Luke's Paradox (Or, "What if Luke Skywalker was sent back to Episode One: The Phantom Menace?")

(Editor's note: In "A New Hope" Luke answered: "Not unless you can alter time, speed up the harvest, or teleport me off this rock."



Well I don't know about the harvest, but I'll work with the other two).







The blow hit him square in the face, and Qui-Gon felt as if time stood still: he could feel his heart beating in his chest as the sound of its pulse pounded in his ears; ((thwumb))....... (((thwumb)))...... He was aware of the humming, as if from a far off distance, of the energy shield that barred his padawan from entering the battle; ...dzsh... dzsh... He could feel the sweat gathering on his temple; the duel had lasted too long, Qui-Gon was exhausted. He smelled his own blood; like copper, as it began to trickle from his nostril. He anticipated the blow he knew was coming and watched helplessly as the Sith executed a perfect turn, bringing one end of his energy blade on a trajectory straight for Qui-Gon’s heart. The elder Jedi's reflexes had been honed over the countless years of his career, but it was the number of those years he knew now would be his downfall.



When he had first been struck in the face, his thumb automatically deactivated his energy blade; it was a dangerous weapon when the holder was not in control of it's movements. He knew he didn't have time to reignite it, but he had to make the attempt; before he had a chance to though, he was shoved to the floor of the generator core chamber with an unexpected push from the force, and time regained its fluidity.



*****



There wasn't time for the shock to register in Luke. The struggle had suddenly altered. He was no longer pressing the battle against his father. With that realization, the anger filling him dissipated, yet he clearly felt the hatred coursing through the horned, red and black tattooed creature whose blood red blade he now deflected. He was as evil as Vader, Luke's father, even more so; tapping the same dark energy that kept Lord Darth Vader alive.



With a wave of his hand he force pushed the aggressor away, over a pit that engulfed the center of the room; giving himself some distance and a chance to ascertain the situation. It wasn’t hard to throw the new opponent off balance, he seemed as surprised at Luke’s appearance as Luke was himself. This new foe was dressed in billowing black and held a Light Saber; one the likes Luke had never seen before. A scintillating red blade extended from both ends. The blades deactivated as the dark creature rolled into a defensive stance near an energy shield. Glaring at Luke through burning yellow eyes.



The transparent crimson wall of the shield prevented another participant from entering the battle. With a quick glance into the man's blue eyes, Luke felt this young man was someone he should recognize. His hair was cropped short, a lock of it was braided and snaked down behind his right ear. His clothes were a similar cut to the Jedi remnants old Ben had worn, except that the tunic and tabard were cut short for ease of movement. He had a Light Saber; also a different design then Luke's or his late mentor's. The man held it clenched in his fist; the deadly blade turned off as it was useless to him trapped on the other side of the barrier. 'He could only be a Jedi!' Luke guessed in amazement. Looking to his face again Luke noted the gambit of emotions that flowed across his features; surprise, concern... and finally loathing as he turned to look at the one dressed in black who snarled in Luke’s direction.



Behind him, Luke could hear the other member of the battle as he regained his footing. Luke had appeared as the dark one slammed the handle of his saber into the man's face. The force of Luke's appearance knocked him the rest of the way off his feet, throwing him to the floor of the chamber. As he stood, just within Lukes visual range, (Luke kept the dark one as his main focus,) he realized he was a Jedi as well. He was taller then Luke, at least as tall as Vader. Like his father the tall Jedi commanded a considerable physical presence.



As Qui-Gon stood he attempted to reactive his own blade, but was rewarded with a bolt of electricity that shot from its end as an ear piercing whine emanated from the shaft. Quickly the confused elder Jedi deactivated the useless weapon. Qui-Gon knew he must bring Obi-Wan into the fight, but at the moment the Sith stood between him and the control panel that would deactivate the energy shield.



Clearly puzzled by the situation the Sith; for that is the only thing Luke could imagine he was, circled around the chamber, towards them. Venom emanated from him as he prowled like a caged animal.



Maul was ready to do battle with the two Jedi but this new opponent was a mystery. 'Clearly this is not a Jedi Knight.' He thought with indignation. He took full measure of this new combatant dressed in black, who stood shielding his prey. 'I can feel the anger and hate clinging to him.' About his own height, the human's blade was green; like the Jedi Master's Maul had been within seconds of killing. This thought renewed Maul's own anger. He growled; an eerie sound that echoed, bouncing from the sleek metal walls of the round chamber.



'This interloper has denied me the death of the Jedi.' With only that thought on his mind the enraged Maul ignited his blade as he catapulted himself, over the pit, towards Luke. Luke thrust and parried, rolled and twisted. He struggled to defend himself against the sudden angry onslaught; he barely avoided having his left hand severed as a red energy blade singed his sleeve. Luke twisted to the Sith’s right side, rolling below a deadly stroke, landing a glancing blow to the Siths calve as he led him away from the chambers opening.



Meanwhile Qui-Gon did the only thing he was able to, while the two dressed in black fought each other; his own Jedi's weapon no longer operational, he sprinted to the control panel that would deactivate the energy shield and allow Obi-Wan into the battle. 'This will at least give the mysterious Jedi a fighting chance.' He thought as he worked the keypad on the panel that controlled the barrier. 'As Obi-Wan has been helplessly watching the struggle, he has had a chance to rest and study the Sith’s movements. He should be able to find a weakness in the Sith’s defenses.'



As Obi-Wan entered the battle, he worked in perfect time with Luke; taking the left side of their opponent, as Luke continued an unrelenting barrage of strikes designed to put the Sith in a defensive stance. Obi-Wan managed to land a blow that split the double ended staff in half. Maul staggered, his movements slowed and he seemed to weaken. Barely able to defend himself against the two young Jedi, he somersaulted backward with a howl, plummeting down the shaft. It seemed as though he had chosen certain death over being captured. As Luke reached the edge of the precipice he knew, from his own experience, that not all such falls were deadly. He *felt* he should not allow this evil opponent to escape.



A sudden hot updraft filled the room, blowing Luke's hair back and swirling Qui-Gon's long mane around his face. The faint echoes of laughter receding confirmed that Maul had lived... and escaped. Qui-Gon placed a hand on Luke's shoulder as he anticipated Luke’s intentions where to follow the Tattooed creature. He stopped him as he was about to dive in after the Sith. A calming serenity flowed from the Jedi Master's touch, and Luke realized how foolish such a move would have been; he was alone in an environment he new nothing about. The Sith had obviously planned for this contingency and would have an escape route planned. Luke would have been following him blind.



Qui-Gon placed his seemingly useless Saber on its clip, 'I will definitely need to discover the reason for my Light Saber's malfunction.'he thought to himself 'It is as if there were no focusing crystal to control the energy's release... very odd.' Reaching down he collected the severed end of the Sith's staff placing it alongside his own only after he had tested it and learned that it was indeed fully operational. 'Obi-Wan's strike was perfect,' he marveled 'instead of severing it he seems to have released the mechanism that held the two ends together.'



Obi-Wan, a steady watch on Luke, was not so quick to deactivate his own blade. Luke's was already hanging at his side where he had placed it on his belt, contemplating pursuit of the dark one.



"Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon's voice was sharp, as he noticed his apprentice's lack of manners "You don't threaten someone who has just saved our lives."



"But Master..." Obi-Wan ventured, exasperated but still holding his sword at the ready even as he deactivated the blade. "He is touched by the dark side, I can feel it!"



"Look deeper then on the surface Obi-Wan, things are not always as they appear." He reminded him and further instructed "Sort through the energies that swirl around our new friend, feel his confusion; there are forces at work here that I suspect even he does not understand."



As the two exchanged their dialogue they missed the look of shock that crossed Luke's face; he quickly hid his feelings, pushing them to the back of his mind.



*Obi-Wan? ... Ben! Yes I can feel it is him, younger, not as strong in the force but confident almost to the point of being reckless.*



Reluctantly Obi-Wan hung the handle of his saber in it's place, but he did not take his eyes off the new Jedi as he did so.



Turning to Luke the elder Jedi announced "I am Qui-Gon Jinn." he extended his hand towards young Ben. "This is my padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi" Obi-Wan acknowledged Luke with a nod.



Luke returned the head bow. Noting his former mentors icy demeanor.



"It would seem you have saved my life, I would like to thank you...."



"...Luke, my name is Luke." Unsure as to what was happening, Luke felt it was best at this time not to reveal too much about himself. He was certain he had traveled into the past, but how far... he could not determine.



"Luke then." He crossed his arms passively in front of himself, his right index finger bent as it hovered in front of his lips, as if he were sizing Luke up. Qui-Gon then inquired; "Tell me Luke, how did you manage to ...uh... find yourself in the middle of our duel? And at such an beneficial moment." With the edge of his wide sleeve he wiped the small amount of blood that had gathered on the edge of his mustache. Noting the red stain it created on the ivory hem, before he looked up and around, to examine the metal walls for any possible entries the young Jedi could have come from; there were none!



"I'm not sure." Luke shook his head as if trying to clear it of a fog. "I was in a battle with a Sith lord, but not the one who fought you... I was overcoming him but..." Luke's fingers trailed over the damage on the back of his prosthetic hand. Looking into the distance he trailed off, shaking his head, "...that's...not...right..."



"Another Sith!" Obi-Wan exclaimed with alarm. This sudden outburst brought Luke back to the present, the immediate present anyway.



"He's dead... well..." Luke blinked, trying to clear his mind. He raised his hand to his forehead as it suddenly began pounding from the effort to remember his past.



Qui-Gon sensed the confusion in Luke's thoughts, but he could plainly feel that his memories of his Sith's death were real, that they had a strong effect on the young man's emotions, causing him personal sadness. 'Why would the death of a Sith effect him so?' Qui-Gon wondered. He did not understand Luke's feelings, but he accepted the knowledge of such a deep sadness. He nodded to Luke. Then looked towards the entry.



From a distance came the sound of Nubian fighter engines, their clamor echoed through the many chambers as each ship landed. Followed by the faint sounds of jubilation, and *waves* of joy that could not be ignored as they radiated from the direction of the hangar.



Qui-Gon looked down the shaft where the Sith had disappeared, a look of concentration on his face but a moment. He then faced the two young Jedi. "It sounds as if the party may be starting without us! Shall we return to the hanger and see how the other combatants have faired?" It was not really a question, they both knew well the answer. All three had felt the disturbance in Force as the droid control ship had exploded. The joy of the Gungan army had been tangible as their robotic opponents collapsed in useless heaps on the battlefield. They especially had felt the surprised excitement of one particular Force strong pilot as he careened out of the exploding battle station.



The Jedi Master silently turned and headed down the corridor, not waiting for them to answer. The energy walls that had separated the combatants and almost caused his own untimely death had been reset so as to activate only when the generator core was in use. The heat they had felt in the updraft paled in comparison to the temperatures that were reached when the facility was in full operating mode. As they walked past the many laser walls now inactive Qui-Gon was sincerely aware of his own mortality. If it had not been for the sudden appearance of this mysterious Jedi Knight, he would not be able to ensure that young Anakin Skywalker; the boy he believed to be the Chosen One, would get the training he needed to become a Jedi.



‘If I had not survived I can only hope that Obi-Wan would have stepped in and followed through with Ani’s training.’ Qui-Gon contemplated the ramifications his own death, ‘That my padawan could somehow have convinced the council where I could not. The force tells me the boy is the one responsible for the victory here today. Anikin didn't shut that fighter off once he destroyed those three battle droids.’ Anakin’s contribution to the Queens struggle had not gone unnoticed by Qui-Gon as he and Obi-Wan first engaged the Sith; a Jedi must be aware of his surroundings at all times, especially during a battle. ‘That he was able to destroy the Neumodian’s command ship should prove to the council he is worthy of being trained.’



Luke followed the elder Jedi, but Obi-Wan lagged behind. Qui-Gon’s apprentice was determined to keep an eye on the mysterious Luke. ‘A "Jedi" who appears from nowhere, enshrouded in darkness...’ He mused, ‘Why can’t my master feel the danger this supposed "Jedi Knight" represents.’ Even as he struggled to control his antipathy, Obi-Wan had to admit to himself that if it where not for Luke’s sudden appearance Qui-Gon would certainly have died. His arrival had been mere moments before the Sith's angry red blade should have struck Qui-Gon in the chest. Obi-Wan had seen that knowledge in his master’s eyes. A cry of anguish had stuck in Obi-Wan’s throat but it had turned into a gasp as Luke appeared and deflected the blade. The Jedi dressed in black had been engulfed in the rage of the dark side. For an endless moment he had stared back at Luke trying to gage what his arrival had meant. Briefly their eyes had locked and Obi-Wan thought he had sensed recognition in Luke’s eyes. 'What could that mean?'



The Force warned Luke of the darkness Obi-Wan dwelled on; it still hung about him like the stench of evil. The elder Jedi seemed to be able to see through the haze, though Ben could not. With some concentration Luke forced the darkness to dissipate. When he had first arrived, it had been overwhelming; as pungent as that coming from the Sith. Luke had had to center himself during the battle, all the while fighting the temptation to draw upon that dark power that surrounded him while he fought the Sith.



They crossed the catwalks and ascended two levels, arriving in the hanger. Palace guards were securing the astrometric droids and assisting the pilots as they disembarked their ships. The ground crews had not yet been freed from the stockades they were imprisoned in by the Neumodian’s invasion force. Yet Luke felt the same emotions from the victors here as he had shared with the rebels after the triumph on Yavin Four. An almost impossible victory had been attained against an overwhelming opponent. The force had been at work here, as it had when he himself had managed to destroy the first Deathstar.



Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon retrieved their brown Jedi robes; they had shed them at the door of the hanger bay when they first engaged in the duel with the Sith. Obi-Wan also raised the Sith’s dark robe from the polished marble floor and proffered it up to the robe-less Jedi dressed in black. Referring to the runaway Sith he ventured, "Here Luke, he won't be back, you might as well have his robe."



*Knowing* that he would again face this Sith, Luke excepted the garment and flashed Ben a smile "I'll be sure to return it to him." He knew that the offer had meant to be an insult, almost a challenge; don the evil ones covering to assume his mantle. He would not let the challenge go unanswered. He would prove to this young version of his trusted mentor that he was not what Obi-Wan seemed ready to believe he was, and what the emperor had tried to make him into; he was not a Sith. ...The robe was but a garment, it was his actions that would prove to the padawan Jedi he was not the threat.



Just as he put the cloak over his shoulder’s Luke turned toward the hangers massive opening, sensing a familiar presence; a presence that he had only felt buried deep in the anger and hate that had bound his father to the dark side of the force and to the Emperor. This time the presence seemed almost pure light, tinged with only a slight kernel of regret. *For leaving his mother*



As Luke bathed in the presence of that light, his connection to Anakin was not lost on Qui-Gon, though he made no outward acknowledgment. 'This Luke is somehow tied to the "Chosen One". The connection is strong, but I can not sense were it leads.' The knowledge was there, but just beyond the Jedi Master's grasp.



Qui-Gon noted that Luke buried his feelings and was aware that this young man was indeed very strong in The Force. 'He has had Jedi training; though not at the Jedi temple,' Qui-Gon realized, 'Yet still: He is a Jedi Knight, I sense he has passed a grueling test to earn the title.'



Just then they were drawn into the sudden cheers that exploded as a sandy haired boy brought in the last Nubian fighter. Everyone held their breath as the boy made a shaky landing, the flight deck had been cleared to allow him the room he may have needed to land his unfamiliar Nubian craft. It turned out to be unnecessary as the young pilot made a shaky but almost flawless three point landing. The three Jedi knew just how precarious the landing had really been, Obi-Wan, Luke and Qui-Gon had stretched out with the force; ready to assist the young pilot if he had suddenly lost control. As one they had felt the boy, unknowingly draw upon the Force to assist himself with the landing. Almost as one the Jedi’s arms lowered from the position they had assumed as they had stretched their senses towards the spacecraft. If any one had been looking in their direction they would have thought it a strange sight.



With much enthusiasm Anakin greeted the Jedi once he had gotten through the throng of Nubian personnel who where congratulating the boy. Before he could relate to them the events that led to his destroying the battlestation Qui-Gon gave Anakin a stern look.



"Anakin, you put yourself in extreme danger," Qui-Gon admonished him. "You are brave but followed a foolish path. We are fortunate that it was the will of the Force that we prevail this day." He did have to smile to himself however, 'he did stay in the fighter like I told him to.'



Luke felt the pride the Jedi Master held for the boy and the admiration the boy returned for Qui-Gon. He also felt the twinge of jealousy in Ben. Qui-Gon had recently slighted him for the boys sake, Luke sensed. A memory suddenly hit Luke, something Ben had told him about meeting his father; '"When I first met your father he was a great pilot and the force was with him very strongly..."' He had never imagined that Ben had been speaking of a nine year old boy.



Before he could dwell on the sadness of where that memory would take him; the mistake that would haunt Ben's life, Anakin seemed to notice him for the first time. The other two Jedi had turned their attention towards a Nubian captain headed their way, and the young handmaiden that accompanied him.



Looking Luke directly in the eye, the remarkable young pilot asked him, "Are you a Jedi too?"

Luke stared into the blue gray eyes of the young pilot as the question the boy asked echoed in his head... "Are you a Jedi too?"



Luke had proclaimed to Palpatine he was as he threw his lightsaber aside, facing the emperor with only his faith in the force. "You have failed your highness, I am a Jedi like my father before me." A father who now stood before Luke, a wide eyed expectant boy. His skin tanned from life in the sun, how different Luke marveled then the face revealed to him as he removed his fathers helmet. Vader's skin had turned a pasty white from countless years concealed from prying eyes.



Vader too had proclaimed Luke's training completed as he inspected his son's Light Saber constructed from parts in Ben's home on Tatooine. Luke had never sought to be a Jedi, adventure, excitement yes, these things had an allure for a farm boy on an outer rim world. Becoming a Jedi, however, had never been a dream for him. Then in one day his entire life had changed, excitement had come his way, two droids had literally fallen from the sky to end up in his uncle Owen's possession and life was never the same.



Luke had never seen droids like those, an R2 unit and a protocol droid. They had a devotion to each other and to the one the little one had claimed was his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The R2 unit had run away searching for that master. Luke had followed him and met his destiny in the form of an aging Jedi he had known only as Ben, an old hermit who, for the most part, had kept to himself.



After the deaths of the only family he had ever known, his uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, Luke followed Obi-Wan, who then introduced him to a much larger universe. A universe of the Empire, of a rebellion, of Jedi Knights and princesses. A universe of war on a galactic scale. A war that had finally come to an end... `Aaarhh' again Luke's head began to pound, his mind swam as if drowning in darkness. The pain began to subside as he felt the large hand of Jedi Master Qui- Gon Jinn on his shoulder.



Qui-Gon's word's drifted through the pain that engulfed Luke's mind. Luke heard the last of what the venerable Jedi Master was saying to Anakin as his mind emerged from the darkness, "...he is the Jedi who helped us defeat the Sith."



Luke's mind cleared as he saw the Jedi master turn Anakin's attention towards the tasks at hand, kneeling he instructed the boy. "Sabe' informs us that many Gungan where injured during the battle, Queen Amidala needs all of the help she can get to minister to the injured." Cantering his head he indicated the handmaiden. "Go with Sabe' and help her. Watch closely and learn. You will be of great help to the Naboo." Luke noticed the lesson added as the master finished his words." For a Jedi must learn to serve."



Somewhat reluctantly the boy followed the young woman, too far for Luke to hear her words she whispered something to Anakin, the boy smiled and quickened his pace.



As all of Naboo began to repair the damage that the battle with the trade federation had caused to their city and their people, the Jedi excused themselves to contact the Jedi council. Speaking with Captain Panaka Qui-Gon asked to use a secure connection to Coruscant. "We must inform the council and the senate on the events here today." Continuing he stated, "the new chancellor will want to know what has occurred on his home world."



Qui-Gon's Last words gave Luke an eerie sense of foreboding. At the time he did not understand why. The reason though soon became apparent to him as they were lead into the Queens royal chambers and High Chancellor Palpatine's secretary came on line. Luke chose that moment to fade into the background, beyond the range of the holo- emitters. Young Obi-Wan gave him a suspicious glance, but Qui-Gon seemed not to notice the action.



****



Palpatine was alone in his new chancellor's offices when he received the call. He had made solicitous overtones to the former chancellor about not wishing to rush him out of his offices, but Valorum had been utterly resigned. He had lost control of the government a long time ago. Palpatine smiled to himself, knowing it was his own maneuvers that had caused this change in government.



Senator Palpatine had hoped to take over the government of Naboo through the trade federation, establishing a foothold in the republic one insignificant world at a time, but events had worked in his favor even better then he had planned. The two Jedi Valorum had sent managed to rescue the Naboo queen before she had been forced to sign the treaty with the Neumodian's. Fleeing her world she had played right into Palpatine's hands, she had been the instrument he had used to secure his new position as high chancellor, calling for a vote of no confidence in Valorum. He would still play his part as the kind statesman for a while longer, until he gained enough power to dissolve the senate. `Hmmm... that will be years in the future..' he thought with some pleasure, a smirk pulling at his lip. `I have patience, I will become emperor!'



"Ahem," the chancellor's secretary interrupted his thoughts as the new chancellor stared over the city world he knew would some day belong to him. "Your eminence?"



Turning a kindly visage to the young officer, Palatine gave him a benevolent smile, "Yes York, what is it?"



"A transmission has been received from Naboo," nervously the young man gave the chancellor the good news, "the trade federation has been defeated!"



"Ahh, is Queen Amidala still transmitting?" Palpatine encouraged, his smile broadening.



"Uh... No your eminence, it was not The Queen who wishes to speak to you, but the two Jedi who had accompanied her." The aid shifted his weight from one foot to the other.



"Oh...?" was his only reply as he motioned York to rout the call through the chancellor's terminal.



York tapped a sequence into the com pad he held, then the two figures of the Jedi flickered into view, as if they were ghosts standing in the chancellor's office. Palpatine did not bother to stand as the Jedi masters tall figure loomed in front of his desk.



"What news have you Master Jedi?" He directed his question to the older Jedi but did not miss the divided attention of the apprentice.



"Your world has been freed your eminence." 'Qui-Gon was focused on the mission, as a good Jedi should be,' thought Palpatine, 'hmmm... but his apprentice is not so focused, what has his attention I wonder?'



"Wonderful," Palpatine's glee showed through his calm manner. Then his words turned to concern, "Is Queen Amidala injured? I would have expected her highness to contact the senate.""No," Palpatine observed the Jedi's communications where succinct and to the point. "She is attending her people, she sends her regards and hopes that your eminence will attend the celebrations in three days?"



`The Jedi is after something...' The Chancellor noted, 'This invitation could have been made by any official, and should have been made by Governor Bibble if not by Amidala herself.Palpatine allowed a smile to broaden his face, "Of course, of course. We will be arriving the day after tomorrow then."



Ending the transmission, the chancellor made arrangements with his secretary. Sending him on various errands, as he receive another transmission, on an entirely different line: A small blue figure shimmered; Palpatine's features shifted as Sidious frowned at his cloak less apprentice. Maul spoke, "Master...."



************



Obi-Wan looked in confusion at his master, `What was that about?' he wondered to himself. However his thoughts were interrupted as the Jedi council came immediately into view. Only three of the members could be seen; Yoda, Mace Windu and Ki Adi Mundi. From the councils point of view the two Jedi stood in the center of the Jedi council chamber.



Luke watched silently as the two bowed reverently in unison to the electronic images at the center of the chamber. His heart beat a little faster as he caught site of Yoda; alive and well the Jedi's late master was younger then when Luke had first met and was trained by him on Degohbah. Yoda's authority emanated even from this flickering representation of him.



Luke felt humbled by the respect the two Jedi showed his former master. `For hundreds of years have I trained Jedi' words from his past echoed in Luke's mind.



"...Sith has escaped." Luke chastised himself, once again his mind had wondered, a dangerous pre-occupation he would have to change.



Qui-Gon continued with his report. "The Queen informs us that the Sith had a master, the Neumodians called him Darth Sidious. He assured them he would make any treaty legal in the senate." Qui-Gon paused before he continued, "I believe he has connections in high places, or is himself placed high in the government."



A new Jedi came into view, a female, Luke would learn later she was a Corrilean, her family was connected high in the political machines of Coruscant. Ki Adi spoke to her, as she nodded, "You will speak with your people on this Mistress Adi?"



The focus returned to the main Jedi's. Master Mace Windu a human Jedi with dark skin and a stern look advised, "Of this unknown Jedi you spoke of. We will be arriving with the Chancellor to learn more of him."



The council nodded as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed to them, and the images evaporated. An abrupt ending Luke thought. The council did not mince words.



Obi-Wan began to ask Qui-Gon, "Master, why did you not tell the chancellor about the Sith, surely he has..."



Qui-Gon interrupted as he looked into Luke's eyes, "I believe our young friend has more knowledge of our situation than he has told us so far."



"For now however," Qui-Gon turned to his bewildered apprentice, "we will help the Naboo with their cleanup, we should find the Queen."



Allowing the two young Jedi to leave the queens chamber ahead of him Qui-Gon contemplated in the silence on Luke's actions as they had contacted the Chancellor and the council. 'I could feel Luke's apprehension at the mention of Palpatine's name. No, not just apprehension almost a fear. Somehow I sense he is a part of why Luke appeared in the middle of our battle with the Sith.' Qui-Gon felt a chill go down his spine remembering the battle. Its ending somehow not feeling right to him. He wrapped his robe more tightly around himself and quickened his pace.



******



The Jedi found the Queen still dressed in her battle attire on the field where many battle droids were strewn across. Luke felt a familiar presence as he surveyed the carnage a light rain had turned the battlefield muddy. When he caught sight of a dark haired woman dressed in burgundy velvet, his first thought was `Leia', but as he looked closer he could see it was not his sister. This was a girl about fourteen years old, but she held a presence like a princess, she had a royal bearing about her. Looking at the "queen" again he realized the woman dressed as royalty was a decoy "...and quite a good one.' He thought.



Luke then caught site of young Anakin, he stood near the disguised queen as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan informed her that both the council and the chancellor would be arriving. Luke did not miss the glances that the boy occasionally took of the queen dressed as a handmaiden. Again Luke felt his sisters presence as he looked into the young woman's features. It was not just the casual likeness or the regal bearing that had reminded him of Leia. `Could this be my mother?' The possibility dumbfounded Luke. That he would meet both of his lost parents on the same day. See them as they were before he was born, the world began to spin for Luke.



This time however Luke was not brought back to reality by the Jedi master's soothing presence, but by a clumsy local who slammed into his back as he tripped over his own feet. Luke was able to regain his footing without falling face first into the muddy battlefield, but the Gungan had not. Luke heard a muffled apology as it landed in the trampled field.



Pushing himself out of the muck and spitting grass, mud and robot parts from between his teeth, Jar Jar made a frantic attempt to apologize to Luke as Luke attempted to assist him from the ground.



"Mesa so sowy..." his bug eyes pleading with a look as if he were about to be turned into goo or something, he attempted to wipe the dirt from Luke's tunic, only to spread more of the grime onto the black cloth.



"That's quite alright." Luke attempted to push the unhelpful hands away as best he could.



A chuckle escaped from Obi-Wan's lips as he noticed Luke now had to contend with the clumsy Gungan who had plagued him and his master most of their mission. His attention however returned to his master and the queen as transports arrived that would carry the remaining injured to Theed for medical attention.