. The last thing either of them needed was a trip to the healers. However, that didn't stop Lavir from asking another question he knew Anakin didn't want to hear.
"Why didn't you go with them anyway?"
Anakin snapped at him, "Because I can't go on missions until the healers say my heart can handle the stress."
Lavir looked at him sharply, "Isn't lightsaber dueling stressful for a recovering injury, especially the heart?"
Anakin realized with a start what he had just said. Yes, it's the standard excuse that the Council and my masters told me to say. But, it's not true anymore and hasn't been for weeks. And Lavir sensed that. Anakin's anger turned to ice. I don't care.
"Yes you're right. I'm just fine now, but they didn't take me with them."
Without another word, Anakin shut off his lightsaber and left the training room.
***
"I don't know!"
"You ask."
"Come on, it can't be that hard."
"Are you kidding?"
"No way, you do it!"
"I'd pass out before opening my mouth!"
"And you think I wouldn't?"
As Anakin rounded the corner, the frantic whispering ceased. He looked warily at the clump of Padawans doing their best to act like they didn't see him. Shaking off the creepy feeling, Anakin moved past them to get in the lunch line. Several teenagers ahead of him were all buzzing loudly and Anakin listened to the variety of voices jabber.
"How long?"
"No one knows!"
"I'd be terrified if I had to do that."
"I wouldn't want to!"
"Are you really sure?"
"I saw them myself, I just didn't know what it meant until I heard this morning."
"It makes sense to me."
"Oh, come on!"
"I'm serious!"
"If it were anyone else, I'd say 'nah', but -"
"Shut up!"
Anakin blinked in confusion as one of the older girls in front of him in line clapped her hand over the boy speaking's mouth. Everyone involved in and not part of the conversation went silent. The rest of what the boy was saying was completely muffled and then he stopped and stared as if seeing Anakin for the first time.
Anakin sighed. It had been like this all morning. Everywhere he went the Padawans pretended to not stare at him and would whisper amongst themselves only to hush when they saw him approach. They are all talking about me, but what?
Anakin felt like his skin was crawling as he collected his lunch and walked to his usual table. Suoicarg and Elbaima were already there. What was odd was that they were the only ones at the table. Anakin had become used to a hoard of Padawans vying for who could squeeze in with them each day. What could make everyone else avoid me?
"Hi," Anakin sat down and was not surprised that his two friends wouldn't meet his eyes. "So what is going on?"
Suoicarg's pale grayish skin flushed purple, "There's nothing you need to worry about, Ani."
Anakin frowned and started to speak, but Elbaima came to her rescue, "Why don't we talk about the next swim meet instead?"
Anakin gave him an aggravated look, "Everyone is talking about me, aren't they." He stated bluntly.
"Well, yes but-" Suoicarg began, but she stopped speaking when Anakin stood up suddenly.
Without wasting a minute to explain, Anakin left his lunch and stalked towards the nearest exit. No one followed him, though he would have been grateful if he'd noticed. It was obvious that he'd not get any answers from them.
Anakin stopped in the empty corridor and waited in the center of the walkway. Just as he expected, within a minute Lavir rounded the corner. The older Padawan usually arrived at the dinning hall at the same time each day and always entered the same door. Today three Elite flanked Lavir. They ground to a halt when they saw Anakin's cold expression.
"Lavir," he announced. "Ditch your bantha pups and follow me. Now."
Lavir stared at him, but Anakin didn't move or flinch. Finally, he decided it would be in his best interest to comply, "Go on," Lavir nodded to his group. They obeyed reluctantly and threw suspicious looks at Anakin as they walked past him. Anakin didn't even notice, he was too busy glaring at Lavir.
"Shall we," Lavir said mockingly.
Anakin stormed past and darted into the nearest room he sensed was empty. It turned out to be a large meditation filled with hanging plants and vines strung across several rafters crisscrossing on a many levels of exposed rafters.
The moment the door closed, Anakin struck. Lavir dodged the punch to his face but not the hand that threw him against a nearby wall with a little help from the Force.
"You told!" Anakin fumed. I was so stupid to spout off like that! I should have known he'd tell everyone that my masters deliberately left me behind!
"What?" Lavir croaked as he staggered to maintain his footing.
Anakin moved to block the doorway to prevent Lavir from escaping and ignited his lightsaber.
"Did you really think I wouldn't get you back for this," Anakin growled. "I thought you were smart enough not risk blabbing to the whole Temple!"
Lavir glared back, "I don't know what you are talking about!" Quickly, he pulled out his own lightsaber and prepared to defend himself.
"I don't believe you!" Anakin screeched and swung at Lavir's head.
Anakin fought with a viciousness that Lavir had never seen before. Anakin aimed most of his blows at the most vulnerable parts of the human body. For the first time in his life, Lavir got a glimpse of what it would be like to duel with someone who's intention was to kill you.
He had no choice but to give ground as Anakin moved faster and faster. What advantage in strength Lavir had was negated by Anakin's speed and anger. Without warning, Anakin began pulling the dirtiest tricks a fighter can do. Lavir spun to avoid an elbow strike to his face but failed to protect himself as Anakin's blade came down on the back of his legs.
It became clear in minutes that Anakin wasn't just planning to give Lavir a good beating, but would actually injure him if he could. As Lavir failed to block a few of Anakin's blows, a pattern in his attacks began to form. Anakin was striking at torture points and deliberately hitting Lavir's kneecaps, elbows and wrists.
Finally realizing how much danger he was really in, Lavir vaulted upward. Anakin was startled, but followed him quickly to balance on the rafters above. The footing was treacherous. Not only were the beams spaced far apart, the ropes from the hanging baskets and vines were wrapped around each of them. Anakin flipped over Lavir's head intending to drive him back to the ground.
However, Lavir was ready for him. In one smooth motion, Lavir caught Anakin under his arm with his blade and knocked him over the side. The strike was very painful and would leave a nasty burn, but the real hazard was the floor rapidly approaching. Lavir stood still and just watched him fall. Briefly banishing the pain from his mind, Anakin used the Force to catch himself.
Lavir was shocked, "How did you do that?!"
Anakin looked up at him smugly, "Levitating against gravity? Nothing to it."
"Even my master can't do that," Lavir mumbled in shock. Anakin took advantage of the distraction to swiftly rise back up to the beams and attack again. Lavir was still recovering from his surprise and stumbled. Anakin succeeded in leaving a long burn on Lavir's arm.
Anakin grinned ferally at his opponent. I'm winning and he knows it.
Lavir continued to give ground and tried another tactic, "This is not how Jedi behave."
Anakin laughed coldly, "You're only saying that because you're losing."
"I'm serious, this has gone on long enough," Lavir persisted. "You've accused me of embarrassing you in some way and I've denied it. Let our masters decide who is being truthful."
"Oh, I'm not falling for that trick," Anakin jabbed at his legs, forcing Lavir to jump further back. "My masters are gone, Master Yoda always thinks the worst of me, and your master would never believe anyone over her precious Padawan."
Lavir flinched, but kept his emotions under control, "You are being belligerent and crass. And I won't tolerate this anymore." Lavir began leaping to the lower rafter trying to reach the floor with Anakin hot on his heels.
"Do you really think you are a sterling example of a Jedi after the way you mind tricked that girl two years ago?" Anakin sneered. "Hypocrite, you are no better then me!"
Lavir landed awkwardly on the ground and ceased his mad dash for the exit. His face had gone white and the sudden fear rolling off him was palatable. Anakin grinned and dropped down from his perch.
"What do you know about that?" Lavir asked hoarsely.
Anakin was happy to explain, "That you tried to seduce a girl while out on one of your missions about two years ago. She was very beautiful and you just couldn't resist." Anakin mocked, "And you were so insulted when she refused you!"
"How do you know about that?" Lavir repeated louder this time as the color returned to his ashen face.
"You're pathetic," Anakin continued. "You had to resort to mind-tricks!"
"I wasn't going to actually hurt her!"
"Oh, like I'm going to really believe that? She's lucky your master caught you in time!"
Lavir's face went from red to purple, "Only my master and I know about this! Where did you find out?!"
Anakin still ignored the question and laughed at him, "Yes, she didn't want to risk that you might be expelled from the Temple so she covered it up and didn't even report it to the Council! She'd do anything for you."
"Master Tcirts-ton wasn't going to let one incident, that was stopped from happening, ruin my life! She is a good and fair master!"
"Ha! Keep saying that and maybe you'll believe it."
Lavir bellowed in fury and attacked. Anakin dodged and parried the older teenager's strikes easily. Letting his anger fuel his efforts, Lavir scored a hit to Anakin's already burnt shoulder. Anakin stopped laughing.
"Everyone will stop gossiping about me once I tell them about what you did," Anakin threatened. "Every Padawan will shun you Lavir, and the masters will have to punish you."
"I was punished," Lavir shouted.
"Bah, that was nothing! A little more meditation, a bit of extra chores, one measly apology to your victim before your master wiped her memory of the whole thing! You got off way too easy!"
"You won't tell them anything!" Lavir declared and flung Anakin backwards. Anakin caught himself enough to not hit the wall and glared. Closing his eyes, Anakin began levitating and flinging at Lavir the potted plants sitting on the floor. Lavir could only crouch on the ground and protect his head with his lightsaber, while the rest of his body was pummeled.
"STOP!"
Instantly, both Padawans felt their limbs freeze up and grow very heavy. All of the plants and their lightsabers simply crashed to the ground and neither had the strength to pick them up again.
"The meaning of this, you will explain!" Yoda commanded.
Instantly, both Padawans felt their limbs freeze up and grow very heavy. All of the plants and their lightsabers simply crashed to the ground and neither had the strength to pick them up again.
"The meaning of this, you will explain!" Yoda commanded.
At first, both Padawans were speechless. Anakin slouched by the wall and cradled his left arm and shoulder. He had to be careful not to fall on the shards of pottery around him. Lavir remained hunched on the floor staring at his and Anakin's lightsabers lying in Yoda's hands. Yoda waited for them to calm themselves and collect their thoughts.
In the mean time, Yoda surveyed the damage. First of all, the level of anger vibrating from the room could only be of the Darkside. The Darkside was all too often very difficult to pinpoint, but anger was one of the exceptions. Anger could not be hidden nor disguised. In addition, all the clues he could need were plain to see. The room itself was in shambles; even the walls did not escape damage, very typical of a Darkside brawl. What few hanging plants and vines that remained intact were already wilting away and would die soon after being poisoned by the Darkside.
The teenagers didn't look much better then their surroundings. Only the fact that neither had broken or missing limbs prevented Yoda from taking them both to the infirmary immediately. Lavir looked to be the worst off of the two. He had many scorch marks on his clothes and blood was beginning to seep through on his right forearm and on his back caused by the pots that broke when hitting him.
Anakin looked to have faired better. He likewise had numerous burns from Lavir's lightsaber and was holding his arm very carefully. His face was very white and growing paler.
Yoda decided he'd waited long enough, "In great peril you both are, for the Darkside will destroy you."
Without warning Anakin gagged and vomited on the floor. He fell to his knees and dry heaved. Yoda offered him no assistance and Lavir looked like he was close to loosing his stomach as well.
"A Trial of Life, this is. One of many to endure, you will," Yoda explained to them. "Failed, you have."
Yoda hobbled over to Lavir, "Elder you are, Lavir, speak."
Anakin recovered enough to move back and sit against the wall. Of course, Yoda would want to hear Lavir's side first.
Lavir gulped and moved his mouth, but for a moment, no sound came out, "Anakin accused me of doing something that angered him. I don't know what. He attacked first and I defended myself."
"See that, I can," Yoda answered wryly.
That statement only served to make Lavir look sicker, "I did tell him that our fighting wasn't appropriate and I tried to leave, but he wouldn't let me."
Oh, sure, make me look as bad as you can. Anakin thought bitterly. He struggled to not interrupt.
"Oh," Yoda's ears rose up slightly. "And fight how long before thinking to stop did you?"
"I.." Lavir stammered. "I was busy trying to protect myself..."
"Enjoy the fight you did! Elder by five years, you are! Responsible, you are, to stop such foolishness at the start!"
Somehow Lavir managed to look even more miserable.
"More to this there is," Yoda told them. "Angered you greatly, Anakin did."
"He insulted my master."
Yoda waited for Lavir to say more, but he didn't.
If he won't tell him I will! Anakin glared across the room at Lavir. And I won't distort it like he would.
"Anakin, begin."
Finally! Anakin sat up straighter, "Lavir knows that my masters left me here on purpose."
Yoda quickly looked back at Lavir, "Know why, do you?"
Lavir jumped at the sudden urgency in Yoda's voice, "No, I don't!"
Lavir stared as Yoda visibly relaxed. Anakin continued, "All day the others have been avoiding me and whispering about me. Lavir is the only one who could have told them!"
"I didn't tell them!" Lavir bellowed.
"Speak out of turn, you will not," Yoda answered sternly. "Truth he speaks, Anakin."
Anakin sagged against the wall. And I thought I was in big trouble already.
"So, revenge you took."
Anakin just nodded.
"Infuriated Lavir, how?"
Anakin was stumped, Should I tell him all of it? Lavir will just get madder at me if I do. I've blown it enough as it is. If he isn't punished enough for his part in this fight, then I'll tell.
"I said that his master always takes his side of things and that she lets him get away with stuff he shouldn't. I didn't exactly insult Master Tcirts-ton directly."
Yoda decided that he'd heard enough, "Unacceptable this behavior is. Speak more of this later, I will."
"Master Yoda," Lavir said humbly. "My actions were not those of a Jedi and I will strive to never repeat this mistake again."
"Uh," Anakin mumbled. "Me, too. He just had to think of another way to make me look worse. Anakin grumbled to himself.
"To the Healers go, Lavir," Yoda instructed. "Remain until your master comes. Speak of this to no one else but her."
Lavir slowly dragged himself up off the floor. Giving Yoda an awkward bow, he stiffly left the room without another word.
"Turn this meditation room into a battleground you did!" Yoda exclaimed once Lavir was out of hearing range.
Anakin didn't even try not to glower at Yoda. There is no way I'm going to sit through more lecturing from him right now!
"I need to see the healers too, you know!"
"Come," Yoda sighed and stepped around the broken pottery as he made his way to the exit, "Be out of my sight for even a minute, you can not!"
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