Jedi Council Forums - What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects) UPDATED 1/16 Chapter 2

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Author	Topic: What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects) UPDATED 1/16 Chapter 2
BrightFeather Registered: Nov '05	Date Posted: 1/2/06 8:29am Subject: What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects) UPDATED 1/16 Chapter 2 - Date Edited: 9/22/06 1:32am (6 edits total) Edited By: BrightFeather
	What Price, Freedom? By BrightFeather Disclaimer: If you think any of the canon Star Wars characters belong to me, you're sadly mistaken. I borrowed them, hugged them, squeezed them, called them George, then gave them back like a good girl. All things Star Wars belong to George Lucas. Author's Note: I put this in the home for wayward plot bunnies, but it kept nagging me, so I took it back. This is an AU. The events of TPM happened up until right after Qui-Gon's death. After that, well, we'll see. Oh yes, and for Xanatos fans, I've resurrected him and brought him back to the Light, so there are adventures alluded to here that didn't happen in the canon universe… Waqkemé Noori belongs to Ophelia, but she's let me borrow her. Waqkemé's stories are The First Four Days by Ophelia, and she's also found in DarthIshtar's Wayward Beings. I'm planning on updating every other week. My thanks to ladylaurel18 for being so kind as to beta this and listening patiently to wild ideas when I was loopy on benedryl. PM List: Magenta_Moonshadow Dianethx (Bless The Child and What Price, Freedom?) MoeTharen Stella_Ripple Layren AP4EVER (Bless The Child only) Jedi_Tigris Zonoma (Bless The Child only) DaenaBenjen42 BrentusofGath Noelie Aya-Na_Bashu (For anything involving Hanah) iLoveAnakin7 Mr_Dagobah Jaira Tatooine_Ghost ~~~*~ -----signature----- Padawan of Layren. Creator of Darth Cookie E-sis of DaenaBenjen42 and BrentusofGath. http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/22518786/p1/?3 http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/22764026/p1/?2
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BrightFeather Registered: Nov '05	Date Posted: 1/2/06 8:30am Subject: RE: NEW! What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter 1: Servo Libertas ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “You don't get something for nothing You can't have freedom for free" --Neil Peart ~~~~ Master Qui-Gon was dead. The phrase repeated itself over and over in Anakin's mind. Obi-Wan thought he was dangerous. The Jedi didn't want him. A whimper almost escaped from eight-year-old Anakin's throat, but he squashed it ruthlessly. Crying would not help; tears never helped. Usually, tears earned you another beating. He scooted closer into the corner, hidden from causal observers and pulled his bag close to him. What would happen to him now? He was trouble. If he'd never taken the chance at freedom, Qui-Gon would still be alive. He was a problem. He thought they'd most likely send him back home into slavery on Tatooine. "I won't let that happen," he muttered. Glancing around furtively, Anakin stood up, slung his bag over one shoulder, and started walking soundlessly towards the door. He'd sneak out of the Palace and go somewhere else. He'd find his own place to belong. If the Jedi didn't want him, well that was fine! He could take care of himself. He wouldn't waste Qui-Gon's gift to him. He would keep his freedom and find a way to survive and give the same gift to his mother. After that, well, he just didn't know. He couldn't see that far ahead. Anakin crept through the corridors, finally leaving by a side exit. Slowly, he made his way into the city, making himself as small as possible so as not to be noticed. Experience had taught him that people didn't notice little kids; it was how he'd listened to all the stories that the star pilots swapped on layovers back home. His mouth tightened into a hard line. One of the star pilots had told stories about surviving on the streets as a child. That information would be useful now if he couldn't find work fixing things. Somehow, he would survive. Somehow, he would go back to Tatooine and free his mother. Anakin spotted an alley up ahead and hurried into it to discover an old crate. With a flash of brown clothing, he disappeared into it, pulling his bag in with him. The crate even had a lid on hinges. It would do. He'd have to move it further away from the Palace later, but for now, it could be home. Carefully, he pulled the crate shut and relaxed. Hiding was good. He half-closed his eyes and remembered everything he'd seen Qui-Gon do over the past few weeks. Before they'd reached the Temple, the Jedi Master had taught him to shield, so he employed the knowledge, hiding his mind from any would-be searchers. Not that there would be. No doubt, they'd be glad to be rid of him. For the first time in his short life, Anakin felt free. ~~~~ Obi-Wan frowned as he searched the Palace. The boy was hiding from everyone. Kemé and Xanatos had arrived with the Council to attend Qui-Gon's funeral, since it had been decided to hold it on Naboo. He would rather be spending some time with them; they understood what he'd lost. But he had to find the boy first. "Anakin?" he called softly. There was no response. The rooms they had been assigned were echoingly empty, and the boy's small satchel of belongings was gone. Perhaps he had gone to look for Padmé. Over the past little while, the Queen and the boy had made friends. The Council had not yet given permission for him to be trained, but he owed it to his late master to see that it was done. He left the rooms and walked quickly to the Queen's chambers. He knocked on the door. "Come in," a voice said. Obi-Wan entered the ornately-carved room, then immediately bowed. "Your Majesty," he began, not caring if it was the Queen or one of her handmaidens. "Padawan Kenobi," she inclined her head. The Handmaidens clustered around her, wearing their flame-colored gowns, just as they had been on the ship. "Have you seen Anakin?" he asked. "I can't seem to find the boy." One of the Handmaidens raised her head. "No, I haven't, Obi-Wan," Padmé said. "He said something on the ship about you thinking that he's dangerous and that the Jedi didn't want him. Does that help?" He shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I suppose he could be wandering in other areas of the Palace; it's a big place." Padmé exchanged a glance with the Handmaiden who was currently being the decoy. "Saché," Padmé began, "Sabé and I can go and help Obi-Wan look for Ani, if you'll stay here and keep pretending to be me." Saché inclined her head. "Of course," she answered. "Your Majesty," Obi-Wan protested. "I simply wanted to know if you had any ideas!" "You don't know the Palace, Padawan Kenobi," Sabé pointed out. "We do. We can search it much more quickly without a chance of getting lost." He bowed his head in the face of inescapable logic. "All right," he agreed finally. Together, Obi-Wan, Padmé, and Sabé left the chamber and started their search. Floor by floor, room by room, they searched the Palace until they finally had to concede defeat. "I don't know where else to look," Padmé admitted. "The gardens, maybe?" Sabé suggested. "He might have fallen asleep out there." "I suppose it's possible," Obi-Wan said slowly. "But even with my limited knowledge of it, I can't sense his Force presence." Padmé pursed her lips. "He thinks that the Jedi don't want him," she began slowly. "And he thinks that you don't want him around, either. Maybe he ran away." Obi-Wan started. It was something he had never considered before. "Why would he do that?" he blurted out. Padmé rolled her eyes in exasperation. "He's eight years old and he's scared. He left everything he knew because he was promised a better life, and now the man who promised him that life is dead and he knows that he's not wanted. What would you have him do? Hang around? He probably thinks that you'll sell him back into slavery or something!" Obi-Wan ducked his head. It was something else he had not thought of. Deep within his heart, he felt a twinge of sympathy for the youngling. "We need to find him," he murmured. "I promised my Master that I would make sure he was trained." "He can't have gotten far," Sabé said. "He's probably in Theed somewhere." "I'll talk to Captain Panaka and get him to send some of our people with you to search," Padmé promised. "I wish I could join you, but my movements are limited even dressed as a Handmaiden, especially now." "I understand," was his soft answer. "I'll get my padawan-siblings and we'll start looking in the city." "Be careful, Obi-Wan," Padmé warned him. "The aftermath of the battle is still being cleaned up, and I don't know what the mood of my people is right now. They have lost much over the past few weeks." Obi-Wan bowed, then headed to the courtyard where Waqkemé and Xanatos were waiting for him to introduce the boy that their Master had wanted to train. They had been planning on attending his funeral together and taking the child with them afterwards. He frowned. If they failed to find Anakin quickly, the Council would have to be informed. After all the fuss over the insistence that the boy must be trained, Obi-Wan had a feeling that they would not be happy that he had managed to lose him. How hard could it be to find an eight-year-old boy, anyway? Sadness threatened to overcome him yet again as he caught sight of his padawan-siblings. Kemé was leaning against the building, the sun catching her dark hair and making it seem almost blue-black in the light. She waved at him in greeting, but he could see the well-hidden signs of sorrow in her blue eyes. She was dressed in the sand-colored tunics typical of most Jedi, providing a nice contrast to Xanatos, who was standing beside her. The once-fallen Jedi was wearing unrelieved black, which heightened the paleness of his skin, and he, too, showed signs of sorrow. Obi-Wan knew that it had taken a long time for his padawan-brother and his master to mend the rift in their relationship after Xan had realized what the dark side had done to him and made his way back. It was up to the three of them to fulfill their Master's last wish; Anakin would be found and trained. Neither Kemé nor Xanatos currently had a padawan, so if the Council deemed him too young to train the boy, there were two other willing Masters available… It was Kemé who spoke first. "Where's the little one?" she asked. "I… don't know," Obi-Wan admitted. "He's not in the Palace--the Queen is of the opinion that he's run away." Xanatos's blue eyes flashed. "So, what you're telling me is that an eight-year-old, who was to be our Master's next apprentice, has run away from us? And why, pray tell, would he do that, Obi-Wan?" Obi-Wan shuffled his feet. "He picked up on the fact that I thought he was dangerous," he said slowly. "And the Council rejected him before we left Coruscant." He paused for a few minutes. "The Queen seems to think that he felt with Master Qui-Gon's death that he'd be sent back to Tatooine where he was a slave." "Ample reason to run," Kemé said softly. "Xani, Obi, I'm going to go look for him; he's still a baby and doesn't need to be on the streets." Xanatos nodded slowly. "I'll look for him too; if the three of us split up, we can cover more ground. Obi, would you please show us what his Force signature feels like?" "I-I-I don't know," Obi-Wan admitted. "I never looked for it; I figured that he would be sent to Agri-Corps or something." Kemé shook her head, sadly. "It can't be helped now." She paused. "Let's go find our Master's last legacy to us." The three Jedi left the Palace courtyard and split up. Obi-Wan knew it would only be a matter of time before they found Anakin; after all, he was only eight. How well could an eight-year-old hide? And how far could he get in a few hours? He was sure that they would find him soon. ~~~~ Anakin looked through a handy knothole in his box for what seemed to be the hundredth time that day. It was almost dark. He opened his backpack and rummaged through it. He had some rations that he'd hoarded on the ship. He didn't understand why they thought that they needed so much food every day; Watto had often gambled away their food rations. He was used to surviving on far less than the Naboo people and the Jedi thought they needed. When he had food, especially the preserved variety, his tendency was to try and hoard it to make it last. Anakin turned on his light and carefully opened one of the ration bars. Half would do. He had to find work before he could get more food, so what he had would have to last. He was sure that he could find some sort of job fixing things; stuff broke all the time. Anakin frowned as he took a careful bite of his dinner. He'd have to be cautious. It was possible that there were slavers on Naboo, just like there were on Tatooine. He shivered slightly. He was growing used to the constant cold, but he'd have to get the money for blankets somehow. If he had to, he supposed he could steal one, but his mom had taught him that stealing was wrong. He didn't think he could find things like food and blankets in junkyards the way he could find parts. Padmé. The thought popped into his mind that he could find out if they needed fixers at the Palace; that perhaps she'd offer him a home, but he dismissed it. Queens didn't shelter grubby slave boys from Tatooine. Anakin had learned a long time ago that nothing came without a price. He shivered again. Even his freedom had come with a hidden price--Qui-Gon Jinn's life. He owed it the Jedi Master to stay free. He finished his half a ration bar, wrapped it up, and put it back in his bag. He needed to move his crate to a more secure location. Anakin frowned and decided to wait until much, much later. That way, if they were bothering to look for him, which he doubted, they wouldn't catch him moving it. Besides, slavers wouldn't be slave-catching in the middle of the night. Satisfied with that thought, Anakin curled up into a ball. Using his bag as a pillow, he let his eyes slide shut as he drifted towards sleep. ~~~~ Xanatos prowled through the streets of Theed, looking for any sign of Anakin. Many of the inhabitants tended to give him a wide berth after getting one look at his scarred cheek. He always made sure to only show that side of his face when venturing into the more poverty-stricken neighborhoods. He was saddened by the events that had brought him to Naboo. It had been hard to win back Qui-Gon's trust almost a decade ago, and even now, he never spent much time at the Temple. Usually, he was sent on dangerous deep-cover missions, but he sensed that change was coming. His padawan-brother had promised Master Qui-Gon that the child would be trained as a Jedi. Silently, Xanatos promised himself and his mentor's spirit that if it were the will of the Force, he would personally see to it, even if he had to take the boy as his apprentice himself. Xanatos smiled sardonically. He was pretty sure that his padawan-sister, Kemé, was making the same vow. Their relationship was still shaky at times; he often felt that she was waiting for him to misstep again and irredeemably fall to the dark side. Xanatos walked down an alley, checking each and every niche that could provide shelter for a small boy. Qui-Gon had sent him a message before leaving Coruscant regarding the child. From the description, he was smaller than most eight-year-olds. Bant's later descriptions had clarified the picture even more; even though Anakin was eight, he looked about six. He frowned as he considered how his master had died; Qui-Gon rightly should still be around to take the boy as his apprentice. Xanatos's hand curled into a fist. It was a very good thing that the Sith that had killed his Master was dead. If not, he'd be Sith-hunting rather than child-hunting at the moment. He grimaced because nobody had thought to take a holo or two of the boy. If they had, he could be showing it around now rather than blindly searching the streets of Theed. With the current chaos leftover from the invasion, a holo might not do much good, but it would've been better than nothing. Xanatos walked down an alley, extending all his senses. Nothing. He could sense nothing but the different Force-signatures of normal city traffic. His eyes swept over a sturdy wooden box. Briefly, he considered looking inside, but dismissed the idea; the crate was closed, so it was unlikely that the boy could have climbed inside. He also doubted that Anakin would have stopped so close to the Palace. With that thought in mind, Xanatos walked past the box, continued down the alleyway, and stepped onto a main street. Casting a weather-eye to the sky, he realized that it would be dark soon; they'd have to hurry to find the child before it got too dark to search. Cities were notoriously unsafe at night, no matter what planet they were on. ~~~~ Kemé knew that she was tracing Xanatos's footsteps somewhat, but she didn't care. In order to get to the more poverty-stricken areas of Theed, it was necessary to pass through the merchant district, which, unfortunately, was one of the central parts of the city, and which Xanatos was currently searching. She found it a little ironic that her Kaigon had spent part of his last mission rescuing another enslaved child and fighting the Council to train it. Things had come full circle, she reflected, because one of his early missions had involved her* rescue from slavery. Since her most recent padawan had been Knighted, she had been looking for another. If it was the will of the Force, she would train Anakin Skywalker for her Master. Even if it wasn't, she would make sure to be part of his life; her background was probably similar enough that she could help him adjust to his new life. Kemé passed through an alley, continually searching for some sign of a child, but she neither saw nor felt anything. "Anakin," she called softly, hoping that if the boy were hiding nearby, she could entice him out. Her eyes lingered on a crate, but it was closed, and the top looked too heavy for a starveling eight-year-old to lift. There was no answer. Kemé folded her hands into her robe and kept going. She had a boy to find so that her Master's last wish would be fulfilled. As she searched, part of her mind lingered on memories of her years spent with Kaigon. Lost in thought, she didn't notice the bright blue eye that peeked through a knothole in the crate she'd dismissed to examine her. ~~~*~ TBC... -----signature----- Padawan of Layren. Creator of Darth Cookie E-sis of DaenaBenjen42 and BrentusofGath. http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/22518786/p1/?3 http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/22764026/p1/?2
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Layren Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 1/2/06 8:50am Subject: RE: NEW! What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	You already know how much I like this but I'll tell you again anyway. Such a great start! You guys are in for a treat! -----signature----- Proud Master to Ara-gon The Triad Chronicles http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/25934993/p1/?177 (OC's) Into Another Day http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/27926050/p1/?0 2008 Dear Diary Challenge I am Jinngerbread.
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oqidaun Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 1/2/06 9:21am Subject: RE: NEW! What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	Wow! Brightfeather, this is off to a really keen start. I like how you're handling this. You're bringing out lots of little details about Anakin's childhood--I especially liked the part about the ration bars. Neat character study, there. I'm looking forward to seeing more! -----signature----- . . . . I'm so bad, I banned myself.
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Mr_Dagobah Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 1/2/06 10:26am Subject: RE: NEW! What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	Thank you for adding me on your PM list! This story is already shaping up to be a good one, especially since you have three of Master Qui Gon's padawans walking around in it. Poor Ani. It must be awful to feel so lonely, and yet try to be so strong. Update soon! -----signature----- "The son becomes the father... And the father, the son." "You say the world doesn't need a saviour, but everyday I hear people calling out for one." __Superman Returns.
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Jaira Title: FanForce Arkansas PR Officer Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 1/2/06 11:30am Subject: RE: NEW! What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	Hey! Add me to the PM list, please! -----signature----- Where has all the Siriwan gone? Need a fun break? http://z9.invisionfree.com/Jello_Anarchy/
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iLoveAnakin7 Registered: Apr '05	Date Posted: 1/2/06 1:24pm Subject: RE: NEW! What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	If only Anakin knew how many people are searching for him and truly care. Padme was a little harsh with Obi-Wan I think, but she does have a point. It's funny how they all pass the crate and just assume that Anakin could never be in there...if they only knew... thanks for the pm
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Stella_Ripple Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 1/2/06 4:30pm Subject: RE: NEW! What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	A wonderful start on a brilliant new AU! I'm loving it already- especially all the potential interaction between the three ex padawans and ani ! Can't wait to see how this goes on! -----signature----- Obi-Wan offered himself as a highly responsible role model in “Episode II.” He didn’t like reckless driving; he disapproved of being chained to a big pillar as large animals with pincers approached; he just said no to deathsticks.
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MoeTharen Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 1/2/06 7:09pm Subject: RE: NEW! What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	This is great BrightFeather! Please keep me on your PM list! I can't wait for more! -Commander Tharen- -----signature----- Jesus Freak
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DaenaBenjen42 Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 1/2/06 9:01pm Subject: RE: NEW! What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	How hard could it be to find an eight-year-old boy, anyway? One that doesn't want to be found? Quite hard, actually. Good start! Love it! -----signature----- "Say it with me now. Postcard. Zoo. Not. Shopping." master to jackyyy17, micky-nikki, & Trimaj e-sis to BrightFeather All cats are leopards after dark.
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BrentusofGath Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 1/3/06 12:59am Subject: RE: NEW! What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	Yay! You posted! gets hold of self What I mean is; this is a good story and I'm glad to see it posted! -----signature----- In time or so I'm told, I'm just another soul for sale, oh well Feel it in my bones when you break my back, break it just to watch me bend Why'd you have to go and Let it Die? -Foo Fighters http://conscienceoftheking.blogspot.com/
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BrightFeather Registered: Nov '05	Date Posted: 1/3/06 9:56am Subject: RE: NEW! What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects) - Date Edited: 1/4/06 1:52pm (1 edits total) Edited By: BrightFeather
	Layren: Thank you, Master! Oqidaun: Thank you! When this bunny bit, it occurred to me that I had yet to see a story that really dealt with all the issues of Anakin's past. And little things like hoarding food is something that children who, like Anakin, don't know when or if their next meal will be tend to do. I'm giving Ani full credit for street smarts and trying to give a realistic depiction of an eight-year-old in his situation. Mr Dagobah: This story is already shaping up to be a good one, especially since you have three of Master Qui Gon's padawans walking around in it. Poor Ani. It must be awful to feel so lonely, and yet try to be so strong. I always wondered why they didn't just ask Qui's first padawan to train Ani. I mean, as a brand-new knight, Obi needed some time on his own before he was really ready for an apprentice. As for Anakin, I think that he really was alone after Qui-Gon died. I mean, being at the Temple must've been like being at a new school, only worse, because the kids there have known each other since infancy. And Obi-Wan was hurting from Qui-Gon's death, so I doubt he was really much support at the time... And then there's the fact that we hardly ever saw Obi touch Anakin; Qui-Gon touched the kid more, and he died in TPM! Anakin also shows all the classic signs of an emotionally neglected child in AOTC and ROTS... Jaira: Done. iLoveAnakin7: Welcome! And yeah, maybe she was a little. But Padmé thought that, having been an eight-year-old boy himself, Obi should understand better. Young Obi always struck me as a little obtuse. Stella_Ripple: The plot bunnies munched at my ankles until I gave in. Vicious little things. They just wouldn't take no for an answer. We'll see what happens with Kemé, Xan, Obi, and Ani... if he's found. MoeTharen: Thank you! And will do. DaenaBenjen42: Yep. I have a feeling that Ani'd be one of those kids who everybody gets mad at during hide-and-seek. You know, the one that nobody can ever find! BrentusofGath: LOL. Thanks, Bro. It seemed like something that would be more logical than what happened in canon... Thanks for reading, y'all. I'm working on the next chapter of Bless the Child. It'll be up next week, and then chapter two of this one the week after that. This is a WIP, so please bear with me. I sort of know where we're going, but because the struggle for freedom and to remain free is ongoing, this will probably end up spanning years. I've always found it rather ironic that Anakin pretty much re-enslaved himself, especially after he said he hated slavery so much. I mean, as a Sith apprentice, he was right back in the slavery he'd sought to escape, and it was only in the end that he was free... BrightFeather -----signature----- Padawan of Layren. Creator of Darth Cookie E-sis of DaenaBenjen42 and BrentusofGath. http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/22518786/p1/?3 http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/22764026/p1/?2
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Jedi_Tigris Registered: Mar '05	Date Posted: 1/4/06 4:18pm Subject: RE: What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	Ooh, wonderful start! I love how you get into Anakin's head. So sad how he feels that he has to keep himself free for Qui, and that no one wants him. I'm sure he did feel that way, since all his life he's had to survive and everything had a price. So nice to see all 3 of Qui's former apprentices looking for Anakin. Love how they think alike too. And so ironic that Xan and Keme both passed by the box where Ani's hiding thinking he couldn't have gotten in. Hope they find him soon, and show him that he's wanted. Great job! Thanks for the pm -----signature----- "Who is more foolish? The fool, or the fool who follows him?" - Obi-Wan Kenobi, ANH padawan/adoptee of Myri_Antilles Battling DRL...otherwise known as college and work... Please add me to your pm list when I review. Thanks!
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VaderLVR64 Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 1/4/06 4:22pm Subject: RE: What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	I just found this and it's great! I can't wait for more! -----signature----- R.I.P John, Alex, Jason, and Christian Never forgotten Soldiers' Angels http://soldiersangels.org/ 2114 soldiers waiting for someone to care
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dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 1/4/06 5:40pm Subject: RE: What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	Put me on the PM list for this one, too. Nicely done. I loved that both Jedi bypassed the crate - how often have people overlooked the obvious and later there was tragedy... Poor Ani thinks that he'll be sent back into slavery. Of course, why wouldn't he think that with Obi-Wan saying he was dangerous and the Jedi rejecting him? Good job. -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 11/2/09 jedidas3's Master Merlin - Diplomatic Immunity - http://boards.theforce.net/nswff/b10808/30459852
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BrightFeather Registered: Nov '05	Date Posted: 1/16/06 2:43pm Subject: RE: What Price, Freedom? (AU, Ani, Xan, Obi, OCs, usual suspects)
	Jedi_Tigris - Thank you! It seemed eminently logical to me, too. And I love irony. VaderLVR64 - Glad you found this, then! And there's more coming right up. dianethx - Done! Ah, but there might not be tragedy this time... maybe. After all, Anakin is now just another street rat in Theed. My thoughts exactly! Anakin is no stranger to death--growing up as a slave would see to that. And he would know that death breaks all bargains. There was no reason for him to hang around at all. Thanks for reading, y'all, and I hope you like the update. Last time, on What Price, Freedom? -- Even if it wasn't, she would make sure to be part of his life; her background was probably similar enough that she could help him adjust to his new life. Kemé passed through an alley, continually searching for some sign of a child, but she neither saw nor felt anything. "Anakin," she called softly, hoping that if the boy were hiding nearby, she could entice him out. Her eyes lingered on a crate, but it was closed, and the top looked too heavy for a starveling eight-year-old to lift. There was no answer. Kemé folded her hands into her robe and kept going. She had a boy to find so that her Master's last wish would be fulfilled. As she searched, part of her mind lingered on memories of her years spent with Kaigon. Lost in thought, she didn't notice the bright blue eye that peeked through a knothole in the crate she'd dismissed to examine her. ~~~~ And now... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter 2: Fugio Supersto* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Bit by bit . . . she had claimed herself. Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another." --Toni Morrison ~~~~ Yoda leveled Obi-Wan with a stern gaze as he walked into the room. "Late, you are, Padawan Kenobi." Obi-Wan bowed deeply. "Master Yoda," he said softly. "I apologize for my tardiness." Yoda inclined his head. "Saddened are we by the passing of your Master," the wizened old Jedi said. "Thank you," was the soft response. "Knighted, you will be. Padawan no longer you are," Yoda paused briefly. "Killing the Sith, serve as your trials it does." Obi-Wan bowed his head. Killing the Sith had come with a higher cost than he'd wanted to pay; it had cost him the only father he had ever known. And now the child that his father had entrusted him with was missing. "Thank you, Master Yoda," he murmured, unable to speak louder around the lump in his throat. "What about his other request?" He spoke louder this time, determined to fulfill his promise to Qui-Gon. "What about Anakin?" Yoda paced slowly in front of him, then stopped and turned to face him. "Trained, he will be. But great danger I fear in his training. Train him you will not, Kenobi. An older, more experienced master, wish we for him." Obi-Wan nodded. He had expected something like that, but still, it rankled. He had promised* that he would train Anakin. "But Master Yoda," he protested. "I promised my Master that I would do it." Master Yoda tapped him on the leg with his gimmer stick. "Breaking your word, you are not," he reproved. "Seeing that trained, he will be. But danger there will be to who trains him. An older, more experienced Master, he must have." Obi-Wan inclined his head in acquiesce. "Both Xanatos and Kemé would like to talk to him first," he said. "But Master Yoda, we have a problem." "Problem? Granted, your late Master's wish is. What problem could be?" Obi-Wan sighed softly as he felt his face and ears get hot. "Anakin is missing," he said finally. "We think he ran away; Kemé and Xanatos are out looking for him now." "Think, you do?" Yoda asked. "Know where he is, you do not?" "No Master," Obi-Wan answered. By now he knew he had to be bright red. "Anakin has run away." Master Yoda gave him a look. "Find him, we will. Tell this news to the Council, I will. Troubling, with the Sith again here that missing, he is." Obi-Wan blanched. He'd seen Anakin's midichlorian count himself; if the Sith got their hands on that kind of potential and turned it to the dark side, the galaxy was in serious danger. "I will go search more, Master," he offered softly. "Kemé and Xan are still looking, but they will be back in time for the three of us to light the pyre." "Go search," Master Yoda ordered. "Found, the boy must be." Obi-Wan bowed, then backed out of the room. Master Yoda was right; they had to find Anakin before the Sith got wind of him and found him first. The consequences of something like that had the potential to be catastrophic. He hurried out of the Palace and into the city, all of his senses extended and his shields down to try and catch a hint of the boy's Force-signature. When, with Qui-Gon's insistence, he had actually looked at the boy, it was easy to see why his Master wanted him trained. While most Jedi had glimmers of power or even a soft radiance to their auras, Anakin glowed. The boy was a beacon, with a few hints of shadows. Obi-Wan had watched, fighting jealousy, as his Master had taught Anakin the basics of center, ground, and shield and taught him how to hide if necessary. Unfortunately for him, Anakin had taken to the lessons almost immediately, which would make him that much harder to find. Even if he'd had extensive experience with the child's Force-signature, he would be hard to track. His head shot up as he caught a trace of… something. Obi-Wan closed his eyes to concentrate better and got a slight sense of direction. He followed it for a block or so, but soon lost it near an alley. He looked around, but could not see signs of anything other than the battle. He turned down the alley, hoping that perhaps there would be traces of the boy there, but found nothing. Obi-Wan spied a sturdy wooden crate sitting next to a building. He slumped against it, then lowered his shields to search the area one more time. Finding nothing, he pushed himself back up, and walked away. Somehow, Anakin would be found. The question was, would he be found by the Jedi, or by the Sith? ~~~~ The Council settled into chairs in a small circle; they had come to Naboo for Qui-Gon Jinn's funeral. About half of the Council was there; his death was not only a great loss for the Order, but for many members of the Council, as well. Qui-Gon's name would be added to the rolls of the honored dead; with the names of the Jedi who had sacrificed themselves for peace and justice in the Hall of Memory, and his ashes scattered in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, because it was his favorite garden. Qui-Gon had been the most powerful wielder of the Living Force in the Order; that kind of insight was often needed, but it was too rare a gift. While he had often disagreed with them as a group, his opinions and wishes were respected by them as a whole. Far too often had his assertions of what had to be done been proved correct to dismiss them. Yoda bowed his head and studied the marble floors. It was obvious to anyone who knew him well that he had some unsettling news to share. He waited until everyone had settled down before speaking. "A problem, have we," he began. "The Skywalker child, missing is he." "I didn't think that his role in the battle was well-known yet," Master Ki-Adi-Mundi muttered. "We have seen to it that it is not," Master Windu said. "The boy doesn't need that kind of attention right now; not with the Sith out there somewhere." "When he is found," Master Gallia began, "We need to make sure that his status as the Chosen One is not well-known, either. There must be very little to set him apart from the others." Master Ki-Adi-Mundi spoke again. "There's still the matter of who will teach the child after he's found." "Proper, it is, that Qui-Gon's former apprentices first choice they have," Yoda said. "Insist upon it, they will." Master Yaddle shifted in her seat. "Master Leran Kailrethilrin would be a good choice to teach the boy if Master Noori and Master de Crion won't," she said mildly. "He's good with younglings and has infinite patience." "We cannot leave many Jedi here to continue the search if Anakin is not found before we have to go back to Coruscant," Master Gallia said. "We must assign someone here for a few months to make sure everything settles down and to handle talks between the Gungans and the Naboo. Leran could do that and continue the search." There was silence in the room as the Council began a telepathic debate on the merits of sending Leran for what would be a light duty versus sending someone like Hanah Kratren, who, as one of the Teachers, rarely left the Temple. Leran worked in the field more often than not, but the talks between the Gungans and the Naboo would hardly take any diplomatic expertise. It was more important that the boy be found. "Talent, Master Kailrethilrin has with damaged ones," Yoda said finally. "Hurting, the boy must be to hide from Jedi. Send for him we should." "I believe he's at the Temple right now, filling in for Weaponsmaster Zittoun," Master Windu said. "I'll make the arrangements." With that, the impromptu Council meeting broke up as they all dispersed to take care of various tasks. Tonight, they would send one of their own into the Force. The lost would be found, and the will of the Force be followed. The Sith would never be allowed to get their hands on the Chosen One, because they would retrieve him and protect him from the darkness. It was their duty, their honor, and their joy. ~~~~ Anakin opened his eyes slowly, then stretched as best he could inside his crate. It wasn't usual for him to take naps, but there was little else to do within the confines of his new home. He looked out of his knothole and smiled. It was dark outside, really dark. With a grunt of effort, he pushed up the hinged lid and slipped out. Time to move his home. Anakin tried to lift the crate, but it was too heavy. He frowned and studied it; there had to be a way to move it! A slow smile spread over his small face. He'd seen Qui-Gon use the Force to call his lightsword to him once on the ship--maybe he could use the Force to lift and move the box? Anakin closed his eyes and concentrated on the crate, doing his best to remember exactly how it felt to touch the Force. "Up," he muttered. He concentrated a little more. "UP," he said. He opened his eyes to find that the crate had done exactly as ordered, and was now floating half an inch from the ground. Anakin's concentration wavered for a moment, causing the crate to dip, but he soon firmed it up, willing the crate to remain floating. He got behind the box and pushed it. It moved easily, provoking a small smile from the child. Carefully, he pushed it out of the alley and onto a side street. Biting his bottom lip in concentration, he continued pushing it for what seemed miles until he found an empty, overgrown lot. Anakin put the box down near the center of the tall weeds, and then used the Force to help him turn it over so that the lid opened more like a door. He examined his new location and gave a satisfied nod. He'd have to be careful how he entered the lot, but he was now well-hidden from would-be slavers, and it was cleaner than other places he could hide, like junkyards. He would remain free. Silently, Anakin promised Qui-Gon Jinn's shade that nobody would ever make him into a slave ever again. He opened the door of his new home and crawled inside and attempted to pull it shut. He frowned slightly; he would have to make a handle or something for the inside to make it possible to shut the door completely. His mother had told him stories about where she had come from, and he was pretty sure that it was like Naboo. And if her stories were right, that meant something he'd only heard of--snow, so he would have to be able to shut the door of his home against it. He could probably find some rope somewhere, he decided. Luckily, he'd remembered to pack his multi-tool, and it had, among other things, a knife in it. It was the only thing remotely sharp that Watto had allowed him to possess, and he had never been allowed to carry it around for fear he would do something stupid. He wasn't sure why his old Master had been afraid to let him carry a knife; he wasn't sure he could really seriously hurt anybody, even if he hated them. Sure, he'd gotten into fights, but it was because he didn't like bullies, and couldn't let somebody bigger pick on somebody smaller and get away with it. And he also couldn't let people tell lies and get away with it, either. Slavers were the same way. If he could do it, he'd fight all the slavers in the galaxy and free all the slaves. Then nobody could get hurt for dropping tools and stupid stuff like that. Anakin frowned a little. There was no telling what Watto was making his mother do in his absence. There was no way to know if he was hurting her without him around to protect her. Anakin wrapped his arms around his legs and rested his head on his knees. He missed her. Part of him wanted to go home, but if he went home, Watto would not hesitate to enslave him again. He couldn't go near Tatooine until he had the money to free his mother. Hopefully, Watto wouldn't gamble her away by then or sell her to somebody else. He wanted somewhere better to take her than a crate in a vacant lot, too. His mom deserved it. Anakin bit his lip in an attempt not to cry. Maybe one day, he would become very, very rich so he could free everybody. But if that ever happened, it would be far in the future--he had to concentrate on surviving and squirreling away enough money to free his mother. Tomorrow, he promised himself. He'd look for work; even if it only paid in trade. He needed blankets to keep warm and to pad the bottom of his house. His supplies wouldn't last forever, so he needed more. And if it got really, really cold on Naboo, he'd need better clothes that were more suited for cold. Anakin shivered, then dug around in his pack for his one change of clothing. He took off his shoes and put the clean clothes over what he was wearing. It would have to do. He put his shoes back on and, using his bag for a pillow, laid down again. He was tired. Using the Force to move the box had made him more tired than he thought it would; it had looked so easy when Master Qui-Gon did it! Maybe it was because the man had been a Jedi Master and used to it, Ani decided. Maybe with practice, it would be easier for him, too. He frowned. What if there were more things out there like the one who had killed Master Jinn? What if one of them found him? It would be worse than being a slave. He didn't want to be near anything like that. He didn't like the way the creature had felt. It was too scary, because it felt sorta… evil. Anakin bit his lip. He had liked using the Force, but if it meant that something like that thing could find him, then he just wouldn't use it anymore. He wasn't a Jedi or anything, after all. He couldn't be a Jedi, because they didn't want him. He sighed softly, and ignoring the ache in his heart from being unwanted, closed his eyes and let himself imagine a place where he was free, safe, and loved. ~~~~ Qui-Gon's body lay in state on the pyre, waiting for his family to light it. Silently, the three Jinn apprentices walked forward through the gathering. Each one kissed their Master's cheek one final time before Obi-Wan lighted Qui-Gon's lightsabre with a snap-hiss. Together, Kemé, Xanatos, and Obi-Wan grasped the sabre and thrust it into the fuel. The flames rose slowly around the corpse as Xanatos extinguished the lightsabre and the three of them stepped back from the pyre and back into the crowd. Silently, Xanatos laid his hand on Obi-Wan's left shoulder while Kemé laid her hand on his right one. The three of them stood in obvious grief as other Jedi moved closer, offering all of them soft words of condolence and comfort. Only Yoda and Mace kept themselves aloof. "Another Sith, there must be," Yoda murmured. Mace inclined his head. "There are always two," he replied. "The question is, was that the Master, or the Apprentice?" "This, this know we do not," Yoda answered. "Alert, we must be." Mace nodded. "Yes. Captain Panaka came to see me," he said. "The Queen sent some of her soldiers to search the city for the boy, but they didn't find anything. He says he'll send some more out tomorrow." Yoda nodded, then got up to pay his respects with Mace close on his heels. The crowd stood in respectful silence, the only sounds being the crackle and pop of the fire as the smells of burning cloth, leather, and flesh permeated the air. Qui-Gon was one with the Force. As the last trappings of his mortal existence burned away, the Jedi among the crowd comforted themselves with that thought. Death was not a stranger to them; many of their friends had passed into the Force over their careers, and many more might. Being a Jedi was dangerous business. Protectors of peace and justice, yes, but sometimes protecting peace and justice came at the end of a lightsabre. Qui-Gon Jinn had known this. By the time they reached Knighthood, every Jedi had at least some combat experience. To decide to become a Jedi was a decision to accept the possibility of an early and violent death if it were the will of the Force. After his ashes were returned to the temple and spread over the Room of a Thousand Fountains, his name would be carved into the walls of the Hall of Memory with the names of every Jedi, Padawan, Knight, and Master, who had died for duty and honor in the past thousand years. There was still plenty of space left on the walls in that room, for it was large, taking up half of a level of the Temple. At least this time, the fate of the Jedi Master was known. Sometimes, there was no body to bury. Sometimes, only a relic, such as a lightsabre hilt or a padawan-braid was ever returned to the Temple, and the owner was simply presumed dead if no other trace was found. Wars, natural disasters, common criminals, pirates, and now, again after a thousand years, the Sith. There were plenty of ways for a Jedi to meet an early end. The last remnants of the husk burned and the fire was extinguished. Obi-Wan, Xanatos, and Kemé came forward and scooped the ashes into a container for transportation home. Qui-Gon Jinn would be sorely missed in the Order, but with his name in the Hall of Memory, he would never truly be gone, for he could not be forgotten. ~~~~ Anakin glanced furtively around to make sure that he hadn't been followed, then strode into the repair shop. He smiled at the man behind the counter. "Hey, Mister," he said. The man leaned over the counter. "Hello, son. What can I do for you?" he asked. "It's a bit early for school to be out." That gave Anakin pause. He'd never been to school, so it wasn't something he'd thought about. "I was wondering… sir, if you needed an extra hand in the shop, I can fix anything." The man scratched his head. "I can't rightly do that, son. You see, there are laws against employing children. How old are you?" Anakin crossed his fingers, hiding them in the folds of his trews. "Twelve," he lied. "I'm good at fixing things, Mister, honest." The man cocked his head. "You don't look more than six," he said quietly. "And from your accent, you're not Naboo, either. Go home, son. Somebody must be worried about you." Anakin sighed, scuffed his foot against the floor, then left the shop. It was against the law to make kids work? That was something he'd never heard of before! He bit his lip. He knew he was short and little; most of the other slave kids that he knew were. He supposed he should have told the truth about his age. He shrugged fatalistically. Obviously, he couldn't get a job until he was older. Anakin stuck his hands in his pockets and headed back home. There, he could at least try and figure out what to do next. There had to be some way to get what he needed to survive without resorting to any of the things that his mother had warned him about. ~~~*~ TBC... -----signature----- Padawan of Layren. Creator of Darth Cookie E-sis of DaenaBenjen42 and BrentusofGath. http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/22518786/p1/?3 http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/22764026/p1/?2
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